37.

                                    

                                          
"Wo sab zyada Mahtab sahab ki field of expertise hain." Umeed smiles at the man and pointed at Asif at the distance, who was busy with someone else. She was pleasantly surprised at the willingness of everybody present who were trying to communicate and build relationships. She'd thought it was not as social but it was like someone else kept coming up to her to either ask about her or the organisation of the event, to which she would have to politely inform that it was not her work. 
"Oh please do give him my message, I am impressed." The man nodded his head and Umeed smiled back, watching him take steps back, indicating that the conversation was over.
"I will sir." The man excused himself and Umeed breathed a sigh of relief, turning her head to see if Asif was still busy. She had gotten a overwhelmed with all the talking and felt alone. Going up to him felt improper since he was a big part of making the event and many people knew him, so she gave him space to collect his flowers.
"Ye bhi sahi hai." That voice almost made her knees give up there and then and Umeed shot her head around. She had a sudden paralysis of thought and movement, standing there facing the man who she thought she'd never see any time soon. Her shock made her body freeze in place and mouth gape open as she stared at him, suited up and looking polished and handsome, an unfamiliar growth of hair on the face where she was used to seeing a gentle stubble. His hair was done to perfection, he looked all perfect except his gaze was the most haunting thing Umeed had ever seen. It was filled with dismay and anger.
Farjaad had frozen the moment he saw her, every emotion slipping away and his heart immediately feeling at peace watching her stand metres from him. He had to blink multiple times and look around to reassure himself that he wasn't hallucinating. 
But the relief had vanished and Farjaad's heart tugged, watching her talking to someone with a big smile on her face, laughing, genuinely invested in the conversation, looking as beautiful as ever in the desi attire he rarely got to see her in. She was breathtaking as always, and she was happy. And that happiness stung Farjaad.
He woke up every single day feeling regret over not doing more, over not making up for something he never committed. A day had not passed by where his heart did not ache missing the one person he loved. He'd spent days calling her, trying to reach out, trying to settle things down. His world was crushed, he was facing consequences, painful ones, for something he had not committed. 
And she had moved on.
Laughing, engaging, looking her best, a glow on her face and confidence in her movement. She was thriving and happy while he woke up every day wishing he did more than what he did.
"So this is a strategy?" Umeed was still in shock, the happiness and confidence sucked out of her body and she looked stunned seeing him. 
"Farjaad." It came out quietly, the most foreign he heard his name come out from her mouth. 
"Aap fikar na karein, aap ka peecha nahi kar raha." He muttered, shaking his head slowly, jaw clenched and hands in his pockets. 
"Kya kar rahe ho yahan?" She spoke quietly, the shock replaced with a hard look on her face, being unable to meet her eyes. It felt like they were in a bubble and no else was there, she felt all the pain come back crashing down even though it never went away, it just began numbing her. But it was hurting, stinging.
"Ye to mujhe tum se poochna chahye." He took another step forward and Umeed was attacked by the scent she had missed out on so much, the one she felt every time her head was pressed against his chest or when she'd be kissing his neck. She had to force herself to take a small step back and it was the most unfamiliar action ever. It was always taking steps forward until their bodies were pressed together, this was a change, and an unfamiliar one.