A Man's Way
It was on the midnight of her 25th birthday, Aiana realised her mistake. Most of her time was spent being Faizal's shadow. He seemed to know what was best for her and if she disagreed, he'd tell Abbu. Abbu always supported Faizal. He was taken by him thoroughly. Faizal's charisma and charm had become Abbu's morning-evening prayer. Aiana didn't mind it initially, she thought it would only make her future with Faizal easier. However, as time went by and Faizal got more involved with the Abbasi family, Aiana's opinion about him changed. Faizal was excessively controlling. From ordering Ammi what to make for dinner to force dieting their dog, Pijo, he was an insufferable pain in the ass.
When she first met Faizal, he was nothing but a peon working at Shaktigan Bhavan opposite Chamberlane Market. It was Nooran Khaala's wish to see them together as she thought Faizal was a young, capable man who could sweep the fiery Aiana Abbasi right from the ground. Faizal wasn't a good looking fellow, not in Aiana's mind. But he quoted her favourite Ghalib couplet. And it was really Ghalib and his own sweet sounding words that wrapped misogyny and prejudice so inconspicuously that she fell in love with him carelessly. She thought he was being protective about her but instead his mission was to lock her freedom and throw the key in the vastness of the hills that surrounded them.
Everything remained so misunderstood that it took her took six months to unravel the entire trap she was being set bait for. On the eve of her 25th birthday she heard noises from Faizal's room. She wasn't allowed to visit his quarters but the noises grew louder and louder. She went closer and stuck her ear to the door. Faizal was chanting hymns. And spirits were talking to him. She could hear the spirits distinctly. One ought to be scared and save Faizal from his misdoings. However, Aiana latched Faizal's room from outside. She hoped that the spirits would kill him and rid her from his miserable presence. But magic and fate are like nasty wives trying to put each other down.
As the clock struck midnight and Aiana turned 25, the strangest thing happened. Aiana was no more a woman but a man. And that too trapped in Faizal's repelling body. She screamed as she looked in the mirror and repented her decision for locking his room. In the morning, Aiana's body entered the aangan . She looked mortified. She didn't speak to anyone. Everyone in the family grew worried of the fact that their daughter hadn't spoken after continuous pestering. The doctor's were called and they concluded permanent loss of voice. Out of habit, the family continuously searched for answers in Faizal's eyes which now spoke from Aiana's soul. Meanwhile, Pijo was suffering from a nervous breakdown. He howled endlessly and over and over again. Strangely enough reminding her of beloved Faizal.
Days passed, Aiana took all liberties of a man and caught hold of the family household. Aiana's body remained a mute spectator still loved by her parents. Poor Pijo (who Aiana was sure had been the possessor of Faizal's body) died after few days. All the barking had caused a brain haemorrhage. Aiana looked in the mirror, she saw a confidant young man who was no more at the mercy of anyone for her freedom. A man's way suited her. It mirrored with her thinking.
When she first met Faizal, he was nothing but a peon working at Shaktigan Bhavan opposite Chamberlane Market. It was Nooran Khaala's wish to see them together as she thought Faizal was a young, capable man who could sweep the fiery Aiana Abbasi right from the ground. Faizal wasn't a good looking fellow, not in Aiana's mind. But he quoted her favourite Ghalib couplet. And it was really Ghalib and his own sweet sounding words that wrapped misogyny and prejudice so inconspicuously that she fell in love with him carelessly. She thought he was being protective about her but instead his mission was to lock her freedom and throw the key in the vastness of the hills that surrounded them.
Everything remained so misunderstood that it took her took six months to unravel the entire trap she was being set bait for. On the eve of her 25th birthday she heard noises from Faizal's room. She wasn't allowed to visit his quarters but the noises grew louder and louder. She went closer and stuck her ear to the door. Faizal was chanting hymns. And spirits were talking to him. She could hear the spirits distinctly. One ought to be scared and save Faizal from his misdoings. However, Aiana latched Faizal's room from outside. She hoped that the spirits would kill him and rid her from his miserable presence. But magic and fate are like nasty wives trying to put each other down.
As the clock struck midnight and Aiana turned 25, the strangest thing happened. Aiana was no more a woman but a man. And that too trapped in Faizal's repelling body. She screamed as she looked in the mirror and repented her decision for locking his room. In the morning, Aiana's body entered the aangan . She looked mortified. She didn't speak to anyone. Everyone in the family grew worried of the fact that their daughter hadn't spoken after continuous pestering. The doctor's were called and they concluded permanent loss of voice. Out of habit, the family continuously searched for answers in Faizal's eyes which now spoke from Aiana's soul. Meanwhile, Pijo was suffering from a nervous breakdown. He howled endlessly and over and over again. Strangely enough reminding her of beloved Faizal.
Days passed, Aiana took all liberties of a man and caught hold of the family household. Aiana's body remained a mute spectator still loved by her parents. Poor Pijo (who Aiana was sure had been the possessor of Faizal's body) died after few days. All the barking had caused a brain haemorrhage. Aiana looked in the mirror, she saw a confidant young man who was no more at the mercy of anyone for her freedom. A man's way suited her. It mirrored with her thinking.
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