Dear Love
Dear Love By Anoosha Aarzoo
(Originally Named Janam In Urdu)
Translated By Inky Whisper (Translated from Urdu-To-English)
Chapter Six (The Last Chapter)
Maham and Za’im had a love marriage. Za’im had taken leave from his office and returned to Islamabad with his family. Four years had passed very quickly, and now he missed Maham deeply.
The moment Maham heard that he was coming back, she started jumping happily around the house. She was so overwhelmed with happiness that she didn’t even know how to control it.
Za’im arrived, and within a week their nikah was arranged. Both of them were extremely happy. Maham had completed her college, and for university Za’im had promised to take her to Lahore after their marriage. Everyone in the family was happy, and by Allah’s mercy, the nikah also took place peacefully.
From the very next day after the nikah, Maham restarted her old habit of teasing Za’im with full energy. Every now and then, Maham would run ahead while Za’im chased after her. She had practically exhausted him by making him run after her all day. Whenever she had nothing else to do, she would whisper “Janam” into his ear, pull out two or three strands of his hair, and run away laughing.
And when Za’im finally caught her, she would innocently deny all her crimes.
It was the second day of their marriage. Around eleven at night, Maham ran toward her favorite spot and stopped near the balcony, leaning halfway over the railing playfully. Za’im was just about to catch her and teach her a lesson when suddenly Maham lost her balance.
It took less than a moment for her to fall from the balcony. Za’im’s world stopped right there.
The doctors had almost given up. And when, by Allah’s mercy, she finally woke up from the coma, two whole years had already passed.
But her memories no longer carried the story of Za’im’s love. The story of Maham’s “Janam” no longer existed.
Za’im had already lost his heart to the world… and whatever remained was shattered completely by Maham’s unfamiliarity toward him.
***************
Za’im was standing in his room with his back toward the door. A mobile phone rested in his hand as he remained busy scrolling through something on the screen.
Suddenly, he froze at the sound of a voice.
“Janam…”
The voice felt painfully familiar. He turned around and looked outside the door, but no one was there. Assuming it to be his imagination, he focused on his phone again.
A few moments later, the voice came once more.
“Janam…”
Za’im ignored it.
Then the voice echoed again.
“Janam…”
This time, Za’im slipped his phone into his pocket and hurried outside. In one quick motion, he caught the hand of the girl in the green frock and pinned her gently against the wall beside the door.
Her silky dark brown hair was left open, with a few careless strands falling over her face. Her milky fair face and the blush spreading across her nose from shyness nearly stole his breath away.
At that moment, he could have given up everything for her.
Held within the circle of his strong arms, she looked slightly startled. Her deep blue eyes carried nothing but innocence and simplicity.
A faint smile appeared on his lips. He didn’t want to question how any of this had happened. Right now, he only wanted to live this moment, the moment he had waited two long years for.
“Say it again…” he said, pressing his lips together to hide his smile.
Biting her lips shyly, she turned her face to the side and lowered her gaze toward the floor. He leaned a little closer, but suddenly she pushed him lightly and tried to run away.
Za’im quickly caught her hand and pulled her back toward himself. As a result, her back collided against his chest. Wrapping his strong arms around her, he bent slightly over her left shoulder. Then slowly, bringing his lips close to her ear, he whispered,
“Say it again…” His warm breath was making Maham nervous. He moved even closer to her cheek while she stood there in confusion before suddenly blurting out softly…
“Janam…” The moment she said it, she shyly turned her face away.
“Promise me you’ll say it for a lifetime.” Za’im’s eyes had turned moist, his voice breaking slightly.
Maham looked at him painfully. Then, raising her right hand, she touched his left cheek and said with teary eyes,
“If someone ever asks me, I’ll tell them that you are the end of my love… Janam.”
By now, she had completely turned toward him, her left hand resting on his right shoulder.
“You’re becoming very romantic, Janam,” he said with mischief shining in his eyes.
Maham burst into laughter.
Holding his Janam’s fingers, Za’im spun her around in circles while Maham laughed brightly, holding onto her Janam’s hand.
And so ended….
The story of Za’im’s love and waiting.
The story of Maham’s innocence and love.
A story of happiness and confession.
A story of love finding its voice through the journey of hearts.
THE END……………..
Translator Note:
Translating Janam has given me a new kind of confidence. It made me realize that although translating stories from one language to another is difficult, it also becomes a joy when done with dedication and passion.
I chose to keep the word Janam throughout the story because the author used it repeatedly with deep emotion. Translating it again and again into “my love” did not carry the same intensity and warmth that the original word holds.
While translating this story, I learned many things, one of them being the importance of a dictionary after so many years. Sometimes you may know many words, but you still struggle to place them naturally in the right context. This journey taught me that as well.
I truly hope you find this novel as beautiful to read as I found it while translating it.
Regards,
Inkywhisper
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