I was sleeping and my best Friend Haider called and told me to get ready and he will come to pick me up ,while asking me to Hurry up . Before I could even ask him anything he had disconnected the call. I thought to call back to ask if all is well or not but as I called back he was busy on another call. I disconnected the call and didn’t call again and went to take a bath and get ready. I made it fast as I was expecting the call from him. But as I came back after taking bath I checked my phone to see has Haider called back or not. To my suprise there was neither a call nor a message. This made me a bit suprised because Haider used to message me whenever he used to be on another call to tell me that he will call soon after he disconnect the call he’s busy on. Haider never used to speak to anyone for this long to anyone and his being on phone made me bit suspicious but I didn’t thought about it and went to have my breakfast so that I leave as soon as possible. All through my time having breakfast I was thinking why’s he busy on phone for this long , while I was having my breakfast my phone’s screen got lighten up followed by a sound, which was a notification sound and it turned my attention towards my phone. It was message from Haider which had name of the cafe and the timing.The message also read that he won’t come to pick me up. Well I was okay with that. I had to be there in 30 minutes. Lucky the cafe was just 15 minutes away. I finished my tea , took my car keys, got into the car and started to drive to the place , lucky I found no traffic and I reached to the place 5 minutes early. I took out my phone while entering the cafe, to call Haider to tell him that I have reached. As I entered ,I found Haider already there and I was taken aback to see him with some girl. I kept my phone back in my pocket and walked towards him. As he saw me coming he stood up we shook hands and we took our places. As I was adjusting myself Haider started to introduce me to the girl. She’s “HAREEM” we study together in same class. Oh hi hareem I am Raqif, Nice meeting you. I said it while being confused to whatever was happening. But as Haider found me confused he spoke. “Raqif we know each other for couple of months now, we are good friends. Oh fine I replied, just to calm down the situation. My mind went back to the time when I met some other girl at the same place and he spoke same words but not to complicate the situation I came back to present and kept a good smile on my face and started to talk to hareem. While we both were speaking Haider interrupted us by passing me on the menu, I gave it to her saying “Let’s see what she likes to eat, and let’s have that” . She said Pizza without looking at the menu. Hmm geat I replied while calling the manager to place the order. I placed the order and started to speak to her again, but my mind is still confused and I desperately wanted to talk to haider alone but at the place it seemed next to impossible. So I gave up on it and tried to figure out whatever I could. I kept speaking to her and asking her questions while as haider was just watching us. While we were having a conversation I turned to Haider and gave him a confused look with a touch of anger. And he got to know that I am losing my mind. While I was looking at him pizza came and we got busy eating pizza. We ate in silence but my mind was not silent I was constantly thinking about Haider and his Ex. We met at the same place the last time and this was the same table they broke up. It had just been 1 month since that happened and Haider didn’t tell me anything about her. As we finished the pizza the awkward silence was broken by the call on hareem’s phone. And it was her father calling, she received the call spoke and disconnected while saying “Haider I am leaving I need to be home grandfather has been admitted” ۔ okay replied Haider while standing to see her off. He accompanied her to the door of cafe. As she left he came back and while he was sitting I asked him who was she with an angry voice .
My voice made him lift his eyes and look at me. He felt silent and didn’t say anything for a minute. I need the answer haidar I spoke with more anger. Calm down Raqif I will explain everything Haider replied in a numb voice. Wow the same table you broke up just a month ago you made me meet a new girl and introduced her to me as your good friend about whom your best friend is unaware, I said before he could speak. Listen to me Raqif “It’s not that I didn’t wanted to tell you, It’s just that I wasn’t sure about it” ۔ He replied. “Sure”, ” Sure about what Haider”, are you crazy” I replied with all the frustration I had. “I love her ” I was left numb while he said it and I was confused about what to say the world around me felt silent and I was unable to figure out what he said. I wasn’t confused because he’s in love because of the statement he had said to me on the same table and that too on the same day while breaking up. I was brought back to present when haidar said “Raqif say something” ۔ what should I say and about what should I say? I replied. Tell me how do you think she’s for me he asked. Well look Haider I am seriously in a confused state and we have met after a month of your break up and for full 1 month you didn’t even reply to a single text of mine, I said. Yes I agree and I seriously apologize for that, he replied. I need to tell you some about my ex, Haider said in a hurry. His face expression said that something very bad is coming from him. What? I replied in hesitation. She was just passing her time with me and nothing else, what I said all of a sudden as he completed . You were with her for Two and half years and now you are saying that she was passing her time with you – I added. Yes Raqif I got to know it from one of her friend that she just loved my money and nothing else, Haider replied in tear. And what about the love you had for her? I asked. The tears washed that off! Haider replied while tears rolled of his cheeks.
(The story is just an art of fiction and has no connection with real life. The characters are also fictional. Author is a freelancer and views are his own)
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