committed because of her ego. Jawl thought this whole matter as a past because he was not sure whether Iba loves him too. So he didn’t ask her. Both remained silent on this matter. Their career was on boom. He became politician and she was famous surgeon. They were totally aware about each happening in their buddy’s life still they never tried to talk on love.

  Riya tied knot, Atif too.

  Iba’s age was 26 year and Jawl’s 27.

  Iba’s parents asked Iba for marriage but she didn’t give her consent. Jawl was too busy in his career.

  One day Iba met Riya.

  “Are you happy with your married life?” Iba asked.

  “Yes. I am happy and what about you?” Riya asked.

  “I am too. I am successful today. I achieved which I dreamed. I am famous surgeon. My parents are happy. I got everything.” Iba replied.

  “Really, everything….” Riya taunted.

  “Yes Riya.” Iba replied.

  “Please Iba, don’t tell lie at least from me. You missed a very important thing in your life. You lost him because of your ego.” Riya said.

  “It is not my fault. I don’t know about his feeling. How can I commit?”

  “It is the problem. You should talk with him on this matter” Riya insisted her.

  “I will not take initiative” Iba replied.

  “It is your choice. You can’t listen to anyone even not of your heart. Think again.” Riya said her angrily and moved from there.

  Her career was growing day by day.

  Jawl worked against his father in politics. He was working to remove reservation process, while his father didn’t support him because he afraid of losing his good position in politic world. They get separated. His father didn’t give any support to him as he afraid of opposition by other politic parties. Jawl wanted to abolish the word reservation in Jobs and education. He was alone as no family member supported him. Only Atif was with him everytime.

  After so many efforts he got success. He was Jawl. Nothing was impossible for him. He did everything without any politic support and on his own base. He abolished reservation process in his state. He was so popular at that time. Whole country was supporting him except previously reserved category people. They were opposing him. They were conducting protest rally. But Jawl didn’t bother them as he was Jawl. Seeing his popularity he received assistance from other parties. At last his father also took a twist and supported him because whole country was happy to find a good leader like a Jawl. He received media coverage and girls coverage also as girls found a dashing leader.

  After two days-

  Iba was at hospital. She was watching Jawl’s interview on Television.

  Jawl was facing same situation as he used to face at the time of PMT coaching. He was searching some space to hide from media persons and other girls. He hid in back of Atif and after getting chance he sat in his car and moved away from there. Still girls were regularly following him.

  She was giggling. She remembered old day when Jawl pulled her in car to save himself from flirt girls. She whispered, “Sorry Jawl, I am not with you to save. Handle this matter alone. But I want to be with you. But you are Jawl who moves freely. You can’t stay at one place or in one’s life. Sorry, I will never commit because I am Iba having pride.”

  She was thinking of him. Suddenly she heard loud noise in hospital. She saw from window. There was rush and lot of media persons outside the hospital. She saw Atif who was trying to find the way in rush.

  Meanwhile her phone rang. Riya was calling her. She picked the phone.

  “Iba, did you get the news about Jawl?”

  “No Riya, what happened?”

  “Atif called me. After departure of Jawl from meeting someone tried to attack him. He was going by his car and a truck collided with his car. Police caught the truck driver. It was intentional attack. He had injured badly.” Riya said.

  “Yes, I think he is here. I saw Atif outside the hospital. I will call you later” Iba said.

  She moved. She received the call from Atif.

  “Please Iba, do something. He is facing typical condition. He is bleeding excessively.”

  “Don’t worry Atif. I am here. I am coming.” She said.

  There was blood loss and his hand fractured. There were some wounds on his head.

  She was giving him treatment with wet eyes. When everything was out of danger she asked nurses and junior doctors to turn out from room as she was senior.

  Iba thought him unconscious. She burst out there and started weeping. She murmured, “Idiot, why don’t you confess. I love you but I will not say. You know the reason behind it. Why are you not getting it? I am spinster yet because of you and you blames me everytime. You made fault and I am suffering it. You can abolish reservation process but you can’t abolish my loneliness. Confess it please..because I will not….but I love you lot.

  Actually Jawl was conscious at that time and he heard everything. He acted and did not say a single word to her.

  After three days he discharged from hospital. Iba did not meet him till that time.

  Jawl met Atif and said him, “She loves me.”

  “How do you know?”

  “She confessed. But she don’t know it.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “She confessed thinking me unconscious. She will never take initiative”

  “It does not matter. If you are aware of her feelings than go and reply her.” Atif said.

  “I am Jawl. I will not propose her.”

  “That is the main problem. A lot of ego and pride lives in both of you. You are Jawl and she is Iba. There is no love. Listen to me. Don’t waste your precious love and time. Confess it. Time and tide does not wait for anyone. One has to take step first in love. It is the tradition. Than, why can’t you?” Atif said.

  “Ok. I will commit my love in front of media and whole public but there is a condition. I have a spick and span idea for this.” Jawl said.

  “Again, a condition and idea. I think you are not confessing your love while you are playing a prank with yourself. Idiot friend.” Saying this he moved from there.

  Iba took leave from hospital for two days. She was alone at home. She was watching news channel. Jawl’s live interview was coming. She whispered, “Only two days has passed and he is giving lecture. Nonsense….

  He was saying, “I don’t afraid of accidents or death. I will do everything I want to do. I want to confess something today. I loved a girl named Iba and I am confessing it today. I know it’s too late because she is waiting for 5 years. I am such a fool man who wasted 5 most important years of my life. I didn’t confess because of my ego and she didn’t confess because of her pride. So I have decided to throw down the gauntlet. I will accept her love if she will reach here in half an hour. Iba my tot, will you come? I am waiting for you.”

  Iba get shocked. She was not expecting it from Jawl. She thought him always an obstinate and perky person. She struck dumb.

  Her phone rang. Riya was calling her. Iba picked phone.

  “Iba, don’t think and move. Run…strike while the iron is red hot. Please Iba. Throw your pride and don’t take time by the fore lock.”

  “Yes, I am going. I have only 25 minutes. I know very well. I will lose my destiny if I take a 1 minute extra. I have to go now. I am going. bye” Iba said.

  “Yes, good luck.”

  She ran to her car. She was on main road in nice mood and thinking about Jawl. She travelled half way and she was about to reach in 10 minutes. She heard a sudden noise. Car’s wheel burst. She murmured, “Weird destiny and yuck car. When I need you most, you hoodwinked me today. Nonsense….”

  She was waiting for taxi but no vehicle passed from that road as she took shortcut and she was not on main road. She was jabbing herself. Meanwhile she saw a bull-cart.

  “Nice, god has sent an amazing vehicle for Iba. Jawl I am coming. I will fulfill your desire of bull and bull-cart.”

  She stopped hack driver and asked him
to go at her desired destination. He refused her saying he is not going there. She prayed him. She said, “Please my brother, it’s the question of my life. I have to reach there on time.”

  It was sufficient for him and he got agree. She sat in bull-cart. Only 10 minutes were left. She asked him to move fast. He replied, “You are loquacious. Madam this is Bull-cart not your car. If, you are able to insist this bull than, you can. Just keep quite. Sit or you can dismount. I am assuring you that you will reach on time. Don’t worry.”

  “Ok. I will not say a single word.” She replied and covered her mouth with her hands.

  She was about to reach. Jawl saw her on bull-cart. He laughed. He whispered in Atif’s ear, “Look at her. She proved again that she is Iba. She is coming on bull-cart. She had always unique idea. She was aware of this fact that 30 minutes are not enough to reach on time and still she took a step to ride on bull cart. How can she do in such a situation?”

  “It’s your matter. Handle it. I am going and please don’t argue with her again. It’s my request.” replied Atif.

  “Hey, just look at me. I was jesting. I am serious for her. I am too shocked to see that she is really coming on bull-cart. You don’t know her. She is a girl who can’t move without her car. I don’t know how this all happened? She changed.” Jawl said.

  “Whatever, I am going.” Atif said.

  Iba dismounted and came close to Jawl.

  He said her, “Great. You are on time. Do you remember our first meeting? You were not on time on that day.”

  “You were too.” She replied.

  “There is no space to park your cart here. I am sorry for
Heena Kothari's Novels