✍️ By Noor-e-Hayat
---
Part One: Almas – The Mirror of Silent Love
It was the first morning of college.
New building, new faces, and countless eyes scanning one another.
Amidst the crowd was a simple, quiet, yet strikingly graceful girl—Almas—walking slowly toward her class.
There was no pretension in her personality, only peace.
She didn’t crave friendship or attention.
But there was something about her silence—something magnetic—
as if hearts were drawn to her for no reason.
Her only, and closest friend was Shahana—
beautiful, self-obsessed, and indifferent toward most.
She often teased Almas for her simplicity,
but Almas would always smile it off.
In the same class was a boy—AllahBaksh Khan.
Average height, confident, cheerful, and always making others laugh.
He was the center of attention, especially among girls.
Shahana liked AllahBaksh, and AllahBaksh liked Shahana—
and Almas knew it well.
Every day, she heard his name from Shahana,
but she never objected, never expressed anything.
Then one day…
Almas, coming down the stairs, accidentally bumped into someone—
her books fell.
A boy bent down, picked them up, and gently said:
"I'm really sorry…"
That voice, that tone…
Almas looked up—AllahBaksh Khan.
That moment—one glance, one touch—was enough.
Love silently crept into her heart.
That was the first time Almas truly saw him.
One look… and he quietly settled in her soul.
From then on, she would silently watch him every day—
as if his presence was the light of her day.
But how could she go near someone who was never hers?
AllahBaksh was enchanted by Shahana.
Almas knew where his eyes secretly wandered.
Yet still—
Almas slowly became a prisoner of his love.
For the first time, her heart beat for someone.
But that heart never became hers to keep.
Then one day… AllahBaksh disappeared.
He stopped coming to college, didn’t show up for exams—
no news, no trace.
It was a time without mobile phones or social media.
Only landlines existed, and even those were hard to find.
Almas would keep her eyes fixed on the classroom door—
every day, every moment, holding onto one hope:
“He will come… maybe today… maybe tomorrow…”
But this wasn’t a novel or a movie.
This was real life—
where heroes don’t always return.
He never came back.
And yet, the waiting continued.
---
Part Two: Fifteen Years Later
Life had changed.
Almas was now a respected teacher—
alone, but content.
Love was like a sealed book within her heart—never opened.
One day, her friend Rukhsar called:
“There’s a college reunion. Everyone’s coming… even AllahBaksh!”
Her heart raced… her breath stopped…
A meeting after fifteen years?
Was it really possible?
On the day of the reunion, Almas entered the hall—
fifteen years later—
once again standing at her college’s doorstep.
But now, neither she nor the world was the same.
Everyone was laughing, taking pictures—
and in a quiet corner stood AllahBaksh Khan.
The same eyes… but empty now.
The same smile… but tired.
Almas looked away.
She had no right to look anymore.
As the evening ended, one question clung to her heart:
“Where’s Shahana?”
“Who did AllahBaksh marry? Why does he seem unhappy?”
They met again at another event at Rukhsar’s home.
AllahBaksh had come at Rukhsar’s insistence.
He came closer:
“Assalamualaikum, Almas… How are you?”
“Wa’alaikum Assalam… I’m fine.”
“You never married?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was waiting… for someone.”
“Who?”
“Myself.”
There was a pause.
Then AllahBaksh asked,
“What are you thinking?”
Almas replied:
“You married someone else… left Shahana.”
He sighed,
“After what Shahana did… I couldn’t trust anyone again.
My family arranged the marriage.”
(Almas thought silently: How easy it is for men to forget love and live with someone else.)
“I remembered you, Almas,”
Baksh said suddenly.
Almas was startled.
“But I didn’t have the courage…
Shahana said so much about you…
I thought you were playing with my emotions too.”
Tears welled up in Almas’ eyes.
Both friends’ sacrifices were wasted.
Baksh belonged to someone else now.
Shahana had freed herself from the past and moved on,
while Almas still lived in that prison.
She wanted to say:
“I loved you, Baksh.
I waited for you for years.
You never came. There was no message.”
But now… there was nothing left to say.
---
Part Three: Forgiveness
Today was Rukhsar’s brother’s wedding reception.
Many classmates had come with their families.
Baksh was there with his wife and two children.
Rukhsar introduced Almas to Baksh’s wife.
For some reason, his wife stared strangely at Almas—
as if saying, “Stay away from my husband.”
Almas felt uneasy under her gaze.
Later, Baksh’s family left the event early—
but he stayed behind.
The gathering ended. People were leaving.
Almas looked up at the sky.
The moon was full, and her heart felt strangely light.
Some loves are never completed,
but they complete a person.
And that was Almas’ love—Baksh—
a memory that never faded.
Baksh came near.
“Why are you staring at the sky?” he asked with a smile.
“The moon is alone… but complete, Baksh Khan,”
Almas replied.
He nodded slowly,
“Hmm…”
That moment was long…
Two souls, two hearts, and fifteen years of silence between them.
With tears, Almas said:
“Baksh Khan…
You can never be mine…
But today, I’ve come to forgive myself—
To free myself from this love… from your memory…
Today, I want to be free.”
Baksh looked down:
“If only… you had spoken earlier, Almas…”
Almas smiled—
Tears in her eyes, but peace in her heart.
Her silent love had finally found words,
But time still remained silent.
Only the heart knew—
this love, though unfulfilled,
was still complete.
Love never truly ends…
It simply gets forgiven… over time.
She walked away—
but in her footsteps, there was peace.
That day, Almas didn’t complete love by receiving it—
She completed it by letting it go.
---
The End
🌹 Final Thoughts:
"Baksh" is a story that settles in the heart—
a tale that teaches love isn’t always about possession,
but sometimes about letting go with grace.
Almas, through her silence, dignity, and pain,
represents every heart that loved… but never said a word.
Have you ever forgiven someone…
without ever saying a thing?
