Coaching ki building ek purane zamane ki imaarat thi. Bade bade sheeshe ke fan, wooden benches aur walls pe motivational quotes chipke hue the. Entrance pe chhote se canteen se samoson ki khushboo aa rahi thi. Aaj bhi subah ka batch jam-packed tha. Ayan Mirza apne usual swag me class ke darwaze se andar aaya. White shirt ke upar open denim jacket, haath me ek costly wristwatch, aur chehre pe woh hi aadhi muskaan jo teacher ko irritate kar deti thi. "Late again, Mr. Mirza?" Physics teacher ne chashma theek karte hue kaha. Ayan ne ek halka sa smile diya. "Sir, traffic ka kasoor hai, mera nahi." Class me halki si hansi gungi. Pichle bench pe uske dost Sameer aur Rizwan already uske liye seat reserve kar chuke the. Ayan wahan baith gaya aur turant apna phone nikal ke WhatsApp khol liya. Samne wali bench pe, ek ladki apne notes likhne me itni ghuli hui thi jaise duniya ka sabse important kaam wahi ho. Fatima Shaikh. White dupatta neatly sir pe, notebook ke har page pe underline aur headings ekdum perfect. Uski personality puri class se alag thi.
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"Bhai, dekh usko." Rizwan ne Ayan ko elbow maara. "Woh Sheikh ladki. Kitni attitude wali lagti hai na. Kabhi kisi se baat bhi nahi karti." Sameer hans pada. "Arrey Rizwan, tu samajhta nahi. Ye silent wali hi dangerous hoti hain. Chal Ayan, isko patane ka challenge le. Tu to playboy hai hi." Ayan ne ek lambi jamhai li aur pencil ghumaate hue bola: "Abey, mujhe kya interest hai. Puri duniya ki ladkiyaan milti hain. Ye kitab me ghusi rehne wali meri type nahi hai." Lekin phir bhi, uski nazar baar-baar us diary jaisi notebook pe ja rahi thi jo Fatima likh rahi thi. Har ek cheez ka order, har line ka neatness – kuch alag hi cheez thi.
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Break time hua. Pura gang canteen ki taraf bhaaga. "Bhai samosa launga do." Sameer bola. Ayan ne Coke ka bottle uthaya aur casually bola: "Front wali Sheikh ladki ke bare me kya scene hai?" Rizwan ne hansi dabayi. "Ohooo, Mirza sahab ke antenna hil gaye. Bhai, suna hai bahut religious family se hai. Baap doctor hai, aur woh khud bhi doctor banne wali. Tu jaise ladkon se door hi rahegi." Ayan ne bottle ka ek sip liya aur muskura ke bola: "Dekhte hain."
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Fatima canteen ke corner table pe apni dost Hina ke sath quietly baithi thi. Hina ne kaha: "Tumhe pata hai, woh backbenchers har roz tumhe dekhte rehte hain. Especially woh Ayan." Fatima ne seedha jawab diya: "Main apni padhai ke liye yahan hoon, na ke kisi ki nazar mein aane ke liye. Mujhe farq nahi padta kaun dekh raha hai." Uski baat se uska calm aur serious nature aur clear ho gaya.
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Class ke baad, Fatima apni kitaabein lekar library gayi. Wahan hamesha silence rehta tha, sirf pages ke palatne ki awaz. Ayan casual walk karte hue andar aaya, jaise library uske liye picnic spot ho. Usne ek table choose ki, aur fateh se woh wahi tha jahan Fatima baithi thi. Usne ek pen uthaya aur Fatima ki taraf dekh kar bola: "Excuse me, tumhare paas extra pen hai? Mera likhna band ho gaya." Fatima ne sirf ek second uski aankhon me dekha, phir apne bag se ek simple black pen nikal kar uske saamne rakh diya. "Please dhyaan se use karna. Ye mera favourite hai." Ayan ko ajeeb sa shock laga. Usually ladkiyan usse baat karne me sharmaati thi, lekin is ladki ne directly aur confidently jawab diya. Usne pen uthaya, smile karte hue bola: "Thanks. Waise tum itni serious kyu ho hamesha? Ek smile karogi to duniya roshan ho jaayegi." Fatima ne apni kitab se nazar nahi uthayi. "Main yahan padhne aati hoon, jokes sunne nahi."
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Us raat Ayan hostel wapas aaya to Sameer ko bola: "Bhai, ajeeb hai ye Sheikh ladki. Pehli hai jo meri taraf dekhti bhi nahi properly. Mujhe ignore kar diya usne." Sameer ne tease kiya: "Bas wahi wali fass gayi lagta hai tujhe. Samajh gaya main, Mirza sahab." Ayan chup raha, lekin uske chehre pe ek halki si soch ki lakeer thi. Kya sach me woh uske dil me ghus gayi thi?
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Coaching ke agle din phir wahi routine tha. Physics ki class shuru hone se pehle hi Ayan ne Rizwan ko kaan me kaha: "Bhai, aaj us Sheikh ladki se ek proper baat karunga." Rizwan ne hansi dabaayi. "Good luck, playboy Mirza."
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Fatima aaj bhi apne notebook me neatly date likh kar lecture note kar rahi thi. Ayan thoda jhuk kar uske saamne aaya. "Ek baat poochun?" Fatima ne sir utha kar dekha, aankhon me seedhi aur clear nazar thi. "Kya?" "Tum hamesha aise serious kyun rehti ho? Kabhi chill karti ho ya nahi?" Fatima ne calmly kaha: "Serious rehna buri baat hai kya? Padhne aaye ho, padhai karo. Mujhe useless baaton me interest nahi hai." Ayan halka sa hans pada. "Arrey, main to bas dosti karna chahta hoon." Fatima ne pen rakha aur seedha jawab diya: "Main unnecessary dosti nahi karti." Poore class me ek awkward silence chha gaya. Ayan ko pehli baar laga jaise kisi ne uski image pe thappad mara ho. Usko aadat thi ke ladkiyan uski baaton pe blush karti thi, lekin yeh ladki alag thi.
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Break time pe Ayan ne Sameer aur Rizwan ko kaha: "Bhai, is Sheikh ladki me kuch to baat hai. Matlab… ye kisi ko line nahi deti. Mujhe challenge lag raha hai ab." Sameer ne tease kiya: "Challenge? Yaad rakh Mirza, kabhi kabhi dil ke challenges khatarnaak hote hain." Ayan ne hans ke kaha: "Dil ke aur dil todne ke dono maamle me main expert hoon."
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Do din baad…
Library ka quiet atmosphere. Fatima apni chemistry ki thick book khol kar baithi thi. Ayan aaya, is baar bina permission ek seat kheench kar uske opposite baith gaya. "Tumhare notes kaise itne perfect hote hain? Mere notes to ekdum khichdi lagte hain." Fatima ne seedhi baat kahi: "Tum attention se sunoge to tumhare bhi perfect banenge." "Attention? Main to hamesha teacher ki aankhon me dekhta hoon…" Ayan ne cheeky smile di. Fatima ne apni kitab close karke kaha: "Please, mujhe disturb mat karo. Agar padhna hai to seriously padho."
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Us din raat hostel me Ayan apne bed pe ulta lete hue soch raha tha. "Yaar, yeh ladki serious hai, boring hai… fir bhi mujhe irritate kyun kar rahi hai? Uski aankhon me kuch alag hai…" Lekin usne apni feelings ko ignore kar diya. "Nahi, main to sirf maze ke liye khel raha hoon."
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Fatima ka Ghar
Sham ko Fatima ghar aayi. Uski ammi ne khana lagate hue kaha: "Beta, aaj coaching kaisa tha?" Fatima ne calmly jawab diya: "Waisa hi. Notes likhe. Lecture suna." Ammi muskuraayi. "Tumhara discipline dekh ke mujhe khushi hoti hai. Allah tumhe kamyabi de." Fatima ne apni diary nikali aur likhne lagi: "Aaj ek ladka phir mujhse baat karne aaya. Naam Ayan hai. Lagta hai padhai se zyada usko show-off ka shauk hai. Mujhe aise logon me interest nahi. Mujhe sirf apne goals aur Allah ki raza ki fikr hai."
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Group Activity (Coaching me)
Ek hafte baad teacher ne bola: "Next week ek group project hoga. Aapko 4–4 ke groups me kaam karna hai. Random selection hoga." Luck aisi thi ke Ayan aur Fatima ek hi group me aa gaye, saath me Sameer aur Hina bhi. Rizwan ne peechhe se Ayan ko tease kiya: "Lo Mirza, Allah ne tumhari dua sun li." Ayan ne smile di. "Ab to maze hi maze hain." Project ke liye sabko library me milna tha. Fatima notes le aayi, Hina books laayi. Ayan late aaya, hands me chips ka packet aur cold drink. Fatima ne irritate hoke kaha: "Ye study time hai, picnic ka time nahi." Ayan ne hans kar kaha: "Relax Miss Sheikh, tumhari tension hi puri duniya ka weight uthaa rahi hai." Fatima ne directly uski aankhon me dekha: "Tumhe agar padhai nahi karni to mat karo, lekin dusron ka waqt waste mat karo." Ayan ki smile ek second ke liye fade ho gayi. Usne pehli baar mehsoos kiya ke ye ladki seriously boundaries set kar rahi hai.
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Raat ko hostel me Rizwan ne bola: "Bhai, ab kya? Challenge abhi bhi chal raha hai?" Ayan ne thoda chup hoke kaha: "Haan… chal raha hai. Lekin ye ladki samajh mein nahi aa rahi. Har koi mujhe ignore nahi kar sakta… lekin ye kar rahi hai."
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Library ka ek corner, table par 4 students baithe the. Ek taraf Fatima aur Hina, doosri taraf Ayan aur Sameer. Books ka dher laga tha. Ayan ne chair pe chill style me baithte hue kaha: "Dekho, project ka simple funda hai. Main introduction likh dunga, Sameer conclusion, Hina research karegi, aur Fatima… tum sabka final edit kar lena. Done?" Fatima ne cold expression ke saath kaha: "Group project team work hota hai. Sabko equal kaam karna chahiye." Ayan hans pada. "Team work? Yaani tum chaahti ho main bhi boring notes likhun?" Fatima ne seedhe jawab diya: "Boring nahi. Useful. Agar tumhe sirf maze karne hain to better hoga tum group change kar lo." Table par ek silence chaa gya. Sameer aur Hina ne ek doosre ko dekha, aur Sameer ne softly bola: "Arrey Ayan, chill kar bhai. Thoda kaam kar lenge to kya bigad jayega?" Ayan ne ek second Fatima ko ghoora, fir pen uthaya aur bola: "Fine, madam. Main bhi likhta hoon. Ab to khush?"
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Ek aur Din –
Library Meeting Dusre din group library me fir mila. Ayan pehli baar seriously notes le kar aaya tha. Fatima ne aankhon se dekha, par kuch kaha nahi. Kaam karte karte Hina ne bola: "Fatima, tum to class me hamesha top karti ho. Itna focus kaise maintain karti ho?" Fatima ne halka sa smile diya. "Bas, niyyat clear ho. Padhai sirf degree ke liye nahi, apni zindagi aur akhirat dono behtar karne ke liye honi chahiye." Ayan ne casual tone me kaha: "Aakhirat? Matlab tum seriously sochti ho ki padhaai ka religion se connection hai?" Fatima ne pen table pe rakha. Uska chehra calm tha, lekin baaton me gehraayi thi: "Haan. Ilm seekhna ibadat hai. Agar niyyat sahi ho to har equation solve karna bhi reward hai." Ayan ek pal ke liye chup ho gaya. Ye pehli baar tha jab kisi ne uske saamne aise lafz bole. Usne hamesha padhai ko bas ek "degree + career" ka raasta samjha tha. Usne half-smile ke saath kaha: "Interesting… tumhari baatein alag hoti hain. Mujhe lagta tha tum bas boring bookworm ho." Fatima ne calmly jawab diya: "Main apna time un cheezon me waste nahi karti jo kal kaam na aayen."
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Break ke waqt Fatima ek taraf diary me kuch likh rahi thi. Ayan ne curiosity me pucha: "Tum har jagah diary le kar aati ho. Kya likhti ho isme?" Fatima ne diary close kar di. "Woh mera personal aur Allah ke saath ka rishta hai. Tumhe samajhna mushkil hoga." Ayan ne thoda tease karte hue kaha: "Tumhe lagta hai main sirf time pass wala ladka hoon?" Fatima ne directly aankhon me dekh ke kaha: "Lagta nahi… tum ho." Ayan pehli baar khamosh ho gaya. Uske playboy ego pe chot lagi thi. Lekin andar kahi ek ajeeb si curiosity jag gayi thi. --- Hostel Scene Raat ko hostel me Rizwan aur Sameer ke saath bed pe late hue Ayan ne kaha: "Yaar, yeh Fatima Sheikh kuch alag hai. Matlab… koi ladki aise meri insult kar ke bhi mujhe itna interesting lag sakti hai, ye socha bhi nahi tha." Rizwan ne hansi udayi: "Bhai, lagta hai playboy ka dil pighal raha hai." Ayan ne turant deny kar diya: "Arrey, aisa kuch nahi. Main bas… bas curious hoon. Challenge samajh ke kar raha hoon." Lekin andar kahin na kahin usko feel ho raha tha ke ye bas challenge nahi, kuch aur hai.
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Fatima ka Diary Entry
Us raat Fatima ne diary me likha: "Aaj Ayan ne kuch serious baatein ki. Shayad pehli baar usne lecture dhyaan se suna. Shayad uske andar kuch acha bhi ho… Lekin mujhe apni hadain nahi todni. Main jaanti hoon, uska style, uska lifestyle mere raaaste se bohot door hai."
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Coaching ka mahaul hamesha apne andaaz me hi tha. White board par teacher ne bada sa diagram bana diya tha aur announce kiya: "Aaj group discussion hoga — 4-4 students ek group banayenge. Topic: Medical Ethics." Sab students ek dusre ko dekhne lage. Groups banne shuru hue. Destiny ki game dekho — Ayan aur Fatima ek hi group me aa gaye, sath me do aur ladke bhi the. Ayan ne apna bag kursi ke peechhe phenka aur mast si muskaan ke sath bola: "Chalo bhai, aaj humari team jeetegi. Main leader hoon." Fatima ne seedha uski taraf dekha, thoda serious expression: "Leader hone ke liye padhna padta hai. Tumhe to sirf masti karni aati hai." Group ke doosre ladke hansne lage. Ayan ne apni ghadi check ki aur bada attitude me bola: "Knowledge to hai… bas main sabse alag style me dikhata hoon. Tumhare jaisi boring speeches nahi deta." Fatima ka jawab turant aaya: "Science aur medicine boring speeches se nahi, serious study se banti hai, Mr. Attitude." Teacher ki aankhon ke saamne dono thoda argue kar rahe the. Teacher ne hasa kar kaha: "Bas karo tum dono. Ek din doctor ban jaoge to patients tumhari ladaai dekh kar hi theek ho jayenge." Class hasne lagi. Ayan bhi hass kar Fatima ki taraf dekhta raha. Fatima ne diary kholi aur likhne lagi — uski habit thi har important cheez note karne ki.
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Library Scene
Sham ko Ayan library gaya, asal me padhna kam tha lekin use chance chahiye tha Fatima ko phir dekhne ka. Wahan Fatima pehle se baithi thi, ek moti si book "Human Anatomy" khol kar. Uske saamne chai ka ek thermos rakha tha. Ayan seedha uske paas gaya aur bola: "Arrey wah, tum to library ki permanent resident lagti ho. Rent dete ho kya yahan?" Fatima ne aankhen uthaye bina jawab diya: "Tumhe problem hai? Study karne aaye ho to karo. Nahi to time waste mat karo." Ayan kursi kheench kar saamne baith gaya: "Main to tumhe disturb karne aya hoon." Fatima finally uski taraf dekhi, annoyance clear thi. "Tumhe koi aur kaam nahi? Har jagah masti, har jagah attitude. Tum zindagi ko serious kab loge?" Ayan thoda lean hoke muskara kar bola: "Meri zindagi ek Netflix series hai… aur tum uski serious documentary. Balance hona chahiye na?" Fatima chup ho gayi, bas usne apni diary me kuch likha aur book ke andar slip kar diya.
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Library se nikalte waqt dono ek hi raste se bahar aaye. Ayan ne casual tone me bola: "Tumhari diary me kya likha hai? Mujhe bhi padha do." Fatima ne seedhi nazar uski aankhon me daal kar kaha: "Tumhe samajhne ke liye abhi bohot waqt lagega, Ayan Mirza." Aur chal di. Ayan uske peeche dekhte hue sirf itna socha: "Challenge accepted."