LOVE 'S FIRE

CCEveryone loves at least once in their life. This is a proverb, the truth of

CHAPTER 1

which I have no argument. But I think that there is also a phrase that is 100 percent true, but everyone is afraid to say it. Perhaps because this phrase is an admission of mistakes and shortcomings ... of those mistakes and shortcomings, which we realize when the time to correct them has passed. That phrase is'' Everyone regrets at least once in their life''. It is true that we all regret. Sometimes for some haste, sometimes for some delay, sometimes for some lack of courage, sometimes for some unnecessary boldness, sometimes for some decision, sometimes for some expediency. And sometimes for the entire past life, sometimes this regret is just a momentary feeling and sometimes it covers the rest of our life.

Who says life can never be explained? While cemeteries full of dead bodies are nature's universities, and every person buried two feet underground is a professor of life.

So why is it that we are born, die but do not live because we have only learned to live time. We have never lived life and when this time runs out, we wonder what was the measure that we used to measure and weigh in the book of time throughout our lives? And is there any formula that can tell us that profit is nothing but a guide and loss can only give us loss. While the truth is that when does life give us profit? This is the profit of loss. We were very comfortable in nothingness, then we were transformed into existence by this life and came to this contradictory world, that is, we were put to a test and in a test there is neither hope of profit nor loss. But surprisingly, we still keep compiling a list of losses.

Life would have passed as it was supposed to pass... At least there would have been no time to leave, if we had closed the account of the loss we had, perhaps life would have become a little easier. But we don't understand and time is running out. Sometimes it's someone else's, sometimes it's ours... This game has been played for centuries. We come. We make the straight paths complicated for ourselves and say this and pass away.

Maliha Farooqi 26 May 1977

She was searching among the crowd of unfamiliar faces for someone she might recognize when suddenly, someone called her name.

“Tania!”

She turned toward the voice and waved excitedly.

“Faiza!”

Both of them walked quickly toward each other and, upon meeting, embraced warmly.

“Congratulations on your brother’s engagement,” Tania said as she stepped back.

“Thanks,” Faiza replied with a smile, accepting the wishes.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to your future sister-in-law,” Faiza said, taking Tania’s hand and leading her up to the stage.

Tania greeted Faiza’s brother, then smiled shyly at the neatly dressed girl sitting beside him—the bride-to-be. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she and Faiza stepped down from the stage together.

“She’s not here? I could’ve sworn I just saw her,” Faiza said, glancing around as her eyes swept across the guests. Then, taking Tania along, she began moving forward again.

“Hey, listen,” Tania said, addressing her friend who was still walking and politely greeting guests along the way.

“Hmm?” Faiza turned to look at her.

“He didn’t come?”

“Who? What are you talking about?” she replied with a playful smile, pretending not to understand.

“Your cousin’s,” Tania said seriously.

Faiza, however, was still in a playful mood.

“I don’t have any cousins here,” she replied carelessly, her indifference at its peak.

“I’m asking about Shayan,” Tania insisted at last, clearly frustrated.

“Oh, him?” Faiza said teasingly. Before she could say more, Tania lightly hit her arm.

“Why are you hitting me?” Faiza laughed. “He’ll come. His police training just ended; he hasn’t received his posting orders yet. And honestly, what better way to pass time than crashing an engagement party?”

Before she could continue, she caught Tania’s disapproving glance from across the hall, clearly siding with Tania. Faiza rolled her eyes but tried to ignore it, turning the conversation away.

Tania stood beside her again and asked firmly,

“So, Shayan is your cousin in what way exactly?”

“Actually, my mother and his mother are cousins,” Faiza explained.

“I see…” Tania said, looking ahead—then her eyes suddenly froze. A tall figure in a dark blue suit was walking toward them, his expression unreadable. It was Shayan.

Tania grabbed Faiza by the arm and shook her lightly.

''Shayan arrived''

“Thank God! Otherwise you would have killed me.” she whispered.

Faiza turned her head and saw Shayan approaching straight toward them.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, stopping beside them.

“She’s just so overjoyed to see you that she was about to strangle me out of excitement,” Faiza said helplessly.

Shayan looked at the two of them—first at Tania, whose hands were still resting on Faiza’s shoulders, then at Faiza herself, whose face was a mix of embarrassment and defiance.

Tania blinked, folded her arms, and said firmly,

“Behave yourself.”

“I am behaving,” Faiza shot back. “Anyway, arguing with people like you is a losing game.”

Then, turning to leave, she added, “Don’t move from here. I’ll go bring him something to drink.”

As she walked away, Shayan smiled faintly and asked,

“Did you actually hit her?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Tania replied coolly. “You have no idea how much she loves to act dramatic.”

Tania.”

After a brief silence, Shayan called her name. She lifted her head and looked at him.

“What is it?” she asked softly.

Brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face, she turned toward him with quiet composure. He smiled faintly.

“This is the first time I’m seeing you all dressed up like this. You look nice.”

She hesitated for a moment. It was true—she usually dressed very simply, often blending into the crowd. But today, she looked entirely different. The embroidered outfit, matching jewelry, and light makeup made her stand out in a way she rarely allowed herself to. Even her hair, usually tied up in a braid, now fell freely over her shoulders.

Shayan direct compliment caught her off guard. Though there was nothing improper in his words, she still felt a strange unease and quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.

“You don’t usually say such things,” she said, breaking the silence.

“Well,” he replied, “I just thought I’d compliment you a little. You like being praised, don’t you? And honestly, no matter who it is, when they’re praised—they always give in so easily.”

“And what exactly is it that you want me to give in to?” she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly, trying to read him.

Shayan didn’t answer right away. He stayed silent for a few moments, as though arranging his thoughts carefully—then began to speak slowly.

other on next day... get well soon