Love Across The Lines

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 44; the forty-fourth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. 

Ayesha’s gaze fell like a grenade on him. He became breathless and blindfolded. Suddenly, the world turned blank for him. And this ― and this was not the first time he was going bonkers over her beauty.  

Ayesha, his junior, was hauntingly beautiful. Her 1000 watt smile alone could warm an Everest, he thought.

And then she was wearing that cream-colored salwar kameez that complemented her fair skin so well.  As she sashayed in the direction of her desk, the entire class seemed to eye her, but she ― she had her eyes only for Aahan – the Ice Prince.

“Look, she’s eyeing you,” one of his friends had mocked playfully at him.

“Hey!” guys give me a break,” he heard himself say, and then gritting his teeth had looked the other way.

                                                                 ###

A second year arts student of St. Michael’s college, Mahim, Ayesha was everything that Aahan was not. She was breathtakingly beautiful; she had an amiable personality; she was an avid reader and writer etcetera, etcetera. All these qualities gave Aahan great complex. In fact, she used to ghost write for one of the leading magazines in the city. His friends, once mentioned that she had connections that helped her publish stories, but Aahan took these allegations with a pinch of salt.

Aahan, the admirable singer, Aahan the awesome sculptor was literally in awe of Ayesha. 

“Undoubtedly, Aahan and Ayesha look great together, but aren't they as different as chalk and cheese.” Guessing their relationship status was the favorite time-pass talk of the college, considering their diverse backgrounds.”

                                                                 ### 

The festival season was full-on in the college campus. Festival season, in other words, was meant to be a dating season in the college. Love was in the air. It was also the time of the year when the seniors and juniors, keeping their differences aside, got their acts together. It was also that time of the year when you could freely freak out; damn the classes. It was also the time of the year when no-nonsense Professors, for a change, would turn a blind eye to students’ idiosyncrasies.

                                                                ###                         

“Hey, Aahan are you participating in the singing competition,” inquired Ayesha, trying to make light of the situation.  “I heard top celebrities from Bollywood are going to grace the occasion. It would be golden opportunity for you to showcase your talent to the outside world.”

Aahan’s heart leapt, adrenalin surged, his nostrils taking in the sweet smell of  her perfume. But except for flashing a smile and nodding his head in acknowledgment, he turned blank as usual. All he could gather was a mild “Uh, huh ya, ya ya ya .”

But what he left unsaid was, “I am quite confident of myself, just don’t give me that look of yours… Ayesha”.

                                                                ###

Aahan climbed on the stage confidently. Within no time he was his usual self, belting out melodious songs of yesteryear's. The college auditorium reverberated with his mellifluous voice.  The applause and you-are-too-good-to-be-here expression on the judges’ face propelled Aahan on to a higher plane. He was totally lost in his songs…

But then suddenly his eyes fell on Ayesha. That was enough. He stood there, stunned and startled. Hypnotized. Despite his best efforts, he seemed to forget his lines. Panic crept up his throat. His friends, standing at the sidelines, knew it was a gone case now: Aahan, the singer was gone now, and Aahan the ashique of Ayesha had taken him over completely. Even then they continued cheering him. 

“Aahan sing,”shouted his friends. But Aahan had gone deaf to their pleas.

When cheers were replaced by cat-calls and boo, it was then Aahan got a sense of his surroundings... that he was standing in the middle of the stage and making an ass out of himself. In no time, he hurried down the stage and found an empty room for himself to hide his embarrassment. 

Quietly, he closed the door and knocked his head against it, thinking, “How could he act so cowardly? Idiot, Idiot, Idiot.  It was really idiotic of him to behave so spinelessly, that too before an august audience and Ayesha. How would Ayesha react to this?” 

                                                               ###

The next day after the lectures, Aahan along with his gang of friends were busy executing a class project. The semesters were fast approaching and they had to complete the assigned projects ASAP. Aahan was so involved in sculpting the Taj Mahal miniature that he didn’t realize Ayesha was nearby. He realized her presence only when she touched him on his shoulders.

With a jerk he looked up. The touch was shocking yet excruciatingly pleasurable...and...and...
He loved this feeling. His heart raced a mile-a-minute. As calmly as he could, he blurted out. “Ahem! Ah! Ah! How are you Ayesha?” as he used every ounce of his will power to maintain his composure.  

Without saying a word, she motioned him to join her. Both of them walked towards a quiet corner of the campus. After a short silence, Ayesha rummaging through her silk jhola bag held out a Shakespeare’s book and a CD for him.

 “Romeo and Julliet! Is this for me?” Aahan questioned coming out of his hypnotic trance.

“Yes, of course,” she murmured and smilingly went her way.

Aahan knew what the book meant. But just to confirm his doubts he asked one of his friends.

“What do you think? Has she proposed me through this book and CD.”

“Of course.”

Aahan felt elated. He liked Ayesha a lot, but always failed to express his feelings, given her background and religion. But, now with her proposing, there’s was a new ray of hope in his life.

“The made for each other feeling' may not just remain a feeling but a real fact of life, after all”, pondered Aahan. 

                                                             ###

Ayesha’s worried friends, on the other hand, dissuaded her from displaying her feelings for Aahan.

But she seemed completely taken by Aahan’s innocence and talent. He was knight in the shining armor for her. 

“ O Mere Maula’ Ayesha, you proposed Aahan, proposed Aahan, of all people ― a Hindu.” Said her friends. Ayesha felt offended and simply stomped off the college corridors.  She knew the proposal will lead to one of the biggest emotional upheavals of her life. She knew that she was a Pakistani ambassador’s daughter, which might make matters even worse for her.  

                                                             ###

Despite Ayesha’s parental reluctance and resistance, Aahan and Ayesha tied the knot after three years of courtship. They were wed both according to the Hindu and Muslim rites.  The best part being Allah and Ishwar did come together support their love, because contrary to her belief, matters turned out to be smooth in the Aahan household.  

Her in-laws were pretty accommodating.  While Aahan was busy establishing himself as a sculptor, Ayesha focused on fine-tuning her cooking skills.  

“Your Pakistani delicacies taste so good,” her MlL told her time and again, encouraging her to widen her cooking knowledge. “Given your writing skills, who knows you could author a cookbook some day.”   

Within no time the stork came calling and the beautiful couple was blessed with twins ― a girl and a boy. The couple led a jolly good life, until one day she heard an unusal knock at the door.
                                                                   ###

Uniformed visitors were at their door steps. Ayesha answered the door. The sight of police at her doorstep gave her goose bumps. They simply barged in and within no time she was handcuffed. Her in-laws came rushing in to her aid. Since Aahan was not at home, they couldn’t do much to help her.  

“It’s is a police case. We should not get involved.” “Moreover, she’s a Pakistani, this had to happen sooner or later.” The neighbours gossiped.

When Aahan reached the police station, he was informed by the officials that his wife’s visa had expired and plus her Pakistani passport was not revalidated. So, the next day she would be presented in the session court, where the future course of action will be decided on.

                                                                  ### 

The session court judge directed the Mumbai government to deport her to Pakistan. The court deportation order hit Aahan and Ayesha like a lightning bolt. They both broke down in the court. Suddenly their beautiful world came crumbling down.

Ayesha pleaded with the judge saying that she had no one to go to in Pakistan after spending 15 long years in India. In fact, her parents would be upset with her return.

The judge fired back saying, you had enough time to extend your visa and passport. Since you had taken your stay in India for granted, you have to face the music.

Aahan and Ayesha were so busy in their world that they never realized that her visa and passport had expired. She was overstaying in India illegally.

                                                                  ###

Aahan was not ready to give up on the only love of his life so easily. He appealed to the higher courts on humanitarian grounds. He pleaded with them, saying if she was sent back, she would probably be killed by terror outfits for marrying a Hindu. And if not the terror groups, then her parents would. After all honor killing was a new-age phenomenon.

The lawyers and judges turned deaf ears. The law of the land has to prevail, they said. 
“Nothing doing deport her,” came the judgment.

                                                                   ###

Aahan didn’t have the heart to send Ayesha back to the terror state.  But what could he do now. He simply caught hold off her hand and rushed towards the waiting car.  

The police stood there stunned, trying to comprehend the situation…but everything was over in matter of seconds.

                                                                   ###

In no time they were on a flight to Dubai. Yes, Aahan had an inkling that it would be sometime before Ayesha's passport and visa could be extended, so settling down in a neutral country was a safer option.  

Today, the Aahan family has made Dubai their abode, for they had experienced enough enmity and bitterness in their own respective countries. They didn't want their children to grow in such a hostile, inhospitable environs. SO they decided...better to live in land where their religion and nationality never aroused suspicion. Better to live in a land where they do not have to fear losing their loved ones to communal clashes. Better live in a land where they could really live and love each other forever. 

P.S. I've changed the climax of the story becoz I and my fellow bloggers were not too happy killing the protagonist. 

This is a fictional story, but the fact of the matter is that today you will find many Pakistani women who lead separate lives away from their Indian husband and kids because of inconvenient visa and passport extension issues. 

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Participation Count: 03

Credits :
Image - Love in the air by Anand
Courtesy - Apple Blossom's Photography via www.blogaton.in