Luna stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes looked red like she had been crying, the lady in the mirror didn’t look like the Luna of say a year back, no, this Luna looked sad, dispirited, lean, and pale. Covering her hair with a veil, she was thinking who it was that wanted to see her by this time, it was already some minutes to 9pm, and she had retired for the night, when Usman knocked and told her a lady wanted to see her. As she stepped out the front yard, she saw a graceful looking lady standing with her back to her.
“Assalamualaikum,” Luna announced, standing a little distance away, “did you ask to see me?”
At the sound of the beautiful feminine voice, Risha drew a deep breath, trying to summon as much courage as she had left. Turning slowly, she observed the other lady, her breath caught at the sight of Luna, such beauty, such charm, such Nurr, Farhan’s description in his diary didn’t do her justice at all, this girl was beauty in human form, she was almost the same height as Risha, her long yet shapely face, bright sleepy eyes, beautiful female nose and curvy red lips. She had no makeup on but it seemed her face glowed, with her body decently covered with her veil, she looked so pure, so decent. All in all, she was the most beautiful creature Risha had ever beheld.
Luna smiled a little self-consciously, feeling uncomfortable with how the lady was looking at her with so much interest.
“Wa alaikum salaam” Risha replied in a gentle voice, coming closer, she said, “yes I asked to see you, sorry it’s so late, it’s just that its very urgent I speak to you.”
Still confused but beginning to relax a little in the presence of the most beautiful girl she ever saw. Luna smiled, “its ok, shall we go in?”
“Um no, I don’t think that is such a good idea, you won’t want me in your home when you know who I am.”
Luna eyes got a little bigger as her confusion increased “I don’t understand, who you are?”
Taking a deep breath and trying to steady her nerves “I am the lady that married Farhan” she said weakly, consciously avoiding the earlier “I am Farhan’s wife” that came to mind.
She watched as the smile dropped from Luna’s lips, her eyes filling with shock. “What?” Luna asked, her body beginning to shake. “You are Farhan’s wife?”
Risha nodded, looking down to hide her embarrassment.
Confused, Luna folded her arms across her chest, “Ok” she said in a surprisingly normal voice, “how can I help you?”
Risha looked at her at a loss for how to proceed, she hadn’t thought about this, she just knew she had to tell her, but now when she stood before Luna, her mind went blank. “I need to tell you something very important.” She said selecting her words one at a time, “about…about why Farhan agreed to marry me…about why he left.”
Luna felt anger grip her with full force. So, Farhan couldn’t come himself, couldn’t be man enough to face her? So instead he sent his wife?!!! Trying her best to keep her voice normal, she said, “with all due respect madam, I have nothing to discuss with you, if Farhan has something to say, he should say it himself.” with that she turned to leave.
“Farhan was forced to marry me,” Risha said as Luna walked away.
Luna stopped in her tracks instantly, turning slowly, she looked at the lady who now had tears in her eyes, “What?”
“Yes,” Risha said looking her straight in the eyes, he didn’t have a choice, he didn’t leave because he wanted to, he left because he had to and I don’t think he ever stopped loving you.”
Luna felt her heart beat rapidly as she processed every word the lady just said, she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
“There is a lot you need to know. “I understand just how angry and provoked you must be feeling, but please hear me out,” she pleaded.
“Ok, let’s go to the garden, we can’t talk here.”
“Thanks,” Risha whispered, grateful.

* * *
It took Risha about 20mins to tell her story, all the time, Luna just kept quiet, her chin resting on her knees as she held her folded legs with her arms. She looked lost her face devoid of any emotions, she just looked straight ahead.
When she finished, Risha took a deep breath, feeling a little better about what she had done. Although she could not bring herself to lose Farhan, to think of a life without him, she forced her mind not to think about such things at the moment, first she had to do what she knew was right. Her wounds can wait for later.
About five minutes passed and still, Luna hadn’t spoken, she just played with her toes, deep in thought. Finally, she raised her head, a sad smile on her lips, “so then, what now?”
“It’s not too late,” Risha said slowly, looking away to hide the pain “I will let Farhan go, you two can continue your life and I will never bother you again and if you can, please forgive me.”
“For the first time in my life I want hold a grudge.” Luna said smiling sadly, “I can’t say I am not angry at you right now, but I don’t think I hate you either. So yes, first and foremost, I forgive you, regardless of how the future turns out, I forgive you for everything. You also forgive yourself.”
Risha could not believe her ears, tears came to her eyes as she looked at Luna. “Really?” she whispered, “So easily?”
Luna smiled, “there is a condition though and I will tell you what that is later. As for your suggestion about returning Farhan to me, that is not as easy, you see, I am getting married in 5 days.”
“I know, that is why I came so urgently, so you won’t go ahead with it.”
Luna kept silent for a few minutes, finally she spoke, “I only have one question now and please be honest when you answer, a lot depends on it.”
“Anything,” Risha said, “just ask I promise I will be honest.”
“Do you love him?”
The question hit Risha like a thunder bolt, unexpectedly, her eyes filled with dread as she thought about her answer. Trying to smile, she said stammering, “That’s...that's not important is it? The important thing is that you both love each other and you belong together.”
“Yes, I love him,” Luna said standing up, “but so do you, right?”
Risha turned her back to hide her shame, how was she to answer that, what right did she have to answer that question? “Let’s just leave that,” she pleaded.
“You promised,” Luna said, “please tell me, it’s important I know everything. You love him don’t you?” She asked. her voice shaking a little.
Shamefacedly, Risha turned to face her with tears pouring she nodded looking down.
A pained expression came to Luna’s face, showing how much it hurt her to hear it. “And you are willing to let him go?” Luna asked, looking Risha deep in the eyes, “despite you love him, you will return him to me?”
With the tears pouring unchecked, Risha made up her mind, nodding her head determinedly she said, “I will, since that will make him happy, if that would make him smile genuinely even just once, then I am ready to let go.”
“Then he is yours,” Luna said taking a deep breath.
“Sorry?” Risha whispered genuinely confused, “I don’t understand, you just said you love him.”
“Yes, but you love him more” Luna whispered, tears beginning to fill her own eyes.
“How can you tell?” Risha asked confused. She couldn’t believe the turn their conversation had taken. “What is this girl saying?”
“That you love him more?” Luna asked smiling, “because I am a woman also, because I too love the man in question also and because I know just how precious Farhan is.” She said still smiling. “But you love him more” she continued, because you are willing to let him go, if that would make him happy. I know your love is greater because I can’t do that, I won’t do that, if I was in your place, I will never let him go, I will cling to him no matter what, I wouldn’t have let him go, not even to make him happy. You see? That’s how little my love for him is.”
“But aren’t you letting him go now? Aren’t you doing the same thing?” Risha argued.
“No, it’s different, you are married to him, I am not, you have an incentive to hold on, I don’t, but if I did, I assure you, I wouldn’t let him go. What I have done is put myself in your shoes. I wouldn’t do what you are doing now, I will keep him, using all means necessary, I just realised that to me Farhan is just like a trophy that I want to keep at all cost.”
“Then keep him,” Risha said seriously.
“That’s my point” Luna smiled through the tears, “he is not a trophy, he is a human being, a person with feelings also.”
“But he loves you,” Risha protested.
“Yes, I don’t doubt that, I never did, but he will love you also, that’s if he doesn’t already, you are such a lovable person, your beauty, your manners, your selfless nature, your undoubted love for him, all that could not have passed Farhan’s attention. He deserves your love not mine; you will make him happy, more than I ever can. You will take care of his feelings better than I can.”
Risha almost screamed, “please just stop, you are almost convincing me, I don’t need that now, I need to be focused, I had a goal in mind when I came here.”
“Now, let me give another goal,” Luna said coming to hold Risha’s hand, “make him happy for yourself and me, ensure he is never sad, he deserves the best and that’s you.”
“Please don’t do this,” Risha pleaded, “I don’t know how I would do all that, I am not qualified to be his wife, I don’t deserve him.”
“Your fate doesn’t seem to agree with your words,” Luna smiled. “Remember I said I have a condition for forgiving you?”
Risha nodded.
“Well, this is it; you have to do this for me, take good care of him for both of us.” Luna said, her tears flowing.
“But…” Risha tried to argue.
“No buts, you promised, if you don’t take care of him and I find out, if I ever hear that you hurt him, I will find you and we will have the fight we didn’t have today. Mind you, I know karate, so don’t look forward to it.” Luna smiled cleaning her tears.
Risha didn’t know whether to cry or laugh, certainly this was a dream. “What about you?” Risha asked looking deep inside Luna’s eyes. “What about your happiness?”
“Don’t worry about me, I will cry a few days, but after that I will be ok,” she smiled determinedly. “I am really glad you came, all this while, I couldn’t even think straight my whole world has just been upside down, now I feel I am back in control.”
“Do you love him?” Risha asked, “This man you are getting married to?”
“Khalid?” she asked smiling. “To be honest I don’t really know, but I do know that he loves me unconditionally, I did not hide anything from him and still knowing everything, he accepted me, comforted me. He is not Farhan, but he is special in his own way. But I will not rush into marriage now, I will take some time to think. I know Farhan can love you because I know I am beginning to love Khalid also. You don’t make someone love you Risha, all you do is be someone who is worthy of being loved, Khalid is such a person and so are you, I am smart enough to see that, so don’t worry about Farhan, he is smarter than me, he will realise it also, soon enough.”
Risha just starred at her in disbelief.
“It’s getting late Luna said, I should go in. I would like to say we should be friends, but honestly, I am too angry at you right now to say that, don’t get me wrong, I have forgiven you, but still I am angry at you, don’t worry though, it will pass, it always does. One day, you and I would be great friends just wait and see.” Cleaning her tears, she said good night and turned to leave, but before stepping out of the garden, she stopped and said, “Risha, don’t give him up for anything, I am leaving him for you, don’t leave him to anyone else, not even himself. Promise me that,” she said seriously.
At a loss for words and still not believing this was happening, Risha just nodded slowly.
“Good Luna said, a genuine smile brightening her face. Till we meet again.”
As soon as she was out of ear shot of the garden, Luna busted into tears, dissolving into her emotions, it wasn’t regret, no she did not regret what she had done, it was the right thing and she knew it. Deep down, she felt relieved and a certain peace, knowing why Farhan left, made it a lot easier to bare. The thought had been killing her slowly, not knowing why he left, marrying someone else without so much as a word, now she understood and respected him even more. The pain she was feeling right now, she knew it would pass. “Two more days of crying tops,” she thought smiling through her tears, “pillow, you are in trouble,” she whispered still smiling.
And Risha? She didn’t know what else to do, she had never expected their meeting to turn out like this, she didn’t know what to think, didn’t know what to do next. Like a wandering spirit, she walked to her car, her state of mind in no better condition than it was when she had arrived.
Hanifah smiled at her as she got in looking very exhausted, “how did it go?” She asked hopefully.
“Honestly, I can’t say, right now I am totally blank Nifah, my brain is no longer working according to my will. I don’t seem to have achieved anything though, I couldn’t convince her…”
“It’s ok dear, everything would be fine, you have done your best, and you look exhausted, I will take you home.”
“No, lets drop you off first, I can drive myself home.”
“Are you sure?” Hanifah wasn’t convinced.
“Yes,” she smiled, “I can manage don’t worry.”
As they drove, Hanifah glanced at her, “what do you think of her? Luna I mean.”
Thinking for a few seconds, she replied, “other than Farhan, the best person I have ever met.”