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Short Story Contest 2019
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TO THE MOON AND NEVER BACK…
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“Sonia gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.” I was on the phone with my mother who informed me about my cousin’s son. “When will my turn come to become a grandmother” I snickered at her bluntness. My mom has no boundaries. I told her I was at work and got off the phone. It’s not like I don’t want kids. We both do but we just started trying. Babies don’t magically happen. I can’t make people understand it though. I get busy with work as I see Bazruj’s name flash on my phone. My mom called him inviting us for dinner. I text him to brace himself for what’s to come.
Dinner at my mom’s place are part of our weekends but any good news in the family calls for more dinner and lunch plans followed by lectures on our poor family planning skills. Bazruj has been a gem in these situations. He knows how to get us out of the muddy waters. I’m so thankful for him.
On our way back from dinner he tries to cheer me up. We are both in the same boat but all these conversations about babies and pregnancies affect me more. He sees it. He is the only thing keeping me sane and together in this madness.
4th March 2013
Happy Birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday Iqra Happy Birthday to you! I roll on my back as I see my charming husband with the breakfast tray. It’s my birthday and this amazing man never forgets. He feeds me a bite of pancake and I smile. He starts making dinner plans as I get up. He has no idea about the surprise I have for him.
We meet at dinner around 8 where Bazruj gives me the most perfect diamond bracelet I wear it immediately. Then I say “My turn”. He looks and says “to do what?” To which I say “For your present”. I hand him the report Dr.Tahira gave me. He opens it and his eyes are filled with tears and we look at each other and we both are crying. We are pregnant!
6th July 2013
I toss and turn to the sounds of hospital machines. The last memory I have is of standing in my kitchen while making breakfast for Bazruj. What am I doing here? I turn and I see Bazruj sitting next to mehis eyes empty his expression grim. He looks at me and I see a tear escaping his eye. I get up and look around I am in a hospital bed. He reaches for me and hugs me as I start sobbing. That was my first miscarriage. We both hold each other and try to comfort each other.
8th Nov 2017
Life has taken a painful turn. What was once a fairytale has turned into a nightmare. I can’t look him in the eyes. Three miscarriages and an IVF later our marriage is now more of a show where people are bound by a contract to act nice to each other and show affection when people are around. When we are alone there is this wall between us which we can’t seem to break. Each day brings more pain than happiness. Each day our love ebbs away. All of this is because of me and my body. It has failed me again. My body which appears to be strong and built on all this fat cannot carry a child.
My uterus is not allowing the fetus to grow creating a hostile environment for it. I am single handedly responsible for depriving my loyal, loving wonderful husband of the greatest joy of life. I am tired of going to doctors’ appointments. They all recommend the same tests the same treatments the same pain over and over again. Bazruj was strong through most of it but now he has stopped making the efforts he used to.
We don’t communicate like before. There is this void in our lives which we are unable to fill. It’s eating away at us but we are letting our lives pass just like time is passing us and our chances of becoming parents are becoming slim to none.
2nd January 2018
“She says it’s a new treatment. It has worked for many women. It has proven effective for women like me.” I tell my mom as I put the dinner in the microwave. “Have you spoken to him about it?” “He isn’t home yet. It’s a bit busy at the café. I will tell him as soon as he gets home.” “Bye darling be careful and let him process it before reacting too quickly” “Of course take care. I will le t you know what happens”
We are having dinner when I mention the treatment to him. I see the old warmth in his eyes he gets up and takes my hand. “As long as it’s safe for you I don’t care about the cost I’m here and we will do it if it makes you happy”. I sense a crack in the wall. There is that old warmth rekindling my hopes.
15th January 2018
It was our first doctor’s appointment. I got my prescription filled. Bazruj dropped me at work and headed to Islamabad where he had his meeting with a new investor regarding BLU’s expansion. I went to my office. Work has been a good distraction through this excruciating time. I check my laptop and reply to a few emails. Those are some heavy drugs. I take half day and go home. I will have the house to myself for two days and I don’t like the idea of being alone. I call Tania my best friend since kindergarten and offer her a girl’s weekend, she happily agrees and we decide to just stay in and chill. This will be therapeutic for me and will take my mind off of the baby stuff.
Tania has always been a strong shoulder to lean on. We have been through all the good and bad together. If I can count on anyone after Bazruj it’s her. We sit and chat and then decide to make dinner. It’s a long quiet evening. I tell her about the treatment she seems excited. We spend the rest of the evening reminiscing the past.
16th July 2018
It’s a beautiful morning. Bazruj wakes me up as I have to get ready for yet another appointment with the doctor. It’s my 4th month. The treatment is working fine. The number of appointments has increased due to our history. Bazruj is extra careful and he picks me up and drops me off to all of them. I have taken a break from work. My mom is here with me at all times. It has been quite a struggle but things are finally looking up.
Present 25th Nov 2018
I wake up and Bazruj is already up. He is getting dressed to leave for Islamabad. It’s his final meeting with the investors. I go into the kitchen and make coffee for him. He follows me there and we share a brief hug before he reaches for his cup. He seems like the old fierce passionate Bazruj I met on the day of the interview. I wish him luck and tell him to be careful while driving.
I make my way to the living room and switch on the television. There isn’t much to do around the house. I go through channels and stop to watch a serial. I don’t remember dosing off but I’m awaken by the shrill ringing of my mobile. It’s Bazruj. I look at the time. Its 3 already I attend the call but it’s not him at the other end. Someone is asking me how I’m related to him there is a faint noise of an ambulance nearby.
Bazruj has been in an accident he is serious and they are taking him to the nearby hospital. I can hear my heartbeat slow down. Why is this happening? Why now? Why? We are so close to becoming a family. Haven’t we suffered enough already? I am crying loudly when my mother snatches the phone from my hand gets the address and calms me. I’m dizzy I try to stand up but I can’t I feel an excruciating pain. I’m in labor my water just broke. My mother is on the phone arranging an ambulance for me. The pain is too much everything is getting dark I try to reach for my mother but instead I fall to the floor. It’s becoming darker and darker.
I open my eyes to the sound of a baby weeping. It’s bothering me. Where is this noise coming from? Why can’t Bazruj turn off the TV when he sleeps? I force my eyes open and reality sinks in. He isn’t here. It’s not our house. I hear the beeping machines and the memory of my miscarriage shoots through my mind. I try to sit up but it’s too draining my abdomen is in pain. I look around my mom is sitting next to me. She is holding something. She senses my movement and smiles at me. It’s my baby she is holding my baby. After 8 long years we are finally blessed with this miracle baby and he isn’t here.
I look at my mother and start to cry. I don’t know how long I cried. I didn’t even see her face. This is all too agonizing. My mom handed the baby to the nurse and tries to calm me. After a few moments I start to slow down. That’s when she tells me I am a mother to a beautiful healthy baby girl. I look at her and she instructs the nurse to hand me the baby. She looks exactly like him.
I try to open my mouth but my mom already holds my hand and tells me about Bazruj. He has had his surgery and he is in the ICU they will shift him to the ward as soon as he is stable. I’m relieved. He is still alive. I try to get up to see him but my mom pushes me down. I feel a lot better after knowing he is out of danger and decide to wait to see him. I’m so heavily sedated that I become drowsy again.
It’s been two days since the baby and the accident. Bazruj has not come around since his surgery. He is still unconscious. The doctors say he needs time. I can’t wait anymore. I beg my mother to take me to him. As I’m making my way towards his bed my hands are shaking. My strong perfect husband is lying and many machines are hitched to him. I stroke his hair and start to talk. “She is here Bazruj, our daughter Kainat. She is healthy and she is waiting for her dad to wake up. Its time, she wants to see you. She wants you to hold her. Our miracle has happened. I need you here she needs you here.” And I can’t help the tears from running down my face. I’m kneeling so they fall on his hand and I sense him move.
I look up at his face and he is staring at me and he is smiling. Through all these bruises I can see his smile he holds my hand and tell me he loves me and I say it back and to which he says ‘I love you to the moon and never back.’
5/10Thoroughly mediocre. Not even a good idea/concept.
I really liked it. A well-written story that kept me fully engaged. And ended in a HEA, yay!I'd have preferred a greater emphasis on character development though. It was nice to know the couple got their happy ending (a loving marriage and a healthy baby), but a clearer insight of what they learned from their experience and how it helped them become wiser and stronger (both as individuals and as a couple) might have added depth to the story.
I realise the word constraint probably prevented you from fleshing out the protagonists properly, but maybe you could have made them have some sort of an epiphany towards the end? Maybe about how precious life is and how we shouldn't get so hung up on things we lack that we forget to rejoice in what we do have. Or maybe about some other message you wished to convey. Just anything that matched with the storyline and indicated character growth.
However, that's only a matter of personal preference. Overall it was a great read, and I'd gladly rate it 8/10.
Speaking of which, I read in the rules it's necessary to rate all the stories, but unfortunately, I find it difficult to read outside my preferred genres (and greatly admire those who can, lol). Even if I manage to read all the stories, I might end up rating some of them less than what they deserve because:
(a) I didn't know how those genres should be written and thus couldn't evaluate them properly and/or
(b) they didn't match my personal preference and thus failed to engage me.
And that would be terribly unfair. So I probably won't be rating the other stories. I apologise, and I totally understand if the moderators disregard my rating of this story while calculating the final score :-)
Lastly, to the author: I don't know who you are, lol, but I'd love to read more from you. I'm very much into contemporary romances with HEA, and I believe you have what it takes to write well in this genre. Please continue writing and let me know when you publish more stories. Thank you and all the best :-)
I can sense my blood rushing through my veins. Is this how we feel when the things dearest to us are falling out of our hands? Why does it feel like I’m taking my final breathe? Is this how my life was supposed to turn out? I can’t …
1st May 2005
“Get me that red scarf Hashim gave me for my birthday. I want to surprise him. He is finally going to propose, I have to look my best. It’s going to be the single greatest day of my life.” I instruct my sister as I adjust my dark brown curls around my chubby chin. Why can’t I just drop a few pounds? Well, that’s a conversation for another day!
Sara handed me my scarf and I wrapped it around my neck to hide more of my fat. I have always been conscious about my body. Being 5’2 and having a BMI in the overweight category doesn’t help much in today’s world. I’m in the forbidden league, faraway from social norms.
As I apply more blush to my cheeks I think about how Hashim adores them. We are a match made in heaven. Oh, I must not think about this anymore I might curse it. I take a final glance in the mirror and adjust myself. Now off to the best ever moment of my life!!
He is sipping his espresso as I make my way to our usual table. I can see he has already ordered my tea and dessert. He is so caring. I smile at him as I take my seat. He greets me and points towards my drink. I sense the burdening silence and look up at him. His expression indicates the shit storm that is about to come. Something is very wrong.
He starts to speak and the pink of my cheeks intensifies to red not because of blushing, it’s because my confidante has brought me to the worst day of my life. Just like that he rejected me. All the good memories and love vanished. Gone. Poof. I could only make out some of it. “My mother doesn’t approve. We don’t look good together… He goes on and on but the rest of it is just a blur. I feel betrayed, shattered. I want to scream at him but my voice is not coordinating with my broken heart. I feel my fingers reaching for the scarf and untying it. Releasing me from what’s left of this relationship.Without a word I throw it at his face he tries to grab my hand but I run. As tears roll down my cheeks I run from one of the many rejections brought upon me by my body.
1st May 2008
It’s been three long years since you know who. I don’t like saying his name. It’s still one of the top three heart breaks and trust me I have had many. Here are the top three:
• When my father succumbed to cancer.
• When my application for the writing program at Sarah Lawrence got rejected.
• Well the third you already know.
It’s been a tough couple of years but I have turned my life around. I have a new job as a columnist of a well-known magazine. I have made peace with my past and with the fact that being overweight will always be a stigma in our culture. I scratch my ear as I remind myself for the umpteenth time of my therapist’s motto “Don’t let anybody take your freedom. Be and let be” I shake my head and get myself in order for the task at hand. My new column. Last month I wrote about the pros and cons of travelling alone. This month I wanted to do an interview with the man behind BLU, the new chic café, in Lahore.
I took my keys and placed them in my purse after parking my car at BLU’s well-planned parking lot. The security guard seated at the front stood up and opened the door I smiled and made my way inside. It wasn’t a big place but the large windows and tall ceilings made it look wider. The use of cream wall paper made it sophisticated. The paintings that lined the walls were less in number but added to the whole ambiance. The wooden flooring gave the place an added oomph!
The whole area was strategically divided into kitchen, dining area, waiting area, rest rooms and staff offices. I met with the manager who took me straight to the office where Mr. Bazruj was already waiting for me. He was facing the wall when I entered and was busy talking to someone on his phone. I cleared my throat which made him turn around. He smiled politely and pointed at the chair in front of him. I nodded and took the seat. He ended his call and came and sat next to me. This was not what I expected. He was gorgeous and charming. Alas, chivalry was alive.
I introduced myself and he started discussing my work. I had no idea someone so impressionable even knew about me. He made me comfortable and we hit it off immediately. He was bright, observant and passionate. He knew what he wanted in life and did not shy away from failure. It was an easy interview and by the end of it I felt like I knew all about him but i wanted to know more. The most interesting part was why he called it BLU. It stood for Bazruj loves the universe. It was unique and comforting just like him.
We decided to see each other on a less formal note. That’s when my real love story began and just like all love stories we thought ours would have the perfect ending. He was tall, dark and handsome I was smitten by his charm. We were inseparable, just like two peas in a pod. We decided to get married but not all marriages are destined to be perfect.
8th May 2010
The day we got married is etched so brightly in my memory. We had a small wedding just a few of our friends and close family. It was sweet and intimate. We went to Thailand for our honeymoon. It was perfect. On our way back Bazruj gave me a pendant with our initials engraved on it. He told me then that this is a symbol of our love. Of all the things that have passed us and the ones that will come our way. He then told me he loves me and I told him I loved him more. To which he said like he always did. I love you to the moon and never back. It was all picture-perfect. Just like in books. We had no idea what was coming our way.