Mera Naseeb| Part 1, Scene 1 Why do you pray?

Masjid ke bahar hijab mei ek pehchana hua chehra mila toh awaaz lagayi aur wo naam jo ab salon se zehen mei bhi nhi aaya tha, aaj labon pe tha.
(Outside the mosque when I saw a familiar face wearing a Hijaab, I called out and that name which hadn't crossed my mind in ages was now on my lips)

“Sangeeta”

Uske labon se mera naam ek dua kit rah nikla, ek dum pak aur azaad. Par na toh wo shakl ab jaani pehchani thi, na hi naam. Mud kr dekha toh mera kal mere aaj se takraye khada tha. Usne mere chehre ki traf dekha aur pehli nazar meri ankhon se pehle mere hijab pr pdi.
(My name rolled off his lips like a prayer, pious and free. But neither that face, nor that name was known to me now. When I turned, I saw that my past had come clashing with my present. He looked at my face and before meeting my eyes, his gaze fell on my Hijaab) 

“Naam ab wo nhi,” keh ke maine bhi halka sa muskura diya ki use yeh na lage koi shikayat aaj bhi baaki hai.
(After saying "My name is not that", I smiled softly so he doesn't feel there is any complaint left even today)

“Fir?” keh kar jab wo muskuraya, ussi trah jaise auron ka mazaak udate hue wo har baar muskurata that toh jawab dene ka mera mann nhi kiya. Laga tha ki agr bta dungi toh wo smjhega nhi aur nhi btaya toh kuch zyada hi smjhdaar toh wo hmesha se tha.
(When he asked "Then?", smiling the same way he used to while teasing others, I did not feel like responding. It felt that if I explained, he would not understand and if I don't he'll understand too much.)

“Mussarat.” Naam sunkar uska chehra yun chaunk gya jaise ab mujhe pehchaan na rha ho.
(After hearing the name, he got surprised as if he did not recognise me anymore.)

“Nafraton ki itni aadat ho gyi thi mujhe ki ab socha ek ko dil ke kareeb hi rakh lun.”
(I had gotten so used to hatred that I thought I'd keep one near my heart.)

Azaan sunai di toh maine salaam krke masjid ki aur apna rukh mod liya. Iss choti si mulakat mei mujhe uske mere saath bitaye wo sare pal yaad aa gye jo in saalon mei kahin gum ho gye the. Masjid mei mera dil aur dhayan toh ibadat mei tha pr jaise hi namaz khatm hui toh masjid se nikalne ka dil nhi kiya.
(When I heard the Azan, I bid him farewell and turned towards the mosque. This small meeting had reminded me of all the moments I had spent with him that had gotten lost over the years. In the Mosque, my heart and mind were in prayers but even after the prayers ended, I did not feel like leaving.)

Uss roz maine 2 ghnte ussi masjid mei allah ko yaad kiya jbki bahar shayad use mujhse behtar koi yaad kr rha tha.
(That day I spent two hours in the mosque remembering God, while maybe, outside the mosque someone was remembering him more than I was.)

Bahar nikli toh chaukhat pr hi ek bacchi kareeb aa gyi aur mujhse puchti ki mei namaaz kyu pdhti hun.Wo bachi jiska mujhse koi wasta nhi tha, roz masjid ke bahar mujhse yu hi mila krti thi aur hmesha aise kuch sawal pucha krti thi.

Maine use yeh smjhaya ki ibadat mei sukoon hai.
(When I came out, this little girl came close to me and asked me why I pray. That little girl who did not know me met me daily outside the mosque asking similar questions. I told her that there was peace in worship.)

“Iss junooni duniya mei log khud ko bhi bhul jate hai, toh ibadat mei jab mei allah ko yaad krti hu toh wo sukoon milta hai jo jeene mei nhi.”
(In this passionate world, people forget even themselves. So when I offer prayers and remember Allah, I find the kind of peace I don't find in life.)