”یہ عشق نہیں آساں، بس اتنا سمجھ لیجیے
ایک آگ کا دریا ہے اور ڈوب کے جانا ہے
In the otherworldly valleys of Kashmir, where ancient peaks touch the clouds and saffron fields paint the landscape in brilliant hues, unfurled a love story that would become legendary among locals. This is the story of Rida and Hamid, two souls whose love defied societal boundaries and endured life’s harshest trials, only to be halted by fate’s cruel hand.
Their story began in the hallways of a modest school in Srinagar, where she, a thirteen-year-old Rida, first encountered him during a morning assembly. Her dark eyes sparkled with dreams of becoming a doctor, while Hamid, with his quiet wisdom and gentle demeanour, stood out among their peers. Their initial connection sparked through shared glances during mathematics classes, where he would carefully help her with complex problems, his notes filled with encouraging words alongside solutions.
As seasons changed and years passed, their friendship bloomed like the cherry blossoms that adorned Kashmir’s springs. Through their high school years, they became study partners, confidants, and eventually, each other’s closest allies. She would lose herself in the poetry he recommended, while he found inspiration in her determination to chase her dreams.
پھر یوں ہوا کہ درد کے موسم گئے نہیں
دل نے کسی چراغ کا سایہ لیا نہیں
Their relationship deepened during their college years at Kashmir University, where they would spend hours discussing literature, science, and their hopes for the future beneath the shade of ancient chinar trees.
However, behind the façade of her academic success and gentle smile lay a turbulent home life that few knew about. Her father, a strict conservative, saw education for girls as merely a path to a suitable marriage. Her brother, influenced by extremist ideologies, considered any friendship between young men and women a threat to family honor. Her sisters, trapped in their own struggles, remained silent witnesses to her suffering.
The psychological torment began subtly—rude remarks about her academic interests, restrictions on her movement, constant surveillance of her activities. As her relationship with Hamid grew deeper, the pressure at home intensified. Her phone was confiscated, her social media monitored, and all her movements scrutinized. Yet, love found its way through borrowed phones, secret messages passed through trusted friends, and brief meetings disguised as study sessions.
دل سے نکال دو نہ محبت کے خواب سب
ہستی کو اب نصیب کہاں کامیاب سب
Hamid, understanding the delicate nature of their situation, never pushed for more than what was possible. Instead, he became her sanctuary, her source of strength and hope. He would wait for hours near her college, just to ensure she reached safely. His broad shoulders carried the weight of their secret love with dignified patience. During particularly difficult days, he would send her favorite books through common friends, pages marked with loving messages that reminded her she wasn’t alone.
The constant strain began taking its toll on Rida’s health. Her once vibrant face grew pale, and her academic performance, despite her best efforts, began to suffer. Initially, doctors attributed her symptoms to stress and prescribed rest and medication. However, as her condition deteriorated, more thorough investigations revealed the devastating truth—a brain tumor, aggressive and unforgiving.
کہاں لے آئی زندگی اشکوں کے ساحل پر
اب خواب بھی بکھرتے ہیں، خوشبو کے سائے میں
The diagnosis changed everything. Her family, faced with their daughter’s mortality, temporarily set aside their objections. Hamid, now in his final year of engineering, devoted every free moment to supporting her through her treatment. His strong hands would hold hers during chemotherapy sessions, bringing her traditional Kashmiri kehwa when she felt cold, and supporting her through countless procedures.
As autumn painted Kashmir in brilliant shades of red and gold, her condition deteriorated rapidly. In her final days, she made him promise to live fully and find happiness again. She passed peacefully one night, her delicate hand in his strong one, as the last rays of sunset washed her room in a golden glow. She was just 24, with dreams unfulfilled and promises unkept.
خواب تھے جو تیرے ساتھ بُنے
زندگی میں وہی خواب ادھورے رہ گئے
Today, years after Rida’s passing, Hamid continues to honour her memory through acts of kindness and support for others facing similar struggles. His tall frame, now carrying the weight of memories, still walks the paths they once shared. He established a small foundation in her name that provides counselling and support to young people facing family opposition to their education or life choices. The foundation also raises awareness about mental health and the importance of early medical intervention.
Their story, while tragic, serves as a powerful reminder of love’s transformative power. In a world often divided by prejudice and tradition, Rida and Hamid’s story stands as a testament to the possibility of pure, selfless love.
محبت ایسی حقیقت ہے
جو وقت کی قید سے آزاد ہے