SO FAR AWAY

Chapter Four

Shehnaaz knocked meekly at her parent's door. "Come in", she heard her mother's voice from another side. She reluctantly turned the knob and opened the door. Her heart was thudding loudly in her chest even the mere thought of disappointing her parents sinking her heart.

"Kia hua beta," Ayesha asked Shehnaaz who was standing at the door lost in her thoughts (What happened child?)

"Umm.. I want to talk to both of you"

"Come in then"

"Zar..Zaroon nhi aya?" She asked breathing heavily (Zaroon didn't come?)

"Nahi kiu?" Ayesha frowned seeing her nervous "Everything is okay?" (No, why?)

"Yeah yeah," She came inside and sat on a single couch. Her father was sitting on the bed against a headboard while her mother was giving him medicine.

"Ahh...Actually...I just want you to listen to me first..Ummm Under..Understand what I'm saying" She stuttered. Her father nodded to continue and now her mother sat at the foot of the bed in front of her

"I know you both go overboard for my education to admit me to the best school and college. I'm grateful for that".

"Beta why you are saying this? Ayesha asked her

"Ama please let me say it". She mustered up the courage to talk to her parents after dinner when everyone retired to their room. She was praying for Zaroon to come to give her support so her courage remained at the place

"I know you all want me to do study further and got admission to the best university but..." She was going to say further when there was a knock on the door and before anyone could say something, smiling Zaroon peeked inside and came inside

"Mery baghair hi bat shuru kardi. Very bad laddu" He sat on the arm of the chair beside Shehnaaz and wrapped his around her shoulder "Okay continue". He pressed her shoulder lightly and smiled her down (You started without me. Very bad)

"Speak beta," Mr. Haroon said. Shehnaaz turned towards him. She fiddled with her fingers

"I contemplated your wish but I don't want what you want"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to study what you want"

"So change your program there is no problem," Ayesha said

"No Ama I want to say that I want...Ummm I want.." Zaroon rubbed her arms softly to give her assurance "I want one year break. I want to do something else" Ayesha gasped. "I'm doing few courses nowadays which Zaroon gave and I'm very interested in it. I enjoyed doing it". Her words came like a bolt from the blue

"Are you mad? You want to drop out for a year. Do you realize what you are saying?" Ayesha said angrily

"Amma let her speak," Zaroon said

"Apni zindagi to barbad kardi ab iski bhi karni hai?" Her pupils flared (You ruined your life now you want her life too)

"Amma" Zaroon whined (Mother)

"Baba I'm just asking 1 year to concentrate on it. While making designs I feel like I belonged here in exploring new things, creating new things. If I couldn't make it from it. I'll come back to studies please baba" Shehnaaz pleaded to her father who was silent till now. Her expressions closed up seeing him silent.

"Shehnaaz tumhara demagh kharab ho chuka hai. Hosh Mai ao. Yeh sab kia hai designing management waghera yeh koi kam hai. Yeh sab hawai rozi hai. Is k pechy apna demagh mat kharab karo" (Shehnaaz you are going insane. What's this designing and management? Is this work? Don't ruin your life because of this)