IBTIDAA ابتدا

epilogue

" Zayd, Eid mein bass chaar din reh gaye hain" Gulaisha served her husband another paratha that had just come off the tawa.

" Yaasu, doodh piyein" Bakhtaawar glared at his son who was sitting with listless eyes at the dastarkhwaan and frowning at the cup of milk kept in front of him.

Gulaisha had gone back in the kitchen to make another omelette for her boys, popping some soaked Badaam in her mouth that she had kept beside the gas stove. She came back hurriedly when she saw the clock.

" Zayd, aapne mujhe apne pathaani ka naap dena hain. Bachon ke kapde bhi tayyar hou gaye hain" Gul sat down beside her husband and served him some more bhurji while eying her sons.

" Waqt hi nahi nikaal paa raha hoon itne dino se" Bakhtaawar tore his paratha into half and placed each part in both his sons' plates.

" Ek kaam karein, aaj fajr se aaney ke baad dein de. Kamaskam meri cutting toh hou jaayein dopahar tak" Gulaisha dipped a rusk in tea and bit into it.

" Yaasu doodh piyein foran" Gulaisha warned her son who was trying to pass off the cup of milk to his brother.

The boys looked like deer caught in headlights and immediately looked down, gulping their food.

" Ammi ulti hou jaayegi" Yaaseen made a face at the cup he was holding while giving his mother pleading looks to get out of drinking it.

" Saifu Bhai ne bhi toh pi liya na, aap bhi piyein. Koi ulti nahi hoti hain" Gulaisha narrowed her eyes at her younger son who pinched his nose and gulped down the liquid in supersonic speed.

" Ab yeh omelette khaayein" she placed a piece of it in his plate and the other in Saifaan's plate who had everything without complaints.

" Ammi nahiiiiiiii" Yaaseen whined at the prospect of eating so much at such an early hour.

" Yaaseen, Ammi ki baat maanein aur chup chap sehri karein. Maine koi bahaney nahi sunne hain aapke" Bakhtaawar told him in a stern voice and that silenced his son for the rest of the period.

" Aapki chai lein aaon?" Gulaisha asked her husband who was just about done with his sehri.

" Haa..." Bakhtaawar was cut short by soft whimpers coming from their bedroom and his face morphed into a smile.

" Main dekhta hoon" he got up and rushed towards their room while Gulaisha went to bring him tea.

" Maine kaha tha na, Ammi ke aaney ke pehle dein do mujhe, tumhaara damaagh kaam hi nahi karta hain itni subah. Zabardasti peena pada na doodh? Bewakoof!" Saifaan scolded his younger brother who gave him angry looks.

" Main toh kabse aapko ishaare kar raha tha, aap hi apne omelette me itne mashgool they. Sab aapki wajah se hua hain" Yaaseen nudged his shoulder in irritation of having to drink milk.

" Meri wajah se? Roz toh peeta hoon tumhaare hisse ka bhi, ab dekho kaisi shikayat lagata hoon tumhaari Ammi se" Saifaan warned him in righteousness indignation.

" Maine bhi bata dena hain ki aap apne badaam mujhe dein dete hain" Yaaseen stuck his tongue out at him but received a push from his brother starting a fight between the brothers.

" Saifu! Yaasu! Yeh kya badtameezi hain?" Bakhtaawar came back with his daughter clutched in his arms and eyed his quarrelling sons.

" Pehle Bhai ne shuru kiya" Yaaseen tattled on his brother much to his betrayal.

" Abbu yeh roz mujhe apna doodh ka cup deta hain peene ke liye" Saifaan wouldn't go down without a fight.

" Aur Saifu Bhai mujhe apne badaam dete hain" Yaaseen complained smugly.