Mehmal

Chapter 31 (she accepted)

A pack of cigarettes lay scattered on the floor, and the ashtray was overflowing. Zaryab had been working tirelessly, dark circles etched under his eyes. The sound of a thunderstorm echoed through the room, causing him to jerk in surprise.

"How beautiful and romantic—two lovers kissing in the rain," Zaryab chuckled, scrolling through his emails on his phone. Mehmal's head rested in his arms as they both savored the rainy season with pakoras and tea.

"Why did you laugh?" she asked.

"It only happens in movies. In real life, you'd be more worried about your hair, and I'd be struggling to see in the heavy rain," he replied, making Mehmal laugh. "Yeah, okay, not in heavy rain," she said. "The rain dance and kissing you're talking about can only happen in your London, not here in Pakistan. People would start beating me, even if I'm your husband. Why would I need to kiss you in the rain outside?"

Mehmal playfully slapped his chest. "You've ruined my romantic mood!" she said, pulling away. She was about to get up when Zaryab pulled her back towards him. They looked into each other's eyes, and he said, "We can enjoy ourselves here," as he leaned in closer.

A thunderclap jolted Zaryab back to reality. He gazed out the window, watching the rain pour down on the lawn. Through the misty glass, he could see Mehmal sitting on the couch outside, her face serene as she enjoyed the rain. A smile tugged at his lips, and he felt an urge to be closer to her. He walked downstairs, each step heavy with the weight of longing, and slid open the living room door that led to the lawn.

There she was, still on the couch, the rain falling gently around her. "Mehmal, you'll catch a cold. What will Mama and Baba say? We're not in our flat," he said softly, but as he stepped closer, he realized something was wrong. The figure he was speaking to wasn't real—it was his own reflection, faint and ghostly in the dim light. Confused, Zaryab reached out to touch it, but the moment his fingers neared the figure, the light in the room flicked on, and the illusion shattered.

He turned back towards the lawn, hoping to see Mehmal there, but the couch was empty. The rain continued to fall, but she was gone. The realization hit him like a cold wave—she had never been there at all.

"ZARYAB!" He turned as someone switched on the living room light. It was his mother. He turned back to the lawn, but Mehmal was gone.

"Zaryab, what are you doing here, beta?" Zarmeena asked him. He didn't respond and walked back upstairs. In his room, he kicked the scattered pack of cigarettes on the floor.

"I can't live without you. I'm sorry. Please come back. I'm guilty. I realise my mistake, please," he yelled, sobbing uncontrollably.

************
The next day, Dr. Yousaf called Suleman, requesting a meeting with Sania Sikandar. Suleman, who respected him greatly, agreed to take him to meet his aunt.

In the living room, Mehmal wasn't home, so Suleman was preparing tea. Dr. Ali Yousaf discussed Sania's health before shifting the conversation.

After a while, Dr. Yousaf brought up Emer. "Behan, you know Emer, Mehmal's boss and Ezra's uncle?" he said. Sania nodded. "Are you aware of his past tragedy?" he asked.

"Yes, a little, but he's a nice, mature gentleman," Sania replied, and Suleman agreed.

"I've been thinking about how he might be for our Mehmal," Dr. Yousaf continued.

Silence filled the room. Suleman and Sania exchanged glances. "I know the age difference is significant, but he seems compatible with Mehmal. Both have faced difficult times in their lives and might understand each other better. It's just an idea that came to mind; I could be wrong," he said.