شرر Sharar

Forty-Seven

Ek ajeeb si betaabi rehti hai tumhare begair
Reh bhi lete hain, aur raha bhi nahi jata

•••

Khan Haveli stood tall in the otherwise scorching atmosphere of the city. The hearts of its inhabitants are somewhat hopeful yet hopeless. Heaven poured down onto the burning land to free it of the suffocation. But for the Khans, it felt as if even the clouds were mourning with them.

It only took a moment for fate to turn their cheerful lives into a maelstrom of gloom and sorrow. One accusation, one misunderstanding, one wrong move, and only one moment changed their lives forever. Three months had passed since the fateful night when Ayat fell and slept an obscure dream.

Three months passed in dismay and hope.

They were now back to their normal life routine, but nothing was normal anymore.

•••

The thunderstorms strike in the sky while the pouring rain didn't slow down even a bit, it was raining since morning. The continuous rain was making the lawn more beautiful, the green grass become greener while the leaf of the tree was dancing with the breeze, vibrant colors of flowers were blooming even in the storm. But even with the pleasing scenery, Khushnuma's mind and heart were not at comfort.

Sitting on the balcony, she was on the phone with her father.

"Hanan ki tabiyat zyada kharab hai kya?" She asked, worry and anxiety were visible in her voice for her only son as she fidgets with her dupatta.

(How's Hanan now?)

"Khushnuma, mere samajh nahi araha hai tum aur Shahzain kar kya rahe ho. Waha abhi jo halat hain, aise mein Hanan ko itni jaldi jaldi mein kyu bheja America? Zahir hai disturb hi rahega woh." Khurram Haider scolded her.

(Khushnuma, I really don't understand what you and Shahzain want to do. Nothing is well there and you have sent him here in America? Of course, he will be disturbed.)

"Papa, woh... Shahzain nahi chahte the ki Hanan ki padhai pe koi effect aye, aur phir hume nahi maloom tha itna serious case hai..." This was the only excuse Khushnuma can give, which she was telling everyone at the home too. Shahzain has taken the decision, now it was Khushnuma who have to give an excuse for his decision.

(Papa, actually... Shahzain didn't want everything to affect Hanan's mind and studies, and we didn't realize how serious this case is...)

"Theek hai tum log ko uski padhai ki fikar hai lekin Hanan ka bhi khayal rakhna hoga na..." Khurram Haider was talking to her, but Khushnuma's mind was somewhere else as a lightning strike in the sky.

(Okay, you are worried about his studies but you two should think about Hanan too...)

•••

"Papa hamesha aisa karte hain. Main beta hoon unka aur mujhe chorhke unko puri duniya pe yaqeen hai." Hanan's broken yet loud voice boomed from his room.

(Papa always does that. He doesn't trust me.)

"Hanan, misunderstanding hui hai, main baat karungi tumhare papa se..." Khushnuma tried to calm him.

(Hanan, it is just a misunderstanding, I will talk to him...)

Hanan wanted to go to the hospital, but Khushnuma tried to stop him, she thought it won't be a wise decision since Shahzain left the haveli in anger.

"Papa ko kabhi mujhpe yaqeen nahi hota. Last time bhi meri baat sune begair mujhe bhej diya America, tab kuch nahi kaha tha maine, lekin main iss baar kahi nahi ja raha. Main Ayat ko chorhke kahi nahi jaunga aur Papa ko aap yeh bata dein." Hanan's bloodshot eyes met with Khushnuma's eyes which frightened her to the core. The anguish in his eyes was visible, anyone could see how broken his heart is.