𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹-𝗲-𝗠𝗮𝗵𝘁𝗮𝗮𝗯

غمِ عشق ۶۔

The moment you feel like you have to prove your worth to someone is the moment to absolutely and utterly walk away~

- Alysia Harris

They stood on the porch of the haveli, everyone, including Daaji. Even Daaji was ashamed that he couldn't fulfill the promise he had made with Airah. Bijaan and all the women of the haveli stood a little behind the men, bidding Airah goodbye. Bijaan had tears welled up in her eyes.

Airah first hugged Bijaan and then all the other women, all quiet. She didn't utter a single word. Bijaan whispered in her ear,

"Airah zulm bardasht karne waala bhi zaalim hota hai! Kisi bhi kisam ka zulm ho toh hamein batana hai! Tum is mein akeli nahi!"

(Airah, those who endure cruelty are also oppressors! If any kind of cruelty occurs, you must inform us! You are not alone in this)

Airah nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting the pain she had endured in this haveli. She moved forward and kissed the back of her grandfather's hand, and he gently patted her head. He had a dream the previous night in which his daughter, Zainab, was hysterically crying. He felt the weight of the situation bearing down on him.

After greeting her uncles, Airah nodded politely to everyone and then made her way towards her in-laws, deliberately ignoring Hamza. As she walked away, Hamza's heart clenched, and tears welled up in his eyes. He strode over to Altamash, his emotions running high. He shook hands with Altamash, his grip firm, and he gritted out these words,

"Airah ko laa waaris nahi smajhna! Uske baap bhai hain zinda! Usko zarra dard bhi hua, chodunga nahi main tumhe!"

(Do not consider Airah as an orphan! Her father and brothers are still alive! If she suffers even a little, I won't spare you!)

He warned Altamash.

Altamash quickly nodded, though he struggled to control his anger. He wanted to lash out, but he held his tongue. Such a venomous man he was.

In the car, Airah stole one last glance at the haveli, memories flooding her mind. She couldn't help but let a few tears escape her eyes. She wept quietly throughout the half-hour journey. Midway through the journey, his irritated voice broke the silence in the car.

"Stop crying! I know why you're shedding so many tears!!!"

"Why?!"
Airah asked genuinely, her innocence shining through, causing him to roll his eyes which made her squirm in her seat.

"Who would want to leave behind a lover like Hamza?!??!"

Airah looked at him with astonishment, appalled by his cheap comment!

"Aap ghalat keh rahe hain! Woh hamein behno ki tarah treat karte hain!"

(You're wrong! He treats me like a sister!)

{So actually, the Urdu word 'ham' is used for more than one person! However, it can also be used as 'I' in a respectful context!! 'Ham' usually means 'we'!}

He chuckled lightly and looked at her with a sarcastic look.

"Ham mein kitne aur hain?! HaMeIn bEhNo kI tArAh tReAt kArTe hAiN!"

(In (ham -i-) we how many poeple are included? hE tReAtS mE lIkE a sIsTeR!)

Airah's face turned beet red with embarrassment on his insults. She averted her gaze and stared out of the car's window, deeply saddened by the recent events in her life.