Chess & Checkers

5. The Village

Over the next fortnight, the Khans found themselves immersed in a whirlwind of constant meetings and visits to their numerous construction sites and factories in and around Hyderabad. Murtasim, Shahnawaz, and Meerab were completely engrossed in their work, while Maryam dedicated her time to preparing for upcoming tests. Salma Begum, too, managed to stay occupied with responsibilities like the woman's panchayat and household affairs.

As the weekend neared, the family collectively exhaled, relieved to finally have a brief respite after the demanding two weeks. However, fate had other plans in store for them.

On Saturday morning, with the sun casting a blazing heat over the city, the familiar sound of a ringing phone interrupted the family's breakfast in the dining room, prompting everyone to look up from their plates.

Seated at the head of the table, Shahnawaz took hold of his phone, and his gaze narrowed as Bakhtu's name illuminated the screen. Bakhtu had been sent to the village the day before to give an update on the production of the crops, and that task had been accomplished yesterday, hence receiving a call so early on a Saturday morning triggered alarm bells in Shahnawaz's mind. He swallowed, swiped his thumb across the screen, and responded with a stern hello.

Murtasim, observing the scene, could discern a muted voice on the other end. His father's forehead creased with worry, and Murtasim's brows furrowed when his lips formed a frown, his frustration evident in a heavy sigh as he rubbed his forehead. The visible stress lingered even after the call had concluded.

"What happened, Baba Saab?" Murtasim inquired, one eyebrow lifting in curiosity as he attempted to discern the worry etched on his father's face.

"It was Bakhtu. Malik Mukhtar's son is forcibly hunting in our fields, scaring away animals with gunfire. The crops are being destroyed, and the farmers can't work" Shahnawaz conveyed with a somber tone.

Murtasim's grip on the fork tightened in annoyance, threatening to snap under the pressure. Meerab, seated next to him, sensed the surge of anger and instinctively reached out, placing her hand on his knee under the table. She gave a subtle squeeze, causing him to shift his furious gaze toward her for a fleeting moment. However, the anger dissipated as her brown eyes met his with a soft expression, prompting him to take a deep breath and compose himself. "Don't worry, I'll go and check," he assured, turning back to his father, who nodded in response, accompanied by a heavy sigh.

Breakfast resumed, but the previously lighthearted atmosphere had dissipated after the call. Shahnawaz sighed heavily between bites, Murtasim clenched and unclenched his fists while taking deep breaths, and the women were left sitting uncomfortably. The suffocating silence reached a breaking point for Meerab, who, after finishing the last piece of her strawberry, set her fork down and stood up.

"I'm done. I'm going to my room," she announced, forcing a smile as she quickly assessed the rather bland expressions around the table. Her smile faded into a blank expression when her eyes landed on Maa Begum's sour face. She suppressed the annoyed huff that wanted to escape her lips, simply rolling her eyes and walking away without saying anything more.

Her mother-in-law hadn't been particularly lenient on her in the past two weeks, taking every opportunity to criticize Meerab for being too focused on the business and neglecting household duties. The constant reminders of her role as Khaani and the associated responsibilities created an unwanted pressure, occasionally leading to emotional turmoil. Despite this, Meerab busied herself with work, reminding herself of the hard work she had put in over the past six years to reach where she was. She firmly believed that just because she didn't fit into her mother-in-law's ideal daughter-in-law mold didn't mean she was doing anything wrong.

"It's my life, and I can do whatever I want," she constantly reassured herself whenever the overwhelming pressure threatened to take its toll.

Meerab entered her closet, scanning through the collection of neatly hung casual eastern dresses. Her fingers settled on a yellow lace three-piece just as the sound of footsteps filled the room, announcing Murtasim's arrival. Leaning against the door frame, he folded his arms and raised an eyebrow in curiosity just as she pulled the dress out and turned.