Mastoorah ✓

Realizations

Faraan

I thought I was hallucinating.

When first time I saw her six years back, she reminded me of her then as well. The striking similarity between the facial features, voice, and way of speaking couldn't be a coincidence. And then that necklace. It was a limited piece. I called my intuition a mere illusion because what it was pointing out was something very impossible. But my heart always went out to her. Even in front of my own niece Eizal, Mastoorah was someone I got more attachment with. Those fatherly instincts which I never experienced were coming whenever I was with her.

Just like water and fire couldn't stay in a place, this couldn't also happen.

However, my feelings weren't anything out of the blue. When she started living at Dad's house, I saw her growing up. And her resemblance to Marium only enhanced. How could two people have the same features? I had saw Marium at the age that Mastoorah had today and it was mind-boggling how much they had in common.

Marium had a soulful voice and Mastoorah had a sweet and heavenly voice. I might would have lived by my ignorance if not for today. When Mastoorah discussed her inner condition with me. She said she feared water and the cause of it was so jaw-dropping. None could remember anything when they were newborns but why Mastoorah's memory and dreams actually matched with what I did with Marium? Was it a miracle?

I had thrown her body into the sea out of fear of getting caught. Marium was pregnant back then. I was thinking that along with her, the baby she was carrying also died. But seeing Mastoorah and hearing her story, why do I have a feeling that Marium was her mother? The baby my wife was pregnant with didn't die. Instead, she lived. My Marium gave her blood, heart, and life to save Mastoorah. Was I her father?

That thought made me distressed and happy at the same time. Mastoorah was my daughter but how could such a small probability become real?

Today when a worried Mastoorah came in my way, carrying the separated chain and pendant in her palm, I was the one she asked for help.

"Uncle Faraan..." She was breathless and had lots of tears in her eyes as she said this.

Suddenly I felt a pit rising in my stomach. If she was my daughter then how horrible father I was. I killed her mother and left her to die. At least at that time, I should have taken Marium to hospital. But no. I had a band of deceit, cunningness, and lies in my eyes which wasn't letting me see the difference between right and wrong.

"What happened, Mastoorah beta?" I became anxious seeing her like this.

"Uncle...my necklace. It's broken. Everyone is busy. No one will have time to get it fixed. I can't bear to lose it, Uncle," she stated, catching her breath.

I stared down at the necklace in her hand. It was the same as I had gifted Marium when she converted to Islam. And Mastoorah said it belonged to her mother. According to her Aunt Hania, she found it near her dead mother. And as far as Mastoorah was concerned, she had a proper vision of that day in her mind when he had tossed  Marium's dead body in the sea. How many more coincidences were going to happen now?

"Give me, beta. I am already going to the masjid to teach Quran Pak to the children. I'll get it fixed," I told her, gently.

Mastoorah's eyes widened with happiness and a smile crossed her lips. Her blue eyes were the same as Marium's. She was looking so innocent that suddenly I felt immense affection and love for her.

"Really, Uncle Faraan? Thank you so much," she chimed in excitement and handed me over the necklace.

And then my perception proved to be right. When I took the necklace to one of the most famous jeweler shops of here, I dug more into this matter. As far as I can remember, I got this necklace exclusively prepared from Dubai. A sample like this wasn't present in the Pakistani market back then. Marium had seen its design on Instagram. It was quite costly as well but of course,  the bad person in me had used Marium's money for it. The necklace was of pure gold and that kinda of gold was not present in any Pakistani jewelry even at this time as well as the jeweler told me.