HUMSAFAR

20~ Akidat

[MORNING]

Nazila entered the hall, her eyes widened as she looked at her mother Needa.

"Mama?" She asked surprised.

Needa hugged her, but there was a hint of tension in her eyes.

"Aap yahan? Aise achanak?"

They both sat down.

"Munawar ka call aaya tha parso"

Nazila looked at her confused.

"Tumhare aur Aman ke rishte ki baat karne ke liye aayi hoon." 

Nazila's face freezes in shock.

MANNARA

I rushed to the bathroom once again, feeling the familiar wave of nausea wash over me. This was the third time this morning. I was feeling okay yesterday, but today the sickness is back with a vengeance.

I walked out of the washroom feeling tired when I looked at Munawar. He probably woke up because of my retching.

"Are you okay?" He asked, concern etched across his face.

"No" My voice tinged with exhaustion.

Feeling weak and unsteady, I was on the verge of collapsing when he swiftly moved to support me and guided me back to the bed.

I could hear the faint sound of the door knock. Munawar went towards the door and opened it. I heard Maa ask him about his health. She entered inside and looked at me concerned.

"Mannara beta kya hua??"

"Maa parso ki tarah phir se tabyat-" I tried to speak as I got up and sat on the bed.

"Ammi shayad food poisoning hogayi hai..main doctor ko call karta hu" Munawar said picking his phone.

"Beta..kahin tum expect toh nahi kar rahi?"

Her eyes locked on my face, searching for any sign of confirmation.

Munawar looked at me, his face a mask of astonishment.

"Nahi nahii aisa kuch nahi hai!" My voice barely a whisper.

Coming closer, she lowered her voice and asked if I had got my periods. My periods have always been irregular, that doesn't mean anything. I hesitated and tried to answer, "Nahi Maa lekin-" but she interrupted me.

"Munawar ke time pe bhi mujhe aise hi hota tha. Roz sickness hoti thi, kuch khaane ka mann nahi karta"

I could see the mixture of shock and confusion in Munawar's eyes as he struggled to process what Maa said. I too was taken aback. How could she even think something like that?

"Tum aaram karo, main tumhare liye juice lekar aati hoon" she said walking away without listening to me.

"Mannara yeh ammi kya keh rahi hai!?" Munawar said his voice filled with confusion.

"Munawar jaa ke unhe roko, kahin woh sabko yeh na bata de" I said and lay on the bed feeling tired.

Mumtaz prepared to enter the kitchen

"Ammi aap breakfast ke liye nahi aa rahi? aur bhai bhabhi kaha hai?" Amreen asked. Mumtaz looked towards the dining where Amreen, Nazila and Needa were having breakfast. "Woh kamre mein hai, mein Mannara ke liye juice lene aayi thi"

"Ab woh ladki aapse apna kaam bhi karwa rahi hai badi ami" Nazila commented

"Aisi haalat main mein usse karne kaise de sakti hoon" Mumtaz said smiling.