It was around 8 o'clock at night. Everyone was at the dining table for dinner while Shehroz was in his room.
"Sahira, go and call Shehroz," said Naheed to her daughter-in-law.
Sahira went to Shehroz's room to call him. A little while later, screams and shouts were heard from his room. Shehroz and Sahira were quarreling in front of their eight-year-old son, Uzair. Shehroz wanted to separate his business and home from Zakaria Khan, a fact known to everyone except Aneesa. Naheed had requested Sahira to stop him from doing this as only she could influence him. Despite Sahira's efforts to convince him, Shehroz was fighting with her. Everyone was present in his room. Aneesa couldn't understand their conversation. Zakaria Khan asked Aneesa and Uzair to leave the room.
Aneesa and Uzair were sitting at the dining table. Neither of them was eating. They were looking at each other. Uzair had placed both his hands on the table without any expression, while Aneesa was vigorously scrubbing her hands together with both hands placed on her lap. The noises from the room were getting louder. Suddenly, a loud sound of a slap was heard. Fear was evident in Aneesa's eyes. In response, Uzair had lowered his gaze. Aneesa got up and walked towards the room, Uzair watching her go. After a while, Shehroz emerged from the room and was heading out of the house. Uzair was Aneesa's nephew, and since both of them were immature in the house, they took care of each other and had some understanding between them.
Naheed and Zakaria also came outside. Upon seeing them, Uzair was about to leave, but Naheed stopped him.
"Where are you going, son? Have your meal first."
"I'm not hungry." He replied without turning back and went away from there.
A little while later, Aneesa came out of her room. She knew that Shehroz wouldn't be coming home tonight. Naheed and Zakaria were still sitting at the dining table, engaged in conversation. Aneesa thought that Zakaria Khan would be in his room. Upon seeing him there, she paused.
"What are you up to?" Zakaria Khan asked, looking at Aneesa in that way.
"Me?"
"Yes... I'm talking to you...Useless!" His tone was stern.
"Dad... I... I'm going to get food for Uzair."
She knew that no matter what issue arose at home, her father somehow linked it back to her. In every situation, she had no influence, but she was always held responsible. Before Zakaria could say anything further, she began to take the food off the plate. Now, she headed towards Uzair's room. She knocked on the door. The door was open, but there was no response. She walked in herself. Uzair was sitting on the sofa.
"Uzair! Come here."
She held the tray with both hands; her scarf had slipped from her head. She placed the tray on the center table and, adjusting her scarf, sat down on the sofa next to Uzair.
"Uzair, eat your meal... well done... I'll bring it for you."
"Mom didn't eat, did she?" He ignored her question, looking at the floor as he asked.
"You eat, I'll bring some for them too."
"Are you crying?" He could see it in her eyes.
"No... why would I cry? I just felt sorry." She answered, avoiding his gaze.
"Liar." He smirked.
"Have you not cried?"
Upon her question, Uzair took a deep breath.
"It's not like it's the first time...Which time was it the first time?...you may go...I'll take the meal." He was trying to change the discussion.
"Go, I will have my meal." He turned the conversation around. She knew that Uzair intentionally changed the topic, but she didn't leave; instead, she stood near Uzair.
"Go... and...give dinner to Mom." She was still standing there.
"Now go..." This time he said it a little louder. She went outside. Everyone was in their rooms. Naheed was washing dishes in the kitchen.
"Mom, prepare dinner for Sahira."
"Did Uzair eat?"
"He kicked me out of the room. He said I'll give food to Sahira, he'll eat on his own."
Naheed put food on a plate. "You go, give Sahira her food. I'll check on Uzair. I don't even know if he ate or not." Naheed was concerned about her grandson. Aneesa didn't want to face Sahira.
"Mom! You give Sahira her food, I'll go to Uzair."
Naheed saw embarrassment on her daughter's face. And taking the food, she went to Sahira herself. The room's lights were off. Naheed turned on the light. Sahira was sitting on the bed with a tiara. Naheed sat next to her. Naheed saw Sahira, there was a clear mark of Shehroz's fingers on her left cheek.
"Forgive me, perhaps this happened because of me." Naheed said.
"What are you talking about, Mom... It's not your fault." Sahira said without any complaint.
"Maybe..." Before Naheed could finish her sentence, Sahira cut her off.
"Mom, maybe, etc...it's just matter of nothing. Don't embarrass me with all this, and I'm just like your daughters." She said while crying. Naheed hugged her tightly to silence her.
"Eat your food."
"Did you eat?"
"I'm not hungry." Naheed replied with a smile.
"How can you not be hungry? Come, let's eat together." They both were eating now.
Aneesa had stopped outside Uzair's room. The door was locked. She could smell the cigarette smoke. Instead of going into Uzair's room, she hesitated and went into her own room. As soon as she entered the room, she saw her mobile phone; Samaira had made five missed calls to her. She put her phone back on the side table; tried to sleep, for now, she didn't want to talk to anyone.
