Namal (English Translation) By Nimra Ahmed

Chpt 3: First Impression, First Introduction

"Pehlā Ta'assur. Pehlā T'ā'aruf."

Mohabbat sābir hoti hai. Mohabbat mehrbān hoti hai. Yeh hasad nahi karti, shekhi nahi bighārti. Maghrūr nahi hoti. Yeh tursh nahi hoti, khud shanās hoti hai. Jaldi ghussa nahi karti, ghaltiyon ka hissāb nahi rakhti. Badi mein khushi nahi hoti sirf sach mein taskīn pāti hai. Hamesha hifāzat karti hai, hamesha bharosa karti hai, hamesha umeed rakhti hai, hamesha sābit qadam rahti hai. Mohabbat kabhi nākām nahi hoti.

Magar jo pesh goyiyan hain,

Woh khatam ho jayein gi.

Jo zubānen hain,

Woh khāmush kar di jayein gi.

Aur jo ilm hai...

Woh dam tōr jaye ga...

(Ahd Nāma-e-Jadeed, Injīl Muqaddas)

In the small gardened home of the late Zulfiqar Yusuf, there was an atmosphere of festivity that night. Around the round table, besides Saadi's mother and siblings, as promised, his aunt and grandfather were also present, and they all seemed very happy.

Bade Abba, who was rarely seen in family gatherings, was telling a story, connecting it to a memory from his past, and was now giving a long-winded example. Bade Abba, in fact, follows the instruction given in exam papers which says, "Illustrate the above picture with examples."

The late Zulfiqar Yusuf's small garden house was bustling like a festival that night. Around the round table, Saadi, his mother, siblings, and as promised, their aunt and grandfather were present, and they all seemed very happy. Bade Abba was reminiscing about some past story of his, connecting it to a memory, and was now giving a long explanation.

He was also commenting on their every word. Bade Abba paid no attention to him, but Zumar continued to eat, hiding her smile. Haneen, somewhat detached, ate her meal (only from Zumar's plate), thinking, "Huh, when she found out her brother donated a kidney, she came running. Now that her brother is better, she's here." Sameer, however, was energetically trying to mimic his uncle's eating and speaking style.

"Auntie, I came second in the exam this time." He would make his voice sound so innocent and shy in front of guests that Haneen looked at him with surprise. But he continued, "And the boy who came third was sitting ahead of me and was cheating by passing a slip to the one sitting behind me. And I..."

"Sameer Yusuf!" Haneen interrupted impatiently, shifting in her seat. "It would be so nice if you could refrain from entertaining us with your stories for a while."

Old secrets grow heavier with time. The burden on his shoulders increased even more. Sameer pouted sadly, then looked at Zumar. She had finished eating and was sitting back gracefully, smiling at him.

Hope glimmered in his eyes.

"Auntie, can I keep talking?"

"Yes, keep talking," Zumar nodded with a smile. He excitedly started retelling the same story.

Haneen shook her head and drank some water. Her demeanor was tense. Zumar had noticed this before, and now everyone else did too, but Saadi ignored it. And Zumar, being calm and mature, pretended not to notice. She gently brushed the hair off Sameer's forehead and smiled, listening to him.

Sameer had forgotten the previous topic and was now occupied with a new concern.

"Auntie, how was my brother when he was little?"