aab e hayat ( English version)

chapter no 22

"Waseem is not answering my calls," Imama said to Salar at dinner that night. She was very worried about him. 

"Maybe he's busy," Salar reassured her.

 "No, he's upset," she replied, surprising Salar. 

"Why would he be upset?" Imama then recounted her conversation with Waseem. Salar took a deep breath. 

"Why did you even have that kind of conversation with him? He's a grown man, running a business, with a wife and children. He knows well enough what he wants to do with his life and what is right for him. If you two want to keep meeting, do so without discussing religion." Salar explained seriously.

 "He started the conversation, not me," Imama defended herself. 

"And now that he's not answering your calls after starting the conversation himself, it's better for you to wait patiently. When his anger cools down, he'll call you back.

" Salar said before returning to his meal. Imama remained silent. 

"What now?" Salar asked, noticing her silence as he picked up a piece of salad.

 "I wish he would also become a Muslim and come out of this swamp of misguidance," she said. Salar paused and looked at her, then seriously told her,

 "Nothing will happen just because you want it. It's his life, his decision. You can't impose your wishes on him." 

"I'm not even imposing," she said, stirring her spoon aimlessly in her plate, feeling downhearted.

 "Sometimes a person just wants to fix things like magic,

" Salar sensed her despair and tried to console her. "There is no magic in life. Either reason or fate works, and if it's in his fate, he will take a stand for himself. Otherwise, neither you nor I can do anything for him." He continued to explain softly. 

"And you will never bring up this issue with him again, nor will you call him to complain about the school. I can handle my problems, and Waseem can't do anything.

" He said, getting up from the dinner table. Imama stayed seated with her empty plate. She couldn't understand where this sudden restlessness had come from in her life. The fairy tale she had started with Salar a few months ago, which used to keep her feet off the ground, was no longer a fairy tale. How had a jungle of worries sprouted in it, or perhaps it was her stars that had once again started to wander?

 The structure of the school building had indeed suffered significant damage. Everything seemed to have returned to square one. This was the first major personal financial loss of Salar's life. For the first time, he understood the meaning of losing everything within a few hours, and the worst part was that in this entire issue, no one in his family doubted his in-laws' involvement, but proving it was difficult, almost impossible. If someone from the village had been involved, the police would have arrested someone after the initial investigation, but no one from there was implicated in this arson. 

The way different chemicals were used simultaneously to set fire to various parts of the building was not the work of an ordinary thief. If the intention was to harm him, he had suffered an immense loss, and if the intention was to hurt him, it was like a stab in the back. He was shaken, but he hadn't fallen flat on his face.

"Leave her, Salar!" He was back in Islamabad for another weekend, and this time Tayyaba was almost pleading. She was more alarmed than ever.

 "You wanted to get married, and now that's done. Now, leave her." "Do you realize how much pain you cause me when you talk to me like this?

" Salar didn't let her finish. "Didn't you see what they've done?"

 "Nothing has been proven yet." He cut off his mother again. "You might be blind, but we are not. Who else could be your enemy other than Imama's family?" Tayyaba was furious.