Umeed

Chapter 10

As the evening descended and the hospital began to empty, Faris stood by the entrance, watching the last of the visitors leave. His eyes settled on Noor, who looked visibly tired but determined. He knew that leaving Hoor alone at home wasn't an option, and the nanny was already off for the weekend.

Noor approached Faris, her exhaustion evident. "Bhai, mai ruk jaati hu," she offered, trying to alleviate his concern.

Faris shook his head. "Nahi Noor, tum itna lamba safar karke aayi ho, thak gayi hogi. Tum ghar jaao."

Noor's expression softened, but she persisted. "Bhai, woh, maine hotel book kiya hai, hospital ke paas hi hai. Mai wahi rahungi."

Faris felt a pang of guilt. Even though Noor had a home, she was opting to stay in a hotel near the hospital. It was a stark reminder of how distant they had become, but he chose not to comment on it.

The thought of managing Hoor without the nanny was weighing heavily on Faris. It was the weekend, and the nanny wouldn't be available on such short notice. He was deep in thought when Noor seemed to read his mind.

"Bhai, aapko aitraaz na ho toh, mai Hoor ko apne saath le jaati hu," Noor suggested with gentle insistence.

Faris, though still apprehensive, saw no other option. "Theek hai, Noor. Shukriya."

Faris bent down to Hoor’s level, his voice soft but firm. “Beta, aapko aaj Phuphu ke saath jaana hai. Woh aapka khayal rakhengi aur phir kal subah yaha le aayengi.”

Hoor looked up with a mixture of confusion and sadness. “Nahi, Chachu, mujhe aapke saath rehna hai.”

Faris sighed, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “Aap yahan nahi ruk sakti, baccha. Aapko pata hai na, Daado bimaar hain. Mujhe unki madad ke liye yahi rukna hai. Aur aap abhi choti hain, toh hospital mein nahi ruk sakti.”

Hoor stared at him for a moment, her eyes welling up with tears. She glanced over at Noor, who stood a few steps away, offering a reassuring smile. Hoor nodded slowly, her resolve softening as she took in the seriousness of Faris's words and the comfort Noor's presence promised.

Faris patted her head gently. “Achha beta, Phuphu ke saath chalna. Kal subah hum aapko wapas le aayenge, theek hai?”

Hoor gave a small, reluctant nod, her gaze lingering on Faris and then shifting to Noor. The transition was hard, but the understanding in her eyes showed she accepted the situation, even if it was with a heavy heart.

With that settled, Noor took Ayaan and Hoor with her. Before leaving, she made a quick detour to the hospital cafeteria and returned with a bag of food for Faris. He was grateful for the gesture, even though he noticed that Noor had not eaten anything herself.

They sat together for a moment in the quiet of the hospital lounge. Faris took the food and began to eat, feeling a touch of comfort in the familiarity of Noor's presence. Despite the awkwardness and distance between them, it was clear that Noor still cared deeply for everyone, just as she always had.

"Khana lo, Noor," Faris insisted, his voice filled with concern.

Noor shook her head with a small smile. "Nahi, bhai. Hum hotel pe jaake saath khana khayenge."

Before leaving, Noor asked Faris about any potential allergies Hoor might have and listened carefully as he explained. She then gave him the details of the hotel and room number, ensuring he had everything he needed.

As Noor walked away with Hoor and Ayaan, Faris watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. It was a small comfort to know that Hoor would be with someone who cared, but the situation underscored how much things had changed.