Umeed

Chapter 12

Days went by, and after two days, Ayesha was discharged from the hospital. Soon after, Noor and Ayaan moved back into their room. Noor entered the room, which remained untouched, just as she had left it. The familiar surroundings were filled with nostalgia, bringing back many memories of the home she once knew.

Noor was still grappling with unanswered questions. She wondered where Rania was and why Hoor hadn't been attended to by her mother. Despite her concerns, Noor continued to keep her distance from Shahzain. She didn't want to be rude, but her fear of losing Ayaan was overwhelming, and she felt she couldn't take any risks.

In the meantime, Noor, Hoor, Ayaan, and Faris had developed a close bond. Hoor, who had never had a motherly figure other than Ayesha, began to cling to Noor. Whenever Ayaan would attach himself to Noor, Hoor would do the same. It was a new experience for Hoor, who was beginning to appreciate the nurturing presence of Noor in the household.

Faris remained at home to take care of Ayesha's immediate needs, while Shahzain was often busy with work. His frustration grew as Noor continued to avoid speaking to him.

One evening, Shahzain returned home and saw Noor, Hoor, Ayaan, and Faris playing on the lawn. Noor had her eyes covered while the others ran around. Noor was trying to catch Hoor, Faris, and Ayaan, who were all enjoying the game. As Shahzain entered the lawn, Noor caught him and cheerfully said, "Pakad liya! Ab aap out ho, Faris bhai!" (Caught you, you lose, Faris bhai.)

The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet. Noor removed the cloth from her eyes and realized she was holding Shahzain. For a moment, she sensed the warmth of his presence and, feeling a sudden rush of awareness, instinctively stepped back. Shahzain, caught in Noor's cheerful gaze, found himself momentarily lost in the sight of her unguarded joy. He was briefly transported to the Noor he remembered from before, her spirit still as vibrant as it had once been.

Shahzain's eyes softened as he took in the sight of Noor, revealing a mix of nostalgia and unspoken emotions. The brief connection between them spoke volumes about the past they shared and the barriers that had formed since. Just then, Ayaan stepped forward and broke the moment, saying, "Mumma, ab Zain maamu out hue hain. Ab inki aankhon par patti band de, yeh hume pakdenge."
(Mumma, now Zain uncle has lost. Now tie the cloth on his eyes; he will catch us.)

This snapped Shahzain out of his reverie. His gaze remained fixed on Noor for a moment longer before he reluctantly refocused on the surroundings.

This was the first time Ayaan addressed Shahzain directly, something he had never done before.

Hoor commented, "Baba hamare saath kabhi nahi khelte." (Baba never plays with us.)

To ease the tension, Noor said to Ayaan, "Beta, woh nahi khelenge. Abhi office se thak kar aaye hain. Main phir se aapko pakadungi. Aap meri aankhon par band de patti."
(Dear, he will not play. He has come from the office tired. I will catch you again. You can tie the cloth on my eyes again.)

Ayaan, being stubborn, insisted, "Nahi, yeh cheating hogi. Zain maamu hi hume pakdenge."
(No, this is cheating. Zain uncle lost; he will catch us.)

Surprisingly, Shahzain said, "Theek hai, mujhe patti band do, Faris," and joined the game.
(It's okay, tie the cloth on my eyes, Faris.) Faris was taken aback; his brother hadn't participated in any activities or games for a long time, and seeing him engage now was unexpected.

As Shahzain and the others continued playing, Noor felt a mix of emotions. Her thoughts were still preoccupied with the earlier encounter, and she needed a moment to collect herself. She quietly excused herself from the lively game, her mind still processing the unexpected turn of events.