Umeed

Chapter 14

After leaving the café, Noor and Ayaan headed to the mall, their spirits lifted by the promise of a fun outing. The mall’s vibrant atmosphere contrasted sharply with the earlier tension, and Ayaan’s excitement was palpable.

As they entered the bustling mall, Ayaan’s eyes widened at the array of shops and attractions. “Mumma, yeh dekh! Mujhe yeh chahiye!” (Mumma, look! I want that!) he exclaimed, pointing to a colorful toy store.

Noor smiled and took Ayaan’s hand. “Chalo, dekhte hain kya hai.” (Let’s see what it is.) They wandered through the toy store, with Ayaan eagerly showing Noor various toys he wanted. His small fingers traced the shelves, picking out shiny cars and plush animals.

Ayaan’s enthusiasm didn’t wane, and soon he was pulling Noor towards a section with books and games. “Mumma, yeh bhi! Hoor ke liye bhi kuch chahiye,” (Mumma, this too! We should get something for Hoor as well,) he said, holding up a picture book and a small gift.

Noor nodded, appreciating Ayaan’s thoughtfulness and how he adored Hoor, just like a sister. “Theek hai, beta. Hoor ke liye bhi kuch le lenge.” (Okay, dear. We’ll get something for Hoor too.)

They continued exploring, Ayaan’s excitement growing with each new discovery. Noor indulged him, enjoying the joy in his eyes. They stopped at a candy store, where Ayaan picked out a few treats. “Mumma, mujhe yeh chahiye aur Hoor ke liye yeh!” (Mumma, I want this and this for Hoor too!)

With their bags filled with toys, books, and candies, they finally made their way to a cozy café in the mall for a snack break. Noor and Ayaan shared a table, enjoying cookies and milk as they talked and laughed. Ayaan’s chatter about his favorite toys and the surprise for Hoor added a layer of warmth to the afternoon.

As they left the mall, Ayaan clutched his new toys tightly, his face beaming with happiness. Noor watched him, her heart lightened by the joy they shared. The day had been a perfect distraction, filled with laughter and simple pleasures, reinforcing the bond between mother and son.

Meanwhile, Shahzain freshened up but still felt a sense of emptiness. He had developed a habit of having Ayaan around; Ayaan would usually cling to him, and seeing Ayaan often made Hoor cling to Shahzain too. Before Ayaan arrived, Hoor was close to Faris but distant from Shahzain. Shahzain had changed—he wasn’t like before—and Ayaan truly brought happiness into his life. Now, with Ayaan not there, Shahzain missed him deeply.

He decided to visit his mother’s room. Upon entering, he saw Hoor nestled in Ayesha’s embrace as Ayesha told her a story. When Hoor noticed her father, she immediately greeted him with a bright smile. After a short while, Hoor went outside to look for Faris, leaving Shahzain and Ayesha alone.

Ayesha, noticing Shahzain’s mood, asked, “Aaj kaise waqt mil gaya tumhe mujhse milne ka?” (How did you find time to visit me today?)

Shahzain replied, “Kuch nahi, Ammi, bas thoda ajeeb lag raha tha toh aa gaya.” (Nothing, Mumma, I was just feeling a bit strange, so I came.)

Ayesha understood that Shahzain missed Ayaan. She gently pointed out, “Yun keh do ke Ayaan ke bina accha nahi lag raha, isliye yahan aaye ho.” (Why don’t you just say that you’re not feeling good without Ayaan, so you came here?)

Shahzain knew he had been caught by his mother and simply nodded. Ayesha chuckled at Shahzain’s distress, recognizing how much he missed Ayaan after returning from the office.

Seeing her son’s longing, Ayesha felt a pang of concern. She knew she had to do something to bring Shahzain and Noor closer before Noor decided to leave.

After chatting for some time with Ayesha about her health, Shahzain gathered his courage to address a question that had been troubling him. He hesitated for a moment before finally asking, “Ammi, mujhe Noor ke baare mein aap se baat karni hai.” (Mother, I want to ask you something about Noor.)