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. “Mamma, yeh dekh! Mujhe yeh chahiye!” he exclaimed, pointing to a colorful toy store.

Noor smiled and took Ayaan’s hand. “Chalo, dekhte hain kya hai.” 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. “Mamma, yeh bhi! Hoor ke liye bhi kuch chahiye,” he said, holding up a picture book and a small gift.

Noor nodded, appreciating Ayaan’s thoughtfulness. “Theek hai, beta. Hoor ke liye bhi kuch le lenge.”

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. “Mamma, mujhe yeh chahiye aur Hoor ke liye yeh!”

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.

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 also made Hoor cling to Shahzain. Before Ayaan arrived, Hoor was close to Faris but distant from Shahzain. Shahzain had changed; he wasn’t like before, and Ayaan truly made him happy. 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?”

Shahzain replied, “Kuch nahi, Ammi, bas thoda ajeeb lag raha tha toh aa gaya.”

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.”

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.

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.”

Ayesha sensed where this question was leading but nodded, encouraging Shahzain to continue. “Haan, beta, poochho.”

Shahzain took a deep breath and asked, “Ammi, Ayaan kiska beta hai? Mera matlab Noor ne shaadi ki thi kya? Aap samajh rahi hain na mujhe kya puchna hai?”

Ayesha’s expression grew solemn as she responded sadly, “Noor ne shaadi nahi ki, aur Ayaan Noor ka hi beta hai. Lekin main tumhe isse zyada kuch nahi bata sakti, beta. Sab kuch toh Noor hi tumhe bata sakti hai.”