The Moment She Saw Him

Part 23

Hamza 

The doorbell rang, and I glanced at the clock. It was 4 in the evening—Sehar was here. I had been thinking about her all day and couldn't wait to see her again after yesterday.
I opened the door and smiled. "Mumma's sleeping, come on in," I said. But something was off. She didn't even smile back—she looked tired, almost drained.
"How's your mom doing?" she asked quietly as she stepped inside.
"She's better. She had lunch and went for a nap," I replied, sitting beside her on the sofa. She let out a deep sigh, clearly exhausted.
"You look worn out. Want something to eat?" I asked, taking her bag and setting it on the table.
"Yeah, I'm really craving a sandwich," she said, her eyes barely open. "What did you have for breakfast?"
"Just some toast and eggs. I didn't really have lunch, though. I gave Mumma some fruit since she said she'd wait for a proper meal when you came." That made her smile.
"Want me to order a sandwich for you?" I offered.
"Yes, please! But I'll pay."
"Why would you pay when I'm here?" I teased.
"I'm the one eating, so it's my treat—or I won't eat!" she said playfully before getting up. "I'm going to wash my face."
While she freshened up, I ordered the sandwich. A few minutes later, she came back and said, "I think your mom's awake."
I looked over and saw her peeking into the room through a small gap in the door. "Go check," I said with a smile.
She walked in, and after a few minutes, I followed and stood by the door. My heart warmed at the sight. There they were—my mom and Sehar, standing by the window, my mom's hand resting on Sehar's shoulder, both deep in conversation. Those two were my absolute favorites.

The doorbell rang again, and I dashed to answer it. The sandwiches had arrived. I had ordered three because my mom loved sandwiches too.
"Guys, snack time! Come on!" I called out as I headed back to the room. Sehar turned to me with a smile.
"Let's go, Aunty," she said to my mom, helping her out of the room.Meanwhile, I set up the table with plates, napkins, and some ketchup. Sehar took a seat next to my mom, and I sat across from them. "We have exams coming up next week. How are you planning to manage?" Sehar asked me."I'm not sure yet. Maybe I'll ask one of my friends for help," I replied.Sehar changed the subject, asking, "What would you like for dinner?""We'll eat whatever you make, dear. The Masala Chicken you made last time was fantastic," Mom said with a smile.Sehar's eyes lit up. "How about white sauce pasta tonight?""I LOVE pasta! Of course, I'm in," I said, grinning.Sehar smiled and blushed, looking even more beautiful. I felt a rush of affection for her—she really was amazing.

While I was helping Mumma with her medicines and the plaster, I could hear Sehar bustling around in the kitchen, her excitement palpable. The clinking of utensils and the sizzle of the stove made my stomach growl in anticipation.After a few minutes, we finished up in the room, and I headed back to the kitchen. Sehar was stirring the pasta sauce, her face lit up with concentration. The aroma of garlic, herbs, and tomatoes filled the air. "How's it coming along?" I asked, leaning against the counter."Almost done!" she replied, her eyes sparkling. "I'm just letting the sauce simmer a bit. It should be ready soon."I set the table with the plates and cutlery, trying not to let my impatience show. Mumma joined us, settling at the table with a contented sigh. "Everything smells wonderful," she said, her smile genuine. Sehar finished up, and we all gathered around the table. The white sauce pasta looked and smelled amazing. Sehar served us generous portions, and we all dug in."This is incredible, Sehar!" I said, savoring the first bite. "You're a pasta master."Sehar blushed, clearly pleased with the compliment. "I'm glad you like it," she said, taking a seat next to me.As we ate, the conversation flowed easily. We talked about everything from school to favorite foods, and the evening felt warm and cozy. The tension from earlier had melted away, replaced by the comfort of good food and good company.After dinner, we all sat back, satisfied. Sehar helped clear the table, and I chatted with Mumma, who looked more relaxed than she had all day. "Thank you for everything, Sehar," I said sincerely. "Tonight was perfect."She smiled, her eyes reflecting the soft light of the room. "I'm just happy to be here. And I'm glad I could help make your mom feel better."The evening ended with laughter and light-hearted conversations. As Sehar prepared to leave, I walked her to the door."See you soon?" I asked, hoping she'd say yes."Definitely," she replied, her smile brightening the room. "I'll be looking forward to it."As she walked away, I felt a sense of contentment. Despite the earlier worries, the evening had turned out to be exactly what we all needed—a reminder of the simple joys of good company and good food.

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