The warm afternoon sun filtered through the windows of Khan Haveli, casting a gentle glow over the cozy living room. Meerab, Murtasim, and Mariyam were nestled together on the sofa, surrounded by scattered toys and the laughter of their baby girl, Meesam. The atmosphere was filled with joy as they reminisced about the little moments that made their family complete.
Maa Begum entered the room, carrying an old photo album, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “I thought we could take a trip down memory lane,” she suggested, settling down beside them.
“Oh, I love old photos!” Mariyam exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.
As Maa Begum opened the album, the pages revealed snapshots of a younger Murtasim and Mariyam, their smiles bright and carefree. They flipped through the pages, laughing at the hairstyles and outfits of the past, reliving moments that felt like yesterday.
“Look at this one!” Mariyam pointed, giggling at a photo of her younger self, hair in pigtails, holding a colorful kite. “I was the queen of the skies!”
But it was when they turned to the next page that a particular photo caught Meerab’s eye. A baby in a cute pink frock stared back at them, her big eyes full of innocence. “Who is this adorable little girl?” Meerab asked, her heart swelling at the sight.
Maa Begum leaned in closer, her eyes shining with affection. “That’s not Mariyam, my dear. That’s Murtasim when he was a child.”
Murtasim’s face instantly turned crimson. “Maa, how could you?” he stammered, embarrassment washing over him.
Maa Begum, completely oblivious to his humiliation, continued with a smile. “He used to obstinately ask to be dressed in colorful frocks and dresses. Such a stubborn child!”
Meerab’s laughter rang out, a delightful sound that filled the room. “I can’t believe it! Murtasim, you were dressed like a princess!”
Mariyam joined in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Now I can actually say Meesam looks exactly like her dad!”
Murtasim crossed his arms, his cheeks still flushed. “You two are impossible!” he declared indignantly, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity. “That was just a phase! Every kid goes through something like that.”
“Every kid?” Meerab teased, leaning closer. “I think you were just ahead of your time in fashion!”
Murtasim shot her a look of mock horror. “Fashion? I was just trying to be comfortable!”
Maa Begum chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the banter. “He loved wearing those frocks, and he would twirl around, demanding to be called ‘Princess Murtasim.’”
“Princess Murtasim?” Meerab exclaimed, barely able to contain her laughter. “This is too good! I wish I could have seen that!”
“Please, can we not dwell on this?” Murtasim groaned, trying to hide his face in his hands.
But the teasing continued, with Mariyam and Meerab exchanging playful jabs. “Next family gathering, we should dress Meesam in a pink frock!” Mariyam suggested, grinning mischievously.
“Yes! We’ll have our little princess match her dad!” Meerab added, her laughter infectious.
Murtasim, resigned to his fate, couldn’t help but chuckle despite his embarrassment. “Alright, alright! Just remember, I was young and impressionable!”
As they continued to flip through the album, the room filled with laughter and warmth, each photo sparking new stories and fond memories. In that moment, surrounded by the love of his family, Murtasim realized that childhood memories, no matter how embarrassing, were simply pieces of a beautiful tapestry that connected them all.
“Alright, enough about my frock days,” he finally said, a smile creeping onto his face. “Let’s focus on our beautiful Meesam and what she’ll wear to her first birthday!”
Meerab and Mariyam exchanged knowing glances, and the teasing shifted focus to Meesam, the newest addition to their growing family. And as they continued to laugh and share stories, the bond between them grew even stronger, woven together by love, laughter, and the joy of being a family.
