In The Grip of Trust

Chapter 11: A Night Out

After a few days of settling into their new routine, Amir’s family suggested something lighthearted—an evening out for dinner and shopping. The children, along with Amir's parents, were visiting relatives for the day, giving Amir, Ayesha, Hamza, and Sara some rare time alone as a group.

Hamza, ever the lively one, insisted they all needed a break. "Come on, Amir Bhai! Let’s go out tonight. We’ll have dinner at that new restaurant, and maybe do a little shopping afterward. What do you say, Bhabi?"

Ayesha, seated quietly beside Amir, simply nodded. She didn’t protest, but there wasn’t much enthusiasm in her agreement either. Amir glanced at her, sensing the same emotional distance that had become her norm. She was there, but only in body. Her mind, her soul—they were somewhere far away.

That evening, they went to a cozy restaurant downtown, a place with soft lights and a relaxed atmosphere. Hamza and Sara filled the space with their usual banter, joking and teasing Amir and Ayesha every chance they got. Amir tried to keep up, laughing along when needed, but his focus kept drifting back to Ayesha. She ate quietly, not saying much unless spoken to, and even then, her responses were short and simple.

When dinner was over, Hamza, as always, suggested a round of shopping. "Bhabi, you need some new clothes, right? Let’s check out the shops. We won’t take no for an answer!"

Sara chimed in with a grin, "Come on, Ayesha Bhabi! I saw some gorgeous dresses in the window, and I bet they’ll look great on you."

Ayesha shook her head with a small smile. "No, thank you. I have enough clothes. I don’t need anything."

Hamza, not one to give up so easily, tried again. "Bhabi, you’ve barely bought anything since you came here! This is your chance to spoil yourself."

But Ayesha was firm. "Really, I’m not into shopping. I have more than enough. You guys go ahead and look around if you want."

Sara and Hamza exchanged glances but didn’t push further. They could sense that Ayesha wasn’t going to budge on this. Instead, they continued shopping for themselves, while Amir stayed close to Ayesha, both of them watching from a distance as the siblings enjoyed themselves.