Umeed

Chapter 29

The days had grown long and heavy between Noor and Shahzain. The weight of unspoken emotions, misunderstood actions, and unresolved pain pressed down on them both. Noor's heart, once soft, had hardened under the strain of their marriage. It wasn't that she didn't understand Shahzain's impulsive decision to marry her. She knew that he was a man of action, driven by strong emotions. What hurt the most, however, was her belief that Shahzain still loved Rania. The thought gnawed at her relentlessly, turning the simplest moments between them into sources of pain.

Noor had become cold toward Shahzain, her once open and warm demeanor replaced by an icy distance. She moved through the house quietly, avoiding him whenever possible. When they did cross paths, her responses were curt and dismissive, sometimes downright rude. Shahzain, for his part, tried to endure it, understanding that his actions had caused this rift. But no one dared say anything to Noor. Not Shahzain, not Ayesha, not even Faris. They all knew she was hurting, and to confront her would only deepen the wounds.

Yet, there was a light that still flickered within Noor. It was small and flickering, but it lived on in her interactions with Ayaan and Hoor. She could still smile, even if that smile never reached her eyes. It was for the children that she put on a brave face, and they, in their innocence, were a balm to her wounded heart.

One late afternoon, Noor sat quietly in the living room, staring out the large windows that overlooked the garden. Her thoughts drifted, as they often did, to her life before Shahzain, before the chaos of this marriage. Her heart ached for the simplicity of the bakery she once ran in London, a place where she could lose herself in the comforting rhythm of kneading dough and measuring flour.

It was in the midst of this reverie that Ayaan bounded into the room, his eyes bright with excitement. "Ammi!" he called, his voice full of the joy only a child could have. "Let's bake something! Like we used to in London. Please, Ammi, please?"

Noor looked at her son, his enthusiasm so infectious that she couldn't help but smile, a real one this time, though fleeting. She missed baking too, missed the connection it gave her to her past and the happiness it brought to Ayaan. "Alright," she said softly, "let's bake something."

Ayaan's face lit up as he clapped his hands together in excitement. "Yay! We'll bake the best cookies ever, right, Ammi?"

"Yes," Noor replied, standing up and brushing off her clothes. "The best cookies ever."

As Noor and Ayaan moved toward the kitchen, they passed by Hoor, who had been quietly watching them from the hallway. The little girl stood back, her wide eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and hesitation. Unlike Ayaan, Hoor hadn't had a mother figure in her life for quite some time, and though she and Noor were close, there was still a barrier between them, a slight hesitation whenever Hoor wanted to join in on moments between Noor and Ayaan.

Noor noticed the way Hoor lingered, her small frame nearly hidden in the shadows. She paused, looking at her niece with soft eyes. "Hoor," Noor called gently, "do you want to come bake with us?"

Hoor's face lit up, but there was still a shyness in her eyes. She hesitated, unsure if she was really welcome in this moment. "Phuphu," she began in a small voice, "kya mai bhi aa sakti hu?"

Noor's heart tightened at the sight of the child's hesitation. She had always loved Hoor, but seeing the girl so unsure of her place in Noor's life struck a chord deep within her. "Of course, Hoor," she said with warmth, walking over and gently taking her hand. "Come with us. It'll be fun."

With that simple gesture, Hoor's hesitation melted away, and a smile broke across her face. The three of them-Noor, Ayaan, and Hoor-headed to the kitchen together, and soon the room was filled with the sounds of laughter and the warm scent of vanilla and butter.