ishq lost & found

32; Visits

It had officially been two months since Ranya and Saad got married, a strange two months for sure. In the midst of getting back to her routine, finding time to spend with her loved ones, it seemed as though she neglected one of the few people closest to her.

"Ranya!" her mother exclaimed, running towards her daughter with open arms just as she stepped into what was once her home.

Beaming at her mom, whom she so dearly missed, Ranya let her engulf her in a long and tender embrace, holding back tears of both sorrow and happiness.

Sorrow that she felt so far and distant from her mother, the same mother she couldn't keep a secret from, besides that one. The same mother she let pamper her and baby her well into adulthood, even though she was the eldest.

"I feel like we never talk! I've missed you so much!" her mom spoke from the kitchen, having told Ranya to take a seat in the living room as she made them some chai.

Ranya never thought she'd be in this position. Sitting in her own home like a guest, waiting to be served tea so she could catch up with the one person that should know every little thing about her. Down to the most random and unimportant details.

"Tell me everything, how is Saad treating you?" she began, wide eyed and curious as she took a sip from her piping hot chai. Her worst habit, one that Ranya picked up on.

Ranya didn't know where to begin, or what to say. She wanted to tell her mom the truth- that Saad had begun acting strange. He was always strange, ever since he decided to leave the province for university he was never the same Saad that she fell in love with. But after getting married, a few weeks in, Saad seemed different. He seemed more caring, he seemed more attentive. Most of all he seemed comfortable.

And it's not like there was something inherently wrong with him. He wasn't necessarily like Salman, but sometimes Ranya felt like he was. The similarities between what happened were too alike to go by unnoticed. Saad strung her along, he made her think there was something between then and then he abruptly left her like she didn't matter. Salman basically did the exact same thing, but his way just a lot worse.

But he just wasn't the husband or companion she expected or wanted. She wanted someone real, someone she could tell everything to. She wanted a husband that would protect her, one that she could confide in, one that would comfort her in her weak moments and celebrate her in her best. Instead she got a husband who avoids her for work, and seems to be married to his job. Especially as of late.

"Great. He's really sweet." Ranya lied, avoiding her mom's gaze as she grabbed a biscuit to eat with her chai, trying to bridge the gap between what she just said and the lies she'd have to continue to spew. "He cares about me a lot... he's a lot better than Salman, that's for sure."

"So when do you two want to have kids?" she asked, catching Ranya by surprise as she choked on her bite, a fit of coughs following as she tried to keep herself from obstructing her airways at the blunt question.

"Mama! What kind of question is that?" Ranya blurted, cheeks burning and tinting rosey as she stared at her mother with a bewildered look.

"Your dad isn't here! Besides I won't tell him, but him and I have been thinking about it, have you two?" she implored further, leaving Ranya shocked at the invasive question. It was strange hearing words like this come from the same mouth that used to yell at her for being too close to Saad.

"No, we haven't. Everything happened to fast, and he's so busy all the time. I can't ask him questions like that. And I'm too young." Ranya explained, finally telling her first sort of half truth. Better than a full lie.

"I had you when I was 20! You're older than that, I'm sure you'd manage. And I know you love kids, it's your job. I remember the one thing you loved to do as a child is pretend you're a mom, make it happen!"