Taabindagi (Sequel Of Sharar)

Five

This situation wasn’t as simple or insignificant as Kulsoom thought. No child in Khan Haveli had ever changed their name before.

"Kulsoom, koi tumhare naam ka mazak nahi banata, apne dimagh se aisi baatein nikal do." Eifa quickly interjected, her face slightly uneven as she hadn't applied her serum properly.

(Kulsoom, no one is making fun of your name. Get these thoughts out of your head,)

"Tumhe kya pata hai? Eifa, school mein sab mera itna mazak..." Kulsoom snapped back defensively.

(And how would you know? Eifa, at school, everyone makes so much fun of me...)

"Naam badalne se kya hoga? Jab hum bahar jate hain toh log humari har cheez ko judge karte hain aur koi na koi kami, koi baat unhe mil jati hai, koi perfect nahi hota." Eifa cut her off firmly, pausing to take a breath. This time, her tone was gentler. "Kulsoom, tum jitna inn sab se chirhogi, woh utna enjoy karenge. Iska solution naam change karna nahi hai, balki inn sabko ignore karna hai."

(What will changing your name accomplish? When we go out, people judge us for everything, and they always find something to make fun of, to hurt us with,)

(Kulsoom, the more you let these things bother you, the more they'll enjoy it. The solution isn't to change your name but to stop caring about what they say.)

Sharfa had been silently listening to the conversation, wanting to say something but refraining since she wasn't the type to interrupt. She only spoke when addressed directly.

"Mujhe mera naam nahi pasand," Kulsoom now said in a softer tone, her gaze lowered.

(I don't like my name,)

The room fell silent. Eifa glanced at Sharfa, who gestured as if to ask if she should say something. Eifa shook her head. If Sharfa started talking, she'd never stop.

"Kullu, tumhara naam dadi ne bohot pyar se rakha hai." Eifa moved from her bed to sit beside Kulsoom, placing a hand on hers as she spoke gently. "Aur phir naam kon badalta hai?"

(Kullu, your name was given to you with so much love by dadi,)

(And who changes their name anyway?)

"Badalte hain," Sharfa couldn't hold back any longer. "Bollywood mein hi kitne actors apna name change karte hain, humne uss din hi Instagram..."

(People do,)

(In Bollywood, so many actors change their names. I just saw this on Instagram the other day...)

"Dadi naraz hongi." Eifa quickly cut off Sharfa and turned back to Kulsoom.

(Dadi would be upset,)

Sharfa pouted, frustrated that her point had been dismissed.

"Aur phir iski ijazat bhi tumhe koi nahi dega." Eifa added.

(And besides, no one will give you permission to do it,)

"That's the problem. Isliye toh tumse baat kar rahi hoon, warna main yaha tumhari baaton ke liye nahi baithi hoon," Kulsoom retorted, her tone sharp, leaving Eifa surprised.

(That's why I'm talking to you about it. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be sitting here asking for advice,)

"Kitni badtameez ho tum." Eifa stood up and stomped back to her bed.

(You are so rude.)

"Jao karlo dadi se baat, aur jab daat sunke aaogi tab mujhe maza ayega. Kyuki maama papa ne kabhi tumhe data nahi, iss liye aisi ho." Eifa's face was already drying out, so she picked up her moisturizer and began applying it while speaking.