Aangan is the compelling prequel to Sharar, centred on the older generation of the Khan family. It explores the lives of the Khan brothers and their sister, each navigating the complexities of love, duty, and family values.
Huzaifa Khan, the eldest...
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Nigaar was folding clothes on the bed when the faint jingle of bangles announced Naziya Khan’s entrance. A light frown was on her face. “Nigaar, yeh kya aap jane ki taiyyari kar rahi hain? Kuch din aur ruk jaiye, waise hi itna kam ati hain,”
(Nigaar, why are you leaving so soon. Can’t you spend an extra day at your aunt’s house? You barely visit us as it is.)
Nigaar paused, glancing up from her half-packed suitcase. “Khala, main toh pehle ki tarah hi aau, lekin dadi mana karti hain, kehti hain behen ke sasural itna nahi jaya jata.” She pouted, her lips forming a small, sulky curve.
(Khala, I’d visit as often as before, but Dadi says I shouldn’t go to my sister’s in-laws’ house too often,)
Naziya clicked her tongue in annoyance, her eyes narrowing. “Apki dadi...” She opened her mouth to continue but thought better of it. “Main kuch kahungi toh apki mummy bura maan jayengi...” She trailed off, leaving the words hanging in the air.
(Your dadi...)
(If I say anything about your Dadi, your mother would be offended…)
From her seat by the vanity, Rukhsar looked up, a knowing smile tugged at her lips, mirrored by Nigaar’s mischievous grin.
Naziya sighed heavily, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Ek do baar toh maine keh bhi diya tha, ki jitni anokhi cheezein hain apse hi suna hai warna kahi aur toh nahi hota yeh sab, lekin apki mummy humse khafa ho gayi aur mahino tak baat nahi ki.” Her tone carried the weight of old grievances.
(I did tell her off once. I told her that only she came up with these odd customs, no one else does this, but your mother got so upset she didn’t speak to me for months,)
Intrigued, Nigaar stopped folding and turned fully toward her khala. “Phir?” She prompted, resting her chin on her palm.
(Then?)
Naziya smoothed the pleats of her kurta, her gaze distant. "Phir kya, apki paidaish pe phir hum hi gaye the apke ghar. Hum bade hain, badapan toh hume hi dikhana hoga." Nigaar was now entirely focused on her Khala’s words, her packing forgotten. Rukhsar quietly took over the task of folding Nigaar’s clothes. "Aur ussi din Rukhsar ka hath humne apne Huzaifa ke liye mang liya," She smiled faintly at the memory.
(Then when you were born, I was the one who went to your house to make amends. Being older, I had to show maturity. And on the same day, I proposed Rukhsar’s hand in marriage to Huzaifa,)
A shy smile tugged Rukhsar's lips, but Nigaar’s brow furrowed slightly, her curiosity turning to mild disappointment.
“Warna Anjuman ne itni si baat dil pe laga ke mahino tak baat nahi ki, agey chalke toh hum behno ka toh shayad rishta hi na bachta.” There was a trace of regret in Naziya’s voice as she recalled how a trivial issue had driven a wedge between them.
