Tamanna E Khaam ✨

11 🐚

In the past few days the lives of the Khans and Siddiquis were turned upside down. The Siddiqui house is quiet, unnaturally so. Once filled with laughter and the sound of hurried footsteps, it now echoes with silence. A mother sits at the kitchen table, fingers wrapped around a cup of tea gone cold, staring at nothing. Her husband stands by the window, eyes fixed on the gate, as if expecting her to walk through it any moment. Their daughter was the light of their home, the warmth in their winters, the chatter in their quiet days. Now, she is gone—ripped from them too soon, leaving behind only memories and a pain that refuses to settle. 

But their grief does not end there. In a stark, sterile hospital room, their son-in-law lies still, machines breathing for him. His body is there, but his mind—his soul—seems far away. Doctors use words like unresponsive and no brain activity, but all the family hears is gone. His mother and father sit at his bedside, Shagufta's hand wrapped around his limp fingers, as if her touch alone could bring him back. Fareed, a man who has never known how to cry, stares at the monitors, watching the numbers that mean nothing to him.

Two families, bound by love and shattered by loss. One mourning a daughter, the other waiting for a son who will never wake. The weight of grief is suffocating, pressing against their chests, filling their days with silence and their nights with tears. There is no comfort, no solace—only the knowledge that life, so full one moment, can be emptied in the blink of an eye.

In the midst of it all is Aliya, all over the place but unheard. She's at home taking care of the little girl now named, Asna. The poor little thing that has no idea about the cruel reality of her life. Losing her mother right after birth and the nature of her father's health. Unware if she'll ever have a parent. Aliya is on her feet, the cheery bubbly girl matured within days and is now a responsible adult, looking after her own parents, Dua's and the little baby.

Shams on the other hand is the same as he was, Quiet.

He does not cry.

Not at the funeral, not when they lower her into the ground, not when condolences come in hushed voices and careful hands on his shoulder. He stands still, his face carved from stone, nodding when necessary, speaking only when required. People whisper about how strong he is, how he is handling it so well. They don't see the weight pressing down on his chest, the silence that rings louder than any wail.

He visits Asna daily, the little girl an absolute copy of his sister. He texts Aliya before his arrival and sits in the living room, she brings Asna down with her and passes her to him gently. The exchange is wordless and almost routine. Neither of them talk.

A week later the silence is broken when Shams enquires about the baby's health and necessary vaccinations, then Aliya mentions having an appointment the next day. Shams insists on joining and surprisingly there's no protest from the woman. Contrary to the nature of their relationship. Things have changed. Only time will tell if its for the better or the worst.

The next day Shams picks Aliya from her house and drops her back home too. The drive is silent apart from the little sounds coming from the baby. Shams slows down infront of the house as another car stops in front of him. Aliya recognized Talha's car, getting out of Shams car she made her way inside her house. While Shams left after a brief greeting with Talha, the latter parked his car and made his way inside the house.Aliya had reached the living room when Talha caught up with her with his fast paced steps.

"Aliya!!" Talha exclaimed, making her stop. She had been avoiding him ever since the accident, she hadn't been responding to his texts or calls but it wasn't deliberate. It's just that she had way important things to do apart from the fact that Talha hadn't been the most supportive in all this.

"Main Asna ko mama ko dekar aati hoon." Was all she said before leaving him alone in the living room.

A/N: OKAY HELLOOO IM HERE!!!! WELL, APOLOGIES ARE IN ORDER SO IM SORRY FOR BEING MIA, AND ALSO SORRY FOR MARKING THIS BOOK "COMPLETED" ITS JUST THAT I HAD DECIDED IT WOULD BE THE END OF THIS BOOK AFTER THE LAST STORY BUT THEN MY FRIEND WANTED ME TO WRITE THIS ONE SO I FORGOT TO UPDATE THE STATUS TO "ONGOING."
Well this is short but youll get updates sooner In shaa Allah! So don't be mad at me🥹❤️