Hirz-e-Jaan

Ulfat 2

Author's POV

After the conversation with Chaudhary Sahab, every passing moment only strengthened the idea of sending Mehrunnisa away for her upbringing. Zubair headed back and made sure to talk it over with his wife, Amina.

Inside the Mirza house, the lanterns flickered gently on the mud walls. Amina was seated on the floor cushion, embroidering a dupatta under the dim light. She looked up as Zubair entered, noticing the sternness in his face.

"Kya baat hai? Aap pareshaan lag rahe hain." (What's the matter? You look worried.)

Zubair sat down heavily, running a hand over his beard. "Aaj ek aisi baat dekhi jo mujhe bilkul pasand nahi aayi. Aur Chaudhary Sahab ne bhi salaah di he... Mehrunnisa ko kuch arse ke liye sheher bhejna behtar hoga." (I saw something today that I did not like at all. And Chaudhary Sahab advised the same... it would be better to send Mehrunnisa to the city for some time.)

Amina's needle froze mid-air. Her eyes widened. "Sheher? Lekin kyun? Abhi to woh sirf pandrah ki hai. Apne ghar mein hi seekh rahi hai sab." (The city? But why? She's only fifteen. She's learning everything here at home.)

Zubair's tone turned firmer. "Seekhne ka sawaal nahi hai, Amina. Baatein shuru hone se pehle hi khatam karni chahiye. Woh Haider ke saath thi aaj... aur mein nahi chahta yeh bara masla bane." (It's not about learning, Amina. We have to end things before gossip even begins. She was with Haider today... and I don't want this matter to escalate.)

Amina placed the dupatta aside, her voice trembling. "Lekin woh kuch ghalat to nahi kar rahe honge, Zubair. Ho sakta he ke wo wese kahin mil gaye hon. Ab tum usse sheher bhej doge to uska dil toot jaayega." (But they probably were not doing anything wrong, Zubair. It's possible they just stumbled upon each other. If you send her to the city, it will break her heart)

Zubair exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing. "Dil se pehle izzat hoti hai. Aur izzat ke liye jo karna pade, main karoonga." (Honor comes before the heart. And for honor, I will do whatever is necessary.)

Amina lowered her gaze, torn between a mother's softness and a wife's loyalty. She nodded faintly, though her chest tightened with unease. "Theek hai... lekin Mehrunnisa ko samjhana mushkil hoga." (Fine... but explaining this to Mehrunnisa will not be easy.)

Zubair's voice left no room for argument. "Usse samjhaya nahi jaata, Amina. Usse bataya jaata hai. Kal subah main faisla suna dunga." (She will not be made to understand, Amina. She will be told. Tomorrow morning, I'll announce my decision.)

__________________________

That night, Mehrunnisa sat by the small window of her room, the moonlight spilling across the worn rug at her feet. Her rose plant swayed gently outside, and for once, she didn't hum to it. Her voice, usually her comfort, was silent.

The image of the clay pot slipping from her hands replayed again and again. Haider's hands catching it at the very last second. His voice offering help. His eyes—steady, protective. She had barely managed to adjust her dupatta when..

Her chest tightened. Zubair. Abba. Her Father

She could still see her father's shadow, still hear the firmness in his voice as he called out. He hadn't said much, but the weight in his tone made her stomach twist with dread. What had he thought? What was running through his mind in that moment?

'Unko kia laga ke mene jaan pooch ke giraya tha? Kia unko laga mere aur Haider ke darmiyan kuch he?' Her thoughts tangled, one rushing after the other. (Did he think I dropped it on purpose? Did he think that Haider and I had something going on?)