Hirz-e-Jaan

Ulfat 6

Author's POV

The room remained heavy long after the name had been spoken.

Zorawar sat hunched forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor as if it might offer him a way out. Amina pressed her dupatta to her mouth, whispering a quiet prayer under her breath.

Mehrunnisa was the first to move.

She stepped closer, her voice firm despite the fear still lodged in her chest.
"Bhai." (Brother.)

Zorawar looked up slowly. "Mehr...ye aap dono ka masla nahi he." (Mehr... this problem is not yours.)

She shook her head at once.
"Yeh hum sab ka masla hai." (This is a problem for all of us.)

Amina nodded, gathering herself.
"Bolo, beti." (Speak, my child.)

Mehrunnisa took a breath.
"Bhai, mere paas paisay hain." (Brother, I have money.)

Zorawar stiffened.
"Kya?" (What?)

"Chandni" she said quietly, making sure her mother doesn't know what it is. (Moonlight)

"Mein samjhi nahi?" Her mother said. (I didn't understand?)

"Kuch nahi Ammi. Bas kuch paise jo mene sheher mein akhate kiye the." Mehrunnisa replied, avoiding suspicion (Nothing mother. Just some money I gathered when I was in the city)

Zorawar's face hardened immediately.
"Nahi." (No.)

"Bhai, suno—" (Brother, listen—)

"Nahi, Mehrunnisa," he cut her off, his voice strained. "Main tumhara aik paisa bhi nahi loonga." (No Mehrunnisa) (I won't take a single rupee of yours.)

She stepped closer, her eyes steady.
"Yeh mera paisa hai. Aur yeh mere bhai ka masla hai." (It's my money. And this is my brother's problem.)

Silence fell.

Amina placed her hand on Zorawar's arm.
"Beta, sirf pehli qist hi sahi," she said gently. (My son, even if it's just the first payment.)

Zorawar looked at her helplessly.
"Ammi, qarza bohot bada hai. Aur qist wala nahi he" (Mother, the debt is very large. And its not with installments)

"Hum kab keh rahe hain poora abhi chukao," Amina replied steadily. (We're not saying pay it all now.)

She leaned forward.
"Thora sa paisa de do. Thora waqt maang lo. Taake yeh lage ke hum bhaag nahi rahe." (Give some amount. Ask for some time. So it looks like we're not running.)

Mehrunnisa nodded firmly.
"Sirf itna ke woh samjhein ke hum adaigi karna chahte hain." (Just enough for them to see that we intend to pay.)

Zorawar ran a hand down his face, exhaustion seeping into every line of him. "Aur phir?" (And then?)

"Phir hum koi raasta nikaalenge," Mehrunnisa said quietly. (Then we'll find a way.)

A long pause followed.

Finally, Zorawar exhaled shakily.
"Theek hai." (Alright.)

Mehrunnisa's shoulders sagged slightly in relief.

"Lekin aik shart par," Zorawar added, his voice low. (But on one condition.)

Amina looked at him.
"Kya?" (What?)

"Abhi Abba ko kuch nahi batana." (Don't tell Father yet.)

Mehrunnisa frowned.
"Bhai—"