Tale Of Two Sisters

The Turns

As Zeenath entered Zara's room. She was astonished to see her daughter already up and was on her bed sitting in indian style. She had worn a cotton 'salwar' and her head was covered in a scarf. Upon entering, Zeenath also noticed that Zara wasn't alone. Zoya was also sitting beside her. Both were in a similar attire and were reading their 'Quran'.

While Zara read the verses out loud, Zoya was explaining the meaning behind every line since it is considered to be a waste of time if the 'Quran' is read without knowing the meaning.

Zeenath patiently waited for Zara for finish the para she was reading and also waited for Zoya to finish her explanation.

Even though the sisters never got along with each other, they knew that their Islam came first and would always be on the right path together.

Once the girls noticed their mother at tye door, they finished their para and carefully closed their 'Quran'. Zara asked her mother to come in.

"It's nice to see that you both have not forgotten out our 'eman' , even after almost four years of spending your lives out there." Zeenath couldn't help but admire them.

"Shukriyaa Ammi! Anyway, Zoya never let me get distracted from our duties. After all, it determines how perfect we are as muslims." Said Zara

Zoya simply sat quite in the corner. She didn't dare look up to her mother.

"Zara, Zoya; we must now join the others in the backyard. It's time for tea. Aren't you both hungry?" Asked Zeenath.

Zara said a desperate yes, while Zoya was a little shocked. Zeenath had never shown this affection even if it was for both of them. She'd usually ignore Zoya and show affection to Zara, but this time, it did blow her mind a little.

Zeenath knew that, maybe by heart, she may never accept Zoya. But she knew that she can never be cruel towards her. Neither Islam nor her motherly heart allows that. But the only fact that she was betrayed made the diffrence.

Zara rushed out the door, to the backyard leaving Zoya and Zeenath in the same room. It was definitely awkward for Zoya.

However, Zeenath turned towards Zoya and said "Don't be this timid and awkward Zoya. As much as I may not accept you, I still know you are someones daughter too. Had she been alive, she'd have give the love you need. You shall not expect such love from me. But yes I have no hatred towards youself either. My heart is a little softened for you, but expect no more."

Her voice was steel and firm and Zoya was left with nothing but the option was staring at her.

With one more look, Zeenath went out of the room and closed the door with a gentle 'thud'.

Zoya blinked her eyes for a few times and digested what had just occurred. With a light smile, she went to washroom, did hwr business and walked back to join her family for tea.

After tea, the family retired back inside the house and after having a fun filled dinner where Zara was doing most of the talking, they called it a night.

However, Zoya couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about what had happened between her 'Abbu' and her 'Ammi'.

She closed her eyes and the all the thoughts came back like a movie in front of her.

But, Zoya wasn't the only ome who couldn't sleep. There was someone else too who was restless.

"What must have happened?" She thought.

Faiza couldn't sleep because of what had happened earlier. Faiza was married to Zubair, four and a half years ago. When she first entered the family, she did sense some tardiness between the relationship between her mother-in-law and Zoya. She, however, couldn't put a finger on it since Zoya and Zara had left to London almost after five months post the marriage. She, at the beginning, thought that it must have been the strictness each mother shows towards the first born girl in every family. But what she heard or better said to have eavesdropped today between the conversation that occured in Anwar's study made her restless. Even though she felt a little guilty, she did feel a little curious about what they had been talking about.