LOVE TRIALS

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"Assalamualaikum, "Sufiyan greeted as he walked into the living room where his parents sat with his uncle and Aunty watching the news, loud voices of the anchors resonated in the room as per routine.

"WalaikumAssalam. Aagaye, baita?" His mother smiled at him as he rested his laptop bag on the coffee table. His mother would remind him to take it to his room, later.

"Rastay mein hoon, Ammi, (I am on my way, Mother,)"Sufiyan grinned cheekily and bowed his head to his mother and Chachi. He fell on the plush sofa, burdened with exhaustion and loosened his tie.

"Theek ho? (Are you alright?)" His chachu asked, distractedly. Yawar didn't even wait for his nephew's reply as he turned to the television.

Sufiyan's father was much too engrossed in the news to spare even a little attention to his son. For twenty-six years of his blessed life he had never resented his father for anything but the frisson of animosity that bristled in his chest, every time he had looked at Dawar in the past year and a half, he hated it and he hated Dawar for it.

"Reshma, chai le aao Sufiyan k liyai or Maysa se bhi poochlo usko kuch chahiyai tou nahi, (Reshma, bring tea for son and ask Maysa if she needs something)" His chachi called out to the house help.

Sufiyan's eyebrows knotted, perceptibly and he rose from the sofa, following his mother into the kitchen.

"What happened to Maysa?" He inquired in a hushed voice as he folded the sleeves of his blue shirt to his elbows and reached out for the teacups in the overhead cupboard.

"Migraine," His mother told him, softly.

"Ijazat hai? (Am I allowed?)" Sufiyan glanced at her, already filling a glass of water from the dispenser as his mother poured him a cup of tea.

"Baitay," His Chachi said, watching him sympathetically as she walked into the kitchen.

When his frown deepened, Roseena shuffled to open one of the drawers to look for tablets. Her heart clenched, painfully beneath her bosom for Sufiyan. She loved him as her own, just as she loved her biological daughter.

🏹

He entered her room with uncertain steps, a glass of water and aspirin in his hand. His heart thumped hard in his chest as he walked to the foot of her bed where she lay with her forearm thrown across her eyes.

"Ammi, idhar hi de dain," She said, sitting up, slowly and rubbed her aching eyes with the heels of her palms.

"It's me. I brought water and painkillers,"He spoke, clearing his throat and she nearly jumped in her skin, the tungsten light flirted with him in the dark. Shadows danced on the wide expanse of his torso, caressing his broad shoulders, never quite succeeding in making her envious.

"Sufiyan," She scolded, clutching her duppatta to her chest. He didn't even, he came to her dressed in his dress shirt and slacks.

Sufiyan chuckled, "Aap pareshaan kyun horahi hain? mein hi hoon. (Why are you worried? It's me.) I knocked thrice."

"Kitni dafa mana kia hai meray kamray mein is tarah nahi aaya karo? (How many times have I told you to not come into my room like this?)" she raved, taking the glass of water and tablets from him.

She hurriedly swallowed the tablets, washed them down with water while he sat by her feet on the bed. Her dishevelled hair fell on her shoulders as she gathered her legs to her chest. She watched him with furious eyes.

"Aur mein aapko kitni dafa bataon k meri jagah aapkay saath hai,(And how many time do I have to tell you? My place is beside you.)" Sufian spoke, softly.