High On Life

72: Back To All That Once Existed

We reached home and I handed the driver his fare. Hussain and Hafsa had also reached and were waiting for us.

They both looked at Nida with huge smiles on their faces and she smiled back with even a bigger one.

She went up to Hafsa and hugged her. "I missed you so much."

"Hey hey, it's okay. I'm so glad you're finally back, jaithaani(sister in law) jee." She winked and Nida smiled.

"Me too, devraani jee." She said in response.

She then turned to Hussain who was grinning. "Is it safe to call you bhabhi jee now?"

She laughed and gave him a side hug. "Of course it is devar sahaab."

"Okay guys. Ready? Sain, you have the duplicate keys right?" I asked, just to make sure, and he nodded.

Mom must be in her room, praying Fajr and dad must be on his way home from the Masjid(mosque).

Hussain slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. We all sneaked in and locked the door behind us.

All this time I just couldn't take my eyes off her. There was a sparkle in her eyes that took my heart away. A resplendent smile played across her lips, giving me butterflies on the inside though she wasn't even smiling my way. Can't wait for mom to meet her again.

"Shehry." Her voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think...will ammi....accept me after all that happened? And all I did?" She looked down, gulping hard.

I sighed. "Nida, why do you think that way? Of course she will. You're her daughter. Why wouldn't a mother wish to see her own daughter?"

I hugged her and she smiled, hugging me back.

"Okay, so Nida and Hafsa, you guys stay right outside the door while we go in. We'll fetch you both on cue. Okay?" I explained and they nodded.

We went to her room and very slowly opened the door. We saw her on the prayermat as usual and smiled to each other. We tiptoed behind her and on the count of three, the both of us jumped in and hugged her from either side.

She was stunned. "Shehry? Hussain? Tum log yahaan?"

A few tears escaped her eyes as she kissed both of us on our cheeks.

"Par tum logon ne to kaha tha ke Christmas vacation mein aa nahi paaoge." She said, confused, and I chuckled.

"Mazaaq kar rahay thay. Chuttiyan ho aur woh bhi family ke saath na guzaarein? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai?" I winked and she kissed my cheek.

"Shehry beta...Nida.."

"Mama, woh....nahi aayi." I looked down, faking a sad expression.

"Par kiyun beta? Aisi kia waja hai jo wo nahi aa saki?" She asked and I sighed, standing up.

"Beta kahaan ja rahay ho?"

"Apne kamray mein." I said and headed out the door. I heard her call after me but I didn't turn back.

Hayee mama jaan, aap ki bahu ko le kar aata hoon abhi.

She smiled nervously as I grabbed her hand.

Nida's POV:

He held my hand and I gulped, smiling nervously at him and he returned me an assuring smile.

He took me in sneakily and I could see Ammi on the prayer mat with her back towards us.

Hussain shot us a quick glance and I called out nervously. "A..Ammi."