A Little Tangled Up

6 | Family Feud

The sun crept lazily through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow on the room as Humayrah stirred awake, the faint scent of jasmine lingering in the morning air. Unlike the morning before, there was a heaviness in her limbs, a weight that settled in her chest like a stone. She lingered in bed, staring at the ceiling as the reality of her situation washed over her once again.

This is Mikaal's house; she's in Mikaal's room as his wife.

The knock on the door broke Humayrah's trance.

Reluctantly, she rose from her bed, each step feeling like an uphill battle against the weight of her own emotions. With a heavy heart, she reached the door and hesitated before finally turning the handle.

As the door swung open, she was met with Yumna's bright smile, a stark contrast to the sombre atmosphere that enveloped her. Yumna's cheerful demeanour seemed almost out of place against the backdrop of Humayrah's melancholy, but she couldn't help but be grateful for the interruption.

"Assalam-Alaikum!" Yumna greeted, her voice filled with warmth and enthusiasm.

Humayrah forced a small smile, though it felt more like a grimace on her face. "Morning," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yumna's smile faltered for a moment as she noticed the heaviness in Humayrah's eyes, but she quickly masked her concern with a gentle smile. "Azra came to wake you up several times, par shayad aap so rahi thi isliye woh wapas chali gayi. Lekin ab itna late ho gaya toh ammi ne kaha hum apka nashta kamre mein le aye."

(However, now it’s so late that ammi said I should bring your breakfast to your room.)

It is when Humayrah notices that Yumna is holding a tray.

Yumna enters the room and places the tray on the table. "Come on, freshen up. You'll feel better."

Humayrah nodded absently, her gaze fixed on the array of food spread out before her. The sight of it stirred something within her, a primal hunger that she hadn't realized was there.

As she splashed cold water on her face, the heaviness that had weighed her down earlier seemed to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of clarity. When she emerged from the bathroom, her demeanour had shifted, her usual carefree attitude masking the storm that still raged within.

•••

Yumna observed Humayrah as she quietly ate her breakfast, a concerned frown creasing her brow. She could sense the facade the younger girl was putting up, the brave front she was trying to maintain in front of others. It tugged at Yumna's heartstrings, knowing that Humayrah was struggling beneath the surface. She wished she could do more to ease Humayrah’s burden.

Leaning in closer, Yumna spoke softly, her voice filled with sympathy. "Humayrah, I know you were a little scared by everyone's reaction yesterday. But you don't need to worry at all; everyone here is very nice. You can understand that hearing about Mikaal's sudden marriage was a big deal for everyone. This isn't London where nobody cares about anyone; India hai, aur hum rishto ko bohot ehmiyat dete hain. Aap fikar na karein, kuch waqt beet jayega toh sabka behaviour apki taraf se theek ho jayega. And remember, you have Mikaal. He loves you, and that's what matters the most."

(This is India, and we place a lot of importance on relationships. Don’t worry. After some time, everyone's behaviour towards you will improve.)

Humayrah gazed at Yumna with vacant eyes. How do I tell her that out of my 100 problems, Mikaal isn't one?

Humayrah nodded, thinking it was better to keep silence.

•••

"Baba, apne aaj ka akhbar dekha?" Zafar Chaudhary entered the meeting room with a confident stride and placed today's newspaper in front of Abkar Chaudhary without even glancing around.