Sayonee (Re-writing)

F i v e

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Laila
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Sunday mornings at Bashir Mansion always felt strangely formal for a family home.

Even breakfast looked organized.

Tea was poured before anyone asked. Plates appeared without sound. Someone always adjusted the flowers in the center of the table before Khaloo walked in, as if the roses themselves needed permission to exist crooked.

I sat there tearing my paratha into tiny pieces while the sky outside slowly darkened into silver-grey.

Rain clouds.

Finally.

The weather looked like the kind that belonged with hot pakoras, ginger tea, and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders while I pretended to read and actually daydreamed instead.

"Laila," Ammi said without looking up from her tea, "eat your breakfast. Don't dissect it."

Alaya laughed under her breath beside me.

I ignored her.

Mostly because I was still annoyed she hadn't told me about the engagement beforehand.

Traitor.

Khaloo entered the dining room a moment later, and the entire table subtly straightened. It always happened unconsciously around him. Even silence behaved differently when he was present.

"So," he said, unfolding his napkin, "what are the plans for today?"

"Shopping," Khala answered immediately. "There's too much left to prepare."

Alaya lowered her gaze, smiling into her tea like the word shopping secretly meant Afan.

I would never understand girls who blushed every six seconds.

Actually, scratch that.

I would never understand people in love.

"I'm staying home," I announced.

Khaloo looked at me over the rim of his cup. "Why?"

"I'm tired."

"You'll be more tired sitting alone doing nothing."

That was the end of the discussion.

Because when Khaloo made decisions, conversations tended to die naturally afterward.

⸻

The market was crowded, loud, and suffocating.

Women moved from one shop to another discussing fabrics like national emergencies while salesmen aggressively unfolded embroidered outfits every three seconds.

I was already exhausted.

Shahzain walked beside me carrying at least four shopping bags because Alaya refused to wrinkle her sleeves.

"You've been quiet all day," he said casually.

"I'm always quiet."

"That is the biggest lie you've ever told."

I smiled despite myself.

We slowed near a jewelry store while Alaya disappeared ahead with Khala.

"What's actually bothering you?" he asked softly this time.

I stared ahead at the traffic instead of answering immediately.

Everything suddenly felt like it was moving too fast.