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*

Haya

Before we even realised, it was home time. We drove to the airport in the rental car and flew back home. Back to the congested, polluted and noisy city life. 

We'd barely entered our home, when Aariz had been called to work for an emergency for a patient that he had treated before. 

"I'm going to freshen up and go and see Mama." I told Aariz.

"Okay, give her my regards and tell her that I will see her as soon as possible, In Sha Allah." 

"I will." 

"Take my car. You have to drive further. I'll take an Uber today."

"Thank you." I smiled up at him. "I've been thinking about getting a car in instalments, a second hand car. Ro knows some people who have a dealership for second hand cars. I'm going to start apply for galleries. I need to step on the first rung of my career ladder."

"Honeymoon over, back to reality?" 

"Exactly." I shrugged. 

"Give my regards to both your parents. Take care. I'll see you later." He kissed the side of my head. "Allah Hafiz."

"Allah Hafiz."

*

"I'm here for book signing from my favourite authors!" I announced, entering Mama's room with a wide smile on my face. "Assalam Alaikum." 

"Walaikum Assalam!" Both my parents greeted me, looking equally delighted and surprised.

"Haya!" Mama whispered as I leaned down to hug her. "I'm so happy to see you! I missed you so much...even though I'm so glad that you two got a chance to get away."

"How are you doing?" I kissed her cheek before straightening up to hug my father. "Papa, I hope you did what I told you to do?" 

"He did. He took a break...for one day." Mama smiled fondly at him. 

"Well...it's more than I expected him to do so without being emotionally blackmailed by us." I reached into the paper bag that I was holding. "Here. I got this for you." I gave him a brown faux leather journal, designed to look old-fashioned, which I had purchased from a souvenir shop in Inverness. "I immediately thought of you when I saw this."

"Thank you, Haya. You didn't have to, but this is perfect." He kissed the side of my head.

I then turned to my mother and handed her an anthology of historical stories based in Scotland. She loved history and writing, and I knew that she would enjoy this.

"Thank you, Haya. I am going to start reading it immediately." She studied me careful. "I hope you had a great trip."

"We went hiking, rode a boat in a loch, and we even discovered that the resort had cricket kits, so we got to play some yesterday. It was so perfect." I smiled. "Almost every morning we jogged around the loch, and it was amazing."

"Aww, my athletic child."

"I had a great time." I took her hand in mine. 

"I'm glad. You didn't deserve to face this stress immediately after your wedding. Literally the day after your Valima." 

"You are okay, and that's all that matters at the end of the day." I kissed her hand. "You go home and refresh. I'll be here. If I'm concerned about Mama's health, you are also my parent."

He just brushed aside my concern. "How's Aariz?" 

"He sent his regards. He had to go to work straight away, but he will visit as soon as it's possible for him." 

Mama squeezed my hand. "I have been feeling terrible, Haya. This is your honeymoon period, and because of me, you two have faced so much trouble. It eases my guilt to know that you enjoyed yourselves."

"Listen, Mama. For both me and Aariz, nothing means more than family. You and your health were our priority, since day one. If I hadn't been reassured about your recovery process, I would never have left. You had an accident, Mama. It wasn't your fault. Don't feel guilty. We can postpone our happiness a few days to take care of the woman who literally gave me life." 

She smiled softly at me. "You've become more emotional, like Hoor and Arsal."

I guess I just realised how damn hard it is to be away from my aging parents. I am constant on edge regarding their health and safety. How can I even convey that in words?

I looked up at Papa. "You have jawan aulaad, Papa. You don't need to be making these long trips each and every day. One of us can come up here each day." 

He placed a hand over my head. "I appreciate your concern a lot, Haya, but what you're asking for is impossible. Your mother has been my biggest support for the last two and a half decades. She never left my side, not in good times or bad. I need to do this; I need to be there for her. I cannot just remain at home when she's here." He glanced at her. "It's a blessing to have kids who take care of you regularly after they've grown up, but sometimes you just need a spouse."

Mama nodded. "I cannot deny that." 

I  sighed. "Okay, fine. Just don't overwork yourself, okay? Just take it easy for a bit. Like sleep in some days, and come here later. Or leave here earlier and get a proper night's rest." 

"That's a fair deal, Rehan." Mama looked at Papa.

"Fine. I accept that, Haya." Papa lovingly ruffled my hair.

*

Rohaan

I had a secret. Ever since the threat to Hooriya, I had been hitting the gym harder. I was determined to become a person who could protect his family no matter what. And now that I had decided on a career path, it would truly help me more to gain some more muscles.

"Yo, Ro Bro." Shayaan approached me as I lifted up a barbell.

"Bunny."

"How's Bia Phupho?" He asked. 

"Relieved that she doesn't have to see your face so regularly."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head as he sat down beside me. "Buzz off. Bia Phupho adores me. I'm her twin's only child, her only nephew. I'm her ladla."

I chuckled.

"Why don't you and Arsal come and stay over for the weekend?" 

I groaned. "I wish I could, man. But now I'm determined to graduate, and I have to throw myself into my books if I want any chance at success. No more messing about."

"Why are you determined to graduate now?" He looked curious. "Did you not care before?"

"I mean, I was on the fence about it. There are billionaires in this world who didn't get degrees. But...I also wanted a degree, otherwise I would never have enrolled and wasted all these years." I shrugged. "But now I want to be successful and to do a job that requires a degree."

"Which is?" 

"I want to be a detective for the police." 

His eyebrows rose. "Wow. That's cool."

"But don't go around and blabbing the news yet. I need to break this news to my parents yet." 

"I don't see what the big deal is. Do you think they won't be happy to hear this?" 

I chuckled again. "I think that Mama loves reading about the detective, and Papa enjoys writing about him. I'm not sure how they'd feel if their own son chose such a potentially dangerous profession. Especially..."

"Especially?" 

"I did my research, Bunny. And I want to go into the criminal investigations department. These are the ones who deal with homicide, serious assaults, robbery, burglary, and all these serious offences."

"Wow. That sounds cool."

"To my cousin. Probably won't to my parents." 

He laughed. "I get it. Papa would probably grin and high-five me for being so cool, but then Mama's going to give a list of things that could potentially happen to me, and soon I'll be banned from even thinking in that direction."

"Yeah, I can picture Mamu's expression." I grinned.

"And I can imagine Phupho's anxiety." He also smiled. "But don't worry. I won't say a word until you tell everyone."

I scoffed. "Everyone? My naïve cousin, trained in the same school of naivety as Yamna, all I have to do is tell my parents. Mama would be on the phone to Mamu and/or Reem Khalla straight away, and by the end of the second day of this bombshell, we'd be getting  phone calls from everyone we ever knew about me wanting to jump into danger voluntarily. The desi gossip mill network is the quickest means of spreading news around."

"I'm not going to argue with that." He laughed harder. "That is so accurate."

"I have so far only told Arsal." I glanced at him. "But there's one more person I need to tell if I'm ever going to have a chance to easily convince my parents."

*

"Behaya. Good to see you. Let's talk." 

She raised both eyebrows at me. "Good to see me? Since when?" She exhaled dramatically. "What do you want, Badrooh?"

I had found out from my sister that she was back and was visiting Mama. So, naturally, I made my way to her. I had found her by a vending machine getting coffee. "I want your help."

"Okay, this is too interesting to miss." She grabbed her cup of coffee and made sure that the lid was on securely. "Let's go." 

I led her out to the lobby, where there were some sofas set up as a mini-waiting area. We sat down and she eyed me curiously as I cleared my throat. "I want to be a police detective."

Her eyebrows furrowed, but she didn't dramatically overreact. Thank God. "You want to be a police detective?" 

"Yeah. I realised that this is what I want to do."

"Let me guess." She said. "I convince Papa. He convinces Mama?"

"Spot on. You know my way of thinking well, Behaya."

"And why would I do that? They're stressed enough as it is. I really don't want to give Mama this news right now." 

"She loves the detective! She'd be proud of me!" 

"The detective is a fictional character created by her favourite author. It's one thing reading about a fictional character getting wounded in the line of duty. And even then she gets tearful when reading such a scene in the books. But to hear that her own son will be entering that profession...?"

"It's courageous. I'd be fighting for justice. They should be proud." 

"Yeah, as far as I know parents, they don't work that way, noble or not. It's health and safety first."

"What about the parents of those who join the army? Or others who join the police force? God, even the parents of doctors who work with patients of contagious illnesses and diseases? There are countless people in such professions."

"Rohaan..."

"This is what I want, Behaya. It's not just a childish whim." 

She sat back and looked away thoughtfully for a while, before turning back to me. "Look, if you are serious about it, let's talk to Papa first. Then he can determine how best to talk to Mama about this."

"I don't get it. She loves those criminal thrillers written by Papa." I muttered.

"Yeah, that's because she didn't give birth to the main lead." She rolled her eyes. 

I frowned. "So, there's no chance that she'll ever agree to this?" 

"Just curious, Ro, but what will you do if she doesn't agree? Would you still go ahead with this?" 

No. I'd never do anything without her blessings. "I don't know. It's just going to be f***ing disappointing though if she refuses."

"Let's see what we can do, Ro." She gave me a supportive smile. 

"Do you think it's a good idea?" 

"Ro, I think that you know what you want. That this isn't some childish whim, as you said. And for your sake, I hope that this works out for you, and that this career path is what's best for you."

I held up a fist. "You aren't a hundred percent Behaya. You have some good in you."

She laughed, bumping my fist. "I try."

I laughed as well, knowing well that when Behaya and I worked as a team, we could achieve the most difficult of goals as well.

*

Haya

I was there till the evening, sitting and chatting to Mama practically all day. Briefly, she had to go for her physiotherapy for an hour, and I had taken the chance to go and get something to eat with Papa. 

Papa wasn't back from praying Maghrib yet, Mama was reading a book and I was scrolling through my phone (after praying) when I got a message from Aariz.

<Aariz: I am here. Am I okay to come up?>

"Mama, Aariz is here. He's going to come up here to see you, if that's okay." I looked up at my mother.

"Yes, of course." She smiled.

<Haya: Sure. Come on up.>

A few moments later, there was a knock on the door and I walked to the door to open it. "Assalam Alaikum."

"Walaikum Assalam." Aariz placed a hand on my cheek, smiling down at me.

I stepped aside to let him in and he stood by Mama's bed 

"Assalam Alaikum, Aunty. How are you feeling?" He spoke softly.

"Walaikum Assalam, Aariz. Alhumdulillah, I'm better now. Homesick, but better."

"Well, being here will help ensure that you get well as soon as possible, and return home. In Sha Allah." He smiled at her.

"In Sha Allah." She smiled back at him. "I hope you two had a lovely trip. Scotland is a unique and underrated choice for a honeymoon, but the beauty there is epic."

"I agree." Aariz nodded, looking at me. "The beauty took my breath away."

I felt my cheeks warm up. The only thing that stopped me from dying of embarrassment was the fact that Mama looked genuinely pleased. I looked at Aariz, silently pleading to him. You said this in front of my mother, but please don't say things like this in front of my father. 

Aariz and Mama chatted about Scotland some more, and I was looking through Mama's medication, trying to familiarise myself with the dosage and requirements of each, as per the prescription sticker on the cartons. Papa returned then, and Aariz greeted him and hugged him.

"You need to take me there when the weather is nicer!" Mama pouted slightly as she looked at Mama. "Haya showed me the photos of the resort, and I loved it! Which means that now it's mandatory that we go."

I laughed and winced as Papa narrowed his eyes at me. "Sorry, Papa!" 

"I'd definitely recommend it. It's a good place to destress yourselves as well from the routine of daily life." 

"And I definitely need to destress, Rehan. And see, now a doctor is recommending it!" 

Papa sighed. "We'll discuss this later, Anya." 

"Shall we...?" Aariz looked down at me.

"Sure." I nodded before turning to them. "We're going to go home now. But take care of yourselves, okay?" I leaned down to kiss Mama's cheek. "I love you both." I walked around to hug Papa. 

"We love you too, Haya." Mama looked fondly at me.

*

Sometimes we don't really know someone until we start living with them...or until we become related to them through marriage. Some people act so nice and kind, yet there's a different side of them that is gradually revealed within time. Maybe it doesn't necessarily make them a bad person, maybe it is just them being human, but it's nevertheless still surprising to see the hundred and eighty degree turn them make regarding their behaviour.

And I'm saddened to say that Rebecca Khalla was an example of those kinds of people.

She greeted us nicely and warmly enough as we visited her for dinner. But then she asked us about our return trip.

"Oh? You arrived much earlier in the day?" She raised an eyebrow at us.

"Yeah, Khalla. I had to go immediately to work, and Haya went to see her mother." Aariz explained. To him this was not a big deal, and he carried on eating his meal.

But there was a noticeable twitch in Khalla's jaw as she turned her gaze to me. With a smile that almost seemed forced, she asked, "Were you there all day then?"

"Yes, Khalla." I nodded.

She cleared her throat, setting her spoon down onto the plate. "My dear, I didn't say anything before because the situation was as such. Your mother had been in an accident, so it was natural for you to spend as much time with her at the hospital as possible. But now she is in a recovery stage, and she has her husband and sons, as well as other relatives. It makes no sense for you to be spending the whole day there with your parents. I recommend now focusing on your married life." 

"Khalla..." Aariz began.

"Am I wrong, Aariz?" She raised both eyebrows at him almost challengingly. "Her father-in-law is very lenient, and she has no other in-laws, so I have to be a substitute mother-in-law for her. And it is my duty to give her advice." 

"I hadn't seen them all this time, and I wanted to go see Mama." My throat felt dry.

"You and Aariz didn't see us all this time either."

I glanced at Aariz, not sure how to react.

"Khalla, her mother is technically still in a medical facility. It's our duty to pay her a visit after coming back after so many days." Aariz spoke calmly.

"Maybe, if you had consulted me for advice, I would have suggested that we all go and pay Anabia Bhabi a visit." Khalla shrugged. "But it's okay. I realise that the generation today want to live their own lives without interference or interruption from their much more wise and experienced adults."

"It's not like that." I spoke out. "I've seen my parents still seek out advice from their adults. My mother strongly relies on my Dado, and I aim to follow their steps. I have been taught that we need to give respect and regard to our elders."

Khalla nodded. "I know Nina and her family, and because of that, I'm willing to let this go this time. But remember, Haya, you have a whole different family to think of now. Maa ka pallu aur Baap ka haath chodhdo ab. Shaadi shuda ho aap."

*"Stop living in your parents' shadows now. You are married now."

"Khalla, I'm afraid I disagree with this thinking. She shouldn't have to distance herself from her parents just because she's married now. They'll always have the first right over her." Aariz glanced at me. "I have no issues even if she goes and visits them every day."

"If she continues visiting them every day, I'll be questioning them, not you two." Khalla said. 

I blinked, unable to believe that this was the same, sweet Rebecca Khalla.

"You are our family now, Haya. You are my Aariz's wife, and I will cherish you and adore you as such. But remember, a little distance from your past life will not harm you. In fact, it's highly recommended by generations of our elders before us...and not just in our own family."

"I understand your point of view, Khalla." I whispered, quietly.

"Good. I hope you abide by it too." 

*

"You don't have to listen to her." Aariz told me. "I'll talk to her." 

We were in our bedroom now, and I stood thoughtfully in front of the full-length mirror. I turned to face him, and grabbed his hands. "Thank you for supporting me."

He smiled. "I'll support you endlessly as long as you're in the right, Haya."

"I don't know if I am. I don't know if she is." I shrugged. "I get it. Of course, I need to focus on my new life now, and to give you and my in-laws time as well, but especially you. But is this really how it's supposed to be? Are we really supposed to forget our rights and duties towards our parents because we are girls who married into other families?" 

"Of course not..."

"I mean, my mother can hardly walk right now. She gave her entire life for us, and I'm supposed to forget all that and give her less time just because I'm married? I feel right now that nothing I do for her will be enough, and yet I'm expected to just step back and see her even less..." I felt tears in my life.

Or maybe spending the whole day there was a bit unreasonable?

I felt confused all of a sudden.

Aariz took me in his arms. "As I said, don't worry about it. I'll speak to her."

I sighed. "No, it's fine. Let me try doing things her way, and see how far she expects me to go with this. If I feel like she's being completely unreasonable... I'll speak to her as respectfully as possible, and if that doesn't work, I'll let you handle it."

"Deal." 

I hugged him, relieved that at least I had a supportive husband. How many girls ended up in such a similar situation all on their, with no support, in their newly married lives? At least my husband was willing to be by my side. Alhumdulillah.

*

The next morning, Ro messaged me.

<Rohaan: Papa is going to be home till late afternoon today as he has almost back to back zoom meetings that he cannot miss. Come! We have between 13:00 and 13:35 to speak to him!>

I smiled as I realised that my brother had actually figured out our father's entire schedule for today, and had worked out when he'll be free for us to discuss this topic with him.

<Haya: Ro, I can't. Not today.>

<Rohaan: You promised me. Come on, Behaya. Don't let me down.>

I suppose that going for an hour shouldn't be an issue. I tried to convince myself. And I did promise Ro, so I have to help him.

 As Aariz got ready for work, I told him about my plan to stop by quickly to see Ro. "I won't be long. Maybe a bit more than an hour." 

"Go for as long as you want, don't worry." He reassured me.

"Thank you! But I really don't need to be there too long." I hugged him. "I'll see you in the evening, In Sha Allah."

"In Sha Allah. Allah Hafiz." 

"Allah Hafiz." 

*

It was the day of my downfall, I suppose.

It started off with my badrooh brother having figured out Papa's schedule wrong. One to two-thirty was actually his most important meeting. And yet, I still stayed for Ro's sake.

But then, around two-fifteen, Aariz called me to see if I could bring over an important document to his workplace that he had left at home. He needed it ASAP.

"Aariz, I'm not home. It would take me a long time to get there and get the document to you at the hospital."

"Oh, f**k. I'm going to have to ask Rebecca Khalla then." He spoke quietly. "I can't go there myself right now." 

My heart sank. "Aariz, she's going to kill me."

"Don't worry. I'll handle it." 

I bit my lower lip. "Hey, look, don't lie to her to protect me. Tell her where I am. I'll deal with the consequences."

"Haya..."

"I haven't done anything wrong, Aariz. I don't need to lie about it." 

"You're too good, Haya. I really respect that. But I have your back, don't worry."

I smiled, even as my heart sank. After witnessing my mother's beautiful relationship with her in-laws, and Hoor's amazing in-laws, I'd had high hopes from my own.

But I suppose that we are not meant to have everything perfect in life, right?

*

As expected, Rebecca Khalla was waiting at our home, fuming.

"Aariz could have had trouble at his work because of this one document!" She looked at me, disapprovingly. "Where were you?" 

"At my parents' house." I replied, quietly.

She froze, looking at me in disbelief. "Wow, the dhitayi in this generation is unbelievable."

*Dhitayi: stubborness.

"It's not dhitayi, Khalla. I had to go see my brother to help him with something." I explained.

She nodded. "I get it. You're doing this intentionally because you were not happy with me setting ground rules. You want your independence, and what am I really? I'm just your husband's Khalla, not his mother. Why would you listen to me?"

"It's not like that, Khalla. I respect you like I would have respected my mother-in-law." I said. 

She placed her hands on my shoulders, exhaling sharply. "This is the time to create the foundations of your future. Focus on your home, my dear. Technically, your parents should have been the ones to have given you this advice, but since they didn't, I will. This home and Aariz should be your first priority now. Do that, and you will create an extremely strong position for yourself in the family. If you fail to do that, you are looking at nothing but problems and issues in the future."

I swallowed hard.

"Aariz is supporting you now. But when you start slipping up regularly, when you start forgetting your responsibilities, especially after kids, he will lose patience with you. This love and romance only fits well in the honeymoon period. Reality is bitter." She gave me a small smile. "I hope that I will not have to keep repeating myself, Haya. It doesn't seem right when an adult has to keep telling a younger person the same thing repeatedly. Doesn't leave the best impression on your upbringing, does it?"

I tried to picture the sweet and kind Rebecca Khalla, but she was nowhere to be seen. All I saw was a taunting, judgemental, mother-in-law figure.

*

That evening, I was searching for jobs on my laptop, but my heart just wasn't in it. Rebecca Khalla's words kept echoing in my head.

I slammed the laptop screen shut after I found myself reading the same paragraph in a job description over and over again. I couldn't focus.

I paced the room, restlessly. 

"It doesn't seem right when an adult has to keep telling a younger person the same thing repeatedly. Doesn't leave the best impression on your upbringing, does it?"

"Aariz is supporting you now. But when you start slipping up regularly, when you start forgetting your responsibilities, especially after kids, he will lose patience with you."

I sat down on the bed, running both hands through my hair.

A single red rose appeared in front of my face, and I looked up, surprised.

Aariz stood there, his laptop bag in one hand and the rose in the other. "Assalam Alaikum."

"Walaikum Assalam. What is this for?" 

He shrugged, sitting down beside me. "I figured that this is the kind of things that newlyweds do."

"Thank you. This is beautiful." I sniffed the rose.

"You okay?" He studied me carefully.

"Nothing I can't handle." I gave him a small smile.

"And there's nothing that you should have to handle alone. Talk to me." 

I turned to him. I didn't want to be the person who started complaining about her in-laws to her husband the moment he got home. Especially not when he had been nothing but supportive. "I was thinking...pizza with a horror film?" 

He wrinkled his nose. "I was more in mood of palak chicken for some reason, so I picked up some already on the way, along with Naan."

"Sounds delicious. Go freshen up and we'll eat."

"You sure you're okay?"

"It's not something that will break me, and it's not worth you worrying about it either. So, let's eat, okay?" I placed my hand on his forearm.

"Haya, you know you can talk to me, right? About anything and everything?" 

"I know." I nodded. 

He kissed my forehead. "Good. So, I expect you to tell me if it's something truly serious, and for you not to bottle it up."

I slid my arm through his, leaning my head against his shoulder. "I'm just trying so hard to adjust into this new life, but I'm struggling just a little. I'm like that little baby bird who is still trying to fly on its own, flapping around its wings as it attempts to learn how to use them."

"Is this about what Rebecca Khalla said?" 

I shook my head at him. "Don't get into this, Aariz. Trust me, I'll never let it reach the point where this becomes some ugly family politics issue. I'm going to try and handle it as maturely as I can. And if I struggle, I'll get you involved."

"If you are sure?" 

"I don't back down from tough and challenging situations. I tend to try and face them head on. And if I struggle, I'm also not afraid to ask for help."

He smiled. "The way you are, she'll warm up soon. She's genuinely a good person, and as she has always being a maternal figure to me, she's now trying to be in the position of your mother-in-law, and she believes that she should be guiding you based on the cultural upbringing that she had witnessed while growing up."

"That makes sense."

"Don't hate her, don't resent her and don't hold a grudge. That's all I'm asking for. I'll support you, but try not to dislike her. I know it's a lot to ask, but I can only request this to you as a man that she has treated as her son. We'll both get through to her with love and affection."

"I really hope so. For your sake, if nothing else." 

He smiled down at me before leaning down to kiss me. "You're amazing. I lo..." His phone rang, interrupted him. Frowning, he glanced at it. "It's from work. Let me take this." He got up and answered the phone.

I blinked at him, stunned. What had he been about to say?!

*

Well, back to reality for them.

About Rebecca, you really don't know some people until you're related to them or live with them.

Anabia had great in-laws, as did Hoor. So it wouldn't make sense if Haya's were completely non-problematic as well, right? 😝

As for the advice Rebecca has been giving Haya, it is actually a common advice in the desi society, given to any girl about to get married/newly married.

Will Haya now take a step back from her family?

Will Rohaan be able to easily convince his parents about his career choice?

Thoughts and comments?

Thank you for reading and don't forget to vote!