Dadi was finally discharged a day after, and as usual Hala was working all day without anyone noticing, well, just one. Whenever Hamza was present, he would somehow or the other rescue Hala from his vile mother on the pretext of taking care of dadi. Every night they used to talk via calls with Hamza in his room and hala on her usual lawn spot. He didn't have to ask her as to why she was ignoring him when in person, it was very much understood. His mother would have again threatened her. And afterall it wasn't unusual for them to talk like this. They've been doing for a long time.

It started a few backs because of Hamza's efforts.

Flashback

Hamza had returned after 3 years from Australia. Leaving as a small 12 year boy, he has now arrived as a 15 year old guy. Excited to see his family, he was so overwhelmed to be back. But his happiness slowly faded, from the moment he has come he's been trying to talk to Hala but she was ignoring him as if he was a communicable disease or any monster to say, who would kill her with one look.

"Tumhe mujhe dekh ke khushi nahi hua Hala" he had asked her when he met her, before he could say anything else Hala ran inside, taijaan justified her behavior saying it was usual for her to show this attitude.

Always being indulged in household chores, Hala amazed Hamza, she was just 12, but knew the recipe to almost all items that had ever been made in his house. Where Roomi was busy in her own world and Sameen in her studies, Hala was always on her toes running for dadi or taking taijaan's orders. Noting her schedule for some days he planned to meet her outside without anyone knowing to know the truth of her strange behavior.

The next day he excused himself on the pretext of meeting his old friend and went to meet Hala when she return from her school. As she came out and spotted Hamza, hala started shivering and her face went pale. Deciding to divert from her route she started going the opposite side when Hamza stopped her, "Hala, mujhe dekh ke rasta kyu badal rahi ho ?"

Too scared to answer Hala started going the other way when Hamza again stopped her, "mujhse koi galti hui hai kya hala, tum mujhe ignore kyu kar rahi ho"

"Nahi nahi, tumse koi galti nahi hui" Hala clarified

"To phir ?"

"Taijaan ne tumse baat karne se manaa kiya hai" she said in whispers.

Hamza stopped for a while and then looked at her "kyu"

"Wo kehti hai ki tum itne zaheen, itne kaabil ho, aur mai padhi likhi bhi nahi hu, isiliye unhono ne kahaa ki"

"Tum mujhse baat na karo" he completed her sentence to which Hala nodded. Without saying anything he started walking back home with Hala, to which she protested "Tum please mera haath chhor do warna wo phir se wo karengi"

"Kya karengi ?" Hamza questioned.

Hala refrained from telling but when Hamza forced her she told him the truth "wo....ek baar mai jab tumhare saath chhat prr patang ura rahi thi na" hala quoted the past incident of the time when she was new here "tab unhone dekh liya tha uske baad unhone saari dopehar dhoop mei kadha rakha tha haath upper karke, mujhe wo phir se nahi karna aur aaj to dhoop bhi kitni hai"

"What! Unhone aisa kiya" Hamza asked unbelievably but received a minute nod from her, confirming what he heard was actually correct.

"Fikar na karo, mere saath ghar chalo, mai thodi pehle ruk jaunga aur tum ander chali Jaana, kisi ko pata nahi chalega." He suggested. Hala was about to protest when he stopped her and started walking back home, being compelled, hala started following him.

After walking a bit, Hamza asked Hala "tum ghar mei itna chup chup kyu rehti ho, kisi se baat nahi karti, darri, sehmi si rehti ho, kya tum abhi bhi yahaan comfortable nahi hui ?"

"Comfortable wahaa feel kiya jaata hai jahaan log tumhe comfortable feel karvaayein, yaa phir atleast unwanted feel na karwaaye. Meri kismat mei yeh sab nahi hai. Mere apne dad ke liye mai unwanted hu, tabhi to yahaan chor gye, jab wo aisa kar sakte hai to baaki sab kyu nahi. Mai to ek bojh hu na. Sirf ek dadi ko chhor krr sab mujhe ussi nazar dekhte hai jaise ki mere dad"

"Mai to nahi hala, mere liye tum bohot khas ho" hamza immediately said.

Views and comments awaited.
Next update on Thursday

Signing off
Kikaberry