Chapter baad mein parhna, pehle mujhe yeh batao Momo hai ya Aloo, har kisi ke sath uski jodi ban rahi? Ehan, Al, Issam, Arsalan😶 (Seriously, Arsalan? How can you even think about it?)

•••

Sharfa peeked into Kaif's living room, thinking she’d spend some time with Azrin, but her eyes lighting up as she spotted Kian lounging on the couch, eyes closed, looking exhausted.

“Kian bhai, aap ghar par hain?” she asked, approaching with a bit of surprise. It was unusual to find him here during the day.

(Kian bhai, are you home?)

Kian’s eyes opened halfway, his expression blank. “Kyu main ghar pe nahi ho sakta?" He replied flatly, as though he found her question more puzzling.

(Can't I be home?)

“Ho sakte hain, kyu nahi ho sakte. Hum konsa apko ghar se nikal rahe hain." she trailed off, then picked up speed again, her voice nearly tripping over her words in her usual rush. "Hum toh bas surprised hain ki aap ghar pe hain kyuki Eifa toh University gayi aur aap unhi ke sath study karte hain, toh hume laga aap bhi...”

(Of course, you can be home. It’s not like I'm kicking you out or anything.)

(I was just surprised to see you because Eifa went to the university, and you study with her, so I assumed you’d…)

“Momo, mere sar mein dard hai isliye nahi gaya. Please, thora,” Kian interrupted, his tone calm but firm. He raised a hand, signalling her to talk less.

(Momo, I have a headache, that’s why I didn’t go. Please, just…)

“Oh, sorry,” she whispered but continued. "Woh hum keh rahe the ki Eifa ke sath jate hain, iss liye hum surprised hain.”

(Oh, sorry, I was just saying that you usually go with Eifa, so I was surprised.)

"But now I understand apko headache hai isliye nahi gaye. Headache mein kahi jane ka dil nahi karta, hum bhi nahi jate. School. Lekin phir, phir dad hume ice cream ko le jate hain and I feel better. Hum apko ice cream ko le chale?"

(But now I get it, you didn’t go because of headache. No one feels like going anywhere with headache. I don’t even go to school when I have one. But then Dad takes me out for ice cream, and I feel better. Should I take you for ice cream?)

Kian’s gaze grew more blank, if possible. He finally blinked at her, processing her endless chatter as if struggling to stay focused. “Ice cream ko nahi jate, Ice cream ke liye jate hain,” he corrected.

(You don’t go for ice cream; you go to get ice cream,)

“Humne incorrect kaha?” she asked, genuinely puzzled. He gave a single, slow nod, hoping that might be the end of it.

(Did I say it wrong?)

“Toh wahi, ice cream ke liye le chale hum apko?” she broke into an innocent smile.

(So, should we go get ice cream?)

“Tumhara mann kar raha hai ice cream ka?” He asked her, his tone void of any enthusiasm.

(Are you craving ice cream?)

Sharfa tilted her head. “Pehla toh nahi tha, lekin ab kar raha hai.” she said honestly, her voice still soft out of respect for his headache.

(I wasn’t before, but I am now,)

Kian sighed, standing up to grab his keys. "Alright, taiyyar ho jao, main keys leke ata hoon." He said simply.

(Alright, go get ready. I’ll grab the keys,)

Sharfa practically bounced to her feet. “Hum nani se puch lein pehle.” she asked, suddenly serious. “Hume mom ne kaha tha yaha hum aise kahi bhi apni marzi se na jaye. Kahi bhi jane se pehle baba ya nani ko bataye, aur unki permission bhi lein, tab hi jaye aur akele toh bilkul na jaye warna hum kho gaye toh? Hum kid thori hain kho jayenge lekin mom ko lagta hai. Halaki woh khud ek baar shopping mall mein kho gayi thi. Aur jab hume mili toh hume daat rahi thi ki, ki... Theek hai gaye toh hum hi the dusre shop pe, lekin unhe hume follow karna chahiye tha na, humari galti kaise hui? Aise hi ek baar dad..."

(Should I ask Nani first?)

(Mom told me not to go anywhere on my own without informing Baba or Nani first and getting their permission. And especially not to go alone, or else, what if I get lost? Not that I'm a kid who’d actually get lost, but Mom seems to think so. Although, she herself got lost in a shopping mall once. And when she found me, she started scolding me! Sure, I had wandered off to another shop, but wasn’t it her job to follow me? How was it my fault?)

“Haan, tumhari galti nahi thi. Jao nani ko bata aao,” Kian interrupted, looking toward the door, hoping she’d get the hint to talk less.

(Yes, it wasn’t your fault. Go tell Nani,)

“Haan hum batake atey hain,” she said, finally stepped out, leaving Kian to close his eyes again, as if savoring the silence she’d left behind.

(Yes, I’ll go tell her,)

•••

Kian leaned against the car, his head throbbing more with each second as he waited on the porch. He glanced impatiently toward the door. Where's Sharfa? Had she gone to have a long chat with Nani? With Sharfa, you never knew—she could sit and talk to anyone, anywhere, without hesitation.

Just as he was about to pull off his glasses and march inside, he noticed Sharfa finally emerging with Azrin by her side.

“Azrin Api?” Kian’s eyebrows raised as he took in the unexpected addition, though his eyes shifted quickly to Sharfa, who was searching for something in her purse.

“Shahnan sahi kehta hai, she keeps talking if you don’t listen to her.” Azrin said, giving a glance at Sharfa, who had just retrieved a pair of sunglasses. She put them on, glancing between the two of them as if silently checking if they were ready.

(Shahnan’s right,)

Kian’s lips curled into a smile, the genuine one as he said, “Let’s go,” and headed to the driver’s seat, his headache momentarily forgotten.

As they got into the car, Sharfa, settling in the back seat, leaned forward. “Hum window niche kar lein? I feel sick…” Her excitement was evident; she’d been stuck at the haveli ever since she arrived. Shahnan at least went out occasionally for various errands, but Sharfa was stuck at home, thoroughly bored. She loved going out, so she was quite happy.

(Can I roll down the window?)

However, that happiness was only on the way there—on the way back, everyone's mood were completely ruined.

•••

"Kian, apne Momo ko data?" Ayla asked as soon as she entered Kian's room after returning from the hospital, her voice laced with concern.

(Kian, did you scold Momo?)

Kian, who was in the middle of a phone call, quickly ended it and turned to face his mother. His expression was a mixture of weariness and frustration. "Mummy, maine ussey nahi data, waise bhi dadi aur nani mujhe pehle ispe lecture de chuki hain. Ab agar aap Azrin api se mil lein, unki tabiyat theek nahi,"

(Mummy, first of all, I didn't scold her, and second, Dadi and Nani have already lectured me about it. Now if you could check on Azrin api, she's not well.)

Ayla’s brows furrowed with worry at the mention of Azrin. "Azrin ko kya hua?" she asked, her focus shifting entirely, her tone now sharp with concern.

(What happened to Azrin?).

Kian sighed deeply and began explaining. "Momo ko balloon chahiye tha, lekin maine ussey balloon ke liye nahi data..." he clarified right away, as everyone in the haveli seemed to believe that he had scolded Momo over the balloon. Ehan had even been calling him kanjoos ever since.

(Momo wanted a balloon, but I didn’t scold her because of that...)

Ayla gave him a pointed look, silently urging him to get to the point.

"Azrin Api…" Kian paused, his gaze dropping as he struggled to find the right words. "Unhe Aniya ki yaad agayi thi shayad. Mummy, unki tabiyat kharab ho rahi thi aur Momo bolne se baaz nahi arahi thi bas isliye maine ussey thori si sakhti ki."

(She must have been reminded of Aniya. Her health was deteriorating, and Momo wouldn’t stop talking, so I had to be a bit stern with her,)

Ayla’s breath caught at the mention of Aniya, her face paling as she sank into the chair beside Kian’s desk. Even after two years, Aniya’s name still brought a fresh ache to everyone’s hearts. But none felt the weight of that loss more than Azrin.

"Hum... hum Azrin ko dekhke atey hain." Ayla murmured, her earlier concern for Momo forgotten. All she could think about now was Azrin, who had spent the past two years trapped in a loop of grief.

(I... I should check on Azrin,)

•••

Azrin sat in the corner of her room, her gaze fixed on the small glass cabinet where Aniya’s belongings were neatly preserved. Tiny dresses, a pair of scuffed shoes, her favorite doll with one eye missing—all untouched, all carefully guarded as though Aniya might return one day to claim them.

Two years. Two endless years. But for Azrin, it might as well have been yesterday. The scene played in her mind on a cruel loop, every detail as sharp and vivid as the moment it happened.

That day had started with excitement. Aniya’s tiny hand had been tucked safely in hers as they wandered through the store. "Mamma, dekhiye! Balloons!" Aniya had squealed, her face lighting up with pure joy.

(Mamma, look! Balloon!)

Azrin had smiled but had been too preoccupied. It was her anniversary with Emmad, and she’d been searching for the perfect gift. "Abhi nahi, Anni, baad mein," she’d said absentmindedly, her focus elsewhere.

(Not now, Anni, later.)

She hadn’t noticed when Aniya let go of her hand.

The realization had hit her like a thunderbolt. One moment, Aniya was at her side, tugging at her dupatta. The next, she was gone.

Azrin had searched the entire store, her voice breaking as she called Aniya’s name over and over again. She’d run to the street, her eyes scanning the crowd, her heart pounding in terror. But there was no trace of her little girl.

Hours later, when Emmad arrived, his face was a storm of anger and anguish. "Tum itni laparwah kaise ho sakti ho, Azrin?" He asked.

(How could you be so careless, Azrin?)

The words had been like knives, cutting her to the core. And though two years had passed, they still echoed in her mind, tormenting her. The guilt sat heavy on her chest, a crushing weight that refused to lift no matter how much time passed. She blamed herself. She always would.

•••

When Ayla entered Azrin’s room, she found her sitting on the bed, her gaze lost. A pair of small red shoe was in her lap, and her fingers moved over it absentmindedly, as though seeking comfort in its familiar texture.

"Azrin," Ayla said softly, approaching her cautiously. She placed a hand on her shoulder, her touch gentle but firm. "Kab tak khudko kamre mein band rakhengi aap?"

(For how long you're gonna keep yourself locked here?)

Azrin didn’t respond. She continued to stare at shoes, her voice barely a whisper when she finally spoke. "Ab Anni 7 saal ki ho gayi hogi na. Ya shayad hogi hi nahi..." A strange fear arose in Azrin's voice, a fear they all shared. Sometimes they felt as if they might find Aniya, and then other times, they felt that perhaps they had lost her forever. There had never been any clues or signs that could lead them to Aniya, leaving them in a tormenting limbo of hope and despair.

(She must be 7 now. Or maybe she's no more...) 

Ayla’s throat tightened, but she forced herself to stay composed. "Aniya hume mil jayegi, Azrin, lekin apko himmat se kaam lena hoga."

(We'll find Aniya, Azrin, but you have to be strong.)

Azrin turned slightly, her eyes red and swollen from tears she hadn’t allowed to fall. "Mummy, pichle 2 saal se himmat hi toh kar rahi hoon, lekin..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Lekin meri himmat jawab de rahi hai. Mujhme ab aur himmat nahi. Mujhe bas meri beti chahiye," Azrin's voice broke, and this was her final limit. Her tears flowed like a relentless stream, and Ayla felt as though her heart had been clenched in a fist. Without hesitation, she pulled her daughter into the protective circle of her arms, as if she wanted to absorb all her pain into herself. No words could ease the anguish Azrin was feeling, and Ayla knew this all too well. She just stayed with Azrin all night.

(I'm trying to be strong for the last 2 years, but...)

(Now I can’t. I just want my daughter back.)

•••

Eifa had thought that when Shyra brought up Kian's proposal, she would firmly decline. But when the time came, she couldn’t muster the courage to say anything. Why was it that girls often draped themselves in the veil of modesty in such matters?

Now, she was consumed by worry about both families. She remembered how, when Azrin had refused Arsalan, Rehnuma hadn’t visited their house for months. Even Huda hadn’t been allowed to stay with them since.

What if her refusal led to a similar rift between their families?

Lost in these thoughts, Eifa spent the entire night awake.

•••

The next morning, the Khan haveli was bustling with its usual rhythm when Sharfa barged into Shahnan’s room, her excitement too great to contain.

"I have breaking news!" she announced, practically bouncing as she stepped in.

Shahnan, sitting on his bed with a book in hand, didn’t even glance up. "Momo, what have I taught you?"

Sharfa's face fell as she took two steps back and knocked on the door, looking at Shahnan as if asking, Now, is it okay?

Shahnan shook his head in disapproval, prompting Sharfa to think for a moment before saying. "That I can only bring animals home after making sure they don’t already have one," she recited dutifully.

Shahnan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mera matlab gossiping se tha. You shouldn’t gossip."

(I was talking about gossiping.)

Sharfa's pout returned. "Oh no no, hum gossip nahi laye hain, hum bas information laye hain." she clarified, plopping onto his bed.

(Oh no, no! This isn’t gossip; this is just information!)

The skeptical arch of Shahnan's brow clearly said, Really?

"Kisi ki personal information pass on karna bhi buri baat hoti hai, Momo." Shahnan reminded her firmly.

(Even sharing someone’s personal information is wrong, Momo,)

"Personal nahi hai, family information hai. And we’re family! You have the right to know everything that happens here. Bataye ghar mein sabko pata ho aur apko later on pata chale you'll feel bad na." Sharfa tried to reason, her big eyes wide with sincerity.

(It’s not personal; it’s family information, and we’re family! You have the right to know everything that happens here. Imagine everyone else knows, and you find out later. You’d feel bad, right?)

"No, I wouldn’t," Shahnan replied flatly.

"But I would," Sharfa countered, not missing a beat. "Apko pata hai we’ll be hearing wedding bells soon."

(You know we’ll be hearing wedding bells soon.)

Shahnan finally looked up, intrigued despite himself. "Ehan Bhai?"

"Kian Bhai and Eifa!" Sharfa revealed, practically glowing with the satisfaction of delivering the news. "I overheard Khala talking to nani."

Shahnan froze, his expression hardening as her words sank in. "What?" His voice was sharp now, carrying an edge that startled Sharfa. "Is this one of your pranks?"

Sharfa shook her head, her confidence faltering slightly. "Why would I joke about that? Aur aap jante hain hum jhoot nahi kehte," she said defensively. "Nani aur khala baat kar rahi thi, humne khud suna jab hum samosa kha rahe the. Nani keh rahi thi achha hai ghar ki beti ghar mein rahe aur...."

(And you know I don't lie,)

(Nani and Khala were talking about it, I heard them while I was eating samosas. Nani said it’s good to keep the daughter of the house within the family and...)

She stopped mid-sentence as Shahnan slammed his book shut and stood abruptly, storming out of the room without a word.

Sharfa blinked in confusion. "What?" she loudly asked to herself. Shahnan always listened to her ramblings until the end—always.

•••

So, how's the update? What do you think Shahnan will do now?

Do vote and comment 💕

-Ufaq