S I Z Z L E of the paratha's on the hot pan was heard throughout the tiny home. The smoke that arose as a result wafted through and tickled the noses of all the residents. The karailay [bitter gourd] were simmering on low heat sitting amongst a ton of tomatoes and spices to form the gravy. Perfectly round pairay [doughballs] were placed on the counter top, waiting to be rolled into a thin, fine and crisp tortilla.

Hoor wiped her forehead occasionally whilst she rolled out the tortillas for lunch. Being a Sunday, the entire family was home so it meant lunch would be served at the same time to all. Her mother, sat like usual beneath the kicthen window and constantly looked at her phone screen, as if awaiting an important call.

And an important call was what she was waiting for. Shagfuta had visited them two days ago and they were yet to recieve a call from her. Jahan-ara had turned into a ticking bomb. Everyone held their breath near her so that she would not burst open at any given second. Hoor tried her best to please her ammi during the last two days in order to stop her from lashing out.

The sun kissed sky was crystal clear as the pigeons flew over and under into their little hoods. The cat under the trees shade meowed in content. Motorcycles could be heard zooming through their broken street. This street of theirs, was a pain. Anytime it would rain, the holes and open gutters would fill up causing innocent people to fall into it. And if the people at the weather department could be trusted, a downpour was expected during the day. However, the crystal clear sky made it seem like a lie.

"Arrey jab mar jain gai tab khanay ko milay ga kiya?"
[Will we get food when we die?]
Ali shouted as soon as he returned from his daily session of roaming around with his friends.
"Nahi bhai. Bas panch minute mein khana laga rahi hun,"
[No brother. I'm serving in five minutes]
Hoor gave him a reply.
Distracted from the noise her brother was making, Hoor's hand slipped and came in contact with the burning hot tawa.
"Aah!" Hoor shrieked in pain.
"Ab kiya kia hai?"
[What happened now?]
Ammi shouted.
"Kuch nahi haath taway par lag gaya tha,"
[Nothing. Just touched the pan]
the meek young woman replied calmly.
"Hosh mein reh kar kaam karo. Agar kuch ho gaya tou kapray kon dhoy ga aur safai kon karay ga?"
[Work with consciousness. If something happens to you who will wash the clothes and clean the house?]
Jahan-ara reprimanded Hoor.
Replying with a simple "ji," [yes] Hoor continued with her work.

Like she had promised, the dining table was set with the heavenly lunch withing five minutes.
"Khana laga diya hai".
[I have served the food]
Hoor told everybody who left whatever they were doing instantly to sit down for some food. The salan [gravy] was passed around the table as everyone dug in. Her abbu jaan could not help but praise her. Whilst her ammi chose to remain silent and Ali decided to pick a fight about why the food had no form of meat in it.

"Mein lenay gai thi par paisay kam-"
[I went to buy but the money was less]
Hoor tried to give her justification.
"Paisay kam kia? Abba har mahinay tumhe paisay detay hain na. Tou saray kidhr jatay hain?"
[What do you mean less? Abu gives you money each month so where do they go?]
Ali asked, acting unknown to the fact that all of the money was handed over to the matriarch, majority of which he would pick pocket to fund his habits of gambling.

Hoor lowered her head, knowing it was of no use to talk with her brother who would always place the blame on her.

Having finished lunch, Jahan-ara, Jamal and Ali headed into their respective bedrooms to have an afternoon nap meanwhile, Hoor was left to clean the table and do the dishes. Once that was done, an array of other chores awaited her.

It was around four pm. The sun was calmly setting. A cool wind was just beginning to rise to the horizon. Hoor war wringing the shirts of her father and brother before putting them on the drying wires on the rooftop. When it happened.

She first heard a loud shriek from her mother's mouth which was followed by a louder wail.
"Mein lut gai. Mein barbad ho gai!"
[I have been destroyed. I have been looted]
Jahan-ara wept as she hit herself on her large breasts. The tears never ending. Her old, outdated phone lay on the floor. With the battery dropped a couple of meters away from the actual body of the phone.

"Ammi kiya huwa?"
[What happened mom?]
Hoor asked, her mind racing miles a minute.
"Arey mat puch mat puch!"
[Just do not ask!]
She cried even louder.
Hoor went near the woman and grabbed her shoulders. Soothing her hair down, Hoor tried to calm her.
"Ammi hosla karein aur batain tou sahi keh huwa kiya hai?"
[Be brave and tell me what happened?]
Hoor again questioned.

"Hona kiya tha! Sab teray us badbakht bhai ki ghalti hai. Arrey kisi nai Shagufta baaji ko bata diya hai keh usne teray jahaiz keh saarey paisay juay mein zaaya kar diye hain. Phir hona kiya tha? Are bhala kabhi kisi juhari ki behn ko kisi izzat dar ghar ki bahu bannay ka mauqa mila hai? Arey teray ristay sai inkarr ho gaya hai!"
[What had to happen! Entire fault is of your brother. Someone told Shagufta sister that he spent all money for your dowry on gambling. Then what was to happen? Has anyone made a gamblers sister their daughter-in-law? They have rejected your proposal.]
Jahan-ara became more furious at every sentence. Her sobs turning into controlled shouts. Her anger flaring up.

"Ammi kiya huwa gaar inkaar ho gaya? Koi aur rishta aajay ga. Aap apna bp khamkhwa-"
[Mother what happened if they rejected? Another proposal will come. You should not raise your bp for no reason]
"Kia matlab khamkhwa? Abbey tera haq kha chuka hai. Sharam nahi aati keh behan ki kamai pe aiyashi karnay laga huwa hai. Bula iss kuttay ko bahir!"
[What do you mean for no reason? He has taken your right. He does not have an ounce of shame for enjoying on his sisters earnings. Call that dog out!]
Jahan all but shouted.
"Ji bulati hun".
[Okay I will call him]
Hoor gave up knowing it was of no use.

Knocking on her brother's bedroom door, Hoor called out to him.
"Ali bhai ammi bula rahi hain,"
[Ali, mama is calling you]
her voice waking up the man in question. Who opened the door without any questions being asked.
"Ji ammi?"
[Yes mom]
Ali asked nonchalantly.

"ABBEY JI AMMI KARTA HAI! TERAY JUWAY AUR NASAY KI AADAT AAJ TERI BEHAN KEH GALAY KA PHANDA BAN GAI HAI!"
[HOW DARE YOU SAY YES MOM! YOUR HABIT OF GAMBLING AND DRUG ABUSE HAS BECOME THE NOOSE AROUND YOUR SISTERS NECK!]
Jahan-ara shouted whilst simultaneously grabbed the collar of his shirt. She proceeded to tell him all that had happened and told him that if he did not go to the bhata [place where bricks are made] tomorrow then she would bury him alive.

K A M A L H O M E , D H A, L H R
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Mustafa was sitting inside his dark home office. The harsh rain pelted outside furiously. Winds blew the strong anchored trees with a force that was never seen before. His heart ached. A night as dark as this made him feel lonelier than ever. Rubbing the space between his brows, he frowned harshly as he tried to focus on the contract that lay infront of him. Nothing seemed important enough to his mind as it seemed to have been occupied with a million other things.

Starting with the request his aunt had put forward for giving Shahrukh a job of head of media at his company. With Shahrukh's portfolio he would be lucky if he got a job at a newly started business. He could not hand over such an important position to him just because they were related by blood. There were so many other people who deserved that post more than he did.

"Mustafa bhai abhi tak aap soye kyun nahi?"
[Mustafa bro you haven't slept till now?]
His lifelong companion, Rizwan asked.
"Kuch nahi bas thodi si pareshani hai,"
[It's nothing. Just a small tension]
Mustafa tried to brush off the topic.
"Hmmm aur yeh pareshani Sharukh keh naam sai hai?"
[And is this tension by any chance with the name of Shahrukh?]
Rizwan said with a smile the showed he knew all of his troubles.

"Ji. Ab tum hi batao mein kiya karun. Meri samajh sai tou sab bahir hai".
[Yes. Now you tell me what I should do. Everything is beyond my understanding]
Mustafa sighed. He just could not ignore this one request. In him lived a child that craved the love of a parent. And if it meant risking the integrity of his company he might just do it, no reputation was greater than the love of a parent.

"Arrey meray bhai. Iss tarah wob tera faida utha kar jaidad mein hissa mangnay aajain gai. Tou eik kaam kar jo side business hai na tera, woh Sharukh keh naam kar de. Aur inko samjha de uncle aur aunty keh khaday kiye iss karobaar mein sirf tera hissa hai,"
[Oh my bro. Like this they will rake advantage of you and ask for a part in your inheritance. Just do one thing, make Shahrukh the CEO of your side business. And explain that in your parents business, only you have a right]
Rizwan gave him an idea. His side business was a small trade business. It still brough in a lot of revenue so technically it was not even that small.

Mustafa thought about this recommendation. He could give it to Sharukh but keep majority of his shares. That way he would still have the largest say.
"Arrey Rizwan agar tou ladki hota tou mein tujh sai hi shaadi kar leta,"
[Oh Rizwan if you were a girl, I would have married you]
Mustafa cracked a joke. And it was extremely rare that he would ever crack a joke.

"Afsoos keh mein khatoon nahi. Par teri shaadi ji umar nikli jaa rahi hai. Koi Hoor dhund aur shaad kar meray bhai,"
[Sadly I am not a female. But your age of getting married is passing. Find a Hoor and get married]
Rizwan pulled his brother like best friends cheeks.

J A M A L H O U S E
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Hoor weept silently. Her heart ached. She did not know how to explain her feelings to anyone. All day she had kept her heart strong. It was now while she prayed Tahajjud [voluntary prayer] that she let the waterworks fall. Why were humans so selfish? Why did they not care about the tender feelings of the one they were inflicting pain on? That night Hoor cried and presented her gilay [complains] to her Lord. Asking him for strength and a prince who would fulfill her wishes. Take her from the tiny streets of Androon Lahore [inner city of Lahore] to a mighty fine mansion.

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