B I R D S chirped in the lawn. Their bright voiced acting as the best wake up call. Their wings fluttered as they flew from one side to the next. Stopping in the tall branches of the trees. Occasionally dipping themselves in the artifical pond made for them. Their beaks lifted the pieces of bread Hoor had thrown out for them. Praying for her in their tiny, innocent hearts.

Inside her sunlight lit bedroom, Hoor fluttered around her closet. Busy, looking for something pretty. Today, she and Mustafa would be going to her parents place for lunch. The first time since her marriage. She was thankful to Allah, for giving her her parents back. She had lost all hope, that her parents would ever reconcile with her.

The day being a Friday, Mustafa had already dressed in a white boski shalwar kameez. And head left for the Jummah prayer in the nearby masjid.

Hoor sighed. Not being able to select any outfit. She wished in that moment to have had a female in her life who could her out of her predicament. Unfortunately, there was no one like that in her life.

Finally, stumbling on a Mustard raw-silk shirt, with off white flared pants. Hoor smiled. Perhaps she would wear that. The shirt was plain, having a v-neck. The neck had two tassels and at the end was a metal embellishment. As if someone had stitched on a jhumka to her shirt. She paired it with a mustard organza dupatta. And cream heels.

The past few weeks, Alia had been teaching Hoor all about personal grooming. She had taught her how to straighten, curl and blow-dry her hair. As well as basic makeup techniques. With the help of her ma and a stylist she brought over, Hoor learnt to refine her fashion skills. Not only that, the woman had gotten her a tutor to help her learn how to embroider.

Alia had no idea how much that helped Hoor. Hoor, although still felt not as up to date as the rest of her age fellows, she knew it was a step in the right direction. Infact, Mustafa had promised to help her learn English. And was already looking for a way to get her enrolled into a school. So that she could fulfill her wish of having an education.

Only last night Mustafa had bought Hoor an iPhone 11 pro max. Teaching her how to call him. It was the most basic of accomplishments. However, she felt as if she could now conquer the world.

Gripping one of her blush brushes, Hoor smiled to herself. Thing were turning around for the better. For the first time in her life, she felt valued. Like she was someone who was of importance. She had no one but her husband to thank for that. Who made her realise how important it was for her to accept who she was as an individual.

"Begum kis kai khayal mein itna muskura rahi hain?" An excited Mustafa entered their bedroom.
"Huh- uh-- woh kuch nahi. Ap batain, itnay kush kyun hain?" She answered back.
Mustafa smiled, wheeling himself over to her. Pulling her on his lap.
"Iss wheel chair ka eik faida hai, jab chahun apko apni goud mein bitha sakta hun," he winked, continuing "mein khush idiliyr hun, kyun keh kal sai ap ki classes shuru". His answer left Hoor baffled.
Never had she imagined that she would be able to get into a school. But now, she was a step closer to her dreams. She thanked Allah for his blessings, gracing Mustafa's cheeks with a fluttering kiss.

Hoor got on her feet, standing infront of the vanity once again to finish her makeup look. After which she grabbed her handbag. Placing it on Mustafa's lap, she began to wheel him out in complete silence.

It was a routine the two had become used to. It was not an annoying silence, instead it was one that she rather enjoyed. It gave her the time to admire her husband. His little beauty mark on his ear lobe. Or how his hair curled at the nape of his neck. It was the perfect time to gaze at him.

J A M A L H O U S E, ANDROON LHR
●●●●¤¤●●●●

Lunch had been a wonderful event. All of them had enjoyed thoroughly. The spinach that Jahan-ara had prepared was finger licking good. So good that Mustafa who usually refrained from having two servings, ended up eating four of them.

Now as the sun began to set, and the air began to blow softly, caressing their cheeks. The family sat around the small white table in the courtyard. With Hoor and Jahan-ara on the daybed. Jamal on one of the seats, and Mustafa on his wheelchair, they all laughed and sipped on their mugs of tea. With a munch here and there on the crispy, sheera dripping jalebi Jamal had brought just now.

"Wah! Jamal uncle, itni achi jalebi aj tak nahi khai mein nai!" Mustafa praised the desert his father-in-law had bought with an open heart.
"Itni achi jalebi tou hummay abu nai kabhi bhi nahi khilai! Apnay damad keh liye lai kar ai hain," Hoor teased.
Jamal shook his head. His heart full of love. Perhaps, the misunderstanding had been a blessing in disguise.
"Yeh larki tou aisay kehti hai jaise hum isay khanay ko hi na detay thay". Jahan-ara filed a complaint against her daughter to none other than her damad.

Everyone teased each other, spending the evening in fits of laughter. It filled Mustafa's heart to see Hoor laugh so openly. But also made way for envy and sadness. Both over the fact that he had not been able to joke like this with his parents. They had left him when he was nothing but a child. Leaving him all alone in a huge world. To fight his way through the complex threads of family and relationships.

Hoor on seeing Mustafa's face dull down, understood what he was thinking about. She felt upset that she could do nothing for him. Him who had done everything for her.

"Mustafa chalein?" Hoor questioned Mustafa.
"Nahi abhi betho tou sahi!" Jahan-ara butted in.
Her daughter had come after such a long time. She could not let her go just yet.
"Khana kha kar jana. Itna ziada banaya huwa hai," she continued further.
"Nahi. Nahi ammi. Bas ba chalte hain. Subah sai tou aai huway thay. Phir ajaun gi," Hoor smiled at her mother.
As the two left, Hoor could hear her mother grumble inside her mouth. Resulting in Hoor to smile. She prayed for her mother's health and longevity.

K A M A L M A N S I O N, DHA, LHR
●●●●¤¤●●●●
AT NIGHT
_____________

Hoor and Mustafa were sat in their tv lounge. With Mustafa listening to the news. It was a daily routine by now. And every night, a new country was reported to have caught cases for thus disease called the Corona virus.

"Aur ap ko batate chalein, Pakistan mein 16 March,2020 sai le kar 8 April,2020 tak lock down  laganey ka hukam jaari". A news channel reported.

Hoor and Mustafa became alert. Scrolling through other channels. All of which were reporting the same news. It baffled the two, for as until now, they like all other Lahori's had believed that the virus was too far. It was in Karachi. And apparently under control. This lock down, changed the whole perspective. The deadly virus had touched home and only Allah's mercy could save them from it.

●●●●¤¤●●●●
WELP! MISS THING IS HEREEEE
LOL!!!