Hassas- Pt 7

(Translations of Chapter 7 to the Epilogue are solely the hard work of Bookandchai)

*****

Mayza stared at her bag with a conflicted expression. A day had not yet gone by but the evening had already dawned on them. The place she wished to visit was closed after 7:30 and she had guiltily spent the day catching up with Qizrah. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she placed her cheeks in between her palms and glared at the suitcase.

The thought of calling her father and asking him for another day had obviously crossed her mind but the way he spoke yesterday- it'd make her feel guilty if she didn't abide by her words.

She hadn't come across Humaid the whole day. She might have sneaked a peek every now and then but he was nowhere to be seen and she was just too shy to enquire about him.

"Just my luck."

Mayza murmured to herself with disappointment and dumped her items in the bag carelessly. She had bought a few souvenirs and presents for her family- nothing extravagant. They were small statues to a recipe book that her mother had requested and a little beanie and chocolates for Maeen- her niece.

Not wanting for the stress and the slight ache in her chest to increase by every passing second, Mayza left her room and found herself in the garden- one that she had not had enough time to appreciate.

The hotel owner might be obsessed with roses because every corner she turned to, she found different species of them- all of whom just added more beauty to the area. Roses weren't her favourite flower but seeing them set so beautifully could make anyone fall in love

Winter had stepped into the country and Mayza wasn't the least bit concerned about it. The cold wind had always calmed her down. The chill around made her forget her thoughts and just breathe.

Relax.

Life was getting to where it was supposed to be.

She could finally say that she was stepping towards peace.

It might have been a rough phase but the dark doesn't last forever.

Looking up at the sky that was a blend of dark and the fading light, Mayza sensed the presence before he could say something.

She didn't turn to glance at him, nor did he make any sounds as he came to stand beside her. Standing under the early night sky on the onset of winter in a garden full of roses. Talk about another interaction that would make Mayza dream of her fairytale.

But this time, her fairytale wasn't blind. It wasn't hurried. She was giving it her own sweet time, unknown that someone else too felt the same.

"When are you leaving?"

His voice was low, as though not wanting to disturb the environment they had created around themselves. Mayza smiled softly and shared a look with him before turning her gaze back to the fluttering sky.

"At 10."

"Jaana zaroori hai?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Now, I'll repeat, who's courtesy is that?"

Mayza tried her best to hide the tints of red on her face and the irregular beats of her heart. She was grateful enough to have whatever they had in between and she didn't know if her minor crush would destroy things or mend it for the better but what she did know was that she wasn't ready to tie her life with someone just yet.

She needed time and her sane mind understood it better than her heart.

Humaid sighed hearing her words. He didn't plan on contacting them but something told him to do so. He was already worried about what had happened but seeing the way things had unfold, he did connect a dot or two. He had called her family to assure them that she was safe and not because he wanted them to call her back.

Then again, maybe it was for the best.

Or was it?

"I didn't- I just..."

Humaid didn't know how to explain his point of view and it looked like he didn't have to when Mayza chuckled beside him, finding his predicament amusing.

"Don't beat yourself over it, Mr. Mirza. Itni bewakoof nahi hu main."

She joked around, hoping to earn a smile and she did. Unconsciously, her eyes slid back to him only to find him staring at her. He should have looked away- he should- but he couldn't.

Her curious eyes stared into his and Humaid knew something had changed. In him- or was it her? It wasn't like his heart to beat the way it was at the moment. It wasn't like him to be speechless just by looking at someone. It wasn't like him to crave the warmth and the smiles that she exuded.

For all he knew, she could've bewitched him and he'd intentionally fall prey to it.

"Humaid..."

Mayza didn't know why she said his name. It came off as a natural thing and the way he smiled, why did it feel like he knew?

"Until we meet again, Mayza."

And doing a familiar courtesy like the time he had come to call her, Humaid shared another smile with her before slowly walking away and Mayza could've sworn she saw something in his eyes.

Something that made her want to shy away or was it a sign?

- a sign of what?

His words weren't a parting goodbye nor were they a fake farewells, no, he had said them with conviction. He had whispered a promise into the air, one that unknown to Mayza had etched itself in her mind- waiting and praying.

Because what everyone knew was that time was fleeting.

*****

"This is you leaving me alone."

Qizrah was angry.

She was very angry.

She had made plans about the rest of their trips only for Mayza to cancel on her at the last moment. Not just that, the woman had the audacity to cut short the trip and leave her all along among strangers.

"I'm sorry!"

Mayza whined an apology just like she had for the past few hours. They were on their way to the airport even though Mayza had said that she could go alone.

"Yeh sila diya tumne meri dosti ka? Beech bazaar mein akela chod ke ja rahi ho mujhe?"

Mayza rolled her eyes at the dramatics. Qizrah might look cold at first glance but when one came to know her closely, she was the most precious person one could come across.

"Fine. I know I'm being dramatic but look at you! How can you cancel on me all of a sudden?"

Mayza was a little reluctant to share all the details with Qizrah and had just told her that her family needed her back home. The latter clearly looked unconvinced but did not press the matter.

"Maaf kardo na. I promise. When we meet back home, we'll go on a long trip."

The two were coincidently state neighbours and had exchanged the numbers along with addresses.

"Ring me a bell once you reach? Please."

Qizrah hugged her tight as though parting from a friend of long and Mayza chuckled and the sweet feeling of being cared off warmed her heart.

"Pakka."

With another tight hug and fake cries, Qizrah finally let Mayza go and the latter couldn't even control her laugh by the time she reached the check-in gate. Giving one last wave to Qizrah who wore a highly sullen look on her face, Mayza unknowingly searched the crowd even though she knew she wouldn't see him anywhere.

He had bid her a farewell hours back and she hadn't heard from him since then. It wasn't too long but how impolite of him to not come and see her one last time?

Trying to shake off the unwanted feeling, Mayza took in a deep breath and was on her way back home- feeling both happiness and sorrow.

Her father had come to receive her much to her surprise. He looked like he had aged in less than a week and Mayza couldn't shake off the guilt that crept into her heart seeing him so worried.

Amir Bukhari embraced his daughter, kissing the top of her head and discreetly checked her for any visible injuries. Once he was sure that she was fine and unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her again.

"Abbu, I'm in one piece, as you can see."

Amir glared at her for her harmless joke but could not keep it harsh when he saw the mirth in her eyes and the grin on her face. He was finally able to glimpse at his daughter who was as free as a butterfly without a care of the world around and if only he could express his happiness.

"Chalo ghar. If I'm coddling you then wait until you meet the others. Saans nahi lene denge tumhe."

"Main return ticket book kardu?"

The way she said it sounded as though she was seriously considering it. Amir shared a laugh and draping a hand over her shoulder, he guided her out of the airport.

The ride back home was pleasant with her father sweetly apologising for cutting her trip short and Mayza knew she couldn't blame it all on him and hence, politely made him realise that she wasn't upset with him.

The moment Mayza entered the house, true to her father's words, her mother was the first to pull her in an embrace, gushing and throwing question after question, poking her cheeks and making comments about how she had lost weight just in a week while her tayi ammi and chachis' wholeheartedly agreed with the older woman.

"Mama, you're being drama-"

"Haww, dekho toh ladki ki zaban nikal aayi hai."

Out of nowhere, Ahzan gave his input with the typical flabbergasted expression on his face. Mayza narrowed her eyes at him, silently warning him to stay silent but the man was foolish enough to pay no heed to the warning.

"Manna toh padega waise. A week has done you good. Lekin sirf baat karna seekha hai or did you do something useful?"

He spoke again and this time, it was his father who smacked the back of his head. Abeer Bukhari glared at his son and Ahzan whined in protest, adding how no one loved him.

"Useful? Hmm, gifts toh layi hu sabke liye but I might have forgotten a certain someone."

Ahzan's eyes turned wide at the word 'gift' and his mischievous expression dissolved into a sweet smile as he quickly came to stand beside her, gently taking her suitcase in his hold.

"It must be heavy, let me help."

"No, thank you."

Mayza pulled the bag to herself only for him to not budge and let go off it.

"Main kar raha hu na help. Let me."

"Nahi chahiye mujhe help. Samne se hut!"

"You ill mannered child!"

"You obnoxious fool!"

"You little-"

"Say another word and you'll be out of the house."

Abeer threatened his son with a nonchalant look but Ahzan knew the old man wasn't joking. Giving a stink eye to Mayza who was smirking in victory, he poked his tongue at her and begrudgingly let go of the bag and strolled out of the area, telling how he had more important tasks to do.

His departure gave way to Zuhayr and Sabir's shenanigans. The hooligans ran down the stairs and before anyone could say something, gave a quick hug to Mayza and immediately peeled the bag of gifts away from her and ran towards their room, ignoring the yells from their parents.

"I'm seconds away from giving them up for adoption."

Shabeer Bukhari shook his head in disappointment and his twin, Shahvir placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Nobody would adopt 22 year old idiots. They lack both brain and beauty."

"Sharm kare kuch. They are your sons."

Daiba scowled at her husband and brother-in-law only to get an identical shrug from the two of them.

"We'd have managed well with a daughter. Bhai-"

Shahvir looked at Abeer who raised an eyebrow at him.

"Main Faeezah aur Mayza ko legally adopt kar lu?"

"I'm happy, unlike you. Ahzan chahiye toh bolo."

The woman all looked perplexed at how casually the men joked around with a straight face. Mayza swallowed down a laugh when she saw the way her father shook his head as though in physical pain upon seeing his blood brothers acting like kids while her youngest chachi, Mahnoor, shared a good laugh with her tayi ammi, Falak.

"I'll leave you all to it then."

Mayza kissed her mother's cheek and was off to her room for a much needed sleep. Travelling always drained her and today was no different.

Taking a quick shower, she wore her comfy set of pyjamas and snuggled into her bed. A slight feeling of nostalgia made her kiss her pillows and hug it close to herself.

Nothing could match the comfort one felt in their own home.

Unaware to her, there was a surprise waiting for her and the next day would be no less than a huge storm- or was it the ending of the eclipse?

Had the strings finally connected or was it set to take off in a completely new direction?

**********

Just 1 more chap and then the epilogue. Pretty fast or did I just zone out the whole damn thing?!

Ik you know what the next day holds but for the sake of my peace, pretend that you're covered by dark clouds of excitement and are unaware of our Humaid miya's plans.

**********