Care | خیال

Zohaib entered the Durrani house, with a loosened tie around his neck, rolled up sleeves up to his elbows, and a coat placed on his forearm. The house was as silent as a grave. He glanced at his watch, it was almost three o'clock in the afternoon and his stomach was screaming for something to eat. He got free from the meeting late than he has expected. He hurriedly climbed the stairs and walked into the room quietly.

He took off his watch and placed it along with his coat on the bed while his eyes moved towards Zahra and Faryal who were sleeping. He unfastened the tie around his neck and kept it above his coat on the bed, and sneaked into the bathroom.

Faryal was half asleep with her hair spread on the pillow when Zohaib walked into the washroom. She could feel his presence in the room. Her eyelids drooped and she drowsed. She stirred and finally opened her eyes starred at Zahra, her soft snores were audible. A smile appeared across her face. She pulled the stray hair away from her eyes as she propped herself up on her elbows, kissed Zahra's cheek and muttered "Mera bacha".

She was lost in her thoughts when Zohaib came out of the washroom freshly showered. Their eyes locked for a moment and then she carefully sat down on the bed, grabbed her hair in both hands, and swept it back, tying it in a loose knot. She picked up the dupatta and adjusted it on her left side. He came forward and laid down on his stomach on the bed, while his legs were hanging at his side of the bed.

"Assalam-u-alikum", She said in a hushed tone. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her cheek on one knee.

"Walikum Assalam", He replied in the same tone with his eyes fixed on his daughter.

He softly kissed Zahra on her forehead and then dropped kisses over her whole face, hands, and feet. She made a soft noise, cuddling closer to her father.

"Zohaib no, you will wake her up. She is tired, barhi mushkil say sulaya hai aj", Faryal whisper yelled with wriggled eyebrows.

"Hmm", Zohaib hummed but kept cuddling Zahra. Zahra opened her eyes and yawned. She blinked up at her daddy with a straight face. Zohaib grinned and kissed Zahra's hands again.

"Why are you so serious, han? I guess you missed your daddy a lot today", Zohaib asked Zahra with a smile, the kind of smile which showed longing.

"Because her daddy disturbed her beauty sleep", Faryal corrected him and rolled her eyes.

"If you are going to make her sleep at that time when I come home, I'll wake her up every day. The choice is yours either make her sleep before or after my arrival, or I won't let her sleep.", Zohaib said looking at Faryal and then shifted his eyes towards Zahra again. He rolled over and placed Zahra on his abdomen.

Zohaib was playing with Zahra, his hunger long forgotten now. The room was filled with both father-daughter voices. Suddenly they heard a knock at the door. Faryal stood up from the bed and opened the door. Mom was standing in front of her with a tray in her hand. Faryal slightly moved aside, mom came inside followed by Faryal.

"Zahra's awake?", Mom said looking at Zahra who was sitting on her daddy's abdomen.

"Assalam u alikum mom", Zohaib said and sat up straight.

"Walikum assalam", Mom replied.

"Why did you trouble yourself, mom. I was about to go and bring food from the kitchen. You should take some rest", Faryal said taking the tray from mom.

"Rest? how can I rest when I know you haven't eaten anything. Zain said you will eat with Zohaib, that's why I was waiting for him. You wait for him every day that's okay, but today you really made me worried Faryal. A mother can never rest when her child is in misery.", Mom said genuinely. She looked troubled.

Faryal moved forward and hugged mom, she kept her chin on mom's shoulder. Mom's words had almost melted her emotionally. "Sorry for hurting you mom, I would never do this again", she said.

"You better stick to your words if you don't want to make me worried again", Mom said sincerely and broke the hug.

"I will fresh up first, bohut bhook lagi hai muje (I'm famished)", Faryal said excitedly to cheerup mom. All that time Zohaib was playing with Zahra but he was listening to their conversation as well.

"Good girl!" Mom smiled weakly.

"I'll go and take some rest now. You both have your lunch.", she said further.

"Thanks, mom", Faryal said and gave a heartfelt smile to mom.

Mom left the room and Faryal went to the washroom to freshen up. A few minutes later she came back and placed the tray on the bed in front of Zohaib and sat down on the bed adjacent to him. She was eating the lunch silently, while constantly in between glancing at Zohaib and Zahra who were still playing.

Faryal cleared her throat and said, "I'm sorry".

"Huh?", Zohaib looked at her in bewilderment while chewing the food.

"I'm sorry for what I did in the morning. Mein mazak kar rahi thi mera yaqeen kre ( I was kidding, trust me) ", She said.

"Aren't we done with it in the morning?", He replied with a raised eyebrow.

"You are not angry?...or upset?", She asked with a hopeful look in her eyes.

"Do I look like?", He cross-questioned.

She shook her head indicating a no.

"You have the answer already", He shrugged.

"I was embarrassed in front of the whole family that's why I pretended to be angry but my anger was not towards you, for sure. You are really unpredictable.", He stated with a nervous chuckle.

"I thought you are upset just like dadi phupho", She mumbled.

He thought for a few seconds, heaved a sigh, and said "I'm mature enough to take a small prank".

She blinked, letting his words sink in. Her lips curled into a crooked smile but this time it was different, her face smiled but her eyes did not. After that none of them said a word and ate their lunch wordlessly.

Faryal adjusted the empty plates on the tray and placed it on the table instead of taking them to the kitchen today, deep down she was still afraid of the possibility that dadi phupho can catch her alone.

She sat down on her side of the bed. He looked at her, she seemed lost in her thoughts.

"I was thinking to pay a visit to Sir Ibrahim for some work-related stuff, do you want to go with me?", He said snapping her out of her trance.

"My baba?", She asked expectantly.

He nodded his head. Her face lit up with a broad smile.

"I will"

"Should I inform baba?", she replied happily.

"Yeah, we will go in the evening", He said looking at her and then diverted his eyes towards Zahra and said, "You have played enough little one, let's take a nap with your daddy".

He laid down on the bed, patting Zahra on her back. In few minutes both of them fell asleep. Faryal messaged her baba Jan about their arrival, went to the closet, and arranged dresses for herself and Zahra.

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"Ready?", Zohaib asked Faryal while looking at his phone.

Faryal buckled up Zahra's shoes and said "Yup".

"Can you please pick up Zahra's bag?", She stated.

Zohaib nodded his head and picked up the bag in his hands. Faryal straightened her shirt and dupatta, took Zahra in her hands, and followed Zohaib. They went downstairs together.

"Are you guys going somewhere?", Usman asked when they entered the living area.

"Yup, we are going to Faryal's baba place", Zohiab replied.

"Is everything okay?", Mom asked in concern.

"I wanted to meet Sir Ismail for work-related stuff so I asked Faryal to come with me", Zohaib said looking at mom.

"That's great", Mom said with a heartfelt smile.

"Oh no, ab hamre plan ka kya hoga? (what will happen to our plan now?)", Mahum screamed.

"We just decided to go out for a movie and dinner. Please don't go today. We'll miss both of you", Zain said, sadness was visible in his tone.

"Go Bhai, don't listen to these two", Huzaifa said. He was happy seeing the progress in their relationship.

"Zain let them go beta, they can join you some other day", Tayi Ammi tried to convince Zain. Zain nodded his head.

"We all can plan things again. by the way, we have plenty of time. Have safe journey guys", Uzair said sincerely.

"Thank you", Faryal replied.

"At least have tea with us", dadi jan said.

"Sorry dadi jan we are getting late", Zohaib uttered.

"Give our regards to everyone Faryal beta", Dada jan said.

"Sure dada jan", Faryal replied with a tight-lipped smile looking at dada Jan when her eyes fell on dadi phupho who was already staring at her with a stoic expression. Faryal's smile faded. She quickly averted her eyes and moved near Zohaib.

"Allah hafiz", Zohaib said and signaled Faryal to come with him. Faryal bid them farewell along with Zohaib and went outside.

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"Come Zahra", Baba Jan said forwarding his hands towards Zahra. Zahra smiled coyly and pushed herself towards him so he can take her.

"Aww Zahra recognizes her Nana Abu", Faryal starred at them slack-jawed.

"Obviously", Baba Jan said placing Zahra on his one leg. Zahra looked at baba jan attentively, moved her hand upward, and pulled his beard.

"No Zahra, nana abu will get hurt beta", Faryal said in a low tone trying to make her understand. Zahra looked at Faryal with wide eyes and then loosened her hold.

"That's like my girl", Faryal cheered.

"She is getting along with you very well", Amma smiled.

"You are right Amma jan", Faryal replied with a smile creeping across her face. Her eyes shone with pride and gratitude.

"Now Zahra will tell us where is her nose?", Faryal said looking at Zahra. Zahra put her fingers in her mouth and looked at her Ammi coyly.

"Ohho nana abu Zahra does not know where is her nose? I think it's fell somewhere", Faryal shrugged and removed Zahra's fingers from her mouth. She was looking here and there pretending that she is finding something.

Zahra looked under her eyelashes and poked her button nose with her index finger, three times.

"Aray here is Zahra's nose", Faryal exclaimed and Zahra chuckled. Everyone laughed at their amusing behavior including Zohaib who was sitting adjacent to them on the other side of the guest room. His eyes flickered between Faryal and Zahra.

"She is a mini Faryal, that's how she used to behave", Agha Jan stated and took Zahra from baba jan.

"Exactly", Amma jan agreed.

Faryal placed her head on baba jan's shoulder and kept talking to him non-stop. Baba jan was listening to her intently. She looked like a little girl cradled in the arms of her father, probably that's what she really is. Zohaib heaved a sigh of relief because she seemed herself now, relaxed, lively, and talkative.

"Zohaib beta why are you so silent, are you getting bored?", Agha Jan questioned.

"No, it's not like that Agha jan. I was thinking that we should leave now.", Zohaib replied with a tight-lipped smile.

"No way, I would never let you guys leave so soon", Amma jan scowled.

"Zamany badh aye ho aur ab janay ki baatein (You guys have come after ages and now you want to leave).", She added in a displeased way.

"I just did not want to trouble you. I did not intend to hurt you, at all", Zohaib explained.

"Children are not a burden beta", Amma jan heaved a sigh. She looked at Faryal who was laughing with her baba jan. "I'm sorry beta if I sounded rude but the thing is Faryal is our only child, it's been months since she has married but she has only stayed for a night once despite of living in the same city. We all miss her a lot. I know she has a family, if she can not stay for a night then at least spend some more time with us".

"You don't need to say sorry Amma jan. She can stay here I would never stop her from doing that. She can do whatever she wants.", Zohaib said assuringly. Amma jan gave him a forced smile and went to the kitchen.

"Fary", Baba jan said.

"Hmm", she hummed intertwining her fingers with her baba Jan's fingers,

"Are you happy beta?", He questioned.

She gulped after listening to her baba Jan's words and said "Yup... I'm happy baba".

"Then why do I feel the opposite?", He stated his concern.

He wrapped his hand around her protectively and said "I know something is troubling you Fary, I can feel it but I won't insist you if you don't want to tell me right now. Just remember one thing no matter what happens, I'll be always there. understood?".

She kept mum and just nodded her head because she knew baba jan can sense everything. She could not tell him that she does not know how to deal with the hate, taunts, and agony she is facing nowadays. That the fear of being misjudged is eating her from inside. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly.

"Baba Zohaib wanted to discuss some professional stuff with you, I'll go and spend some time with amma jan", Faryal said and went away to find Amma jan.

"Zohaib you wanted to discuss something?", Baba jan asked.

"Um, yeah..I totally forgot that", Zohaib gave him a quizzical look because he had nothing to discuss. He paused for a few minutes and then started discussing the new policies of health authorities and health care conditions.

About half an hour later baba Jan excused himself and went outside.

"Everything is ready Amma jan, should I serve it now?", Azra baji asked.

"Azra baji we will wait for baba jan, where is he?", Faryal asked looking around.

"I don't know he just went out", Agha jan said, and at that exact moment baba jan entered the house with something in his hands.

"Baba where did you go? we were waiting for you", Faryal said.

Baba jan gave the shopping bags to Azra baji and said "I went to bring Fary's favorite ice-cream."

"Ice-cream", Faryal said. The happiness of her mind beamed forth in her countenance.

"Azra please serve the dinner now", Amma jan stated in a high-pitched voice.

Azra baji served the dinner in no time, and they ate their meal together. Faryal kept talking all the time, that's how the Khan villa was always used to be. Baba jan did not eat much because he was busy looking at her daughter. He misses her a lot.

Zohaib glanced towards his wristwatch and realized it was already past 10 pm. He moved his eyes towards Faryal and signaled her towards his watch, telling her through his eyes that they are getting late. Faryal nodded her head and finished her meal quickly.

"We are going home but promise me you guys will come to Durrani house...soon. Ap log aik bar b muj say milnay nahi aye (You guys have not come to meet me even once)", Faryal pleaded.

"We will try", Amma jan said.

"Please baba", Faryal said turning her head towards her baba jan.

"We will, In'Sha'Allah", Baba Jan said with a smile and gave her a tight and long hug.

Faryal and Zohaib bid them adieu and sat down in their car. Faryal waved goodbye to her baba Jan. Her vision blurred slightly with a sudden flow of tears that welled up in her eyes and she blinked them away. She could not control her emotions anymore. She kept looking outside the window.

Zohaib buckled up his seat belt and ignited the engine. He turned the steering wheel to the right and, slightly looked towards her, and said "Buckle up your...", his words trailed off when he realized she was crying.

"You can stay, if you want to", He said worriedly.

"It's okay", Faryal wiped the tears with the back of her hand and chuckled nervously. She buckled her seat belt and looked at Zahra who was sleeping in her lap.

Faryal knew Zahra can't stay without Zohaib and due to emotional attachment, Faryal was unable to leave her behind and spend time with her family. She was the sailor of two boats at the same time now, wanting to be at both sides but she can not.

In a few minutes, they reached Durrani house. Zohaib took Zahra to his room while Faryal went to Huzaifa's room where everyone was gathered.

"How did it go?", Huzaifa asked.

"Great! I really enjoyed.", Faryal replied with a blooming smile.

"When did you guys come back?", Faryal questioned.

"We canceled our plan because we didn't feel like going without you two", Usman stated.

"Oh No, I'm really guilty for spoiling your plan", Faryal said. She was feeling bad.

"Don't be silly Faryal, our plans were sudden. If one was not possible that does not mean the other one is to be blamed", Uzair upraised her spirits.

"Phir kabi chalay jaen ge hum (We can go some other time)", Uzair added with a tight-lipped smile.

"Thanks for understanding", Faryal said.

"Bhabi I was thinking that from now on I'll join you for the morning walk. Mahum baji you should join us as well, bohut maza ayega aik sath (We will have fun together)", Zain said excitedly.

"Yup Zain, count me in", Mahum agreed showing him a thumbs up expression.

"You don't have any issue right?", Zain asked Faryal.

"No at all, I'll be happy to have both of you around", Faryal replied genuinely with a smile pestered on her face.

"Do musibatein aik sath qubool kar rahi ho (you are accepting two troubles at a same time)..tch tch bad decision Faryal", Huzaifa said with a stoic expression, his eyes fixed on the screen of his laptop while typing something.

"This man", Mahum sneered.

"Maray ga tumhra bhai mere hatho aik din (your brother will get murdered by my hands one day)", Mahum said loudly looking at Zain.

"Ah! you wish", Huzaifa replied with a smirk. He moved his gaze from the screen to Mahum and then starred back at the screen.

"Mahum baji don't take him seriously, We both are the victims of same kind. Bhai nay muje b musibat kaha hai (Bhai has called me a trouble as well)", Zain consoled Mahum.

Faryal was smiling over the cute bickering taking place in front of her.

"And you miss, why are you smiling.", Mahum asked Faryal in an annoyed tone.

"Nothing, so you both are joining me tomorrow", Faryal said diverting the topic.

"Obviously, we have to prove someone wrong now", Mahum huffed to which Huzaifa chuckled in reply.

"Zain?" Faryal questioned.

"Yup me too bhabhi", Zain responded.

"I'll leave now, see you tomorrow. Chalo Zain (Let's go Zain) I won't let you stay around such an insensitive man", Mahum said. Zain disheartedly stood up and followed Mahum who was taking hurried steps towards the door.

"Byeeee Mahum. Bohut yaad ayegi (I'll miss you)", Huzaifa shouted. Mahum groaned and stomped her feet in annoyance. Huzaifa broke into a burst of heartfelt laughter.

"Why do you tease them always?", Faryal asked with a constant amused smile on her face.

"The more they get annoyed the more I want to tease them. You didn't like that?", Huzaifa said.

"I know I shouldn't say that but I loved it", Faryal said and all of them laughed.

They talked for a few minutes and then went back to their own rooms.

Faryal silently entered her room. Zohaib and Zahra both were already asleep bonded to each other. She quietly finished her work, changed her clothes, and tiptoed towards the bed.

She sat down on the bed looked at Zahra and then glanced towards Zohaib. She touched her cheeks and her lips curled up. His touch has left imprints of heat over her cheeks. She shook her head and laid down. For some reason, Faryal smiled into the pillow as she fell asleep.

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