Seeing Ifra’s trembling hands, Yaqub said, “Ifra Hayat, why are your hands trembling like this? You are very brave. Go on, announce the punishment. There is a sinner from your own house as well. Can you do it? The way you pointed a gun at Haider and fired, Mashallah, your stance was fearless. Shoot now with that same fearlessness.”
"Ifra Hayat, tumhare haathon mein ye larzish kyun hai? Bahut bahadur ho tum. Karo, saza ka elaan. Ek gunahgaar tumhare ghar se bhi hai. Kar sakti ho? Jaise Haider par bandook taan kar goli chalayi thi, MashaAllah, tumhara andaaz be-khauf tha. Ab bhi usi andaaz mein goli chalao."
Ifra looked away.
Yaqub said, “It is very difficult to carry the burden of a sin. When the person you want to apologize to is no longer standing before you, life starts feeling dishonest. Yaqub Jahangir is still standing at the very place where Rukhsar Ghazi spat on him and walked away.”
("Bahut mushkil hai gunah ka bojh lekar chalna. Maafi maangne ke liye agar woh insaan saamne na ho, toh zindagi be-imaani lagti hai. Yaqub Jahangir abhi bhi usi jagah khada hai jahan Rukhsar Ghazi us par thook kar gayi thi.")
“Chachu, you…”
“I only want to say one thing. Never commit a sin that turns you into Yaqub Jahangir. I am not blind. I can see the hatred growing inside you. So it would be better if you end it before it is too late.”
Saying this, Yaqub walked away.
Baba Sai took the gun from Ifra’s hand.
“You aimed this at an innocent person. It is no longer yours.”
“Baba Sai, you were the one who gave it to me. You said I was worthy of it.”
Baba Sai said, “You have proved us wrong. When you make yourself worthy of it again, then you can take it back.”
“We have already made our announcement. Until the enemy makes the first move, we will not launch any attack. Jahangir Alam keeps his word. Our word has value. Until something comes from their side, we will not aim at them.”
Halima said, “Baba Sai, why don’t you make her understand that we want nothing to do with them, neither friendship nor enmity?”
Sher Mohammad said, “We have already explained it. The rest is up to her.”
Ifra was about to leave when Shehryar said, “Saleem Ghazi left with a warning that if any man from his family ever mistreats a woman, his head will be severed. I hope you understand.”
("Saleem Ghazi kehkar gaye hain ki unke khandaan ka koi mard aurat ke saath badsulooki kare, toh uska sar qalam kar diya jaaye. Umeed hai samajh jaogi.")
Ifra turned around and said with hatred, “You all look like servants of that Haider Abbas Ghazi.”
Sher Mohammad glared at her.
“Ifra, go to your room. Now.”
She ran away.
Baba Sai said, “Halima, make your daughter understand. We are not Haider’s well-wishers in the sense you think. We are his protectors.”
Meanwhile, Zara was placing plates on the table. She had made Haider’s favorite sheer khurma for him. After serving everyone, she was now waiting for Haider.
Resting her face in both her hands, she said, “Bhai will be so happy today.”
At that very moment, the sound of Haider’s car could be heard.
Zara ran toward the doorway.
“Bhaijaan, I…”
Haider was walking toward her. There were streaks of blood across his face, and one side of his white kurta had turned red.
“Bhaijaan…”
Her bright, cheerful face instantly turned pale. Her eyes filled with tears, and her lips began to tremble.
The moment Haider saw Zara, he turned around.
“Gudiya, go inside.”
“Bhaijaan, blood… blood… you’re hurt…”
When her voice suddenly failed her, Haider turned around and saw her leaning against the wall.
The very next moment, she fainted.
Haider quickly caught her.
“Zara…”
“Call the doctor.”
A little later
Haider’s wounds had been bandaged. He had not told anyone the reason behind his injuries. Zara was still unconscious.
After everyone had left, Begum Haseena kissed Haider’s forehead and said, “She was a Jahangir’s daughter?”
Haider looked at her in surprise.
“Meaning… it was her.”
“You had spies following me, Dadi Jaan?” he said with a laugh.
“Why would I need spies when your eyes are so transparent, Haider? We know.”
“What do you know?”
“You never even allow yourself to get a scratch because you know what happens to your sister when you get hurt. If you have come home injured, then there must have been someone in front of whom you could not raise your weapon, nor even your eyes.”
Haider looked at her.
“Haider Abbas Ghazi’s gaze alone is enough to instill fear in people. And among women, there is only one who is fearless, Jahangir’s granddaughter.”
( "Haider Abbas Ghazi ki nazar hi kaafi hai logon mein khauf paida karne ke liye. Aur auraton mein sirf ek be-khauf hai, Jahangir ki poti.")
She looked at Zara.
“She is a lioness, and this one is a little mouse.”
( ek wo hai sherni ek ye hai chuhiya)
Mumtaz came in and said, “Those who suffer oppression turn their daughters into lionesses. Those who inflict oppression lock their daughters inside cages and turn them into frightened little mice.”
Begum Haseena turned toward her.
“What kind of tabarruk did you eat at the dargah this time, Mumtaz, that your tongue has suddenly become so sharp?”
She replied, “A sharp tongue does not come from tabarruk, Amma Ji. When danger reaches your children, a mother can turn to stone, and sometimes her tongue becomes sharp.”
“Bhaijaan.”
At Zara’s voice, Haider turned toward her.
As soon as she touched his bandage, Zara began crying uncontrollably.
“How did this happen? How did you get hurt so badly, Bhaijaan? You never take care of yourself.”
Haider gently stroked her head.
“It was just a small accident, Zara. Nothing happened to me.”
“Look at this girl. Just seeing her brother injured has made her turn pale. Take care of her, Mumtaz. Or is all your attention only on your son?”
“I’ll send something for you to eat.”
Zara wiped her tears and said, “Why do you drive so fast? Don’t use that car anymore.”
While braiding Zara’s messy hair, Haider said, “Oh, really? Should I start walking everywhere now?”
Zara looked at him with shining eyes.
“That would be good, Bhai. You should walk. Then there won’t be any danger at all.”
Haider lightly hit her on the head.
“You’re coming with me.”
Zara thought about it and made a pitiful face.
“Bhaijaan, my feet will start hurting. You go with Sameer Bhai.”
Haider glared at her.
“Bhaijaan’s feet are made of stone.”
Zara shook her head.
“No, your feet aren’t made of stone. I’ve seen them.”
“Alright, sit straight.”
“Bhaijaan, don’t. My hair gets pulled. Let me keep it open in a braid.”
Haider took a rubber band out of his pocket and tied her hair.
“Yes, otherwise your witch will come and pinch you.”
Zara’s throat went dry.
“Bhaijaan, Abba says you’re only trying to scare me. That doesn’t happen.”
“Then don’t listen to me. Listen to Abba.”
Zara pulled the sheet over herself and said with a laugh, “He doesn’t come during the day anyway.”
“No, that’s not true. I’ve seen people get possessed even during the day. I told you the story about the dargah, remember?”
Zara nodded.
“That’s why I don’t go to the dargah.”
“Alright, give me your hair. I’ll open it.”
Zara immediately held onto her hair.
“Bhaijaan, you should eat something healthy. I’m sleepy.”
She pulled the sheet all the way over her head and lay down.
Haider could hear her reciting her Ayats.
He pressed his lips together to hide his smile.
“Alright, come on, make something for me.”
“No, Bhaijaan, you go.”
What he had wanted had already been accomplished.
Haider stood up.
“I’ll leave then. You’ll be left here alone.”
She immediately sat up.
“No, no, Bhaijaan, stay.”
Meanwhile, Ifra was pacing from one side of the room to the other. Yaqub’s words kept echoing in her mind.
Her uncle was very special to her. He had always been there for her like a friend.
Shifa said, “Di, chill, yaar. Everything will be fine by tomorrow. Just wait and see. Everyone will be normal at dinner.”
“Everyone may become normal, but Chachu won’t. I know him.”
Shifa said, “You were about to take someone’s life. He must have been terrified. After almost losing the two most precious women in his life, he probably doesn’t want to lose anyone anymore.”
Ifra threw everything off the dressing table.
“Everything happened because of that Ghazi. Why did he have to come in my way?”
“You’re absolutely right. Everything is his fault.”
Ifra turned around.
Shifa was sitting there, enjoying aam papad and smacking her lips.
Ifra threw a pillow at her.
“Die right here.”
“Hey, I was telling you that our sniper is coming.”
“Let her come. I’ve already lost my chance to say anything.”
Ifra was heading toward Yaqub’s room, but when she saw the light on in Khadija Begum’s room, she changed direction and went there instead.
“Dadu, you’re still awake?”
“No. I was waiting for your Dada Sai. Besides, I can’t sleep anymore.”
Ifra rested her head in her lap.
“Do you think I did something wrong? No, I don’t think I did. If your enemy is standing right in front of you and your blood doesn’t boil, then there is no intensity in your hatred.”
Ifra said, “Exactly. It feels like these people don’t care anymore.”
“Yes. They don’t care anymore. Time has become their healing balm. Their blood has gone cold.”
Write a comment ...