Now, Continue!
“Does the fire of revenge ever grow cold with time?”
Khadija Begum answered her question, “No. But when people accept that they are guilty, that is when the fire finally dies.”
Ifra looked at her. “Dadu has accepted that he is guilty.”
Leaning back, she said, “Ifra, the Jahangirs have very soft hearts. Even they melt for their enemies. Your Dada Sai, who embraces girls and holds them close... there was a girl sitting at his feet.”
“So Dada Sai also believes that Chachu is guilty of Rukhsar’s death?”
“Yes, perhaps he does. That is why he has drawn a line when it comes to Hina’s enemies.”
“But I will erase that line. The enmity will be open, and it will be fierce.”
“Does Dada Sai feel pity for them?”
“Your mother feels pity for Salima Begum. She says that woman lost one son, one daughter, and then even lost Salim Ghazi. Damn it, she never looks at her own loss.”
Seeing Ifra’s silence, she asked, “Do you feel pity for her too?”
“No. I’m angry. If Phuphi had been here, how wonderful would that have been? Chachu would have had her love too. But we lost all of them. Even though Chachu is with us, he isn’t really here. He has become such a soft-hearted man. Rukhsar took his heart with her.”
(Agar Phuphi hoti, toh kitna achha hota. Chachu ko unki mohabbat bhi mil jaati, magar humne un sabko kho diya. Chachu humare saath hokar bhi nahi hain. Woh toh ek narm-dil shaks ban gaye hain. Rukhsar unka dil apne saath le gayi.”)
She lightly hit her on the head and said, “Rukhsar didn’t take his heart. She gave him her heart and took his obsession with her when she left. The same obsession that made him punish Hina’s culprits... that stubbornness and that madness left with that wretched Rukhsar.”
(““Rukhsar uska dil nahi le gayi. Woh toh use apna dil dekar uska junoon lekar chali gayi. Usi junoon mein aakar usne Hina ke mujrimoon ko saza di thi... woh zid aur woh junoon us mui Rukhsar ke saath chala gaya.”)
Ifra said, “Chachu thinks, what fault does the Ghazi family have? The one who committed the crime was punished.”
“And what do you think, child?”
Her eyes remained fixed on Ifra’s face, where anger was slowly taking over.
“I think I should destroy every trace of their existence.”
Running her fingers through Ifra’s hair, she asked, “Why do you feel that way?”
“In my eyes, every single person in that family is guilty. Everyone deserves to be punished.”
“That is exactly what your Chachu and Dada Sai don’t understand. When one person makes a mistake, the punishment reaches the entire family, even generations. Suppose a man murders someone and goes to prison. Then who should be punished?”
Ifra stood up and said, “Every member of his family, everyone connected to him.”
She smiled and gently patted her cheek. “It’s very late. Go and get some sleep.”
Ifra jumped off the bed.
“Careful, girl. This is a floor, not soil. If you fall here, you’ll get hurt badly.”
“I had to go to Chachu, Dadu. I’ll come back.”
Without even putting on her slippers, she ran away.
Ifra came toward Yaqub’s room. She saw that the door was locked from inside. Yaqub rarely did that.
Ifra called out to him, “Chachu, come on, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I’ll listen to you from now on.”
Halima was taking off her bangles. Seeing her, Sher Mohammad asked, “What happened? Where is Ifra?”
“She’s lying with her head in Ammi Sai’s lap. Let the whole house scold her, but no one can dare say anything to her.”
“You don’t like Ifra sitting with her?”
Halima looked at him irritably. “You know why I don’t like it. I don’t know what she has become.”
Sher Mohammad said, “If you had lost a daughter, you would have become the same.”
“Are you cursing me?”
Moisture appeared in her eyes.
Sher Mohammad stood up and said, “How could I curse you? What belongs to you means a lot to me too.”
Halima threw her bangles down and said, “I’m the only one who is crazy. You’re the only one who cares. The rest of us are just passing time. The father and the children have made our lives unbearable.”
Seeing her walk away in anger, Sher Mohammad followed her.
Zara was lying with her head resting on Haider’s legs. She wanted to sleep under the starlit sky, but she was afraid of the darkness. Haider had lit up the entire rooftop. Lamps had been placed at every step.
“Bhaijaan...”
“Yes, tell me.”
“Ammi is looking for a girl for you to marry.”
Haider, who had been reading a book, closed it.
“When were you planning to tell me this?”
Holding her long hair, Zara said, “When she found a girl you agreed to, because I don’t think you’re ever going to bring me a bhabhi.”
“Zara, your wish isn’t a pair of earrings that I can simply go and buy for you. I don’t want to get married.”
Zara started to sit up.
“Lie down quietly, or I’ll leave you here alone and go.”
“Why don’t you want to get married? Look, everyone in our family is married. There’s no one married in our house. Sarfaraz Bhai isn’t getting married either, and neither are you.”
“Why are you in such a hurry? Should I get you married instead?”
Zara stared at him with wide eyes and shook her head. She fell silent.
“Bhaijaan, please.”
Haider said, “Fine.”
Zara looked at him happily.
Haider continued, “I’ll get married on the day you do. Once you’re ready, just tell me when you want your brother to get married.”
Zara made a displeased face. “You’re so clever. Allah gave you all the cleverness and gave me nothing.”
Haider tugged at her nose. “Then take a little from me.”
“Ah, Bhai! Don’t pull my nose. It’ll become long. Then I’ll look so ugly.”
She placed a hand over her nose and pushed it backward. Haider laughed at her antics.
The Next Morning
Shehryar was in his room when he heard the sound of footsteps splashing through water.
“Who is it?”
He turned around. Those deep, kohl-rimmed eyes were there.
Shehryar’s eyes flew open. He sat up.
It was the call to prayer.
A question arose in his mind.
Who is she, the one who has reached even my dreams? This time, if I meet her, I’ll ask her.
He quickly got ready and came downstairs.
For prayer, he called out to Ayaan, “The gate is open. Someone has entered secretly.”
“Who is it?”
Shehryar switched on the hall lights. The person approaching suddenly stopped.
“It’s me, Bhai.”
Shehryar walked toward her in surprise. “Sniper, you came alone?”
Rida was standing in front of him. She placed her bag on the table and said, “I wanted to surprise everyone, but you were the first one I met.”
She took out a gold medal and placed it on the table.
“Rida, congratulations. You really are our Sniper.”
Rida looked up at him and smiled.
“You’re so strange. Does anyone react like that?”
“You’re getting late for prayer, and I’m sleepy.”
Shehryar said, “Go to your room and get some sleep.”
Shehryar left for prayer.
A Few Hours Later
Ayesha came out of her room. A medal was hanging from the lock of her room, a gold medal.
“Rida, my child is home...”
She ran toward Rida’s room.
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