"You've pushed me away from the start, and I let you. Kept your distance from me and I let you. Now when you've finally come to terms with your feelings, you're letting me go without a fight?!"
Muaaz, a talented yet struggling architect based in Lo...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Assalamalaikum, beautiful people!" I announced to whoever was present in the living and dining area.
"Arey, careful, bete. You might topple over and fall." Dada Jaan says, seeing me balance the phone between my ear and shoulder and thrust the laptop into my bag with one hand while rushing down the stairs.
"I'll be fine, Dada Jaan, don't worry about me." I wave a hand, brushing his worries away with a muskaan. "Has Dadi taken her post-breakfast tablets yet?"
"No," He answered, leaning back against the couch. "She's still fast asleep."
Dadi sleeping in late was generally unusual. But I guess, old age brings a set of changes in routines with itself.
"Alright, I'll give Sadia a heads up. Sadia!" I yell, jogging into the dining area.
"Yes, baji?" She yells in response, making her way out of the kitchen.
"Pack my Breakfast, please. I have to leave in 10 minutes. And bring me my bottle of water from the fridge." I request while helping myself with a banana from the fruit basket. "How is Zarina bi doing?"
"Ammi doing fine. Doctor come, give her medicine, make her sleep, and go." A smile made its way to my face, and I couldn't help the chuckle that left my mouth. I close the distance between us and squish her cheeks.
"You are a cutie," I tell her at which she blushes and dashes into the kitchen with the excuse of working on my breakfast.
"Going early today?"
"Yes, Machi." I plop down on the chair and start to peel the banana. "Tammy has called an early meeting for some reason."
Machi, in other words, Maryam Chachi nods her head, continuing to study the stack of papers she had laid before her on the table. I noticed she too was dressed in her work clothes, a beige cotton suit, the signature white band around her neck, and her advocates' black gown neatly draped over the chair next to her.
"Do you have a hearing today, Machi?" I inquire, shoving the fruit into my mouth.
"I do, doll. A very important one at that. Dua karo ke aaj judge sahab ke dil me zara sa bhi rehem na aaye aur sakht se sakht saza as verdict sunaye. I am sick of this case and really just want it to end today." She sighs, running a hand over her face.
"Inshallah, it will end on a good note for you. Mera aashirwaad aapke saath hai." I say like a renowned pundit, blessing her with the invisible ray of light coming from my raised right palm.
"Chalo begum, let's go," Ranchu calls, striding towards us, with his head lowered in the phone.
"Assalamalaikum!" I greet Ranchu, Im-ran cha-chu, with a smile, gaining his attention and buying some time for Machi to put her files back in the folder.
