Pastel Shades

Ghazal jotted few notes and glanced outside at the night sky which was painted with shimmery stars. Glancing at the sky always made her calm, just like it gave her some silent message that there would be someone above it, caring for her, looking after her. She had just finished her thanks prayer, it was only her Lord's mercy that Ghazal was sitting in her house safe and fine. Yes, she was late for the thanks, as the day before she was so scared that Ghazal was unable to think properly.

Closing her notebook, a card peeking through the papers attracted her attention. It was given by Haaris's grandmother, Mrs. Rabiya Hassan. Today when she got fainted, Mrs. Hassan came to know about the condition she was living in by Neha. Ghazal was upset with Neha as she didn't want anyone to find about her life without her consent, but Mrs. Hassan hadn't left any option for Neha but to spill the beans.

A sound of crying forced her to left the chair. Ghazal fixed the white dupatta on her head and leave her room to find Adam crying and her sister-in-law standing in front of him, yelling.

"You moron, I just had cleaned this floo-"

"Bhabhi..."

Ghazal interrupted, carefully taking Adam in her arms. Adam was now weeping, hiding his face behind his small hands. Floor was covered with spilled milk, surely done by Adam.

"Tell your son to learn some manners."

Her sister-in-law was now furiously talking to Ghazal who was busy in consoling Adam. Redness could be seen on Adam's cheek that meant she had slapped him. Ghazal's anger was boiling and she could burst out, only she knew how she was calming herself.

"He's just a kid, Bhabhi."

"Don't give that excuses, Ghazal. All day I have to keep up with you and your useless son. It would be good if you and Adam had too died-"

Ghazal didn't give a chance to her to speak any further by slapping hard on her cheek.

"Bhabhi, just shut up. You can say anything to me but I will not tolerate a word against my son."

She left the kitchen, leaving shocked looking Ghani, his wife and her own father who was beyond embarrassed to look Ghazal in her eyes.

Ghazal made Adam sit on the bed and took her seat beside him. Adam's face was still hidden behind his hands.

"Adam, won't you talk to Ma?"

In return, Adam shook his head. "Is Adam upset with Ma?", again a shake of head.

Ghazal pursed her lips to stop the smile. She slowly moved her fingers on Adam's stomach and began to tickle resulting a fit of giggles from Adam.

"Aw, my baby."

She put him in her lap, "You know, I have something for you."

"What?"

Adam asked, his voice still wet with tears, making Ghazal restless. Ghazal gave a tight lipped smile and extended a bar of chocolate towards him. Adam's eyes widened in happiness and he kissed Ghazal's cheek.

"Thank you sho much, Ma."

Ghazal placed a soft kiss on the crown of Adam's head, who was now busy in devouring the chocolate bar. She definitely needed to leave this place as soon as possible.

***

H

aaris moved a boring glance around the room and took a long sigh. Only five days were remaining then he would be out of this place, forever and ever. Ah, he could do whatever he wanted to do, without any restrictions and without any silly glarings.

Ghazal.

He was still unable to decipher what his grandmother and Ghazal were talking, the other day.

Why does that matter?

His conscience prodded. Haaris's grandmother were talking very seriously to Ghazal. What was so important to discuss with Ghazal?

Why does that matter?

Getting fed up by his inner voice, he tiredly blinked his eyes in order to ease out his tensed nerves.

"My son is in a very deep thoughts."

Mr. Yousuf asked, smiling to himself as he folded the newspaper. Haaris gave a tight lipped smile, there was nothing to discuss with him. He was still confused regarding his thoughts. That medications were surely playing with his mind, immensely.

"Nothing."

Haaris said shaking his head and on the cue, Nanna entered the room. Patting Mr. Yousuf's head, she took her seat beside Haaris, kissing his forehead.

"What's the boy thinking? "

Haaris chuckled hearing her query. Was he so obvious that everybody could see his thinking face?

"Nanna-"

His question stopped in middle as with a knock Ghazal entered the room.

"Mrs. Hassan, I want to have a minute with you."

Ghazal requested and Nanna nodded, smiling, "Surely, my dear.", and with that she left the room. What was going on here? Haaris looked at his father for help but he was engrossed in some of his work file. He didn't know why he was so curious.

After maybe fifteen to twenty minutes, Nanna grabbed a seat beside him and he looked at her with a questioning gaze.

"What were you both talking about?"

Nanna took his hand in hers and patted it, "I had offered Ghazal to share my house with me as a paying guest."

Haaris furrowed his brow in confusion, didn't she has her own house? Where she was living for past days?

"There were some problems in her house so she wanted a place on rent. She accepted my offer."

Nanna added looking at his confusion etched face. Haaris nodded taking a long sigh.

Did I just took a sigh of relief?

Wasn't his conscience really active today? He was getting irritated by it, by that boring room, by his thoughts, in short everything was giving its full contribution in his irritation.

"You should take some rest, my child."

"Yeah, I was just thinking so."

Haaris laid back on the bed, his mind in the middle of turmoil. He closed his eyes to shut all the thoughts, but to his utter disappointment.

That's why, her eyes were so red maybe due to crying.

What problem she is facing?

Why the hell I am thinking about her, again?

***

Ghazal zipped up her bag and gave a last glance to her room. She had spent half of her life in that room, laughing, crying, studying, praying but Ghazal didn't know that a time would come when again she had to leave this room.

Opening her bedside drawer, she retrieved two elegant photo frames, one holding her family photo even her mother too and the other one was her husband's photograph. A painful smile crept to her lips seeing Farzan, how handsome he was looking! Nobody could tell looking at him, that he was addicted to a foul habit.

"Ma, Na hash come."

Ghazal's father had gone to fetch a taxi for her. After that incident, she had decided to accept Mrs. Hassan's proposal about the house. She couldn't stay here now when Ghazal could sense a constant danger on Adam, she would go to infinity and beyond to keep her child safe.

"Are you crying? "

Adam asked wiping her wet cheeks. Ghazal shook her head, faking a smile. A knock on the door broke their moment as her father entered her room. Adam squealed and hugged his leg, her father picked him in his arms with a smile.

"Everything is packed?"

Baba asked taking his seat, she nodded putting the frames inside her bag. He took her hand in his, his thumb was making soothing circles on the back of her hand. In childhood, whenever Ghazal used to get nervous or scared, her father would do the same thing.

"Ghazal, I am sorry. I didn't do anything to help you."

Ghazal shook her head, today she couldn't trust her tongue. She was unable to form sensible words, a ball of sadness was forming in her throat.

"No Baba, please don't say that. Y-", she stopped to sniff and push back her tears, "You have made me able that I can take my own decisions, I have become self dependant."

Baba patted her head with tearful eyes. Ghazal gave a tight lipped smile.

"Na, why are you not coming with ush?"

Adam asked patting his cheek. "Adi, Na will come to meet us."

"Really?"

Adam confirmed with twinkling eyes. Ghazal nodded her head. "Baba."

She moved to her father, Don't come at the door to see me off, I won't be able to go."

Baba was trying to say something but remained silent seeing Ghazal's determined gaze. He defeatedly bobbed his head in affirmative. Ghazal kissed her father's forehead and left the room.

Her house was standing in its full glory, she wanted to meet her brother one last time but maybe in last incident Ghani again found Ghazal's mistake therefore he left for the office early in the morning, without meeting her. Holding Adam's hand, she came out of her house. A new turn of her life was waiting for her.

***

Haaris glanced at the wall clock which was showing half past two of noon. Today would be his last session with Ghazal. Yay! He would be discharged from the hospital on day after tomorrow. He was looking forward to that day and was really happy.

Really happy! Are you?

His conscience hadn't shut up yet. Haaris gulped the glass of water and Ghazal entered his room, with Adam in tow.

"Adi, take your seat there. "

She ordered Adam to sit on the sofa and he obliged as said. He was holding his drawing book and color box.

Dictator.

Haaris gave a name to Ghazal and smiled to himself on his innovation. She surely was a dictator, imposing her orders on everyone and punishing them if not followed.

"You could be a teacher. Ordering everyone."

"Yeah, that would be a nice idea. I don't have to cope up with you everyday."

Ghazal gave a dry reply with a cold tone. Haaris chuckled, in that one month he had become somewhat habitual of her witty come backs. He would surely miss-.

I will not miss anything.

Yes I will.

No.

Yes.

No.

Ye-.

"Mr. Haaris, are you in mood to continue this session or I should complete my work."

"Let's complete this session as it's my last."

Haaris saw her eyes widening for a split of second then she opened her notebook with tell-tale smile.

"Who said you its your last session? We can extend your stay for one more month."

Haaris's heart jumped at its place hearing the information. His mouth was agape and he closed it when he heard Ghazal's snickering.

"Just joking, Mr. Haaris.", Ghazal glanced at him, "Let's start with the session."

"So tell me anything about your hobbies, passion."

Hobbies and passion, a long time passed when he had thought about them. Clearly, his mother betrayal had made him so forlorn that Haaris forgot everything around him.

"I don't have hobbies and passions."

"Not a single one?"

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. Let's do one activity."

Ghazal said looking at him for approval and he nodded his head.

"Baby, give me one paper please.", she requested Adam and he happily gave her one with a toothed smile towards both of them.

"So, Mr. Haaris. I want you to look back at your life and give me any one moment when you were truly happy. Write it down here, ok?"

"What if, I don't have anything happy in my life."

Ghazal gave a tight lipped smile. "That's the case, Mr. Haaris. We all have something to be happy for, you just have find it."

Haaris took the paper and pen in his hands. Something to be happy for? What he had? Nothing. His mother left his father and him, an incident which was the reason behind all his painful slumbers and nightmares. What he had to be happy for?

"You just have five minutes."

At her voice, Haaris looked at Ghazal who was reading from a book she had brought with her. He wet his dried lips and write the only thing which truly had made him happy in the passed time.

A time spent with Adam.