Dry Brushes

The tap on her door broke Ghazal's reverie. She moved her gaze from the wall which she was staring for God knows how long. Neha was standing at the threshold, beaming at her. She tried to smile ignoring the problem which was ringing in her head and making her uneasy.

"Ready for lunch?"

Ghazal shook her head gulping the lump of worry. She felt like she wouldn't be able to eat, drink even breath properly because her mind was churning around the words of her senior doctor.

Dr. Ghazal Fatima, in addition to your duty as a Psychologist you will also be working in our Rehab Centre as the Psychotherapist.

Rehab Centre.

This news felt like a bombardment on her. Ghazal was unable to feel any joy when her senior, Dr. Sharma was acknowledging her accomplishments and how their Rehab Centre was in an immense need of a Psychologist like her.

All her brain was thinking, was about Rehab, a place where she would feel the pain of her past. A place where she would remember her husband the most. No, why?

Why Ghazal's destiny was playing such an awful game with her? She didn't want to see the patients who would be fidgeting with themselves to cope with their addiction, to save themselves and their families from falling into oblivion. Ghazal was not that strong, her courage lied in tolerating her husband's beating with silence, killing her painful sobs with a shut mouth, just that and nothing else.

Ghazal shook from her thoughts as Neha snapped her fingers in front of her.

"Where are you lost, Ghazal?"

She shook her head, "I am in no mood for lunch, Neha. You go." Ghazal politely refused and Neha left her alone seeing her lost self.

What she would do? She wasn't in the position to back up from this job. Why it had to happen with her? Her head was ringing with the pain of anxiety and tears were clogging at the brim of her eyes.

Ghazal took a long sigh and looked up for help as a silent plea to her Lord.

***

Haaris gulped the big glass of alcohol in one go. It was his habit to drink until he lost the count of glasses. He picked up his car keys from the center-table and began to stride towards the main door.

"Where are you going, man?"

Yawar held his shoulder in order to balance himself rather than showing affection. His speech was slurred and as his eyes were becoming drowsy, he would be seen lying on the floor with any passing minute.

"Going home."

Haaris answered and resumed his clumsy walk. Yawar was not in his proper sense even to stop him. After that awkward breakfast with his dad, it was very difficult for him to remain in that house so he had taken his route to Yawar's house.

Opening the door of his car, a sudden wave of nausea hit Haaris. Ignoring it, he took the driver's seat. His vision was becoming blurry and he had to focus a lot more than usual. It was not his first time to drink and drive.

What was the big deal in that? Why everyone made it a big issue? Why every time his father scolded him when he came home drunk by driving?

The ring of his cellphone attracted his attention, his friend Qasim's name was blinking on the screen. Without thinking anything else, Haaris received the call.

"Hey, Harry! What's up, man?"

"All good."

"I'm throwing a party tonight. You've to come."

"Yep, sure."

Haaris ended the call. Their talks were limited to these kinds of stuff only, nothing more than that. As this day had unfolded itself, his past was haunting him with pace and he just wanted to drown himself in that bitter taste which calmed his senses.

The wave of nausea forced him to stop the car at one side. Haaris threw up as soon as he opened the door. His gut felt like twisting, foul bile building up in his throat. He took a gulp of cold water from his bottle but that taste also made him throwing up more and more.

The area was stranded and Haaris's anxiety was reaching its peak because he felt like something was wrong with him and he needed some urgent help. He took out his cellphone and dialed the first number on his list, his vision was getting all blurry with every tick of minute.

***

Ghazal took a long sigh and opened the door of her cabin, leaving all her worries and anxiety behind with her Lord. Her destination was the rehabilitation center where she would be holding the first of her rehab session.

Opening the door, Ghazal was greeted by five to six people who were looking beyond busy with their own ramblings. She gave a heartwarming smile in order to ease the tension of the room as their eyes met with hers.

"Good afternoon."

Ghazal greeted trying hard not to stammer and putting the nervousness away from her voice. They all replied to her greeting in a mumble and again got busy in their own chatters. Ghazal hesitantly took one of the seats in the circle and cleared her throat.

"So, I am Ghazal Fatima. Your Psychotherapist from now on."

Everybody nodded and maybe they were too preoccupied to reply or to maintain the conversation. Ghazal's hand began to sweat, a tremble went to her spine. She was not good for that job, why did she have to choose this?

How could she keep them all happy? How could she share their pain when they all were treating her like a stranger? In her study time, she had learned one thing, making a strong relationship of trust with patients. Shouldn't they be happy about meeting their new psychotherapist?

Suddenly she remembered her husband, Ghazal's own husband was never happy with her. It was difficult for her because she never got any good responses from him when she used to ask him about his problems, his worries. All she had to got was abuses, slaps, and punches.

Now she would change that, definitely.

"Let's have your introduction," Ghazal said opening her diary.

"I am Mrs. Mehra. I'm a consultant." A woman with short hair said.

"I am Miss.Reema." Another woman said. Then, there was Mr. Sheikh, Mr. Kapoor, and Mr. Waseem. A young boy was Mohsin who had just passed his grade 12. Ghazal was in a shock to see this young boy in a place like this.

"Ok. It's nice to meet you all. As this is our first session, I am going to give you some homework, is that ok?"

Everybody replied in affirmative, Mohsin was silent.

"Don't worry, Mohsin. It's not like your school's homework. It's a fun one."

Ghazal assured him with a smile. She distributed the questionnaire among them.

"I want you to write down the answers to these questions and we will discuss them in our next session."

Ghazal told softly and bid her goodbye to them after a few minutes. She was somewhat relaxed as to how the session went.

"Hey, Ghazal."

It was Neha's chirpy voice. She was panting and held Ghazal's shoulder to stop herself. "You might be getting a new and a handsome patient in your rehab soon," she announced with a bundle of excitement.

What was so special about that? Ghazal watched her confused.

"Haaris Yousuf can get admitted to the rehabilitation center."

***

Yousuf Ali strode worriedly in the corridor, his every move, pulse, breathing, praying for his son. He had hurriedly left the house as soon as he got Qasim's call, telling him about Haaris.

His son, a part of his soul was too stubborn to throw himself in the hands of death and pain. Yousuf was exactly familiar with the pain Haaris must be going through. He had tried more than a lot to bring back his son to life but he was adamant.

" Yousuf." Dr. Sharma, his old friend came towards him.

"Is he alright?"

Yousuf asked after taking a long breath. Dr. Sharma nodded and began to walk with him.

"From when he started drinking, Yousuf? "

"From his teenage years but it got worse in these three years."

Dr. Sharma pondered over his information and Yousuf prayed that Haaris must be fine.

"The smoking reacted with the drinks. Haaris's body is weakening day by day especially his liver." The Doctor told entering his cabin with Yousuf. He sat on one of the chairs and began to press his forehead to remove the knots of tension. He knew it, he would hear this one day. Yousuf didn't want to lose the only ray of happiness of his life.

"What can we do for him?"

"Rehab." 

Yousuf was stunned at the response. "Haaris will never approve this, Rajat. You know it."

"I know, but that's the only option. We can help him. There must be some way or someone who can make him realize the need for it."

Dr. Sharma put forth a bit of important advice. After discussing some more about the condition of Haaris, Yousuf filled the form of Rehab for his son.

He knew they would be getting into an argument soon but nothing was more than his son's health and Yousuf knew who could control Haaris very well.

***

Her mother-in-law pressed an affectionate kiss on her forehead.

"May Allah bless you."

Ghazal had just gotten home with her mother-in-law from the doctor and she was more than happy.

"I am sure, Farzan will be happier after hearing this news. "

She said making Ghazal sit on the bed carefully. She was getting weaker with the passing days and now she knew the reason.

"This is for you."

"Ammi, what's this?" Ghazal asked nervously as Ammi gave her two heavy gold bangles.

"I am going to be a grandmother soon. It's the least I can do for you." Ammi said squeezing Ghazal's hands. 

They were only three members in the house and Ammi was the only one who understood her every time. She was the only one who would scold Farzan for his rude behavior, for his bad habits and the only one where Ghazal felt the comfort of love and care.

"Thank you, Ammi."

"Thanks to you."

Ammi said smiling and Ghazal hugged her mother-in-law with tears of happiness in her eyes.

Ghazal was ecstatic hearing the news and excited to reveal it to her husband. She would soon become a mother and if Allah wills, their child would bring the lost happiness, love in their lives back.