Oil Pastels

He looked at each and every photograph for more than once. Haaris wouldn't feel content even if he spent the rest of his life watching that photo album. Because it had his memories, his happy memories with his mother.

His grandmother definitely didn't know that he was again peeking through these albums else she would have taken it from him and might have hidden them away from his reach. But Haaris Yousuf was one of his names, he would find it anyway.

Haaris didn't feel his lone tear till it dropped on the cling-film cover and soon the tears of his pain were brimming in his eyes, making everything blurry. It was his hurt, the pain of his past which every time stopped him to come to this place, his grandmother's place.

Even if he busied himself in his other activities, Haaris would remember his mother seeing his grandmother's face, his Nanna.

"Haaris."

It was definitely Nanna and now he would be caught. He hurriedly put back the album and wiped his face to remove the remnants of his pain.

Haaris opened the door, not giving Nanna the time to knock and bumped into her.

"Easy boy. What were you doing here?"

"Nothing. "

Haaris tried hard to sound normal but had to clear his throat to remove the roughness from his voice. Nanna adoringly ruffled his hair.

"My liar, those tears don't vanish so easily."

She said placing a kiss on his forehead. "Come we have to plant new bushes in the garden."

***

Ghazal made a two-day report of her work. Her rehab sessions and job were going smoothly, the least she had expected. There were three batches of patients under her for the therapy sessions and she was trying hard to throw an impact on them with everything and show them how life was meant to live with hope.

Putting everything in its place, Ghazal packed her handbag and locked her cabin. Tomorrow she would have first Sunday after her job.

Oh, that feeling of rest.

A person could value it only after going through a busy life. She would definitely take Adam on an outing or she could make some of his favorite dishes. Adam must be feeling bored away from her, she could take him to his favorite ice - cream shop. Ghazal smiled on her mind which was running with a speed of light due to her lovely son, Adam.

A heavy voice spoiled her mood to a very extent. It was coming from one of the rooms of the private ward and she knew it, who was the one to break the silence of the whole place.

Haaris Yousuf.

It was the second time, Ghazal was hearing his shouts. The first time was also a coincidence like just now and she was sure Haaris was one hell of a rude person. His rants had given her the idea of his sulking, it was due to his father who had forcibly admitted him in the rehabilitation center. Ghazal now knew that Haaris Yousuf had no manners to talk to his father, no politeness or kindness in his voice. Thanks to his loud voice, Ghazal came to know that another person he was talking to was his own father.

Haaris had become a talk of the whole hospital from the day he had been admitted. Firstly it was Neha, then some of her junior doctors and even some janitors, receptionists who Ghazal had found giggling and talking about Haaris Yousuf, which irritated her.

That man surely didn't know how to behave in a hospital and had no concern about other patients. This thing boiled Ghazal's anger more.

"Can you please shut up, Mr. Haaris? You are disturbing everybody."

Ghazal said somewhat loud, opening his room's door. His father looked calmly at her from behind the newspaper and Haaris was stunned at her sudden intrusion.

"Shut up. Go away, it's our personal matter."

Haaris yelled at her. His father got up seeing his son's foul mood. Ghazal was shocked to see a father so calm after hearing such profanities from his son.

"I am sorry doc."

"Mind your own business, woman." Haaris piped up in between.

This man didn't have a tiny bit of politeness in him. Ghazal silently stared at him for a minute, trying to calm her anger and left him closing the door with a thud.

So much for a concern...

***

His blackened vision suddenly got vanished and instead Harris began to feel a warm, soft hand moving in his hair. He opened his eyes only to close them by the serene sunlight which felt like piercing in his eyes.

"My child is up."

This was his Nanna's voice, he could guess it even in a billion people. Haaris cleared his blurry vision and tried to give a soft smile.

"When did you come?"

His voice was hoarse due to his parched throat. Haaris was feeling somewhat embarrassed in front of his grandmother. He had kept his habit of drinking and drugs a secret from her, he didn't know why? Maybe he just wanted to be in her good books, forever. Because she was the only one who didn't judge him, she was happy with him for what he was, nothing else and nothing more than that.

Now, he was lying on a hospital bed in front of her, helpless. It must be his father who had informed Nanna about this whole ordeal. Firstly he forcibly admitted him into this rehabilitation center and now this. Haaris was sure, his father wanted him dead anyhow and what could be better than death?

"Just a while ago. Your papa called me."

Haaris attempted to sit up when Nanna stopped him keeping a hand on his shoulder.

"Rest, you need it. "

An awkward silence built up around them and Haaris felt suffocation in it. He needed something, something to soothe his senses, something to keep his mind away from everything which was creeping inside his brain, shaking every memory.

"Nanna-"

"It's not a problem, child," Nanna stopped his speech in middle, "I am proud of you that you are trying to get rid of this ugly habit."

Nanna kissed his forehead. His father had twisted everything for his grandmother and now it was becoming difficult for Haaris also. What he would do? He couldn't lie to his grandmother. But what he should tell her?

"I am proud that you are giving your life a chance. You are my brave son."

Nanna said pinching his cheek adorably and Haaris remained silent, sulking on his father, his mother and on his so-called destiny.

***

Ghazal knocked on the door and entered Haaris Yousuf's room. His father was as usual seated on the sofa with his laptop and Haaris Yousuf was sleeping, to Ghazal's utter gratitude.

"Assalamualaikum."

"Walekumassalam doc. What's the matter?" Mr. Yousuf Ali stood up from his place with a smile.

"Sir, These are some papers which are needed to be filled by Mr. Haaris prior to his rehab session. " Ghazal elaborated handing him the papers.

"Ok. Doc, I have one more request." Ghazal remained silent for him to continue.

"I want his rehab session to be one to one. It will-"

"But sir, I haven't got any orders as such."

"Dr. Sharma and I have discussed it. I am sure he will notify you soon."

A storm of worry began to build up in her hearing the newfound information. Ghazal nodded her head and left the room in silence.

Her whole day went up in the worry. How would she cope with him? She had never done something like that and that's why it was poking her head like a hammer.

"Ma, you are thinking sho much."

Adam's voice snatched her out of her world of anxiety. She was making notes and didn't know when her mind moved away. Ghazal smiled and made Adam sit on her lap, kissing his chubby cheek.

"Are we going somewhere, Ma? "

"No, why?"

"Mamy was shaying I alwaysh dishturb her."

Ghazal knew her sister-in-law didn't like her presence in the house and now she had begun to show it in front of Adam. She didn't want Adam to face such circumstances, he was a little kid and it wasn't his age to face these hardships.

"She must be joking with Adam."

Ghazal said pinching his button nose.

"Mamy wash looking very angry."

"How about we read some good story?"

"Yesh, the shtory of wolf and goat."

Adam slipped from her grasp and began to search his storybooks. Ghazal's throat was itching as tears clogged in her eyes.

Why so many difficulties? Why couldn't her sister-in-law understand that Ghazal was doing everything for them? She would have to search for a solution soon for this. If her sister-in-law was using just words now, she could use actions to show her anger to Adam.

Allah please help!