"Did you enjoy your school? "

Haaris furiously shook his head and hid his face quickly in Papa's crook of the neck. Papa chuckled and patted the back of his head to calm him down a little from all the crying and weeping.

"I will nott go the-ye."

"Why?"

"I miss you."

Some tears rolled down from his cheek, Haaris sniffed rubbing his nose as he washed his legs for the ablution. His heart was badly shaking from the fear of coming minutes so it was the best solution to put himself in front of his lord to remove every kind of anxiety because without any words Allah knew his every hidden wish.

"Can I open this blindfold now?"

He asked agitated and got excited as he got a reply in affirmative. A gasp was the only response he could muster seeing a room so big, he was sure that room could fit a small village in itself.

"Now, that's your Den of Passion."

"What's that?"

His father smiled and took him towards a glass cabinet which was holding his musical instruments and in one corner of the room were his easels and various types of paints and brushes. It had also his gym equipment. His father seriously noted his every activity.

He made the neeyah of the obligatory prayer for the sake of his father's health. His heart was thudding endlessly with unusual worry and every fiber of his body was prostrated in front of his lord to pray for Papa. Haaris's eyes were still pouring silent tears which were rolling down from his cheeks to the chin and gently getting vanished behind his shirt. That's the beauty of the prayer, you aren't ashamed of yourselves in front of your lord because he knows everything about you yet he listens to every single word of his disciple just like a good friend.

"Oh, just leave my way. I'm sleepy."

Haaris slurred trying to open his eyes to look carefully ahead of him where his father was standing with furrowed brows. It was becoming his routine to come home like this and to see his father's sulking face. What was the need for him to be there for Haaris? He should also leave him just like his mother had left him.

"Haaris, just have this medicine. It will help you."

"I don't want anything, dad. Go to your room and sleep peacefully. I'm home."

Haaris replied and he didn't know when he got into a dreamless slumber but waking up in the morning he had found himself carefully wrapped up in a thick blanket.

Haaris shook his head biting his lower lip when he moved the bowl of his hands up to beg before Allah for his Papa's well being. How gross he had become in that phase of his life when he just wanted to get rid of everything around him, get rid of those pious relations which were so valuable. How could he think like this for his own father? When he was drowning himself in those ugly addictions, he never ever thought how alone he was leaving his father. They were for each other after his mother left them but Haaris never bothered to even give a glance to him. As if his father was responsible for this though he had tried his best in keeping their marriage intact but had failed.

Allah, I was a silly man. I didn't understand the meaning of those relations you gifted me. Please forgive me for my mistakes and don't punish my father for my doings. Just save him. Please, Allah. Aameen.

"No boy, I can't come. I have to meet my friend."

His mother denied his request to come to his sports day, applying a heavy red lipstick with a grace. How happy he was when he came to know that the students could bring their parents to school! Haaris had made every plan to take his parents with him to the sports day but his mother had ruined it, spoiled his mood.

"When we have to go?"

Haaris was descending the staircase when his father's voice stopped him on the end. He was standing just a stair above of him, a warm smile on his lips.

"11:30 today."

"Let's go then else we will be late."

Haaris nodded his head excitedly skipping the stair to come near Papa and hugged him tightly as his happiness didn't know any bound.

Haaris felt soothingly calm after praying, whispering every little secret to his lord. The serene light of belief had been felt like lit in his heart that God was with him and there was no need to worry. The door of the operation theatre opened which forced him to leave his place.

Removing the handkerchief from his head, with long strides he came towards the doctor.

"Mr. Haaris Yousuf."

***

"Ma, Da hash gotten a bug?"

"Yep, baby. "

Ghazal affirmed her son's query and glanced outside the car window looking at the passing scenes. She had just picked up Adam from his school and now making their way to the hospital. Her heart was sinking in the anxiety of her father-in-law, Haaris hadn't informed her anything yet. Their last talk was about Papa's bypass surgery and after that, her husband had switched off his mobile.

"He will be alright? "

"In Shaa Allah. You pray to Allah, he listens to children quickly."

Adam nodded and Ghazal kissed his cheek as he closed his eyes, his lips mumbling a silent prayer for his grandfather. Nanna was too going to reach there as soon as possible, her mind was revolving around everything when the ringing sound of her mobile broke the silence of their car. It was Haaris's caller id and with a heavy heart Ghazal picked up his call.

"Haaris." With utter attempt, Ghazal gulped the lump in her throat and add up some courage in herself to make proper words.

"Ghazal. The doctor came..."

Her heart was beating so fast that it felt it would come out of its barrier at any moment. Haaris stopped speech and his raged breaths were making her more worried, why was he not speaking further.

"Haaris say something. I-"

"Tigeress, he's safe. My papa is safe. Allah has heard my plea."

His voice was wet with tears but there were unveiled gratitude, a faint surprise and serene happiness that he had gotten his father back. Ghazal just closed her eyes, heartily thanking her lord who never upsets his believer.

"I am very happy Haaris. We're just coming, okay."

"Yep. I'm waiting. "

Haaris cut the call and she smilingly looked at Adam who was busy in scratching the cartoon cover from his bag, Ghazal leaned down to his level and kissed him lovingly.

"See, Allah has heard your prayer. Da is fine."

"Really? My prayer travelsh fasht!"

"Yes." Giggling at Adam's odd remark she pinched his cheek, " Very fast."

When they reached near Papa's room, Haaris was slowly walking around the corridor and as his brown orbs found Ghazal standing at the end, his feet on their own came towards her in an instant. His eyes were wet but his lips were smiling, that smile was so beautiful that Ghazal forgot everything beautiful she had ever seen in her life.

He held her wrist and pulled Ghazal near him, hugging her tightly. Some of his tears hid in her scarf and she just returned his embrace, caressing the back of his head gently. She knew it was a battle for Haaris but he hadn't lost his hope and gotten a return gift for his patience. When she felt that his tears weren't stopping, Ghazal made him look at herself, cupping his face balmily.

"It's okay, Haaris. Everything's okay."

"I was just too scared, tigress. "

"I know, Haaris. But look Allah has heard our prayers."

Haaris nodded and looked down as Adam softly pulled the edge of his trousers to grab his attention, he smiled at his gesture wiping the corner of his eye and sat down on his knees holding Adam's shoulders.

"Dad, I too prayed for Da. "

Haaris chuckled at his son and hugged him. Adam softly wiped his tears as his father picked him up in his arms, " Can we meet Papa yet?"

"He's sleeping under the effects of meds."

Ghazal nodded in understanding and made her way towards the waiting benches in the corridor, "Come have your lunch." She ushered Haaris opening the tiffin box which she had packed for Haaris and Adam for their meal.

"Tigeress, I don't think I'll be able to eat anything. "

"I am not asking about your opinion. You have to eat, anyhow. "

Haaris took his seat across her mumbling something like 'always a tigress' and making Adam sit on his lap. She smiled at his mumbling serving the dishes to their plates. When they were about to end their lunch, Nanna came. She was looking equally worried but somewhat calm as they had informed her about the success of the surgery.

"How's Yousuf?"

"He's sleeping. "

Now she was sitting with Nanna whereas Haaris had gone to the canteen with Adam to brought tea for his grandmother. Nanna was telling her past incidents of Papa who had become just like an obedient son after that shameful step her daughter had taken. Ghazal came to know that it was a love marriage but Haaris's mother got fed up with their marriage and that's why she chose someone else for herself.

"I will always take Yousuf's side because he never broke his promise. He had promised to take care of my daughter, to love her and he did. "

Ghazal was just silently listening to her, unable to understand how could one get fed up with a pious relation that too made up of love. Because only love is a thing which is immortal on earth and in the afterlife.

***

His sleep began to move away from his tired senses with the touch of soft fingers in his messed locks. Slowly Haaris opened his eyes to see Ghazal just on his side, a small smile on her face as she caressed his jaw.

"Good morning!"

It would always be more than a good morning when he would open his eyes to Ghazal's smiling face. Her smiling face which had the power to fade away all the miseries around the world and enhance a little solace. He returned her smile and cupped her cheek in his hand fully knowing why Ghazal was a bit hesitant with his gestures. Because he was sleeping in Papa's private ward and by this time his wife had the idea of how open Haaris could get for the display of affections.

"I'm not going to do anything."

"I can't take risk of trusting you."

Ghazal gave him a teasing smile, pinching his nose and got up. Yesterday when the evening was just about to knock on the sky's door, Papa had opened his eyes after his new life. Haaris had tried to keep a barrier to his tears but that was a time it all felt futile because it was all vain. He just held his father's hand and let his tears fell from his eyes silently. After that, he had sent back Ghazal, Nanna, and Adam for proper rest and he stayed back with his father. No words were spoken between them but there was an exchange of smiles and Haaris had got busy taking care of his father.

This time he was sleeping peacefully, so Haaris went to the washroom to freshen up. By the time he returned, Ghazal had made a table of his breakfast. He took his seat beside his wife not before kissing her temple.

"Start."

Ghazal gestured towards the plate of bread slices when he silently stared at her, questioningly raising his brows, "You did?"

She didn't answer instead she just fidget with her fingers, her habit which always opened the secret of her lying. He forcibly took her hands in his hold and with a slight jerk made Ghazal look at him.

"What are you hiding from me?"

"Haaris, I'm fasting."

His eyes widened in surprise and he was unable to speak further, "You're what?"

"I'm fasting Haaris. I had decided to observe a fast as a shukr for Papa's well being."

Yes, he knew his wife was the most selfless being on the earth but nobody gave her a right to endanger her life, that too when she was going through a fragile phase of motherhood. What if something happened to her? He had just woken up from the awful nightmare of his father's deteriorating health and he didn't want to face that again with Ghazal in it.

"There is no need, Ghazal. Just eat this. Allah listens to our prayers and knows our conditions, he doesn't tell to overdo, just what can we do best."

"Hey, I'm not overdoing it Haaris. Do you feel I can do anything without thinking? I had given it a proper thought and when I was sure that I can do it, I did. So don't worry..." Ghazal made a morsel of bread and put it inside his opened mouth when he was trying to say something, "I will be perfectly fine, In Shaa Allah."

Haaris wiped the corner of his mouth and furrowed his brows, not liking a bit that every time Ghazal made him silent with her speech. Maybe she too understood it as Ghazal wrapped her arm around his shoulders and kept her head on his another one giving him a toothed smile.

"One smile, please!"

"I'm in no mood of a smile, tigress. "

"Please. "

She tilted her head a little giving him a puppy look forcing him to drop down all his defenses and bringing a bright smile on his lips. Ghazal giggled happily squishing his face, "After this, you just go home and freshen up properly, take some rest. I'll be with Papa."

"I'm not going anywhere. "

"You've to. Besides Nanna will be coming after some time so I'll not be alone."

Ghazal ordered him and that meant there was not a single room for argument. These were changing sides of his wife, some moments ago she was giggling like a schoolgirl and now ordering him around like a strict teacher. But that was the beauty of their relation, be as you are and nothing there was to be ashamed of. Haaris placed a soft kiss on her cheek smiling to himself and when Ghazal looked at him questioningly, he just shook his head resuming his breakfast.

***

Ghazal smiled as Papa patted her scarf clad head after she gave him the medicines of noon. She had given him a glass of juice because doctors had only advised a diet of liquids for him for now. She fixed the duvet on him properly and kept the medicines back in their pouch.

"Where's Adam?"

Ghazal looked at the corner sofa where Adam was having lunch after coming back from his school with the help of Nanna. She softly called him and he was in front of her with a pure smile on his feature. She helped him to take a seat on the bedside chair, "Da was waiting for you."

"Really Da?"

"Yes, dear "

Adam was talking to him about all the random things around him and what had happened in those two days. She just grabbed the seat beside Nanna keeping an eye that her son was not bugging Papa more.

"How are you feeling? "

"Alhamdullilah, good."

Nanna caressed her cheek, she had discussed with her grandmother before the fast. She was a bit hesitant to approve her decision but had agreed perhaps seeing her determination. Ghazal needed to thank her lord properly that was why she was observing this non-obligatory fast. It was her way to thank Allah who never disappoints his believer, that fast was nothing to the bounties she was enjoying in the world which was all because of her lord. Her father-in-law's health was also a gift from her God.

The soft tone of Nanna's mobile broke the trail of her thoughts. It was from her work, " Child, I will have to go to the NGO. But I promise I will come soon."

"Yes, Nanna. I'll manage. Don't worry."

Nanna kissed her forehead and left for her work. Thinking of Papa's rest, she came towards the grandfather and grandson duo who were still chit-chatting. Ghazal would always be grateful to every single member of this family because they never even behaved like Adam didn't belong from their family, they always treated him like he was a big part of their small world.

"Adi, let Da sleep now."

"There is no problem child, by the way, he was telling me he has made a drawing to gift his younger sibling."

Adam gasped and moved his hands to cover his own opened mouth. "Da, it wash a shurprish."

Papa chuckled biting his tongue and giving a sheepish smile to Adam who was looking somewhat upset. "No worries Adam, when Da will come back home you can go with him to choose a surprise gift. What's say?"

"Yesh, that'sh a nish idea."

Adam said shaking his hand with his grandfather with a gullible smile. Ghazal filled the glass of juice for Papa and found the jug empty of water.

"Adam, be here. I am coming filling this."

"Yesh Ma. I will guard Da."

Ghazal smilingly shook her head leaving the room. Her mind wandered towards Haaris, she was kind of missing him. He had called her reaching their house when he was about to take a nap.

"Mam, I am going to take a nap like a good boy. "

"Very good."

"I want a nice gift for this obedience. "

Ghazal giggled, her fingers mindlessly skimming on the patterns of her abaya. "And what it will be?"

Her cheeks heated up with his whisper, "I will tell you soon."

Ghazal tried to wipe out the smile from her lips which had stuck on her due to the memory which was running in her mind. She would definitely get admitted to the asylum if somebody found her smiling to herself in this lonely place. When she was filling the jug, she felt some soft footsteps behind her on the ceramic tiles. Ghazal didn't bother to turn but it seemed that those footsteps stopped just behind her.

"Are you with Yousuf?"

Turning her head, her heart shook at its place seeing the lady standing in front of her. What she was doing here? There was not a single doubt on the identification of that woman because she had seen various paintings of Haaris which had flawlessly covered each and every single feature of hers. That lady who looked like a carbon copy of Nanna.