Broken Palette

Ghazal's searching gaze wandered in the lush green garden to find her child. At last she found him seated on a bench talking to someone. He was looking so adorable that Ghazal couldn't stop the smile that made its way to her lips. But at the very next moment, her lips clasped into a thin line seeing the person to whom he was talking to.

Haaris Yousuf.

Didn't know what Adam find in him but every time Ghazal would leave him alone he would be with Haaris at the next second. She made sure to gave a comfortable seat to Mrs. Mehra before sauntering towards her son. Her legs instantly gained pace, she didn't want Adam to get hurt by anyone, let alone Haaris Yousuf. She now clearly knew, how blunt and rude Haaris was and didn't want Adam in such suffocated environment.

Two days had passed since that awful incident but she didn't get any warning or scolding from her senior doctor as she was expecting. Ghazal was wondering why Haaris didn't complained about her behaviour as he wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. He didn't have any nightmares in those two days that was good as she didn't want to face him.

Haaris eyes clashed with hers for a fraction of second but she lowered her gaze from him.

"Adam, let's go." Ghazal ordered giving her hand to him.

"Ma, shee I made a fish."

"Very nice. Come."

She controlled her voice and spoke with the same politeness as she used with Adam. For the entire time being, she felt Haaris's eyes hovering on her, making her blood boil to the peak.

"Bye, Haarish."

Adam waved his hand towards Haaris who smiled seeing his childish waving.

"Bye, Adam."

It was being said to Adam but Ghazal felt herself caged in Haaris's gaze. His gaze was making her uncomfortable, he didn't have any shame even after that incident and she was shocked at his eyes' dauntlessness.

Taking Adam to her cabin, she told him some stories and soon he went off to sleep. Ghazal too rested her head on the headrest of the couch, her days were becoming hectic day by day giving her less chances to take proper rest.

Her mind was unable to point out the difference between reality and dream but the loud shouts were enough to pull Ghazal in the real world. It was clearly Haaris's shouts and cries. Properly laying Adam on the couch, she left her cubicle towards Haaris's room and found Mr. Yousuf at the door.

"He is having those nightmares again."

She nodded and entered his room to find a pale looking Haaris on the bed. His eyes were closed and his painful shouts had transformed into some unclear whispers.

"Mr. Haaris, open your eyes. It's just a bad dream. "

Ghazal said slightly bending herself near his ear. Haaris was still fidgeting with his dreams but his whispers had stopped. After a moment, she saw fluttering of his eyelashes.

******

The voice of loud crash was forcing him to open his eyes but he was unable to, he wanted to get away with the haunted memories but they had clasped him in their tight claws and Haaris was fidgeting with himself and everything. He shouted as loud as a bang of bell but soon his shouts were transformed into silent plea, whispers which were so low just like a drop of dew in the ocean.

He didn't know to whom he was pleading but Haaris wanted to be saved, he wanted to be rescued by someone.

"Mr. Haaris, open your eyes. It's just a bad dream. "

Soon his eardrums felt a soft voice which was calling him and tearing apart the curtains of his fear. The voice was soft as a fresh bud of a newborn rose. He tried with all his might to open his eyes and at last he succeeded.

Opening his eyes, the face which he saw first was of Dr. Ghazal. Her face was slightly close to him but as soon as her black eyes bore into his light brown eyes, she straightened herself.

"How are you feeling now?"

"Fine." His voice croaked maybe due to the shouts. "You came. I thought you won't. "

As Ghazal was pouring the water in the glass after putting the medicine in his hand, Haaris stopped her saying those words which were on the tip of his tongue. And surely, he was beyond surprised seeing Ghazal in front of him for his aid. Haaris thought after what happened two days ago, he wouldn't see Ghazal anymore.

But, here she was.

"I know my priorities Mr. Haaris."

She said handing him the glass and after that she didn't stop. Ghazal left him in a daze. He had to apologise to her. How could he forget that? Mr. Yousuf wasn't in the room and as he entered Haaris gave him a weak smile.

"Nanna." A excited glee escaped Haaris's lips seeing his grandmother at the threshold.

"How's my child?"

Nanna asked hugging him gently and kissing his forehead. Haaris felt relaxed in her embrace.

"I am fine. How are you?"

"Firstly child, you shouldn't lie to your granny!" Nanna chastised him with a knowing smile. "What happened? "

"I have hurt someone. " Haaris mumbled looking elsewhere as he didn't had guts to look in her eyes. "I didn't know about her circumstances." He added.

"Her...I see."

Nanna teased, repeating the word. Haaris knew, her mind would stuck at that place forever. She wanted to see him married, with his own family from Lord knows what time, maybe when he was trying to speak proper words.

"Nanna."

Haaris huffed in annoyance due to her teasing gaze.

***

Ghazal shuddered at her place as Neha shook her. She looked at her surrounding and found herself in her own cubicle. Her mind was churning around the only topic and that was a decision of leaving her maiden house.

She was thinking about it for quite few days but after this morning ordeal Ghazal was forced to think about it, seriously.

Ghazal came out of her room only to find her sister-in-law wailing in front of her brother, Ghani.

"See. I do everything for them, but still she behaves like I am the most cruel one."

At morning, when she was preparing breakfast for Adam and herself, shockingly Tehseen bhabhi offered her help. Ghazal politely refused her due to her sudden mood shifts, foul tongue.

Now her sister-in-law was telling that same incident to her husband with some extra seasoning. Ghazal was unable to understand her behavior, what she tried to prove? She was now earning and spending her own money but she still bugged Ghazal and Adam that they were like a huge burden on them.

"What happened, Ghazal?"

"Some personal problem."

She replied to Neha who was concerned about her silence. Ghazal's head was banging with an extreme headache, it was getting difficult day by day. Her eyes flickered towards her son who was engrossed in his coloring book, seeing him Ghazal's eyes became moist.

What she had to go through to keep her son happy? Living in that type of environment, he would definitely suffer and that was the least she wanted.

"Do you know any good house which has paying guest facility? "

Neha looked at her stunned. She knew why she was in her questioning gaze. Ghazal was a mother but not a wife and that was hidden from many of her co-doctors.

"Is your husband giving you a tough time?"

Neha asked taking her hand. She shook her head, it was needed to spill the truth.

"I don't have a husband, Neha. I am a widow."

Ghazal spoke with a heavy heart. Why was that? Three years had gone but still the pain felt fresh. Ghazal told her every single thing, she needed to put that pain away for the time being, she needed to share her grief. It was hard for Ghazal to live with so much hardships.

Neha was somewhat surprised hearing her story. Ghazal skipped the part of her husband's abuse, he was gone and she never wanted to complain about him because at the end, she loved him, truly.

"My respect for you has increased much more, Ghazal."

She only gave a tight lipped smile at her statement.

"I will definitely let you know about the houses." Neha said patting her hands before leaving Ghazal alone with her thoughts and Adam.

***

Haaris splashed water on his face to remove the remnants of his sleep. Patting his face with towel, he entered his room only to be stopped by Dr. Ghazal who was softly talking to his grandmother.

How they both are getting so well?

That was the thought which got to his mind and instantly vanished at his Nanna's voice.

"Ah, here he is."

Ghazal looked at his way and lowered her gaze.

"I must leave you two now."

"I am sure, You will be attending next session with us and Mr. Yousuf."

Ghazal smilingly told his grandmother. She hold her hand carefully and sauntered towards the door. By the time she entered again, Haaris had taken his seat on the bed.

"Why did you say that?"

"What?"

Ghazal asked sitting on the bedside chair.

"That she will be attending next session with us."

"Because next time, it will be a family session."

Haaris face's color drained and his throat became parched. He didn't want that, he couldn't make a single eye contact when they would be talking about his addiction. He gulped the whole glass of water.

"I don't want that."

He announced, his voice lacing with arrogance and anger.

"Pardon."

"I.said.I.don't.want.that."

Haaris said with gritted teeth. From his childhood, he hated doctors. Because they were so used to of seeing everybody in pain that they lost their sense of empathy and Ghazal was always impossible to him.

"How many times I have to repeat myself, woman?"

Haaris barked when he didn't got any response from Ghazal who was jotting something in her diary.

"Fine. Stop being rude."

Haaris senses washed with guilt. He again behaved badly with her, he was preparing himself to apologise and again he did the same mistake.

How silly of me!

Haaris watched Dr. Ghazal who was busy in her own work. She didn't initiate a talk with him on her own, nor she was looking at his way properly. He must had hurt her to a great extent and yes, he could understand it now after knowing her truth.

Haaris cleared his throat, "I am sorry." and mumbled an apology.

"No problem."

He heard Ghazal's distracted reply like she was getting used to of his rudeness.

"I am not talking about today. I apologise for my words the other day about your family and all."

His words were surely strange as he could see on Ghazal's face who was looking at him dumbfounded as she saw some unusual sight. Nanna had told him to apologise about his mistake courageously, but he didn't know it would be so difficult.

How could Haaris know because it was his first time that he was apologising to someone, that too a girl and that too Dr.Ghazal.