That afternoon Dadi Jaan resembled a Dracula all ready to pounce on the girl sitting in front of her. The way her murderous eyes glared at the young girl in front of her eyes, it alarmed everyone present in the living area of the Haveli.

“Zahabia, tum toh kuch kha hi nahi rahi ho.” Parisa tried to distract a very nervous Zahabia getting intimidated by the old lady giving her angry looks.

(Zahabia, you are not eating anything.)

Zahabia smiled and took a samosa from the platter Parisa offered.

“Hamare zamaane mein toh ladkiya buzurgo ke saamne sar dhak kar aur nazar jhuka kar rakhti thi.” Dadi Jaan taunted the poor girl.

(In our times girls used to keep their heads covered and eyes lowered in the presence of elders.)

“Aur hamare zamaane mein ye buddhiya laaj sharam ke taane maar maar kar hamari zindagi haraam kar ke rakhti hai.” Parisa thought to herself.

(And in our times these old women make our lives hell by taunting us on the name of modesty.)

“Ammi, zamaana ab badal chuka hai.” Akbar said a bit sternly, defending his son's choice.

(Ammi, time has changed.)

“Aur apno ki fitrat bhi.” Dadi Jaan taunted him.

(And family's nature too.)

“Girgit ke muh se yeh baat shobha nahi deti.” Parisa thought.

(This statement doesn't suit a chameleon's mouth.)

“Zahabia beti, hum jald aapke ghar Alam ke liye aapka hath mangne aayenge. Aap apne ghar walo ko iqtila kar dijiyega.” Akbar told her with a fatherly smile.

(Zahabia daughter, we will soon come to your home with Alam's proposal for you. You inform your family about it.)

“Jee, uncle.” Zahabia nodded smilingly.

“Abba, mai soch raha tha ke rukhsathi hum Dadi ke janaaze ke baad hi kare.” Well, Alam had a valid reason to say that. Dadi Jaan would definitely make Zahabia's life hell in her remaining life.

(Abba, I was thinking that Rukhsati should happen after Dadi's funeral.)

“Haaye Allah! Mere saamne mere marne ki baatein ho rahi hai. Yeh dinn dekhne se pehle mai mar kyun nahi gayi.” Dadi began beating her chest while yelling out loud.

(Oh God! They are discussing my death right in front of me. Why I didn't die before witnessing this day?)

“Koi baat nahi, Dadi Jaan. Do teen saal mein woh bhi ho jayega.” Parisa tried to console her, but of course her sharp tongue betrayed her.

(Don't worry, Dadi Jaan. That will also happen in two-three years.)

Dadi glared at her as if she will eat her alive any given moment.

“Alam, acha kiya jo tune iss meesni ko talak de diya.”

(Alam, good thing you divorced this two-faced girl.)

“I know, Dadi. Mai musibat ko soongh kar pehchan leta hoon.” Alamgeer grinned at Parisa's beizzati.

(I recognise trouble just by smelling it.)

“Insaan ka naak hai yaa kutte ka?” Parisa fired back.

(Is it a human's nose or a dog's?)

“Zubaan hai yaa kainchi?” Alamgeer gave her an equal comeback.

(Is it a tongue or scissors?)

“Ghar hai yaa paagal khana?” Zahabia thought to herself.

(Is it a home or an asylum?)

“Tum dono ka talaak ho chuka hai, miyaan biwi ki tarah ladne ki koyi zarurat nahi hai.” Akbar dismissed their silly argument.

(You both have divorced, there's no need to fight like a married couple.)

Parisa was about to intervene when her phone rang. It was Zaviar. She was surprised to get a call from him. She quickly got up and moved to a corner to receive the call.

“Hello...” She started.

“Tumne mujhe bataya kyun nahi tumhara aur Alamgeer ka talaak ho chuka hai?” He asked a bit angrily.

(Why didn't you tell me about your and Alamgeer's divorce?)

“Aap toh mujhe dekhte hi apna raasta badal lete hai aur mera phone bhi nahi uthate, mai kaise batati aapko?” She asked back with equal anger.

(You change your path just after looking at me and don't even recieve my call, how would I have told you?)

“Acha, I am sorry naa. Tumne mujhe pehle kyun nahi bataya ke tum shadi shuda ho?” He asked softly.

(Okay, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me earlier that you are married?)

“Zaviar, I had never imagined ke mujhe kabhi iss bachpan ki shadi se azadi milegi. And to be honest, I had never realised ke mujhe aapse pyar hai until that night of the party when I unknowingly uttered those words.” Parisa reasoned with much seriousness... and love.

(Zaviar, I had never imagined that I will get freed from this childhood marriage. And to be honest, I had never realised that I've fallen for you until that night of the party when I had unknowingly uttered those words.)

“Acha theek hai, jo ho gaya so ho gaya. Tum abhi bhi Alamgeer ki family ke saath reh rahi ho?”  He asked.

(Okay, alright, let it be. Are you still living with Alamgeer's family?)

“Yes, they are the only family I've left. Ammi Abba ke baad unhone hi mujhe sambhala hai.” She mumbled.

(After my parents, they have raised me.)

“Mai kal tumhara haath mangne aa raha hoon, apne parents ke saath.” He disclosed with a smile. And she could feel his smile through his voice.

(I'm coming tomorrow with my parents to ask your hand in marriage.)

“Mai aapka intzaar karungi, Zaviar.” She smiled as well.

(I'll wait for you, Zaviar.)

“I love you, Parisa.” He confessed.

“I love you too, Zaviar.” And she cut the call, overwhelmed by the emotions she felt in those moments of confession of his love.

🕊️🕊️🕊️

“Zaviar ko hamare talaak ke baare mein tumne bataya?” Parisa asked Alamgeer while entering the balcony.

(You told Zaviar about our divorce?)

“Haan.” He nodded. (Yes.)

“Kyun?” She inquired. (Why?)

“Kyun nahi? I mean, you both like each other. Aur jaise tum Zahabia ko itna friendly treatment de rahi ho, mai bhi tumhari aur Zaviar ki help karna chahta tha.” He replied with a shrug.

(Why not? I mean, you both like each other. And just like you are giving friendly treatment to Zahabia, I also want to help you and Zaviar.)

“Thank you, Alamgeer. For agreeing to divorce. I mean, I had never expected you to be so open-minded about it.” She expressed her gratitude.

“Parisa, I understand ke divorce hamari society mein ek taboo ke jaise dekha jata hai, but that doesn't mean ke hum log kya kahenge ke chakkar mein apni zindagi aur khushiyon ke saath compromise kare.”

(Parisa, I understand that divorce is seen as a taboo in our society, but that doesn't mean we compromise on your life and happiness in the fear of what society will say.)

“You are right. Agar tum agree naa karte toh shayad mai kabhi apne liye stand naa leti.”

(You are right. If you hadn't agreed, I wouldn't have taken stand for myself.)

“But we did it.” He gave her a smile.

“Yes, we did it. Once again, thank you, Alamgeer. Chahe hamara talaak ho gaya hai, lekin hamari dosti ab kabhi nahi tutegi.” She grinned with happiness radiating off her.

(Yes we did it. Once again, thank you. Even if we are divorced now, but our friendship will never be die.)

“Of course, not. Abhi toh humne ek doosre ki shadiyon par dance bhi karna hai.” He said mischievously.

(Of course, not. We have to dance on each other's weddings as well.)

And they began laughing.

Sometimes happy endings are not about two people uniting, but two people letting go of each other.