Hyra slept with Kubra last night because Kubra was very sick. Hyra thought that she was sleeping with Kubra, She will sleep early. But she was wrong, all night she keep thinking about Hayder and his rude behaviour. She slept late, and woke up with severe headache. Then she had to make breakfast for everyone because Kubra was sick. She couldn't prepare grand breakfast like Kubra do, but she made eatable breakfast. Shahzaib and Hanif Mirza praises the omelette she made, making her smile.

"Baba, main ja rahi, Allah Hafiz." When she was cleaning the table, she saw the time on wall clock and realises Uswa and Dawar must be waiting for her.

(Baba, I am going.)

"Allah Hafiz."

"All the best." Shahzaib shouted from behind.

•••

"Yay! Finally humara paper khatam hua." Entering the house, Uswa cheered loudly. Behind her, Dawar and Hyra entered.

(Yay! Finally our exams are over.)

"Ab aram se neend puri karungi main." Hyra added with a smile. She who couldn't sleep a blink, and now her head was spinning. Only she knows how she wrote her in her exam. Dawar looked at his sisters with loving gaze.

(I will sleep now.)

"Neend? Main toh series dekhungi, itni sari watch later mein..." Before Uswa could complete her sentence, Rabia came there.

(Sleep? I will binge watch series...)

"Atey hi ghar utha leti ho dono. Dekh toh liya karo aas paas ka mohol." Rabia scolded them in hushed voice.

(You both make too much noise. At least see how's the environment around you.)

"Kya hua, mummy?" Uswa asked in a whisper.

(What happened, mummy?)

"Tum bachho ke janne wale cheez nahi. Jao apne apne kamre mein. Dawar, mere sath chalo." After scolding Uswa, Rabia looked at her son with sharp eyes and said. Dawar instantly catches the sensitivity of the situation and went to living room.

(It is not important for you kids to know. Go to your room. Dawar, come with me.)

Both Uswa and Hyra started going to Uswa's room when Rabia stopped Hyra.

"Hyra, apne ghar jao beta."

(Hyra, go to your room.)

"Mummy, Hyra aur mera plan hai ki..." Uswa started saying.

(Mummy, Hyra and I have plans...)

"Jo bhi plan hai kal kar lena. Jao, Hyra." Rabia's voice was stern when she was talking to Uswa, but when she addresses Hyra, she lovingly said.

(Whatever plans you have, you can do it later. Hyra, go.)

Nodding her head, she went upstairs. Before going, she caught the glimpse of Laraib's parents in the living room.

•••

She didn't meet anyone upstairs either, Kubra must be resting in her room, Hanif Mirza would have gone out for evening prayer and Shahzaib must be still in office. Hyra directly went to her room. The room was dark, and she didn't turn on the lights. Throwing her bag and dupatta away in the darkness, she went to lay on the bed, putting her specs on side table.

When she laid down, a weird sensation surrendered her. Her breath become heavy, as she feels a sense of unease. She can't quite put her finger on it, but something feels different. She switches on the light, but the room is still dark and quiet. She turned to her back and saw Hayder laying on the bed.

Her eyes widened, when did he came? Just yesterday he was telling Hanif Mirza that he won't able to come anytime soon.

He felt her presence too, and slowly opened his eyes, seeing her sitting close to him, he also sat up, yawning and stretching his arms.

"Paper kaisa gaya tumhara?" He asked her who was still looking at him with wide eyes.

(How was your paper?)

"Aap kab aye?" She asked without thinking twice. Hayder looked at her with hard gaze.

(When did you come?)

"Dophar 1 baje se aya hoon. Lekin tum batao tumhe itne late kyu hua? Tumhara paper toh kabka khatam ho gaya hoga." Hayder looked at the clock which was on side table and asked.

(I came at 1 PM, but tell me why did you get so late? Your paper must have been over a long time ago.)

"Dawar bhai mujhe aur Uswa ko ice cream khilane le gaye the kyuki humara last paper tha." Looking down at her hands, she told him in a small voice.

(Dawar bhai treated me and Uswa with ice cream because it was our last exam.)

"Shohar aya hai aur tum sair sapate pe thi."

(Your husband is here and you are hanging out.)

Husband? Hyra glared at him in the dimness of the light.

"Apne aney ka bataya hota toh main phool bicha deti pure ghar mein." Saying this, she stood up to leave.

(If you had told me you were coming, I would have decorated the house with flowers.)

Hayder raised his eyebrow on her boldness. She amuses him, sometimes she would get scared in his presence to even utter a sound, and sometimes she speaks so sarcastically.

Holding her wrist, he twisted on her back and pulled her to him.

"Bohot zyada zuban nahi chal rahi? Meri calls ko receive nahi kar rahi aur maine tumse jo kaha woh kaam bhi tumne nahi kiya. Abhi nikalu tumhari sari akarh?" He said in a stern voice.

(Aren't you talked too much? You were not receiving my calls, you didn't do what I asked you to do. Should I reprimand you?)

Hyra looked at him with disbelief. Is he going to hit her? Her heart pounding in her chest because of this thought, tears brimming in her eyes.

The tears in her eyes shocked Hayder, he quickly left her wrist and stand away from her. He opened his mouth to say something, but Hyra didn't hear,

"Aap bohot bure hain, Hayder, sabse bure." Saying this, she ran off from the room.

(You are very bad, Hayder, very bad.)

In hurry, she forgot to take her specs and dupatta. After coming out from the room, she went to washroom to wash her face. Splashing cold water on her face, she tried to control her heart and tears.

"Uswa sahi kehti hai inhe, Gabbar Singh ke ustad." Mumbling, she dried her face with towel then tried to pick her specs from beside the sink, only to realise that she forgot it in the room.

(Uswa gave him the correct name, teacher of Gabbar Singh.)

She won't go back there, she could live a day without it. Hyra decided to go downstairs.

Downstairs, the environment was more somber. Laraib was demanding Dawar to move out, when Dawar didn't pay any attention to this demand of her, she left the house and went to her parents house. Her mother tried to make her understand she was wrong here, but her father couldn't see tears in his only daughter's eyes and decided to talk to Asim and Rabia about it, who were unaware of all of this. They thought Laraib went to her parents house because she misses them.

They were embarrassed by the turn of the events.

In the end, Asim made the decision that if Laraib does not want to live with them, Dawar and her can move to the apartment which Asim bought for Dawar years ago.

"Dawar bhai aur bhabhi chale jayenge?" Uswa has only heard few of these things by eavesdropping, and gave Hyra all the information.

(Dawar bhai will move out?)

"Haan," They both become upset by the news.

(Yes,)

•••

"Dawar, mujhe nahi pata tha papa yaha sabse iss tarah se baat karenge." Laraib went to to Dawar, putting her hand on his shoulder, she explained.

(Dawar, I didn't know papa will talk to everyone like that.)

"Tumne aaj mujhe sabke samne bohot sharminda kiya hai. Mujhe tumse yeh umeed nahi thi, Laraib." Dawar didn't look at her.

(You have embarrassed me in front of my family. I didn't expect this from you, Laraib.)

"Mujhe nahi pata tha papa..."

(I didn't know papa...)

"Tum apna batao. Kya zaroorat thi humare beech jo baat thi woh apne ghar pe batane ki? Tumhe yaha takleef hi kya hai, Laraib?" Turning to her, Dawar asked.

(You tell what was your need to tell this to your family? What problem you have here, Laraib?)

"Main..." Laraib didn't know what to say. She wanted to move out, but never wanted to make him angry.

(I...)

Dawar didn't stay there and walked out of the room.

Laraib kept standing there, looking at the door.

•••

"Ek toh Rafey bhi pata nahi kab ayenge." Uswa and Hyra's mood were down, they decided to cook pasta to cheer their mood. Sitting on the countertop, while they were waiting for the pasta to boil, Uswa mumbles.

(I don't know when Rafey will return.)

Hyra, who was chopping veggies, looked up at her. "Badi yaad arahi. Kal tak toh bhagti thi unse." She teases her.

(Aren't you missing him too much? Earlier you used to run away from him.)

"Tum bhi toh bhagti thi Hayder bhai se, aur ab tumhari shadi..." Uswa got down from the countertop and glared at Hyra, but quickly realises what she said.

(You also used to run away from Hayder bhai, and now you two are married...)

She was aware of there is nothing right in Hyra and Hayder's relationship.

"I am sorry." Sheepishly, Uswa apologised, feeling embarrassed to tease Hyra with Hayder's name who doesn't even value her.

"Chorho, Dawar bhai ka sunke waise hi itna bura lag raha hai, ab Hayder ki baat nahi karte. Tum yeh batao Rafey bhai ayenge kab." Hyra shook her head and told her. She was done cutting the veggies, and the pasta was boiled too. She quickly went to cook pasta.

(Leave it, I am already upset after hearing about Dawar bhai. Now let's not talk about Hayder. Tell me when will Rafey bhai return?)

"Pata nahi, jabse woh gaov gaye hain humari toh baat nahi ho pati. Gaov mein adjust kar lete honge woh?" She asked to Hyra as if she would know.

(I don't know, we haven't talked much since he went away. How does he live in the village?)

When Tabu left, the next day her brother fell sick, she couldn't return from Australia, and that's why she sent Rafey, who was still in India, there.

Hyra shrugged her shoulder. How would she know.

•••

After cooking pasta, Hyra filled bowl with it and went upstairs, Kubra liked pasta too, Hyra thought she would eat it with her. Uswa can eat and also fight with Sami.

She was climbing the stairs hurriedly, too busy to notice anyone. She bumped into Hayder, dropping all the hot pasta on him.

"Kya hai? dekh ke nahi chalti?" Hayder first looked at the pasta on the floor, then his white kurta which was stained then at the culprit, who was looking at him with expand eyes.

(What? Can't you see where you are walking?)

In that moment, Hyra instantly remembers her favourite movie, where her favourite character said a very good thing which suits her situation very well, pata nahi aisi situation mein main kaise agey ajata hoon.

"Chashma toh lagaya nahi, yahi hoga na. Chashma kaha hai?" Scolding her, he asked.

(You are not wearing your specs, this is bound to happen. Where is your specs?)

"Woh main woh yeh main..." All her anger which she had on Hayder vanishes, as nervousness and fear took over. She was on the edge of crying.

(Actually I actually this I...)

"Woh main yeh kya?"

(Actually I this what?)

"Hayder? Kya ho gaya shor kyu kar rahe ho?" Hanif Mirza, who's room was nearby, heard Hayder's loud voice and came out.

(Hayder? What's going on? Why are you shouting?)

"Baba, isko ek cheez ki tameez nahi." Hayder turned to Hanif Mirza and complained.

(Baba, she doesn't have any manners.)

Hanif Mirza looked at Hayder's ruined clothes, then looked at Hyra, who has started crying by now.

"Kurta hi kharab hua haina, itna kya issue hai? Bechari bacchi ko khamakha daat rahe ho, khud bhi dekh ke chala karo na." Hanif Mirza scolded him in return.

(It's just a kurta, why are you making big issue of it? You have scolded the poor girl for no reason at all. You should have also watched where you are going.)

"Hyra, jao bachhe apne kamre mein jao." Hyra quickly run off to Kubra's room.

(Hyra, go to your room.)

"Mujhe Dawar se milne jana tha niche." Mumbling, Hayder also left to change.

(I have to meet Dawar.)

"Iske gusse ka kuch toh karna hoga." Hanif Mirza mutters to himself.

(I have to do something about his anger.)

•••

"Hyra, ro mat." Kubra was trying to console the younger. Hyra has told her everything that happened in the living room.

(Hyra, don't cry.)

"Maine itni mehnat se pasta banaya tha." Crying, she told Kubra.

(I worked so hard to make pasta.)

"Main tumhare liye dusra bana deti hoon." Rubbing her back, Kubra told her.

(I will cook for you another one.)

Sniffing, Hyra shook her head. "Apki tabiyat theek nahi hai."

(You are already sick.)

"Shahzaib bhai office se atey waqt le ayenge."

(I will tell Shahzaib to get pasta from a restaurant.)

"Unse kahiye gulab jamun bhi le ayenge." Wiping her tears, Hyra told her.

(Tell him to buy Gulab Jamun for me too.)

"Haan gulab jamun bhi." Kubra stopped the falling smile on her lips. There was no hidden secret how much Hyra loves Gulab Jamun, in childhood, if someone told Hyra to do a task, she would demand to have gulab jamun in return.

(Yes, Gulab jamun too.)

"Waise, Kubra api, yeh toh jaldi nahi aney wale the na?" After she controlled her emotions, Hyra asked.

(Kubra api, he wasn't supposed to return so soon.)

"Baba bhai ko rehne hi kaha de rahe the, fir meri tabiyat ka sunke woh pareshaan ho gaye, isliye agaye."

(Baba wasn't letting him to stay there, and when bhai heard about health, he got worried and returned.

"Oh!" That's all Hyra could manage to say.

•••

"Dawar, ab dekho tum bhabhi pe toh gussa na ho." Hayder and Dawar were in the backyard, when Hayder advices.

(Dawar, don't be angry at bhabhi now.)

"Yaar, lekin ussey bhi toh samajhna chahiye na. Alag ghar chahiye hi kyu ussey mere yeh nahi samajh raha. Do log honge, main bhi din bhar office mein rahunga toh woh kya karegi?" Dawar hide his face in his hands and groaned, he looked at Hayder.

(She should understand too. Why does she needs a separate house? There would be only two people, and I'll be at the office all day, what will she do?)

"Kuch din reh lo, khud ba khud hi samajh jayengi bhabhi." Hayder felt pity for Dawar. To both of them, their families means everything. Dawar never wanted leave his family.

"Mera dil nahi maan raha hai, Hayder. Papa ki bhi age ho rahi hai, Sami abhi chota hai, main yun sabko chorhke chala jau?"

(I don't want to, Hayder. Papa is getting old, Sami is still a kid, how can I leave them?)

"Chorhke thori ja rahe ho. Alag hi ho rahe ho na, itna mat socho."

(You aren't leaving anyone. You are just moving out. Don't think much.)

"Tumhare liye kehna asan hai." Dawar looked at Hayder and mumbles.

(It is easy for you to say.)

"Khushnaseeb ho tumhari shadi meri behen se hui hai. Rishto ko samajhti hai, family values ko samajhti hai. Laraib ka toh mujhe kuch samajh hi nahi ata ussey chahiye kya." Brushing his hair, Dawar was saying.

(You are lucky that you got married to my sister. She knows the value of family. I just cannot understand what does Laraib wants.)

Hayder looked away from Dawar's face. Tabu told him the same thing before his marriage. A small smile fall on Hayder's face.

•••

How's the update?

Waise, what's your favourite sweet dish?

-Ufaq