کسی روز بارش جو آئے
سمجھ لینا بوندوں مے میں ہوں۔

Kisi roz baarish jo aaye
Samajh lena bundon mein main hun

Someday when it rains
Understand that in I am in the drops.

***

***

Saman's day started with bright morning sunlight playing with the curtains of her room's window. Few of them would sneak in, tickle her eyes and then run back giggling. Another one of the ray when thought it was their time to play with her, Saman instantly opened her eyes and glared at the beam coming from between the slightly parted curtains.

Groaning loudly she stretched her arms. Her senses were hazy as the slumber still had its effect on her. An uneasy feeling of oversleeping was clutching her chest making her sit up with a jerk. Taking a few deep breaths she closed her eyes and  opened it after a few seconds. Bright sunlight was telling her that it was late in the morning, Mansha was nowhere making her scratch her head and reach out for her phone.

"Ya Allah! It's already past nine." Jumping out of her bed she made a dash towards her closet and hurriedly took out her clothes. The next thirty minutes went in complete daze. Almost running out of her room she tried to clutch her damp hair.

"Mansha ki bachi! Uthane mein maut aa rahi thi kya?" Mumbling to herself she ran down the stairs. Sunday morning would always bring laziness and it was fine for everyone to be a little late for breakfast but she was more than late. Reaching down the long staircase Saman ran her eyes around the hall. The dining table near the kitchen's door was getting set by her aunts and cousins. Sighing audibly, she strode towards the kitchen, meeting Rameesha chachi and Noor on the way.

"Assalamualaikum!" Exclaiming loudly Saman entered the kitchen and found Badi ammi, Mahi bhabi, and others scattered around doing random stuff.  This was a usual sunday morning Scene in Shah Haveli's kitchen. Sunday morning breakfast was full of events and of course had different dishes than other days. Saman too would also be among them but today she had gotten late and now stood clueless in the middle while others did their work.

"Is there any work for me?" She asked.

"Everything's done, just go and call everyone." Mahi said, making her nod and turn on her heels. Coming out of the kitchen she found Zeeshan, Fahad and Ahad descending the stairs and thanked them in her mind for she did not wish to climb the stairs. Dada and Dadi jaan were still not there so she made her way towards the hallway opposite to the kitchen which went to their room. Walking towards the room she clutched her damp hair in a half updo and placed her dupatta on her head and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Assalamualaikum." Greeting softly she entered the room and found Dadi jaan seated on the couch and Dada jaan half-sitting on the bed. A small smile formed on her lips and she took a seat near her dadi jaan who too was fondly smiling at her.

"Walekum Assalam beta." Ruqaiya begum spoke.

"Dadi jaan breakfast is set .Let's go." She said making Ruqaiya begum nod and keep the Qur'an carefully on the shelf beside the couch.

"Saman, can you call someone to help me?" Zalkernain Shah spoke.

"Ji Dada jaan."She said and got up from the couch. Giving a last glance to her dadi jaan she turned towards the door only to gasp loudly. Startled at the sudden appearance of Armaan just in front of her, she took a step back. Briefly glancing at her he,  walked past her and made his way towards Dada jaan.

"Assalamualaikum Dada Jaan." He greeted making the old man reply. He exchanged few words with the old couple, probably saying something she had no idea of.

Seriously, this man can appear anywhere!

She mentally whispered and neared Dadi jaan. Holding Ruqaiya begum's hand l,she helped her on her feet and looked over her shoulder and found Armaan helping Dada jaan to get on the wheelchair.

Zalkernain Shah had gotten weaker as to his old age, he was now bound to a wheelchair.   Even though he was old and weak he still had an aura of power around him, his gaze still had the glint one used to witness in his early life.

Saman stepped out first holding Dadi jaan's hand in hers and taking slow steps, Armaan followed soon, carefully pushing the wheelchair. In no time the four were walking side by side towards the dining area. The house was huge and  Dadi and Dada jaan came out rarely, mostly on Sundays and marking their youngest son's homecoming was a must. Finally after months most of the family was together.

Armaan Watched the whisper talk between Saman and Dadi jaan and smiled, he knew the girl had something in her that would make anyone smile and laugh. She was sunshine...sometimes stupid yet the most adored member of the Shah family. Saman was a fun loving person and did not tolerate any kind of boredom anywhere near her in their childhood.And that led him to think that she wouldn't like his monotonous presence near herself. He feared going near her for he did not know how to even start a conversation yet have fun  and that had created an invisible wall between them. He knew she had no harsh thoughts for him, the girl was way too positive for having any negative thoughts. But he had seen how she used to get startled by his presence and avoided him. Somewhere, deep inside he did not like this, but then...what could he do?

"Armaan! Where are you lost?" Mahi's voice broke his reverie making him shake his head slowly. He took a seat beside Zeeshan and the rest of the time passed in a blink of eyes. Dada Jaan did not like any kind of chattering while eating so it was a silent matter but it was soothing, the warmth and love of family even if not expressed...surrounded everyone in a protective bubble.

_______________

The day had started sunny and bright but midway through the day clouds had covered the sky in a gray blanket. Power supply, as usual proved to be under disastrous management. It  had been half an hour to the power cut and the start of downpour.

It was a little drizzle but as soon as the drops thickened Saman's mind lit like a bulb and she smiled mischievously. This kind of rain was scarce in summer and she did not wish to miss such a special opportunity.
Running down the stairs she reached the lounge area of the second floor where most of her cousins were.

"Sunein sab ! Kitni achi baarish ho rahi hai chalein na bahar.[listen everyone! Look it's raining, let's go out.] Saman exclaimed.

"Stop this stupidity, Saman." Ahad said and watched the reaction of Zeeshan and Armaan from his peripheral vision. It wasn't like he didn't wish to go out and play in the rain but he didn't know if agreeing to Saman's idea right now was correct. Mentally praying that the two agree he turned towards Sara and Mansha who too looked excited.

"Ahad you shut up. Let's go girls. Leaves these boring people." Saman said hurriedly and grasping both the girl's hand started dragging them. As if they were ready for this wholeheartedly they too followed her happily. Ahad eyes didn't leave them until they disappeared and a sigh left his lips. He observed his elder cousins who had neutral reactions on their faces.

"Bhai-" he called, making Zeeshan hum and raise his eyebrows. Ahad gulped his saliva and looked at them with hopeful eyes. Zeeshan and Armaan very well knew what he wanted.

"Bhai-" he started.

"Bhai se aage toh barho." Armaan spoke with mirth.

"Bhai, let's go out please." Ahad spoke in one breath making the two chuckle. Shaking his head Zeeshan smiled and spoke,

"Go. It's not like we are stopping you." Ahad's face lit up like the moon and without wasting any time he was up on his feet. He turned to go but stopped midway and faced the two with a cheeky smile on his face.

"Why don't you two join us?" He said.

"No, we are fine." Armaan spoke, making Zeeshan nod.

"Oh! I understand. Your age won't allow you to be in the rain." Ahad said and watched the changing colors on his cousin's face. They narrowed their eyes in sync and exchanged looks with each other.

"You dared to call us old?" Zeeshan asked in a deep voice, making Ahad shake his head vigorously.

"I was saying maybe rain would give you fever. You know with age immunity decreases-" Ahad started speaking with a thoughtful look on his face. But before he could complete his sentence Zeeshan got up and in a firm grip wrapped his hand around  Ahad's neck.

"Bhai...bhai aah...leave!" He screamed and tried to remove Zeeshan's muscular arm only to fail.

"Armaan bhai!" Ahad called but Armaan just shook his head.

"Let's go." Zeeshan said, dragging Ahad with him.

"Armaan, where are you going?"  As they reached the staircase, Armaan instead of following them kept walking straight towards his room. Leaving Ahad, Zeeshan climbed up the two stairs and reached him.

"Where do you think you are going, old man?" He asked, smirking slightly. Armaan narrowed his eyes and completely faced Zeeshan whose smirk widened.

"Who did you call old man, Zeeshan?" He asked, throwing a challenging look at his cousin turned best friend.

"Ah I see, old age has caused you hearing problems right? Armaan?" Zeeshan spoke and raised his voice slightly at the end, making Armaan shake his head and look down.

"I can understand you man! you're almost thirty...I understand. Aging is inevitable-" Zeeshan started only to stop by Armaan's grasp on his shoulder the same way Zeeshan was holding Ahad.

"As if you aren't my age bro." Armaan spoke and started dragging him towards the stairs where an amused Ahad stood. Looking at the two he chuckled nervously making them throw a mirthful gaze at him and then burst into fits of laughter.

__________

Saman anyhow could convince Noor to join them. It took her a good few minutes...just as she was on the verge of bursting out, with all the knowledge of catching fever Noor was giving her.

"I am telling you this isn't a good idea. What if Fahad bhai finds us like this?" Noor asked as soon as they stepped down the stairs of the porch. The backyard was empty and they could hear the guys from the front side.

"Noor aapi,Zara nazar utha kar toh dekhein![look up Noor aapi!]"
Saman gestured towards the terrace where Mahi and Fahad were seated on the metal swing. Mahi's head was resting on Fahad's shoulder as they slowly swayed on the swing. Flustered, Noor looked away and slapped Saman's head lightly.

"Give them some privacy!" She said and dragged Saman towards Mansha and Sara who were jumping in the mud puddle. The heavy downpour had soaked them all in bliss and joy..., the bliss of heaven's gift and the joy of being together.

While on the other hand Ahad, Armaan and Zeeshan were busy playing cricket. Armaan was with the bat while Zeeshan bowled and Ahad? He was just asked to run around to get the balls.

"Come one Ahad...catch it!" Zeeshan yelled, making Ahad run backwards with his eyes focusing on the ball that was in a perfect parabola. Raindrops was making it difficult for him to see the ball and as he saw the ball just reaching him, he stopped. Raising his hand in the air he was waiting for the red sphere to land in his hand but ,the betrayer fell directly on top of his head.

Stars!

He could feel stars around him, stars and water. It took him some seconds to come out of the trauma and when he did,with both of his hands he held his head and cried. Force is equal to mass into acceleration, once he had studied and now he felt that. That was one heck of pain. He abruptly sat on his heels with his head still between his hands and eyes closed. He could hear the other two laughing their heads off, all at his expense.

"Bhai!" He cried, making the two jog towards him, hardly controlling their amusement and laughter.

"You fine?" Zeeshan asked, making Ahad's head shot up. A glare decorating his face.

"Yeah, completely fine!" he spat.

"Come on get up, let me check that." Armaan said. He tried to get up only to fall back with a thud and a little splash of mud.

Armaan and Zeeshan again started laughing, making him stomp his hand on the ground and get a splash of mud on his face and clothes. He was on the verge of crying, which made the two shake their heads and hold his hands.

"Come on get up!" Zeeshan said and helped him on his feet.

"Ahad, Zeeshan, lightning has started. It's better we head inside." Armaan said, taking a look at the darkening sky. The other two didn't object and went inside while the girls had also noticed the worsening weather and had already come inside.

______

Zeeshan was smiling continuously, courtesy of Ahad's iconic fall. It felt like he was feeling happy after ages, as if the rain had come with a purpose of clearing the cloudy sky as well as his mind. He had been in a complicated situation and as much as he tried to overcome the problems he failed. He did not what to do, his human mind was incapable of calming itself.

But right now it felt light, just a little bit.

Rubbing his wet hair with a towel he came out of the washroom, fresh and clean from all the mud. The rain hadn't stopped, but intensified with addition of thunder and lightening. It was going to be a long day, yet their wasn't gloominess attached. Strange, yet calming.

Deciding to have a cup of tea he came out of his room and made his way towards the stairs. Still smiling. As he neared the staircase he heard someone's soft footsteps echoing in the silent hallway and looked towards only to stop dead in his track. As if someone had frozen him completely...a certain someone who was capable of ruining him. Yet that someone knew nothing.

Her usual calm aura was still there, her eyes were still casted down, she was still the same Noor. But as now she walked slowly towards him...with slow steps, unaware of his whole presence, Zeeshan knew she was not the same girl he liked. She was now someone without whom he was nothing, maybe it felt like an exaggeration...but then it was true. She was his truth, and as much he tried to runaway from it...he couldn't.

As she neared him she looked up subtly and her eyes rounded in shock of finding him there. Her black eyes were gleaming under light, her soft eyes...something that was pure reflection of her soul. It stared at him with bewilderment. As if asking about his selfish desires. He looked away.

Those eyes and it's owner had the power of bringing him to his knees.

Noor didn't say anything to him, just like other times. Nor did he, just like other times. Noor walked away, but what she left behind was a chain that now captured Zeeshan completely.

Maybe now it was time for his selfishness to surface,maybe now it was time to throw every other logic away and just take the step he had been avoiding to take. For now, Zeeshan knew...what the purpose of rain was.

The baarish was here to clean every minute haze.

__________

Lightning hadn't calmed for hours and seeing the current situation it didn't look like the storm was going to stop. Rain too had reached its peak speed, yet there was no name of stopping. It was an unusual weather condition and also uncalled for. Being unprepared for this sudden  change of weather the people of Shah  Haveli  were facing blackout. Electricity supply was cut for hours and the generators couldn't be started.

The backup had died down and the whole house had turned dark as soon as evening approached. Few gas lights were lighting the living room where most of them were seated. The elders were worried about the storm while the younger ones, precisely Ahad, Saman, Sara and Mansha, were enjoying the blackout. Sitting in a circle on the carpet a little distance from the others , they were reminiscing about the old days when these kinds of blackouts were common.

"Remember the time when we played the mystery game in the dark and broke two or three vases and got scolded by elders?" Saman asked giggling which made the other three laugh too.

"Han yaar kitna maza aata tha![ yeah those were the days!]" Sara exclaimed.

"Hey guys, why don't we play something like that again?" Ahad asked.

"Are you crazy bhai? Are we kids or what?" Mansha said, making Ahad roll his eyes.

"Come on! Let's play a mastery game. It's not like we get this type of chance everyday. Nobody will say anything, the elders are busy themselves. And it's just us four...no one will know."

"Ahad bhai not four, three. I am not in this." Mansha said, throwing her hands up and shaking her head. The three groaned and gave her a bored expression.

"Don't be a spoilsport Mansha." Saman said lightly push Mansha.

"No. But I can do one thing." Mansha said

"What?"

"I can hide the specific thing you guys will search for and anyways I will forget about it and none of you will be able to cheat by pestering me. What do you say?" Wiggling her eyebrows Mansha asked.

"That's done then." Ahad said, almost yelling in excitement.

"But what will she hide?" Sara asked.

"Ahad your phone." Saman said and grabbed Ahad's phone that was lying near him.

"No! Are you crazy? I am not risking my phone. What if we are unable to find it and this Dory here will surely forget about it." Snatching his dear phone from Saman's hand, Ahad hugged it to his chest. Talk about being dramatic

"Then what?"

"Anything but my phone." Ahad said and  kept his prized possession in his pants pocket. Some more time went in thinking about the 'specific thing' they had to hide but nothing came to their minds. They kept sharing glances but their dumb minds couldn't even come up with one thing they could hide.

"Let's drop this idea guys. We ain't getting anything for this stupid game." Mansha spoke, making the other three glare at her.

"Guys!" Saman exclaimed loudly, making others jump on their places.

"Saman!"

"Vase. A flower vase, let's find one and click a picture for reference. Okay?" Saman said and then the three of them got the nearest vase they found and handed it to Mansha for hiding. The only rule was that she wouldn't hide it in the store room, made by Ahad and only on the ground floor by Saman. The former was scared of darkness in the store room while the latter was just lazy. Finally after a good few minutes the hunt began.

Finding Sara going towards the kitchen and Saman towards the hallway, Ahad had no option but to head towards the back corridor though his mind was utterly against this. Gulping down his dry throat Ahad clutched his lit up phone more tightly and with careful steps started walking, chanting ayatul kursi without any stop.

"Kya zaroorat thi aisa idea dene ki? Ab maro! [Why did I give this idea, now die!]  He mumbled  and looked around with scared eyes. Spotting a table with few things on it he made his way towards it and focused the light on it. There were two vases there and some more things but not that specific vase making him sigh. Scratching his head he lifted his mobile phone only to shriek with an ear piercing voice...that too seeing his own image in the mirror. It didn't take him much time to realise his stupidity.

"Idiot." Whispering to himself and continued looking for the vase.

Saman decided to first check the hallway where the rooms were. She opened her phone's flashlight and carefully started her hunt.  Firstly she checked her badi ammi's room but came out bare handed and even after checking Rameesha chachi's room she hadn't found the vase. Sighing audibly she headed towards her grandparent's room but before she could even enter the room a dark silhouetted figure blocked her way and a shrill shriek left her mouth.

"Jinn!"

________________

Assalamualaikum everyone.

Another late update. Sorry for that but I am really really stuck up.

Thank you for reading and I appreciate all of you.

And its your birthday so this update is a gift to you dear paharibakraaaaa .

Vote, comment lots of things and share.