Yaar-e-Bereham

Chapter Three

تجھ میں اور مجھ میں تعالک ہے وہی
جو رشتہ ساز اور مزراب میں

Tuj mein or mujh mein takul hai wahi
Jo rishta saaz or mizraab mein
~Bashar Nawaz

I stared out the window of his black Mercedes, looking blankly at the starry night. Thick silence filled the car.

Zain had returned home from the office around four p.m., and everyone had sat down at the dining table for a late lunch. It was done in a light mood, with Junaid adding a few jokes here and there, causing a few laughs that certainly weren't from Zain.

After lunch, his mother had called me into her room while the men went into the drawing room to discuss some business over tea.

"Mariam bachay, come sit with me." She patted the space beside her on the bed.

I took a seat beside her as Armeena Apa joined us with a tray of tea in her hand. She handed me a cup, and I gave her a small smile, thanking her. After giving Auntie her cup, she took hers and sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs.

"Beta, apko jo baat mein kerun wo shayad apki achi nah lagay," Auntie started, placing a hand on my knee. ("Beta, you might not like what I'm about to tell you.")

"Auntie, ap meri bari hain, apki baat mujhay kiyun buri lagay gi." (Auntie, you are my elder, why would I not like what you say.")

"Mariam, mujhay ilam hai ke rishta apke leye naya hai. Ek aisay insaan ko tasleem ker lena jiske baray mein kuch nah jantay ho, mushkil hota hai. Liken yahi toh khaas baat hai nikkah ki, yeh aisa muqadas rishta hai jo do anjaan logo ko bohat mazbooti se jor deta hai, liken issay bohat ehtiyat se le ker jana tum dono. Ek dosray ko waqat do, or samajnay ki koshish kerna." Auntie said, putting away the loose tendrils behind my ear affectionately. ("Mariam, I know this bond is new. It's difficult to accept someone who you know nothing about but that is the beauty of Nikkah. It strongly bonds two strangers together, but take this relation carefully, both of you. Give each other time and understanding.")

"Ji auntie, mein apni taraf se puri koshish kero gi ke rishta barqar rahay." I took her hands in mine, giving them a slight squeeze. (Yes Auntie, I'll try my best to make this marriage work.")

"Meray bachay, tum meri beti jaisi ho, mujhay khushi ho gi agar tum mujhay Zain ki tara Ma or Haider Shahab ko Abu kaho." ("You are like a daughter to me, I'll be happy if you would call me, mother and Haider, father like Zain.")

"Ji, Ammi." I nodded my head, smiling brightly at her.  ("Yes, Mom.")

"Acha, yeh choray bhabi, yeh bataye ke bhai nay apko mun dekhai kiya di?" Armeena Apa chimed in, standing up from the sofa to sit beside me. (Okay, leave this bhabi, tell us what did bhai give you in Mun Dekhai?")

I turned towards her, showing my hand in her direction, which she grabbed, gasping in awe.

"Bhabi, yeh toh wohi ring hai, jo bhai ki almari mein kafi saalo se pari hoi thi, pochnay per bus itna kehtay thay keh kisi ki amanat hai. Toh yeh apki amanat sambhal ker rakhi hoi thi. Waisay kon keh sakta hai, keh itnay sariyal chehray keh peechay itnay romantic ho ge bhai." She bumped her shoulder with me, giggling. ("Bhabi, this is the same ring that has been in bhai's drawer since so many years. Whenever we would ask him about this he'll simply say that this is someone's fidelity. So, it was yours, huh? Who could have thought that behind such stern face, he would be a romantic at heart.")

If only I could have told her how 'romantic' her brother was.

"Ma sha Allah bohat pyari hai, Allah tum dono ko lambi khushhal zindagi de." Ammi said, kissing my forehead. ("Ma sha Allah, it's very pretty. May Allah give you both a long happy life.")