𝟏𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨 :

The clouds were releasing their content. After completing her adulation, she rolled the prayer mat on the floor, unfolding Amira’s sleeves, she made her wear a scarf. “Ammi, how do I look?” An eleven years old Amira asked Asiya Shah, who had a faint smile playing on her lips, “Mashallah.”

They both begin to pray, Amira would sometimes look at her mother in between the prayer, just to get her posture right. “Amira, you cannot look around while praying, it's a sin. ” Asiya scolded her as soon as she finished her prayer. The loud crumbling sound of lighting came from outside. It was raining outside.

Amira looked down, ashamed of herself. Asiya sighed as she held her hands up, joining them to make dua, “Ya Allah, please protect her” whenever Asiya would make a pause Amira would say Ameen.

“Ammi, when is baba going to return?” Ahad asked, opening the door of their room. Asiya stood up from her mat, “Soon, he has some business to take care of, and I'm sure he will bring a great news” Asiya had been very happy today, as her husband had finally realised his responsibilities, and was willing to do her a favor.

“Why did he go to Mir bhai?” Amira tugged her clothes, and spread her hands to take little Zaini from his mother. Handing Zaini to Amira, Asiya spoke, “Your father will talk to Farooq, your Mir bhai's father and get him to stay with us. So, the both of you should behave well with your Mir bhai” Feathering their hands,she said, “He's hurt, so don't say anything to him, okay?” A loud sound of lighting sent chills down their spines.Ignoring that, both of her children nodded their heads. Their smile resembling that of their mother.

Meanwhile far away,the lavishly decorated mansion was filled with silence which was broken by Adil khan who was dressed in formal attire, “How are you doing, Farooq?” The bitterness of his mind was masked by the softness of his tongue.

“I'm alright, brother-in-law”

“Oh come on, just call me Adil”

“Of course not, you are older than me”

“It's okay, but where is Afiya?”

Afiya, the name was enough to ruin this bittersweet environment. “My wife?” His voice felt acrimonious to Adil's ears. Hiding  scornful words inside his mouth, Adil spoke again, “Yes, where is she? I wish to see her” The sound of small drops pouring came in as if to seize the silence. Adil was hoping that she was still alive and well, hoping that Asiya would be happy to see her, he did something he should not have, “Asiya was missing her a lot, and you know how much I love her, so I wanted to take Aryan  and Afiya with me” His eyes flickered in Malice at the name of his wife and child. Aryan was brought by a maid to him.

Yanking Aryan's hand closer to himself he said, “It's better if he drives the car, the one I gifted him”The vicious smile of victory playing on his lips showed a hint of abomination. “He is 14” Adil voiced out his concern, “He has already learnt how to drive don't you worry” Farooq insisted. “Alright.”

Far away, Inside a white car, sat a family of four. Her husband was driving the car, with Airma and her two daughters in the back. Mehr wore headphones, blocking the noise from outside and the youngest, Duha, was fast asleep. “How could you be so heartless?” Mehr flinched at the loud noise, which came from her father.

“What was I supposed to do? This was the only chance, a little sacrifice has to be made for a better future” Airma yelled back.

Mehr pretended to enjoy the song, ignoring her parent's fight. “She's four! You are their mother, you should not be ruining their life like this! You should have made Mehr do it, Duha's still too young!” Her father, her sweet father, was yelling at her mother. The pouring sound of rain for the first time didn't make her feel better.

“That's the whole point, Duha's still too young, so they will forget this matter soon enough, you do not need to worry”

“How could you? You heartless woman” Her father kept yelling, the speed of the car increasing along with his anger. The rain had stopped,the car had hit something and soon enough the whole car felt like it was flying. The people on the lurched forward.The windows were broken and Airma held her daughters in her arms to protect them. A meek “Run”  was heard from her mother, followed by a sudden cry. “Duha, Duha!” Mehr picked Duha who was safe as she was in her mother's lap.

Mehr tried to remove the door but it didn't even budge. The open window was the only way, she moved outside through the window, then took Duha in her arms and ran.Just as her mother taught her. She had always hated her mother's absurd teaching, which she was following now.

Three people died. Three lost their father, two became orphans, all because of a child.

Dard ki bhi ek ada hai, Wo bhi sehne wale pe fida hai ~Gulzar