119.
Yug stood outside Ravi's house, staring at the familiar front door.
He had told Ravi he was leaving for Mumbai.
That had been a lie.
He had come here because there was something he needed to do first-something he knew Ravi would probably never agree to.
He needed to talk to Ravi's mother.
Yug rang the bell.
Nothing.
He waited a few seconds before ringing it again.
This time, the door opened.
Fatima stood there.
"Hey!" Yug greeted her with a smile.
Her face immediately lit up.
"Yug! Oh my God, come inside!" She stepped aside to let him in. "Did Bhai come with you too?"
"No, I came alone this time." Yug stepped inside. "I hope you don't mind."
"Of course I don't!" Fatima said, waving him in. "Come, sit, sit."
Before Yug could respond, a voice came from deeper inside the house.
"Fatima! Kaun hai?"
Fatima turned toward the hallway.
"Aap yahan aake dekh lein!"
Her mother soon appeared in the living room.
Yug was still standing.
The moment their eyes met, he gave her a small, polite smile.
"Ravi aaya hai?" Mrs. Haider asked Fatima.
"No," Yug answered before Fatima could. "He didn't. I actually wanted to talk to you about something."
Her expression immediately hardened.
"Humein aapse koi baat nahi karni. Humein maaf karein. Aap yahan se jaayein."
Yug swallowed.
"I know it isn't right to come here unannounced" he said carefully, "but it's really important. Please, Mrs. Haider."
The older woman stared at him for a long moment.
Finally, she sighed and walked toward the sofa. She sat down and motioned for Yug to do the same.
Yug slowly lowered himself onto the opposite seat.
He glanced at Fatima.
She gave him a small nod of encouragement.
Yug took a breath.
"Let's just get straight to the point."
He clasped his hands together, his fingers nervously gripping the fabric of his trousers.
"I'm really sorry about what happened the last time we spoke. I'm sorry for my tone, but..." He paused. "I'm not sorry for what I said. I meant it."
Mrs. Haider remained silent.
Yug continued.
"I know you don't have a problem with people being gay or with same-sex relationships. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone to Aarav and Shaurya's wedding. From what I've heard, you care about them very much."
Her expression remained guarded.
"So why can't you accept that about your own son?"
Fatima shifted uncomfortably.
"I'll bring some water," she announced suddenly, hurrying toward the kitchen.
Yug almost smiled at her obvious attempt to ease the tension.
Mrs. Haider finally spoke.
"Humein koi aitraaz nahi hai in sab cheezon se."
Her voice was quieter now.
"Par hum sadharan log hain. Log ungliyaan uthayenge. Aap buland maqam ke log hain. People are still talking badly about Aarav and Shaurya's wedding."
Yug listened without interrupting.
"I understand that people can be cruel," he said eventually. "But I think people need to grow up about these things. And honestly, you shouldn't have to live your life based on what other people are saying."
Mrs. Haider looked at him.
"But if you're worried about people finding out..." Yug continued, "then we don't have to tell anyone. We can keep it private. No one needs to know anything unless Ravi and I decide we're ready to tell them."
At that moment, Fatima returned with the househelp.
The woman placed a glass of water in front of Yug.
"Thank you," he said with a small smile, nodding toward her.
Fatima sat down nearby.
Mrs. Haider studied him for a moment.
"Itne pasand karte ho use ki yahan baat karne chale aaye?"
Yug hesitated.
"No. I mean..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah...
Fatima smiled knowingly.
"We've only just started seeing each other properly," Yug added quickly. "We're taking things slowly."
He looked toward Mrs. Haider.
"And this isn't something that could be explained properly over a phone call."
Fatima couldn't resist.
"Bas keh do, you love my brother."
Yug looked at her.
"Not yet."
Fatima raised an eyebrow.
Yug sighed.
"He has a very serious anger problem."
Fatima burst out laughing.
Even Mrs. Haider's expression softened for the briefest moment.
"Not surprised," Fatima said with a grin. "I'm still shocked you two actually ended up together."
Mrs. Haider looked at Yug again, her expression thoughtful.
"Aur aapke ghar waalon ko koi shikayat nahi hogi? Woh aapke baare mein poochhenge, toh kya bataoge?"
Yug shook his head.
"I don't really have anyone I'm particularly close to. My mother's side of the family lives in Amritsar, so we don't have much contact."
He paused before adding, "But I know my mother well. She wouldn't have a problem with any of this."
His voice became more sincere.
"I understand your concern, and I respect it. But I can promise you that things like our cultural differences or his past don't bother me at all. I just want to be with him, and he wants the same. And I'll give him the respect he deserves. Always."
Mrs. Haider remained quiet.
"I want him to be a part of my family," Yug continued. "I'll take care of him. And like I said before, Ravi doesn't have some inherent flaw that needs to be fixed. Sometimes you take something about him and turn it into a flaw simply because you don't like it."
He took a breath.
"I can't imagine anything more hurtful than his grandmother-or even you-introducing him to people through his past. None of what happened was his fault."
"I agree with him," Fatima said quietly.
Mrs. Haider lowered her gaze.
"We're really sorry. I'm his mother, and I should have-"
"Ravi deserves the apology," Yug interrupted gently. "Not me."
Mrs. Haider looked at him for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
She stood and walked over to Yug.
Before he could react, she pulled him into a warm embrace and gently patted his head.
Yug froze.
For a moment, he simply stood there, feeling the warmth of a motherly hug-the kind of comfort that reminded him of his own mother.
Slowly, he reached up and held her arm.
Neither of them said anything.
After a minute, Mrs. Haider finally pulled away.
"Achha, batao. Kya khaoge?" she asked. "Aaj yahin ruk jao. Main cook ko bula leti hoon."
"Oh-um, maybe next time." Yug smiled apologetically. "I really do have to leave. I have some urgent work."
"Nahi, rukna toh padega." She waved him off. "Dopeher ka khana kha kar hi jaoge."
Yug laughed softly.
"Ah, okay. I love your cooking anyway. Aapke haathon ka zaika achha hai."
Fatima immediately grinned.
"Wah! Bhai ke saath rehte-rehte unki tarah bolna bhi seekh gaye."
Yug shrugged.
"I just catch a few words here and there."
Mrs. Haider smiled and affectionately ruffled his hair before heading toward the kitchen.
Yug watched her disappear, then turned toward Fatima.
She was suddenly blushing.
"I'll bring you something," she said quickly.
Before Yug could ask what, she hurried upstairs.
He stared after her, completely confused.
Then he sighed and pulled out his phone.
No messages from Ravi.
Yug frowned at the empty screen.
He was going to be away for two weeks without seeing Ravi. He'd at least wanted Ravi to drop him off when he left.
But Ravi was being a grumpy old dog lately, and Yug didn't want to bother him any more than he already had.
He locked his phone and leaned back against the sofa.
A few minutes later, Fatima came hurrying down the stairs, skipping the last couple of steps.
She had a large photo album tucked under one arm.
She dropped onto the sofa beside him.
"Let's show you some pictures while the food is getting ready."
Yug smiled.
"Okay."
Fatima opened the album.
They went through several photographs-family gatherings, celebrations and countless pictures from Ravi's childhood.
Yug stopped at one particular photograph.
He stared.
Then looked at Fatima.
Then back at the photograph.
"That's Ravi?"
Fatima burst out laughing.
"Yes!"
Yug couldn't believe it.
Ravi had apparently been a considerably chubbier child. His face, however, was unmistakable-the same eyes, the same expression, even the same slightly annoyed look that somehow seemed to have survived all those years.
"I can't believe how much he's changed," Yug said, still staring at the photograph. "Except for his face. That's definitely him."
Fatima turned another page, smiling mischievously.
"Do you know his childhood nickname?"
Yug looked at her suspiciously.
"No."
"Guess."
Yug narrowed his eyes.
"Golu?" Yug guessed.
"That's right!" Fatima laughed. "Of course. Anyone could guess that."
Kaddu to yeh tha bachpan mein. Mirchi ko kya bolta hai.
She turned the page.
"And this is Aaliyah Baaji, my older sister. And that's Ehsan Bhai-the one who passed away. I don't really remember him. I was very little back then."
Yug nodded quietly, understanding.
His attention shifted to another picture.
It was Ravi.
He couldn't have been more than ten years old, sitting in what looked like a school uniform, wearing the brightest smile Yug had ever seen on his face.
It was strange seeing him like that.
So young. So carefree.
Yug stared at the photograph for a little longer than he intended.
Mrs. Haider returned to the living room and immediately smiled when she noticed the open album.
"Iski third standard ki result aayi thi," she explained fondly. "Angrezi mein full marks aaye the. Isliye itna muskura raha hai."
Yug smiled.
He didn't know why, but something about that photograph made his chest feel strangely warm.
Maybe it was because he'd spent so much time seeing Ravi as the intimidating, stubborn man everyone seemed to fear.
Here, though, he was simply a little boy, proudly showing off his achievement.
"Would you mind if I kept this photo?" Yug asked hopefully.
Mrs. Haider placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Of course, dear. We have copies."
Fatima carefully removed the photograph from the album and handed it to him.
Yug looked at it once more, smiling softly, before taking out his wallet and slipping the photograph safely inside.
Fatima stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.
"Oh my God. So romantic!"
Yug chuckled, slightly embarrassed.
"Shut up."
The rest of the day turned out to be surprisingly pleasant.
Yug stayed for lunch, and Mrs. Haider insisted on serving him herself. He genuinely enjoyed the meal, especially the kebabs, and made sure to compliment her cooking more than once.
By the time they had nearly finished eating, the conversation had become much more comfortable.
Then Mrs. Haider casually dropped the question.
"So, when's the wedding?"
Yug immediately choked on the kebab he was eating.
He grabbed his glass of water and coughed.
"I'm sorry," he said, wiping his mouth.
Mrs. Haider looked completely unfazed.
"Nikaah toh hogi na?"
Yug stared at her.
"We... haven't really thought about it yet." He gave an awkward smile. "I think we still have plenty of time for that."
Mrs. Haider shook her head.
"Ravi mujhse saalon tak kehta raha-'Ammi, aaj nahi toh kal.' Ab dekho, buddha ho gaya, phir bhi shaadi nahi hui uski."
Fatima snorted.
"Ammi, please."
"Meri baat maano," Mrs. Haider continued, ignoring her. "Aap dono nikaah kar lo. Ishq-mohabbat toh shaadi ke baad hoti hi hai. Hamare zamaane mein toh aisa hi hota tha."
"Aur yeh ab aapka zamaana nahi raha," Fatima pointed out.
"Pata hai mujhe!" Mrs. Haider replied. "Lekin apne bhai ko bhi toh dekho. Shaadi ki umar nikal gayi aur abhi bhi soch raha hai, jaise koi shehzada ho."
Yug tried desperately not to laugh.
Mrs. Haider turned her attention toward him.
"Aur Yug, aapki bhi toh umar ho hi gayi hai. Abhi nahi sochoge toh baad mein bahut der ho jayegi."
Yug fell silent.
He glanced down at his plate, suddenly unsure how to respond to the unexpected interrogation.
"Umm..." He let out an awkward little laugh. "I'll think about it."
Fatima immediately covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Yug sighed.
He had come to this house expecting an uncomfortable conversation with Ravi's mother.
Somehow, he'd ended up being invited for lunch, given a childhood photograph of Ravi, and practically interviewed about marriage.
He never could have imagined the visit would turn out like this.