Chapter 49 #6
"Zaviyar beta, na yeh ghar mera hai aur na tumhara. Yeh ghar in baap-beti ka hai. Toh aaj ghar ke saare kaam bhi yeh dono karenge... aur aaj raat ka khana bhi yehi banayenge.", Both Wajahat and Safiya groaned in perfect sync. Safiya raised a hand.
(Zaviyar, son, this house belongs neither to me nor to you. It belongs to this father-daughter duo. So today they'll be doing all the household work... and they'll also be making dinner tonight.)
"Baba aur mujhe koi problem nahi hai... lekin agar kitchen ganda ho gaya, toh aap hum dono pe chillayengi nahi.", Rabiya blinked innocently.
(Baba and I don't have a problem... but if the kitchen gets messy, you can't scold us.)
"Main kyun chillaungi bhala?" she asked, taking another bite.
(Why would I scold you?)
"Tum dono hi saaf karoge.", She swallowed before adding sweetly,
(Because the two of you will be the ones cleaning it.)
"Dekhiye, Ammi... khana banana na aapko pasand hai aur na mujhe.", Safiya sighed dramatically.
(Look, Ammi... neither you nor I enjoy cooking.)
"Haan... tumhe toh bas khana pasand hai.", Safiya's grin widened.
(Yes... you only enjoy eating.)
"Exactly.", Rabiya shook her head.
"Apne bachchon ko bhi kabhi bana ke nahi khilaogi?"
(Won't you ever cook for your own children?)
For once, Safiya fell silent. Then she shrugged casually.
"Kabhi main bana dungi... kabhi Zaviyar bana denge. Bachchon ko khilana sirf maa ki zimmedari thodi hoti hai.", She turned towards Zaviyar with an expectant smile.
(Sometimes I'll cook... sometimes Zaviyar will. Feeding children isn't only a mother's responsibility.)
"Kyun? Sahi keh rahi hoon na?", Caught completely off guard, Zaviyar nodded.
(Right? I'm right, aren't I?)
"Ha- haan... haan, sahi keh rahi ho.", He coughed awkwardly while the others laughed.
(Y-Yes... yes, you're right.)
Rabiya smiled to herself before standing with her plate.
"Achha, ab tum dono ek doosre ko nahi... khud ko khilao."
(Alright, now instead of feeding each other... feed yourselves.)
As she walked away, she suddenly remembered something.
Turning back, she called, "Zaviyar beta... woh khorma toh-"
(Zaviyar, son... at least have some of the korma-)
He immediately raised both hands in surrender.
"Nahi, Chachi. Main aur nahi kha sakta. Bas... ab aur mat kahiye.", Safiya couldn't hold back her laughter.
(No, Aunt. I really can't eat another bite. Please... don't insist anymore.)
Leaning closer, she whispered near his ear, "Aap le lijiye... main kha lungi."
(Take it. I'll eat it.)
He looked at her for a moment before giving the tiniest nod.
Then, clearing his throat, he looked back at Rabiya.
"Uh... Chachi... de dijiye.", A knowing smile spread across Rabiya's face.
(Uh... Aunt... you can serve it.)
She happily served the korma while secretly admiring the way the two of them had already begun looking after each other in the smallest, most unspoken ways.
"Baba, agar woh decoration wale payment lene aayein, toh mere card se kar dijiye.", She slipped her debit card into Wajahat's hand.
(Baba, if the decorators come to collect the payment, use my card.)
He reached for a stack of receipts, but Safiya stopped him before he could say anything.
"Saare bills maine already pay kar diye hain.", She pointed towards another envelope.
(I've already paid all the bills.)
"Aur aapki FD mature ho gayi hai. Bank jaakar renew karwa dijiye.", Wajahat nodded.
(And your fixed deposit has matured. Please go to the bank and renew it.)
"Haan, theek hai."
(Alright.)
Watching the exchange quietly, Zaviyar finally looked at Rabiya.
"Poori party... Safiya ne organise ki thi?", Rabiya smiled proudly.
(Safiya organised the entire party?)
"Haan. Mujhe bhi bahut hairani hui thi jab usne kaha ki uske paas hamare liye surprise hai. Sab kuch usne khud plan kiya tha.", Zaviyar rested his teacup on the saucer, his gaze drifting towards Safiya.
(Yes. Even I was surprised when she said she had a surprise for us. She planned everything herself.)
"So... she handles everything on her own?", His voice was quieter this time. There was no mockery. Only genuine curiosity.
Rabiya's gaze remained fixed on Safiya. Her daughter sat beside Wajahat, brows furrowed in concentration as she sorted through bills and receipts, reminding her father of payments as though she'd been running the household for years.
A faint smile tugged at Rabiya's lips.
"She takes care of everything. She's very responsible."
There was quiet pride in her voice. Zaviyar followed her gaze.
"That's why she doesn't like depending on anyone.", His words were louder than he had intended. Rabiya looked at him knowingly.
"You're right. She hates depending on people... because she believes she'll become a burden to them." Her smile faded.
"Even if she's falling apart inside, she would rather suffer silently than let someone worry about her.", Zaviyar lowered his eyes. He knew that feeling far too well. Rabiya noticed the flicker of recognition on his face. A bittersweet smile crossed her lips.
"Reminds me of someone."
Silence settled between them.
After a long pause, she spoke again.
"Sach bolun toh... usne apni aadhi zindagi ek kamre mein guzaari hai. Bas padhai... aur sirf padhai. Usse apne Baba ke sapne poore karne the.", Zaviyar didn't respond. His eyes remained on Safiya.
(To be honest... she spent half her life locked inside a room. Just studying... nothing but studying. She wanted to fulfil her father's dreams.)
The girl laughing with her father now was so different from the lonely child Rabiya was describing.
"Maine kabhi tumse yeh baat nahi kahi..." Rabiya murmured after another pause. "Par main kabhi nahi chahti thi ki meri beti ki shaadi tumse ho.", The words landed heavily.
(I've never told you this... but I never wanted my daughter to marry you.)
Zaviyar's fingers tightened around his teacup. Rabiya continued before he could say anything.
"Main tumhari Chachi hoon. Main tumse bahut mohabbat karti hoon." Her voice softened.
"Lekin tumhari tarbiyat Mansoor Khan ne ki hai... aur main jaanti hoon usne tumhare dil mein mere liye sirf zeher hi bhara hoga."
(I'm your aunt. I love you dearly. But Mansoor Khan raised you... and I know he must have filled your heart with nothing but poison against me.)
A bitter laugh escaped Zaviyar. He finally looked at her.
"Jaise aapne meri Ammi ki zindagi mein zeher bhar diya.", His jaw clenched.
(Just like you poisoned my mother's life.)
"Safiya hamesha se meri thi. Agar bachpan mein aap bhaagi na hoti... toh shayad sab theek hota. "
(Safiya was always meant to be mine. If you hadn't run away back then... perhaps everything would've been alright.)
" You ruined everything. Even after getting everything you and your husband were never satisfied. It's amusing how you both act so righteous, while having blood on your hands. "
Pain flickered across Rabiya's face. But she didn't defend herself.
"Maazi mein maine jo bhi kiya... apni bachchi ki bhalai ke liye kiya tha. Aur aaj bhi jo kar rahi hoon... uski behtari ke liye hi kar rahi hoon."
(Whatever I did in the past... I did for my daughter's well-being. And whatever I'm doing today... is still for her.)
"Wahi toh baat hai, Chachi. Aap log hamesha bas apni taraf se sochte hain. Apne faisle lete hain... aur samajhte hain wohi sabke liye behtar hain. Dusron ki zindagiyon ki keemat shayad kabhi samjhi hi nahi.", Rabiya met his gaze without flinching.
(That's exactly the problem, Chachi. You people only ever think from your own perspective. You make decisions and believe they're best for everyone... perhaps never realising the value of someone else's life.)
"Sahi kaha tumne. Mujhe bas apni beti aur khud se matlab hai.", Her voice was steady.
(You're right. I only care about my daughter and myself.)
"Tum jo bhi karo... meri beti ko ek kharoch bhi nahi aani chahiye."
(Whatever you do... not even a scratch should come to my daughter.)
For the first time since the conversation had begun, Zaviyar answered without anger. His voice was calm.
"Aapko fikr karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Koi uska kuch nahi bigaad sakta.", His eyes instinctively drifted towards Safiya.
(You don't need to worry. No one can harm her.)
"Woh meri biwi hai... aur main uski hifazat karna jaanta hoon."
(She is my wife... and I know how to protect her.)
Rabiya studied him for several silent seconds. Then she spoke softly.
"Apna vaada bhoolna mat.", Zaviyar gave a small nod.
(Don't forget your promise.)
"Maine aapko apni zabaan di thi... aur main usse nibha raha hoon."
(I gave you my word... and I'm keeping it.)
"Ab aapki baari hai... apne vaade ki qeemat chukane ki."
(Now it's your turn... to pay the price of yours.)
Rabiya lowered her eyes. She simply nodded.
Before another word could be exchanged-
"Mummaaaa! Mumma! Maaa-", Safiya's voice echoed through the house. Rabiya blinked, immediately pulled out of the tense conversation. She turned just in time to see Safiya jogging towards them, keys jingling in one hand.
"Kya hua? Itna kyun chilla rahi ho?", Safiya stopped in front of her with a grin.
(What happened? Why are you shouting like that?)
"Chips khaogi?", Rabiya gave her a flat look.
(Want chips?)
"Nahi... par tum chaante zaroor khaogi. Sar dard ho gaya mera. Aise kaun chillata hai?", Safiya only shrugged, completely unbothered.
(No... but you certainly will get a slap. You've given me a headache. Who shouts like that?)
She grabbed the bike keys from the key holder.
"Achha, suniye... groceries mein kuch chahiye? Main thode snacks lene jaa rahi hoon.", Rabiya thought for a second before shaking her head.
(By the way... do you need any groceries? I'm heading out to buy some snacks.)
"Uh... nahi. Kuch nahi chahiye."
(No... I don't need anything.)
"Okay, got it. List WhatsApp kar dena, Mumma.", She flashed her mother a confident thumbs-up.
(Okay, got it. Just WhatsApp me the list.)