Mayi Ri

Chapter 14

"Soyi nahi ab tak?" Fakhir asks as he enters the kitchen and finds Ainy seated on one of the chairs.

"I was waiting for you," Ainy responds, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Kyu?" Fakhir questions, sensing her mood.

"Bari Ammi ne bola tumhare aane tak intezaar karne, sath mein khane ke liye," Ainy says, her irritation evident.

"Tum khayi nahi ab tak? It's almost 12, Ainy," Fakhir remarks, realizing he's late.

"Kya kare agar shohar waqt pe ghar pe nahi aaye to biwi ko bhukha rehna parta hai," Ainy responds tersely, showing her annoyance.

"I'm sorry, Ainy. Please forgive me. I already had dinner with my friends," Fakhir admits, regret evident in his tone. "Please go ahead and eat."

Ainy hesitates, clearly upset, but shakes her head. "No, I'm not hungry anymore." She gets up from the chair and starts to walk away. Fakhir stops her by gently holding her wrist.

"Please eat," Fakhir insists.

"Tum jao, apne doston ke sath party karo," Ainy replies, pulling her hand away from his grasp.

Fakhir sighs, feeling guilty. "Ainy, please. I won't repeat it. Kuch to kha lo," he implores.

"You know our finals are in three days. I can't just sit here and waste my time like this," Ainy says, her frustration bubbling over.

"I am sorry. Kasam se, I won't repeat it," Fakhir says earnestly, reaching for Ainy's hand and gently tugging at her fingers. Ainy sighs and sits back in the chair.

"If you're really sorry, then serve me," she demands.

"Sure, meri jaan," Fakhir responds warmly. He serves Ainy food and sits beside her, watching her eat.

Aisha, seeing her daughter and son-in-law caring for each other, feels a small smile tug at her lips. She silently thanks God for granting her daughter a husband who genuinely cares for her.

---

"Ainy, can I ask you something?" Faiza asks when Ainy finally comes to their room.

"Yeah?" Ainy looks at her sister with curiosity.

"Do you like Fakhir?"

"Of course. We've been together since childhood. He's my best friend. Obviously, I like him," Ainy chuckles.

"I mean, do you love him?" Faiza asks, raising an eyebrow.

Ainy pauses, taken aback by the question. She never thought of anything more than friendship with Fakhir.

"I've never really thought about it."

"And what about Fakhir?" Faiza probes.

"I don't think so, Faiza. He still behaves the same way he always has. Nothing has changed between us. Just because we're married doesn't mean the dynamic has shifted."

"But Ainy, sometimes I feel like Fakhir might be attracted to you," Faiza says softly.

"No way. Have you seen his type? Girls like Amna are his type. I'm not even close."

"Sometimes people fall in love with those who are opposite to them," Faiza murmurs, wrapping herself in her quilt before speaking.

Ainy stands at the window, feeling confused. Even though they are married, she never allowed herself to think beyond friendship with Fakhir.

---

At the same time, in his room, Fakhir is lost in his thoughts. He thinks about Ainy, sitting alone in the kitchen, hungry and tired, waiting for him simply because that's what tradition dictates.

The image of Ainy's frustrated face haunts him. He knows she doesn't deserve this. They're both still so young, trying to juggle their studies along with the responsibilities of marriage. The thought of Ainy missing meals, sacrificing her comfort just to follow an old custom, gnaws at his conscience.

It doesn't seem fair, and he realizes how these traditions are slowly wearing her down. The idea that she has to go hungry because of him stirs a deep sense of guilt inside him.

"She deserves better," he thinks. The thought of Ainy, sitting there hungry and frustrated, because of a tradition that feels more like a burden than an act of love, makes him realize that something needs to change—not just for her, but for the both of them.

---

The next morning, everyone is seated for breakfast. Ainy is pouring tea into her cup when Fakhir pulls a chair beside her. She gives him a small smile.

"You're up early on a Sunday? What's going on?" his father asks with a hint of surprise.

"I have something to say," Fakhir announces, cutting straight to the point. Everyone looks at him curiously.

"From now on, no one will tell Ainy what she has to do or when to do it. Just because we're married doesn't mean she has to behave like Ammi or Chachi, or stay hungry until I come home," Fakhir says, his voice steady and determined.

"Fakhir... What kind of talk is this? Bache ho tum." Daadi says, frowning in disapproval.

"Oh, now we're kids, Daadi? When you all decided to get us married, what were we then?" Fakhir counters, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Fakhir, how can you speak to your Daadi like that?" Zaheer raises his voice sternly.

"Baba, Ainy is my wife. Her issues are my issues. She can do whatever she wants to do. If she wants to eat before me, she can. If she wants to sleep before I come home, she can. She doesn't need to listen to anyone else other than me."

"Fakhir, enough," Ainy says softly, holding his hand, trying to calm him down.

"No, Ainy, let me speak. From now on, anyone who's hungry should eat. There's no need to wait for anyone. And my wife will live here on her own terms. Maa, Baba, you can make decisions for me, but not for her," Fakhir says firmly, squeezing Ainy's hand.

"Look at how this boy is talking! Sameena, is this what you've taught your son?" Daadi scolds, her voice laced with anger.

"Daadi, please, you keep an eye on your own sons. Ammi has given me a great upbringing," Fakhir retorts.

"Fakhir—" his father's hand raises in anger, but Sameena gently holds it back.

"Please, let it go," she says quietly, her eyes filled with tears.

Fakhir stands up, his eyes fixed on his hand still entwined with Ainy's. She rises with him, her grip remaining firm, as if neither of them wants to let go. He looks at her, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Why don't you go have breakfast first?" Fakhir says, still not making any effort to release her hand.

Ainy hesitates for a moment, her eyes meeting his, then she asks, "Can we eat together?"

Fakhir's smile widens at her words, his gaze softening even more. "Of course," he replies, a warmth in his voice that makes Ainy feel at ease.

"Alright, I'll send breakfast to your room," Aisha interjects with a knowing smile. "You two go on ahead."

Ainy and Fakhir nod, still holding each other's hands as they leave the dining area. As they walk toward their room, their fingers remain linked. Neither of them says anything, but they don't need to. The comfort of holding hands, the unspoken support, and the way they walk side by side speak louder than any words could.