Mayi Ri

Chapter 6

The girls, Ainy and her sister Faiza, along with their cousins Aiman and Areeba, decide to have a little slumber party in the hallway. They drag out mattresses and arrange pillows, creating a cozy space under the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window.

As they settle in and start chit-chatting, Aiman, the mischievous one among them, decides to tease Ainy.

"Batao, Ainy," Aiman grins mischievously, "koi pasand hai tumhe school mein?"

Ainy blushes and is about to respond when she suddenly feels a warm breath near her ear. Startled, she turns her head slightly, and her heart skips a beat as she realizes that Fakhir has sneaked up beside her. The room is dimly lit, but the moonlight highlights his features, casting a gentle glow on his face.

"Haan bolo, Ainy. Koi pasand hai tumhe?" Fakhir teases her, lying down next to her.

Ainy stammers, "F-Fakhir! You scared me!"

Aiman and Faiza burst into giggles at the unexpected appearance of their cousin. Aiman teases, "Fakhir, do you have any secrets to share about Ainy?"

Fakhir chuckles, "Oh, I have plenty of secrets, but I'll save them for another time."

As they all share a laugh, Arsal, Areeba's brother, quietly joins them in the hallway, finding the atmosphere too inviting to resist.

"Mind if I join the party?" Arsal grins as he settles down beside Fakhir.

Aiman insists, "Tum batao, Fakhir."

Arsal chimes in, "Yes, Fakhir, spill the beans."

Fakhir blushes slightly, feeling the pressure of their curiosity. He takes a deep breath and admits, "Alright, alright, there's someone special in my life. Her name is Amna."

The girls exchange knowing glances. The night continues with more laughter, teasing, and shared secrets.

"Khuda na kare tumhari Fakhir se shadi ho. Haal dekho iska." Faiza whispers to Ainy.

"Ameen," Ainy whispers back.

Fakhir's curiosity gets the better of him as he playfully nudges Ainy with his elbow, "What are you two whispering about?"

Ainy tries to push Fakhir away, urging him to mind his own business. "Kuch nahi. Thoda gap banake so jao," she says, attempting to dismiss his inquiry.

However, Fakhir, being physically stronger, remains firmly in place. He chuckles and teases, "Tumse nahi hoga, beta. Tum bas math problem solve karti raho."

Ainy decides to retaliate. She grabs a handful of Fakhir's hair and yanks it gently. "Ainy!" Fakhir protests.

"Chup chap so jao," Ainy loose her grip on his hair. Fakhir chuckles.

Ainy had set an alarm for the morning. While she hadn't mentioned it to Fakhir when they lay down beside each other, she knew that the elders wouldn't approve of the boys sleeping beside the girls. She didn't want to give anyone a reason to blame her, so she decided to wake up Fakhir and Arsal before the elders awoke.

As the first rays of morning light began to filter through the windows, Ainy's alarm remained silent. She had set it for a reason, but fatigue had overtaken her, and she had fallen asleep beside Fakhir. Aisha, who wakes first in the morning, sees Fakhir and Arsal sleeping beside the girls. She looks at them alarmed. She knows that if anyone sees Fakhir beside Ainy, they are going to question her daughter's character.

Fakhir's face is pressed against Ainy's shoulder, and their hands are intertwined as they slept. Aisha shakes her head, concerned about the potential gossip that could arise from this situation. She kneels beside Fakhir and shakes him, "Fakhir, utho." She also gently wakes Arsal with a shake.

"Arsal, please Fakhir ko uthao koi aur aane se pahle," Aisha pleads.

"Ji, maami," Arsal takes the responsibility to wake Fakhir up. Aisha goes to the kitchen to make tea for everyone.

"Fakhir, mere bhai, utho."

Fakhir stirs in his sleep and, in his drowsy state, moves closer to Ainy. Arsal sighs and decides to gently drag Fakhir away from Ainy to wake him. However, due to Fakhir holding Ainy's hand in his sleep, he inadvertently pulls Ainy along with him. This sudden movement startles both Ainy and Fakhir, causing them to jolt open their eyes.

Fakhir and Ainy suddenly feel their hands clasped together as Arsal pulls Fakhir away from Ainy. Both of them look at their entwined fingers in surprise. Their faces turning crimson as they realize their hands are locked together. Feeling embarrassed, they quickly release each other's hands, averting their eyes.

"Let's go to your room, Fakhir," Arsal says, dragging Fakhir along with him.

As they make their way down the hallway to Fakhir's room, they run into Fehmi, who raises an eyebrow at their disheveled appearance.

"Kaha se aa rahe ho dono?" Fehmi inquires curiously, noticing their tousled hair and rumpled clothes.

Fakhir quickly thinks on his feet and responds, "Jogging?"

Arsal nods enthusiastically, playing along, "Haan, khala, subah-subah jogging kaafi refreshing hoti hai."

Fehmi raises an eyebrow, not entirely convinced, and says, "Dekh ke to nahi lag raha jogging kar ke aa rahe ho," as she opens the fridge.

Aisha, realizing the consequences if other family members had seen Fakhir and Arsal in that state, discreetly signals them to go.

Once inside his room, Fakhir lets out a sigh of relief and slaps his own face lightly. He turns to Arsal with a wry smile, "You know, Arsal, acha hua Aisha chachi ne dekh liya hume. Agar vo Fehmi phupho ya daadi dekh liya hoti to Ainy ko sunate. Pata nahi main kya soch raha tha kal."

Arsal's curiosity gets the best of him as he leans in and asks, "Hey, can I ask you something?"

Fakhir, caught slightly off guard, responds cautiously, "Sure, go ahead."

Arsal grins mischievously, "So, what's the deal with you and Ainy? You two seem to be getting awfully close these days. I mean, I know you've been friends forever, but this closeness looks different."

Fakhir's cheeks flush with embarrassment as he stammers, "Oh, uh, well, it's just... we're really good friends, you know?"

Arsal raises an eyebrow, unconvinced by Fakhir's vague response. "If you say so, man."

Arsal's question, despite Fakhir having a girlfriend, plants a seed of doubt in Fakhir's mind. He had never considered the possibility of anything beyond friendship with Ainy, but now, her proximity and their recent interactions make him wonder if there might be something more to their relationship. It's a thought that he can't easily shake off as he replays their moments together in his mind, each one taking on a slightly different meaning than before.

The memory of waking up beside Fakhir, their hands intertwined, lingers in Ainy's thoughts. She can't deny the rush of emotions she felt at that moment. It's confusing and unsettling. Ainy wonders if there might be something more between them, a depth of feeling she hadn't considered before. And then a surge of anger and frustration wells up within her. She can't help but be annoyed with herself for even entertaining the thought that there might be something more between her and Fakhir. It feels like a betrayal of her own feelings and her commitment to her studies and family.

"Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai, Ainy," she whispers to herself, trying to reassure her racing heart and confused mind.

Aiman stirs beside her and, sensing her distress, asks, "Kisse baat kar rahi ho?" Ainy shakes her head, not ready to share her inner turmoil with anyone just yet.

Aisha and Sameena find a moment to sit together and discuss their concerns about the upcoming wedding. They both express their worry that Zaheer might have reconsidered his decision, especially because he hasn't mentioned the wedding since Sameena talked to him.

"I can't help but wonder, Sameena, if Zaheer bhai has had a change of heart," Aisha confides, her brow furrowed with concern.

Sameena nods in agreement. "I've been thinking the same thing. It's been days since I spoke to him about this, and he hasn't brought it up again. I hope he's reconsidering."

"Haan, bhabhi. Aisa hi ho."

The sisters share a hopeful glance, silently wishing for a positive resolution to the situation, one that would allow Ainy and Fakhir to pursue their dreams before taking such a significant step in their lives.

In the evening, after the chaos of the morning had settled, Aisha decides to have a private conversation with her daughter, Ainy. She wants to address the situation without making Ainy feel uncomfortable or defensive.

Aisha gently calls Ainy to her room, and they sit down together. Ainy, sensing the seriousness in her mother's expression, feels a bit anxious.

Aisha begins, "Ainy, I want to talk to you about something that happened this morning. I saw Fakhir and Arsal sleeping beside you, and it worries me a little. I understand that you and Fakhir are close cousins, but as you're growing up, it's essential to maintain appropriate boundaries."

Ainy, feeling a mix of emotions, nods silently, unsure of how to respond.

Aisha continues, "I trust you, Ainy, and I know you wouldn't do anything to jeopardize your reputation or our family's name. However, it's essential to be cautious and avoid situations that could be misinterpreted by others. People can be quick to judge."

Ainy starts to speak, "Amma, I—"

Aisha gently places a hand on Ainy's shoulder, reassuring her, "I'm not accusing you of anything, my dear. I just want you to understand the importance of maintaining boundaries, especially in our society. As you're growing up, there might be situations that arise, and I want you to be prepared to handle them wisely."

Ainy looks into her mother's eyes, grateful for the understanding and support she finds there. She realizes that her mother's concern comes from a place of love and protection.

"Thank you, Amma," Ainy says softly. "I understand what you're saying, and I'll be more careful."

Aisha smiles, relieved that their conversation went well. She knows that as Ainy continues to navigate the complexities of growing up, these conversations will become more frequent and important.

Zaheer summons everyone to his room. He exhales before he starts the conversation.

"I've given this a lot of thought, and I have decided that Ainy and Fakhir's wedding will proceed. I want to see them married while I am still here, and I hope you all can understand my perspective."

Fakhir and Ainy exchange anxious glances, silently communicating their concern.

"But, Zaheer," Sameena starts to voice her reservations, but Zaheer interrupts her.

"I understand that some of you may have reservations, but I believe this is the right decision. I ask for your support and cooperation in making the preparations for their wedding. Let's begin the arrangements."

Saiqa, deeply concerned about her niece and nephew, can't stay silent. "Bhai, we talked about it. You are not thinking about the children. Don't be selfish."

"Zaheer bhai, let the children be children," Aisha adds her voice to the conversation.

But Habeeb intervenes, scolding his wife. "Aisha, tum beech mein mat bolo."

Ainy, feeling a strong need to voice her concerns, speaks up with determination, addressing her father, "Amma ne kuch galat nahi kaha, Abba. Hum bache hai to humein bache rahne kyu nahi dete aap log?"

Habeeb's face tightens with anger as he responds sharply to Ainy, "Tum apne abbu se aise baat nahi kar sakti, Ainy. Zaheer bhai ka faisla hai, aur hum uski izzat karenge."

Ainy, taken aback by her father's stern reaction, falls silent.

Fakhir, seeing the tension escalating and feeling the need to support Ainy, speaks up, "Chchu, Ainy is right. We're still young, and we have dreams and goals. Getting married now would only hinder our future plans. Please reconsider this decision."

Zaheer and Habeeb's mother suddenly raises her voice, commanding everyone to be silent. Once she has their attention, she says firmly, "Enough! Zaheer's decision is final, and there will be no further discussion or changes in this matter. We will proceed with the preparations for Ainy and Fakhir's wedding as he wishes." Her tone brooks no dissent, making it clear that the matter is settled.

Amma's words hang in the air, and the room falls into a heavy silence. Each family member reacts differently, but they all know that when Amma speaks, her words are the final authority in the household.