Mayi Ri

Chapter 1

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the epic showdown of the century!" Faiza declares dramatically, holding an imaginary microphone to her lips. "We've got Fakhir, the seasoned veteran of carrom, facing off against Ainy, the rising star, in this high-stakes battle!"

Ainy steps up to the carrom board, her eyes gleaming with determination. She lines up her shot and, with precision, strikes the striker. The carrom men slide gracefully into the pouches along the edges.

"Three more points for me," Ainy proclaims, her victory smile directed at Fakhir.

"But wait, folks," Faiza continues, her voice dripping with suspense. "It seems like Fakhir might have something to say about that shot. Is it all in the wrist, or is there some trickery afoot?"

Fakhir's brow furrows in skepticism. "That's impossible. You're cheating," he accuses, his voice tinged with annoyance.

"Now, Fakhir is not one to take things lightly," Faiza observes, her tone shifting to one of impartiality. "He's making his case, questioning the very essence of this game. Is there a dark cloud looming over this match?"

Ainy chimes in, her tone teasing, "Yeah?Fakhir, don't be a sore loser."

Faiza, ever the commentator,summarises the situation with flair. "Ladies and gentlemen, the tension is palpable! Will Fakhir's accusations stand, or will Ainy continue her winning streak? Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment of Carrom Chronicles!"

Fakhir's frustration grows. No. No. I don't agree with this," he argues vehemently.

"Looser," Ainy taunts him.

Amidst the escalating dispute, Sameena, Fakhir's mother, calls out to her son repeatedly. Her voice is a distant echo in the midst of their intense rivalry.

Desperate for Fakhir's presence, Sameena steps into the balcony,her eyes scanning the tranquil scene. There, amidst the lush greenery, she finds their maid, Aamina, diligently tending to the garden, watering the plants with care.

From the balcony, Sameena calls out to Aamina urgently, "Aamina, please ask Fakhir to come immediately. His father's health has worsened."

Aamina, her face marked with concern, nods and hurries inside to find Fakhir, Ainy, and Faiza engrossed in their carrom game.

"Fakhir, your father's health has worsened. Bhabhi is calling you," she delivers the urgent message.

As soon as Aamina speaks, the three kids spring into action, abandoning their game, and rush towards Fakhir's parents' room, their hearts heavy with worry.

"Juldi ao, Fakhir," Sameena urges her son. Fakhir, his heart pounding with anxiety, rushes to his father's side.

"Ainy, I've called your father. Can you check if he has arrived? We need to take Zaheer to the hospital immediately," Sameena implores, her voice filled with concern.

Ainy rushes downstairs and collides with her father.Habeeb, clearly agitated, asks angrily, "Can't you watch where you're going?"However, Habeeb doesn't pause to listen to his daughter's explanation. Instead, driven by worry for his brother, he rushes towards Zaheer's room.

"Ainy, what happened? Why is bhabhi shouting?" Aisha arrives, concerned and inquiring about the commotion.

"Amma, Bare Abbu is not okay," Ainy says, her voice filled with concern. Aisha, her heart racing, places her hand on her chest. She rushes to Sameena's side. She places a comforting hand on Sameena's shoulder.

Fakhir and Habeeb, with utmost care, carry Zaheer downstairs to the car. Habeeb swiftly starts the car's engine, and with Zaheer in the backseat, with Sameena, and Aisha by his side.

"May Allah make him okay," Ainy says with a heartfelt prayer.

"Ameen," Fakhir and Faiza echo, their voices filled with hope and concern.

*******

Inside the observation room, the doctors are running a series of tests on Zaheer, their faces marked with concern. The room is filled with the hum of medical equipment, and the beeping of monitors.

Meanwhile, Sameena, Habeeb, and Aisha sit outside the observation room, their expressions tense with worry. They exchange anxious glances as they await news about Zaheer's condition.

The doctor emerges from the observation room. Her demeanour is grave, and she approach the family with a solemn expression.

"I'm afraid I have some concerning news," the doctor begins, her voice measured. "Zaheer's condition is critical. We've identified a serious issue with his heart, and he's in need of immediate intervention."

The family members exchange stunned looks, their hearts heavy with the weight of the diagnosis. Sameena holds onto Aisha tightly. The doctor continues, "We're going to do everything we can to stabilize him, but I won't sugarcoat it—this is a life-threatening situation. We'll keep you updated on his progress, and we're doing our best to ensure the best possible outcome."

Sameena, her hand trembling, clutches her chest, as if trying to hold onto hope itself.

"Bhabhi, he is going to be okay. In sha Allah," Aisha reassures Sameena, her voice filled with hope.

Tears well up in Sameena's eyes as she looks at Aisha, her voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. "Haven't you heard what the doctor said, Aisha?"

Aisha looks at her husband, hoping to find strength and reassurance. Habeeb, initially shocked like Sameena, gathers his thoughts and manages to compose himself. He joins Aisha in offering support to Sameena.

"Sometimes doctors are wrong, too," Habeeb says, his voice steady and filled with conviction. "Everything is in Allah's hand, bhabhi. Please don't worry."

While they wait for an update on Zaheer, Habeeb takes a moment to call his sisters and inform them about Zaheer's critical condition. Aisha makes a call to their home.

Ainy and Faiza are diligently working on their homework, in their room. Ainy not only focuses on her own assignments but also lends a helping hand to Faiza, assisting her with her homework as they study together.

Ainy's phone suddenly rings, indicating that her mother is calling. She quickly answers, her voice filled with concern.

"Amma, is everything okay?" Ainy asks anxiously, her worry evident. Faiza also stops doing her homework and listens intently to her sister and mother's conversation.

Aisha's voice trembles as she continues, "No, Guriya. He's in the observation. The doctor is saying that he has some serious heart problem." There's a brief pause in the conversation, Ainy listening intently.

"Can you give everyone dinner?" Aisha's request carries a sense of urgency and concern. "I don't know when we are coming back."

Ainy understands the situation and agrees, "Of course, Amma. I'll make sure everyone has dinner. Please take care and keep us updated."

Faiza, concerned, asks her sister, "What did Amma say?"

Ainy replies with a somber tone, "Bare abbu has some serious heart problem, Faiza." She then instructs her younger sister, "Go and call Daadi for dinner. I will call Fakhir. I don't know if he has slept while playing video games." Ainy gets up from her bed and walks to Fakhir's room.

"Fakhir," Ainy calls out softly as she enters his room. She finds him sleeping on the bed, his head resting against the bed's headboard, his phone having slipped from his hand onto the bed.

Ainy observes her cousin's peaceful sleep for a moment, her worry for her family battling with the need to wake him. She gently approaches him, attempting to rouse him from his slumber.

"Fakhir, utho," Ainy shakes his shoulder gently, urging him to wake up. Fakhir slowly opens his eyes.

"Sone de, yaar Ainy," he mumbles, still half-asleep.

"Amma ka call aaya tha. She was saying that bare abbu has some serious heart problem. Did bari ammi call you?" Ainy asks, her concern evident as she sits on the edge of his bed.

Fakhir's drowsiness quickly fades as he sits up on the bed. "Nahi," he replies, his expression changing to one of concern.

"In sha Allah, he will be okay, Fakhir," Ainy offers comforting words as she holds Fakhir's hand. Fakhir manages a faint smile.

"Chalo, khana khate hain," Ainy suggests, taking the lead and guiding Fakhir toward the dining area. Fakhir follows Ainy to the dining area where Daadi is sitting, and Faiza is busy setting the plates down on the table.

"Fakhir,help me with bringing the food," Ainy requests Fakhir.

"I can't," Fakhir replies, moving to sit beside Daadi.

Ainy, determined, grabs him by his shirt. However, Daadi intervenes, scolding Ainy. "Ainy, what are you doing? He is a boy. He doesn't have to help you in the kitchen." Reluctantly, Ainy releases her grip on Fakhir.

"Sorry, Daadi," Ainy apologizes, her disappointment evident as she disappears into the kitchen.

Fakhir notices the change in her demeanour and decides to lighten the mood. He turns to Daadi with a playful smile. "Daadi, agar larka ho to kya hua? If I can lift some dumbbells, I can easily handle kitchen utensils. Your grandson is strong," he jokes, trying to make light of the situation.

"Fakhir, baith jao. Kitchen larkon ke lie nahi hai. Let Ainy handle it," Daadi orders him. Fakhir complies, taking a seat beside her, while he waits for Ainy to bring the food. Faiza observes this and realises how much Fakhir is favoured over her and her sister simply because he is a boy.

After dinner, Ainy and Faiza wash the dishes and clean the kitchen, while Fakhir plays video games in his room.

Faiza, however, expresses her disappointment and frustration. "Why is it every time we have to be in the kitchen, and he gets to play video games?"

"Faiza, iss ghar ke kaunsa mard auraton ki help karta hai? Fakhir is the same as our Abba and Bare abbu. They all are the same. All the men in this family are the same. And the women in the house are repeating the same cycle by teaching Fakhir to be exactly like the men in our family," Ainy voices her frustration.

"Kiski baat ho rahi hai?" Fakhir comes to the kitchen.

"Tumhari," Ainy says angrily.

"What did I do now?" He asks confused.

"You didn't do anything. That's the problem. You men don't do anything. You can't show sympathy towards the women in your house," Ainy criticizes.

Fakhir takes a bottle from the fridge, takes a sip, and speaks, "Ainy, daadi ki baat ka bura mat mano, yaar. You know her. She is old. She is not going to change her views for you."

Ainy, impassioned and determined, continues her conversation with Fakhir. "You know what my problem is? My problem is not Daadi's views or any of the men or women in the household's views. My problem is you. You are not from their generation. You've seen how your mother suffers, how our mother suffers because of all these culture and norms. And yet, you didn't feel like changing it. Instead, you are following the same path as the men in our family," Ainy speaks without taking a breath, expressing her frustration and disappointment.

Fakhir, understanding her point, defends himself. "It's not my fault. Nobody lets me in the kitchen, saying that I am a boy. They are imposing it on me. I have no choice."

"Then break it. Break all these stereotypes and gender roles. I have no problem handling the kitchen, but I don't want to be forced to do it just because I am a girl."

Fakhir sends Faiza away and sits down with Ainy, holding her hand as they both take a seat.

"Ainy, I want to bring change, but right now, we are kids. No one is going to listen to us. They will silence us. Until we grow up, just do whatever they tell us to do. When we grow up, we can bring changes," Fakhir explains his perspective.

Ainy is about to respond, but Fakhir playfully interrupts her by putting his water bottle to her mouth. "Drink. You talked a lot."

Ainy drinks the water and sighs. She then makes a heartfelt request, "Promise me, Fakhir. When you get married, you won't treat your wife like my father treats my mother. Promise me that you will be a good father to your daughter."

Fakhir chuckles and takes Ainy's hand. "I promise, I will be the best husband and the best father in the world. You also have to promise me."

Ainy, intrigued, asks, "What?"

Fakhir grins mischievously, "That you will not beat your husband and you will listen to him when he needs you."

Ainy laughs and agrees, "I promise."

Fakhir, quick on his feet, teases her by pulling her hair and dashes to his room before Ainy can retaliate.

Ainy sighs with hope, believing that their generation will put an end to all the toxicity in their household. She envisions a future where, when their own children come into the world, they will have a loving home instead of just a house.