Hikayat ✔

Chap. 26

The car stopped in front of her office. The engine cut of and there was heavy silence in the air.

Zeeshan signed his head, and bit his lips while Zainab shrunk in the back-seat not wanting to be noticed.

Vania sat very still. Very silent.

He breathing out with a huff, breaking the silence, "Yaar aapi, please ayse chup toh mat ho jaya kareyn. Aap ko nhi karni shadi aap ne bol diya, bss baat khatam. Ab hum Mama ko dubara yeh topic chayrne nhi den ge. But please aap ayse khamosh nhi hua kareyn." He pleaded.

It was another morning of the same argument where Maniha told Vania she was going to talk to 'Gurya Apa' a matchmaker in the neighborhood to show a suitable rishta for Vania.

Another morning of Vania giving her the same answers and another morning of Maniha repeating the same lines, "Mujhe tumheyn ghar bitha ke tumhari kamayi khaney ka koi shouq nhi hai Vania! Main tumheyn apni life main settled dekhna chahti hun! Samajhti kyun nhi ho tum meri baat?!"

Another morning of the same argument getting heated till Vania left with Zeeshan and Zainab escaping to the safety of her office.

But after every argument, she had this silent air about her where she didn't cry, didn't talk, sat completely still.

Zeeshan hated this.

Vania swallowed bitterly, her face expressionless. As usual, she did what she could best, suppress her real emotions and not let out what she truly felt. Because she couldn't break down. She didn't have anyone to help her if she did.

Being strong was her only option.

She licked her lips and gave a small smile patting her cousin's shoulder lightly, "Main theek hun, yar... Don't worry."

Zeeshan's heart cracked a little and he sighed turning away.

Just once he wished his sister would say what she really felt. Share her pain, instead of always keeping it in.

But she wouldn't. He knew she wouldn't.

Vania was a lone warrior. They didn't share their burdens with others. They shouldered other's burdens on theirs.

He opened his mouth to speak but Vania opened the door, wordlessly stepping out.

She turned around and repeated monotonously, "School phonch ker message ker dena mujhe. Allah Hafiz."

They watched her walk in with sound steps, her back straight, her head high.

Shaking his head he reversed the car and sped away.

***

Vania dumped her bag on the desk with a 'thump' then sat down letting out a deep exhale.

Anoushey who was the only one present beside her in the room, frowned as she watched Vania massage her temples, stressed.

Her dark circles were visible even under the thick layer of concealer, and her eyelids drooped with lack of sleep, shoulders slumped dejectedly.

"Hey," She reached out and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Vania looked up as if just noticing her.

"Tum theek ho?" Anoushey asked softly.

Vania took in a deep breath and released it with a raspy sound, "Theek hun yaar, mujh kyaa hona hai."

...
Because it was the norm now, and she was used to it.

Since she turned 23, everyday Maniha khala would stress upon her marriage, stress upon how she needed to settle.