Hirz-e-Jaan

Ulfat 1

She ran off to her mother without thinking twice. She clutched her dupatta as she ran. Haider could only watch as she ran away, her khussa's clacking voice, the only sound he could hear.

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At the dinner table, Chaudhary Sahab or Raza Chaudhary, sat at the head chair. Haider sat right beside him, followed by Taimur. On the other hand was their mother, Safeena Raza Chaudhary, with Saif in her lap.

No matter how patriarchal Chaudhary sahab's rule was, he had always considered the women of his house to be his pride. After having a tough childhood himself, seeing his father abuse his mother, he vowed to never do so himself.

However, he still believed that a woman's duty was to look after the house and bear children while the man provided for her and their offspring.

Chaudhary Sahab suddenly mentions, "Safeena, Haider ko khane ke liye aur do. Mere sher ne akhir aik din panch banna he." (Safeena, give Haider more food to eat. Afterall he's going to be the leader one day.) (A/N: Think of a panch/leader as a chief but it's normally a title given to someone that has wealth, power and status. Every matter, big or small, is presented to the panch. It is pronounced as punch.)

Safeena gets up and puts more food onto Haider's plate and does the same for Taimur so he doesn't feel left out. She knew her kids well. She knew Taimur wanted to be treated the same as Haider.

"Baba sahab, jab mein panch banoon ga to meri begum bhi hogi na? Jese Ammi ghar ki begum hein." Haider asks out of curiosity. (Father sir, when I become the leader, will I have a wife that would be the madam? Just like how Mom is the Madam of the house.)

Chaudhary Sahab, caught a little off guard by the question, decided to see where the conversation might lead to. "Jee hogi to sahi. Kion pooch rahe ho?" (Yeah naturally so. Why are you asking?)

"Acha phir meri begum bhi men chun sakta hoon?" Haider asked further, wanting to know if he had any say in the matter. (Alright then, can I choose my own wife?)

Chaudhary Sahab has left his food, giving all his attention to Haider. He wanted to know what exactly his son was thinking.

Chaudhary Sahab then replied, "Bilkul. Isme konsi esi baat he." (Of course. That's not a big deal.)

"Acha to phir meri begum Mehrunnisa hogi." Haider said, looking right at his father. (Okay then my wife will be Mehrunnisa.)

Safeena opened her mouth to scold Haider for saying something so out of hand. A kid his age shouldn't be saying things like this. But then again, Haider never acted his age. Chaudhary Sahab had made sure to prioritize his business more than his son's childhood.

Before she could open her mouth and scold him, Chaudhary sahab raised his hand, stopping her. Chaudhary Sahab looked at Haider, trying to figure out whether it was just a random thought in his son's mind or he actually meant it.

That moment, Raza Chaudhary saw nothing but pure, raw passion. It was as if he had wanted nothing more.

Chaudhary Sahab, still at a loss for words, just nodded and said, "Acha to yeh apko kese pata he?" (Right and how do you know that?)

"Mujhe bas pata he." Haider replied, still staring at his father. (I just know.)

"Chaudhary Sahab, ap apna khana khayein. Haider ko nahi pata wo kia keh raha he." Safeena said. She wanted to brush it off like it never happened. (Mr. Chaudhary, you shouldn't mind him. Haider doesn't know what he's saying.)