Zaviyaar felt very angry at his mother. He didn't understand why she acted this way. He wasn't taught about Allah or prayer when he was young. Instead, his mother always told him not to pray, saying he was too young and should enjoy life. Now that he was older, he wanted to feel close to Allah, but it was hard.
He couldn't help but steal glances at Noor, who followed him timidly. She looked pure and beautiful in her white shalwar kameez, and her eyes, a captivating grey with a hint of green, held a certain allure. He wished he could hold her tiny hands, look into those compelling eyes, and shield her from the world's cruelty. Her eyes were special, grey with a hint of green.
Lost in these thoughts, Noor's gentle snap of her fingers stirred him from his thoughts, and he became aware of their present surroundings. They were now standing outside his father's room. Zaviyaar drew in a steadying breath, his determination warring with uncertainty. He knocked on the door and asked, "Baba, may I come in?"
Ibrahim lowered his reading glasses and kept his book away sitting up straight, "Yes betta, come in, what's the matter?"
Zaviyaar, with Noor by his side, entered the room and began, "Baba, I wanted to talk to you about Mama. Her behaviour towards Noor has been increasingly unreasonable. Just now, she had Noor punished simply because Zenia was praying next to her."
Ibrahim listened attentively, his expression growing more serious with each word. He considered the situation and then spoke, "I see. Well, I will have a chat with her. This isn't right. But, my boy, you should try to stay away from these matters. The women of the house can handle it. You shouldn't interfere."
Zaviyaar's frustration was evident as he replied, "Baba, didn't you always teach me to stand up for what's right? I can't believe you're telling me to look away."
Ibrahim acknowledged, "I did acknowledge that what she did was wrong. What I'm saying is that your Mama can handle these matters on her own. I will ask her not to treat Noor harshly again. Okay? And Zaviyaar, please stop doing this for the house servant. Who is more important? Your mama or this girl who's here just for Daadi. One day, she will just steal something from the house and run away, and then all your heroism will die. There are many women out there much better and more beautiful than her. Stop wasting your time with her because our family will never accept a servant as our daughter in law. I know I sound very harsh, but this is reality. I have noticed you running around like a love sick puppy, and it's pathetic. If I see you being involved with her, it will be her last day working here."
Noor was deeply hurt by Mr. Ibrahims words, but he was right. She's just a servant. What was she thinking?
Zaviyaar, still disturbed by the situation, replied through gritted teeth, "Okay." His sense of justice was at odds with the desire to respect his father's wishes, leaving him conflicted about how to proceed.
Leaving the room in a cloud of anger, Zaviyaar's back was turned to Noor as he spoke bitterly, "I think you should go check on Daadi. She will be waiting for you. I can't do anything for you. Look out for yourself."
His words cut through the air, leaving Noor feeling a sense of abandonment. She didn't understand the true reason behind his frustration; instead, she assumed he was done with her. Her voice trembled with a mixture of hurt and frustration as she retorted, "I never wanted your help, Zaviyaar. I didn't even ask you to help me. You insisted. You should stop toying with me. You're Zaviyaar Ibrahim Khan, a wealthy man with high status, and I am just ordinary Noor, a low life in the eyes of society. You and I shouldn't even be talking."
Tears welled up in Noor's eyes, her pain palpable in her voice. Zaviyaar was about to politely tell her that what she was thinking was wrong, but his anger got the better of him. Why had he even tried to change? It seemed that every time he attempted to do something good, the world conspired to thwart his efforts.
Zaviyaar's frustration with the situation and his own feelings boiled beneath the surface. He turned to face Noor, his expression tense. "You think I'm toying with you?" His voice held a hint of anger as he continued, "You have no idea what's going on here, Noor. This isn't some game for me."
Noor, too, felt her emotions intensify. She wasn't one to back down easily. "Well, it certainly feels like a game. One minute you want to help, the next you're telling me to stay away from you. Make up your mind, Zaviyaar."
Zaviyaar's frustration grew, and he couldn't help but raise his voice slightly, "You don't understand, Noor! It's not that simple. I can't just fix everything with a snap of my fingers."
Noor, determined to make her point, retorted, "And I don't need you to fix everything for me. I've managed my whole life without your help."
The tension between them was palpable as their emotions clashed. The gap between them widened as uncertainty and misunderstanding hung heavy in the air.
Noor hurried upstairs to Daadi's room, determined to put on a brave face despite her inner turmoil. Before entering, she wiped away her tears and conjured a smile. "Daadi jaan, how are you doing?"
Daadi scrutinized Noor's face for a moment and then asked, "Where were you all morning, girl?"
Noor hesitated, knowing she had to fabricate a story to avoid worrying Daadi. "Mrs. Mehnaz had some work she wanted me to take care of," she replied, feeling a pang of guilt for lying to her beloved Daadi. But she believed it was for the best, considering the circumstances.
Daadi sighed and then reached for her purse, rummaging through it for some cash. "Ohhh, my medicine is almost over, and I didn't even realize. Neither did you, silly girl. Now run along and get them for me," she instructed, handing Noor the money for the medications.
Noor's heart raced as she contemplated how to explain her inability to leave the house. "Me? How can I?" she hesitated, fearing Daadi's reaction. After all, her Uncle Khalifa had always been adamant about her not leaving the house.
Daadi's tone was reassuring. While placing the money in Noors hand, she said,"Why not? Rabail used to get it for me. Why can't you? Don't be scared, my dear. This is a safe community, and the pharmacy is just round the corner. A bit of fresh air will do you some good. Be quick."
Noor nodded, her apprehension mingling with a glimmer of hope. She was torn between her duty to Daadi and the risk of going outside, but she knew she had to try for the sake of the woman who had become her family.
Zaviyaar had stormed out of the house after his heated argument with Noor, leaving behind the intense emotions that had gripped him. Now, he found himself in the company of a different woman, Tina, or perhaps it was Faryal; the details blurred as the night wore on. She clung to his arm, and he held a drink in his hand, the ice cubes clinking softly against the glass. It was a stark contrast to the complicated emotions and disagreements he had just experienced with Noor.
With this woman, Tina—or was it Faryal?—by his side, Zaviyaar felt a sense of carefree liberation. This woman was vivacious, outgoing, and didn't hesitate to touch him. Her laughter was infectious, and she seemed entirely unburdened by the complexities of life. Zaviyaar couldn't help but find it refreshing. Noor, on the other hand, was a puzzle to him. Her emotional depth sometimes felt overwhelming. She had a way of delving into the depths of his soul, stirring up feelings he had long suppressed. And yes, she had her reservations about physical contact, which was in stark contrast to the easy, casual touches of the woman beside him.
Zaviyaar's attempt to be a "better" person weighed heavily on his mind as he sat in the dimly lit bar, surrounded by the rhythmic beats of music and the laughter of strangers. What had he gained from this change in himself? His mother and father had both vehemently opposed his newfound interest in someone like Noor. Society deemed her a good person, but her position as a servant seemed to make her unworthy in the eyes of his family and perhaps even himself. His attraction towards her had deluded him.
Doubts crept into his mind. Was he overreacting? Had he allowed himself to become too emotionally involved with someone who, according to the norms he had grown up with, was meant to be invisible, a background figure in their lives? The thought gnawed at him, and he found himself torn between the expectations of his family and the feelings he couldn't deny.
Perhaps Baba was right, he thought bitterly. Noor was just a servant, and he was changing himself fundamentally for someone who, by society's standards, was beneath him. These conflicting emotions and the disapproval from those he loved left him in a state of turmoil, questioning the path he had chosen to take.
Noor made her way towards the pharmacy with a joyful spring in her step, the money Daadi had given her clutched in her hand. Each stride was a little skip, and a smile played on her lips. She relished the opportunity to step out of the house, breathe in the fresh air, and escape the confines of the four walls that had been her world for so long.
As she walked along, she couldn't help but notice the beauty of the world around her. The birds perched on telephone wires above, their melodious chirping filling the air with a sweet serenade. The sky painted a breathtaking canvas overhead, hues of orange and pink merging as the sun began its descent. The sight of the sunset left her in awe, its vibrant colours a reminder of the beauty that existed beyond her everyday struggles.
Noor arrived at the pharmacy, and with a sense of purpose, she went inside and purchased the much-needed medicines. Daadi had handed her a large bill since she didn't have any change, and Noor knew she had to be careful with it. Money had never held a strong allure for her, even though she had lived a poor life.
As she handed over the bill and received the change, Noor felt a fleeting sense of responsibility for the precious currency in her hands. She understood that every penny counted, especially in their modest household, and she was determined to ensure that Daadi's needs were met with utmost care and efficiency. With the medicines safely in her possession and the change secured.
Noor left the pharmacy, her steps light and as soon as she was just about to turn the corner that led to the path toward the house when, in an instant, she felt a strong hand grab her shoulder from behind. The unexpected touch sent a shiver of fear down her spine, and she froze in her tracks, her heart pounding in her chest.