Anihilation-of-self-in-love-part-2.html

Annihilation of self in love part 1

Forgiveness is not easy

Safabrandscorne

Mirrors of the hearts

The sharp, shrieking sound was not an alarm but another familiar voice, which was echoing from his subconscious or conscious mind in his sleep, anyway from somewhere, and besides this voice there was another voice too. "Get up, get up, wake up."

There was also an earthquake shaking his entire being, jolting him badly. And finally his consciousness slowly awakened, thus the identity and recognition of both voices came into understanding.

The first sharp, shrieking voice was that of his respected father, who was calling out from the lounge outside the room to wake him up, and what he felt was an earthquake. That was his mother, holding his shoulder and shaking him.

"Get up Jehangir, wake up." "Why wake up? Why should I get up? Is it permissible to make this request to a person who sleeps after performing the Fajr prayer in the morning after a night shift?"

"No, this was not a request, it was an order." Jehangir this time his mother called him from so far away that he came from the world of sleep to the world of wakefulness. "Has doomsday come so early in the morning?" He groaned, barely opening his eyes.

"Have you gotten up, young man, or not?" Before his mother could say anything, his father sitting in the lounge outside inquired in a loud voice. "Get up quickly and get ready.

Noor jahan's Coming to Hyderabad. You have to go to the station, that's why mother answered his ultimate question. Instead of being woken up, he was shaken awake, due to which the angles of his face always frowned as usual, they would get angry just by hearing or mentioning the name Noor Jahan.

"Why does she come every year? To celebrate her holidays and ruin our lives." Jahanagir gritted his teeth, he had a childhood enmity with this girl which both parties were consistently nurturing. "Grow up Jahanagir. You are not a child anymore."

"Come out quickly, your father has been calling you for a long time. If that Lady Gaga can come from Hyderabad to Karachi, can't she come from the station to the house?" He pulled the sheet up to his mouth.

"Have some shame, what are you talking about? Morality is also something that we have been trying unsuccessfully to teach you since childhood." At that moment, the mother scolded her son in the manner of her real God.

"It would be better if you get up at my request. If your father wakes you up himself, it will not be good for you." Mother threatened and he angrily pulled the sheet off his face.

"Do all the work in this house happen in an emergency? Couldn't you have told me earlier?"

"You know about your father, don't you? Your uncle called yesterday and he forgot to tell us about Jahan's arrival. He just called again."

(She) came and told, in fact, ordered that I should pick you up and send you to the station. Mother, being a little hesitant, (gave) details.

They never forget to insult the son, though."

But Forget everything else . The son, struck by a generation gap, grumbled.

"Get out or your father will come in." The mother gave an order and a threat at the same time and left the room.

"May God help you, daughter of Noor Jahan, you have made my peace, comfort, sleep, and rest all forbidden."

He got up grinding his teeth. Then it took him only five to seven minutes to shower, change clothes, and come to the lounge because his father's call had now turned into a roar.

He was about to sit down by pulling the chair back around the dining table when the glory of Akbar the Great returned.

"Now you will take time for breakfast, the time for the train to arrive is near. Will that poor girl sit at the station waiting for you?"

As he was speaking, the mother came out of the kitchen with a breakfast tray in her hand.

"So now he will go out on an empty stomach? Let him have breakfast, it will take five minutes." She gestured for her son to sit down.

"The train must have arrived, what about food? He will buy something from outside and eat it." The father complained.

"Two, it's your fault, if you had told him last night, he would have woken up and gotten ready on time." The mother intervened. "Now blame me for my mistake, do that, feed your child breakfast. I'll go myself."

Akbar the Great used his tried and tested weapon, emotional blackmail, through which he used to defeat the other person completely. And this is why the color of the son's face changed.

Without saying anything, he darted out of there like an arrow. Ami kept calling from behind. Akbar Azam was doing justice to the breakfast brought by them.

There was the usual hustle and bustle at the Cantt station. A large crowd of people, food stalls, vendors roaming the platform, and a train standing on the track ready to leave. The whistle blew and the train slowly started moving. Most of the people had boarded. Only one boy among the passengers came running and boarded the train. His travel bag was hanging on his shoulders.

Jahangir, sitting on the platform bench, was now busy distracting himself and passing time with these scenes. The train coming from Hyderabad was late. When will it arrive? No one knows.

This was the first revelation after reaching the station, which obviously annoyed him, but the second revelation blew his mind. He had forgotten his wallet at home. At that moment he was sitting hungry and thirsty, forced to fret. The mobile also had low charge. He was forced to use it carefully.

Ami had called from home. He told her about the late arrival of the train. But he couldn't tell her about forgetting the wallet at home.

"Did you eat anything, Taim?" she asks with great concern.

Jahangir stopped mid-sentence. If he had told her, she would have been fretting until he returned home. She would probably not have eaten anything.

"I had a rusk and juice," he lied.

"Okay, fine, eat properly when you get home."

I'll cook of your and Noor jahan's preference

Was it necessary to take that name? Get Jahangir strangled...

"Okay, I am hanging up the phone now."

"Wait a minute," Jahangir stopped her quickly. "Father keeps an eye. He eats sweets secretly. His sugar will increase."

"Yes, I keep a check on him, okay. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

☆☆☆

There was silence in the lounge, the sound of utensils clinking from the kitchen and various types of aromas were coming, the smell of frying onions, the smell of roasting spices. Akbar Azam, sitting in the lounge, stretched. He cast a bored glance at his mobile, which he did not feel like looking at right now. He was worried after hearing the news that the train would be late. With this worry on his face, he came into the kitchen. "What are you saying, young man, when will the train arrive?"

"He is not a train driver that he would tell the exact time, what he found out, he told you." Begum Sahiba, who was roasting spices, replied and turned down the stove's heat.

"This is a fine mess, trains get late by several hours. How will this country ever progress?" The metaphorical god (husband) got another worry.

"Just as the country is managing somehow, it will one day step onto the highway of progress as well."

She was the best speaker in her school and college days. She remembered these big sentences and heavy terms by heart.

Waiting for someone, whether favorite or disliked. The difference is only in the degree of distress, boredom, and irritation.

Tareen arrived and was standing on the platform with her travel bag. Jahangir took a sigh of relief. Although he was dying of hunger and thirst and God knows what else was happening to our share.

Neither of them bothered to ask about the other's well-being.

They both looked fine, so why was it necessary to ask? Yes, Jahangir did ask one question, or maybe a complaint:

"Tareen, if you were late, you should have called. I would have been saved from being hungry, thirsty, and miserable for so many hours."

"If there was a war going on, I would have called." Handing over the luggage to him, she walked ahead. Jahangir looked at her with a glare from behind as he carried the luggage.

"Look at the attitude, grandfather named her Noor Jahan, and she thinks of herself as Queen Noor Jahan and the rest as her slaves."

By the time Jahangir put the luggage in the trunk. The lady had opened the car door and sat in the back seat.

"Let's go. After being a porter, now I have been appointed to the post of chauffeur." Jahangir's facial angles changed and his tongue became uncontrollable.

"Come and sit in the front, you are sitting in the back like a queen, I am not your chauffeur. Prince Alam Jahangir got angry."

"Why should I sit in the front? If you are not a chauffeur, you are not a husband either. That I should grant you this honor?" The queen replied sharply.

I seek forgiveness from Allah, I don't need this honor either. Even if you were the last girl in the world, I wouldn't marry you.

The fight between the two started before the car even started.

The matter of the last girl is a long way off, show me one of the millions of girls available right now and marry her. Alia challenged him in a teasing manner.

Praise be to Allah, I have many proposals, many girls available for me, I just need to say yes. Jahangir puffed out his chest and collar.

Noor Jahan had a very poisonous smile on her lips.

You only get a girl when you have a job. Who would accept someone who has quit three jobs in one year?

From Queen Alia she became the successor of James Bond. She had all the secret information related to Jahangir's person and personal life.

Jahangir's eyebrows raised. He put the key in the ignition but before turning it, his own mind spun.

Who provides her with this information? Doing or quitting a job is my personal matter. You don't need to take interest or interfere.

Jahangir turned the key, started the car, and drove a one-minute distance in forty minutes.

Akbar's father, as always, was very much smitten by his capable, cheerful, well-behaved, friendly, and who knows what other qualities his daughter possessed, and was talking to his son while praising her. And this is his father's habit was unbearable for Jahangir.

Even if praised his niece in those two odes, why degrade the son by comparing him? He had protested to his mother repeatedly. Although she liked Noor Jahan, she shared her son's pain equally and had explained many times to her 'virtual god' (husband), but the husband was stuck in his habit. The comparison between Jahangir and Noor Jahan, which they had been doing since the children's childhood, how could they leave it after years, the children had grown up. But they had not grown up.

Mother had made quite a spread for the dinner. As if it wasn't one guest but the whole family that had come. Jahangir said the same thing to her.

"Why did you need to tire yourself out so much? You could have made one or two dishes, some could have been bought from the market. Today your helper is also sick. Did you do it all alone?"

Mother, as she served the dishes in bowls and platters, smiled. "I only made pulao and salad, the rest are things made by you that were frozen, I took them out. Reheated the haleem, it's completely fresh again, the shami kebabs were already made, just fried them. The minced meat with whole spices was made last night itself. Rejuvenated that too, and for dessert there's ice cream." Mother narrated her achievement with pleasure.

"My sweet and dear mother, don't freeze food for too many days. Both taste and benefit either decrease or disappear." Jahangir explained gently to his mother.

He was not just a good chef but also an expert in food, health, and diet.

He used to believe in the old saying, "Don't live to eat, but eat to live." This was also the reason for getting and leaving three jobs in one year. Wherever he went to work, inferior and substandard goods were used everywhere, some less, some more. Chef Jahangir's objection was either dismissed in a jiffy or in the air. If the owners used first-class goods, the profit would go down to second or even third class. Then what was the point of all this fuss and mess? And when the chef's insistence intensified, the owners would respectfully dismiss him. One even advised him to open his own dhaba (roadside eatery) and provide healthy food to the public, then he would know what it was like.

Acting on this advice was Jahangir's heartfelt desire and had been for a long time, but his personal bank balance was a kite's nest, in which money had no place. His father Akbar the Great's treasury was also not overflowing, but it was reasonable. But Jahangir felt it was very inappropriate to take money from his father for his business, and that too from such a respected father, who did not value his son's skill, ability, and work. He called it the work of barbers and women. This was a major reason for the difference or generation gap between the two father and son. Does this profession suit the apple of the eye of the Mughal generation?

At dinner, Akbar the Great was getting the latest information by interviewing Bhaji, and when the news of the whole house and family was over, the personal interview started. "How is your studies going?"

Very nice." Noor Jahan had an almost teasing smile, if not a scary one, on her lips as she glanced at Jahangir. Jahangir had started taking various cooking courses instead of doing his Master's after graduation. He had experience and skill from his boyhood when he used to stay in the kitchen with his mother. When his passion grew, he worked harder and took more courses to certify his skill.

"What are you reading?" Abu asked the next question as he put curry on his plate for the second time.

"Food Science."

"Oh? Is there a science to food too?"

"Of course there is. It is an art that has its own separate science."

Noor Jahan was eating the black lentils, which Jahangir had made at Ami's special request, with as much pleasure as she was answering.

"Oh, what are you eating lentils for, have this fish and this pulao. Ami Jan was a very good host as well as a very good person."

"Bari Ami, I have eaten everything. And everything is very tasty, including these lentils, that's why I am eating them."

"What are your intentions after your Master's?" Abu Jan took out rice on his plate, his meal and interview were still pending.

"Insha'Allah, I will do MPhil."

"Oh?" Abu looked at his son with a look that said, 'Look at this good-for-nothing, he thinks he has achieved something big by only studying fourteen classes, if he had read Iqbal carefully, he might have gotten some sense that there are other worlds beyond the stars. Education is pursued even after graduation, in fact, it can be pursued.'

Yes, okay, these days even sixteen classes don't have any special importance."

Abu's reproachful eyes scanned his son's face, who was squirming along with his meal and swallowing gulps of anger and patience, respectively, with water.

"That's right, after my MPhil, I plan to do a PhD." The Queen Alia was stating her future plans, taking the form of an ice-cold woman.

Here, Prince Jahangir wanted to break the head of this Lady Sheikh Chilli along with the eggs of her plans. After the things she was saying, the arrows of sarcasm and taunts were bound to be rained down by his respected father. But thanks to dear mother, she interrupted.

"If you keep studying, when will you get married?" "What about marriage, it will happen when and where it is in my destiny," Noor Jahan said carelessly.

"May Allah grant her a husband who straightens out the mind of this Queen Alia." A curse came from Jahangir's heart.

What else could come from a childhood wounded heart? ☆☆☆

After the meal, Akbar Azam had asked for coffee. The mother and the guest had refused, neither tea nor coffee.

When he made coffee and presented it to his father, the guest was already there, almost whispering something to him. As soon as Jahangir's feet landed, silence took the place of whispering. "Oh, busybody aunt," Jahangir glared at her with stern eyes. Then he looked at his father's expressions with a side eye, which were certainly not pleasant. And then when he started speaking, there was no softness or goodwill in his tone.

"Look, this is what children are like, studying and making their father's name famous, and you, you were studying IT so well. Instead of doing a master's, you became a chef."

When the father's sarcasm ended, the son felt angry. Looking at the guest with spiteful eyes, he replied:

"In a country where people's eating speed is faster than the internet, being a chef is more useful than an IT expert."

It was unclear whether his tone was more furious or his eyes more bloodthirsty; Malika Aliya thought it better to get up and leave.

The respected father continued to lecture while sipping his coffee. And Jahangir kept drinking gulps of blood (figuratively, meaning suppressing his anger) while listening to this lecture.

He took the empty coffee mug to the kitchen. Washed it and put it away. He was just leaving the kitchen when the guest came, opened the fridge, and took out a water bottle.

What better opportunity could there be? Jahangir made his voice and eyes as furious and bloodthirsty as possible and began:

"Listen, you came as a guest, so stay like a guest with manners, etiquette, and silence, enjoy your vacation, and leave. Beware of filling my father's ears with complaints, or no one will be worse than me."

To add more weight to his warning, Jahangir also pointed his finger straight at her like an arrow.

Noor Jahan fixed her piercing gaze on him and spoke in the same bloodthirsty manner as him.

First of all, I am not a guest here. This is my grandfather's house. Therefore, it is useless to expect, request, or anticipate politeness, manners, and silence from me."

"Secondly, I came here by my own will and will leave by my own will. Whether I leave a month before the holidays end or stay many months after the holidays are over."

"Thirdly, I don't need to fill anyone's ears. Your own actions are enough for that." Saying each word deliberately, she pointed her finger like a sword towards Jahangir.

"And beware if you try to threaten me, or no one will be worse than me."

Even after this speech, Jahangir's face was expressionless. He waved his hand as if to dismiss the buzzing near his ear.

In response, as she was leaving, Noor Jahan first pointed her two fingers towards her own eyes, then towards his eyes, which clearly meant she would be watching him.

Jahangir was not a fool; he understood the meaning and immediately replied to the quickly departing Noor Jahan, "Don't look too closely, or you'll fall in love."

Noor Jahan's steps paused for a moment. She turned. There was an undeniable smile on her face. Surely she had stopped before making an effort to reply.

"I could fall in love with a monkey, a langur, or a hyena, but never with you!" She turned her neck with such a jerk that her styled hair took a U-turn and swayed across her face.

If they were a little longer, it would have been all over with their knot."

Jahangir looked on with keen eyes, expressing a wish.

The desire of a boy who is not listed after monkeys, langurs or hyenas in the list, could it be justified?" He was busy trying to control his anger while drinking cold water from the fridge, thinking about how today was the first day. How would the remaining days pass?

After breakfast, Akbar Azam got busy reading the newspaper. After getting information about the news of the world including the God-given country and burning himself after according to his ability, he suddenly thought. "Hey Begum, did you give me the electricity bill? I don't know where I put it and forgot it. What was the last date?" "It took you so long to remember?" Begum Sahiba looked with a sideways glance. "Day before yesterday was the last date." "Day before yesterday? Then what did you do with the bill?" Akbar Azam jumped up. "What was to be done with the bill? It was not made into a talisman to be worn. Obviously, I paid it." He was a little relieved at Begum's information. "Thank goodness, otherwise I would have been in tension until the next bill came." Jahangir had paid it. Online, from his account. The mother further explained the details. In fact, she described the son's exploit. Hearing which he was happy for a moment. "The son doesn't have a job.

Where did the money in the account come from?"

"Being unemployed doesn't mean sitting idle. Online work is still going on. Right now, there's an online order, and he's preparing it in the kitchen."

"This online work has made people forget how to use their hands and feet," Abu Jaan grumbled. "My son is using his hands and feet to work."

"If he had used his brain and common sense a little more, he would have completed IT by now. If we were discussing marriage proposals, we could proudly say that our son is an IT expert. What do we say now? That our son is a 'roti handi' (cooking) expert?"

"Nowadays, girls immediately say yes to boys who are already present in the kitchen. The wife doesn't have to suffer," the mother revealed.

"What's so bad about suffering? If women don't work in the kitchen, will they fly airplanes in the air?"

"Nowadays, women are doing both things. The one who is fond of the kitchen is in the kitchen," Noor Jahan replied to them. And now she was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed. At that moment, only two words came to mind when looking at her: beautiful and confident.

Akbar Azam was dreaming sweet dreams of the future for his son and daughter, unaware that these two look at each other with such devouring eyes.

Now, since this thought was coming to his mind very strongly at that moment, he should talk to his wife about this topic right now.

Noor beti (daughter), do you know how to make tea?"

Noor Jahan replied, "Of course, Bade Abu! I'm not that useless in kitchen matters."

Jahangir was in the kitchen, cooking something.

Noor Jahan told him, "I need to make tea for Bade Abu, move aside."

"Tea? Do you know how to make it?" Jahangir asked.

"I didn't come here for an interview," Noor Jahan said, putting water in a saucepan.

"Abu drinks milk tea," Jahangir said, pouring the water out and putting milk in the pan on the stove instead.

Noor Jahan warned him, "No need to show off too much," while taking out tea leaves and sugar boxes.

Jahangir continued to talk about how he makes sure Abu follows doctor's orders regarding diet.

Noor Jahan added sugar and tea leaves to the milk.

Jahangir warned her, "Keep your attention on the tea, it will spill."

Noor Jahan just moved her lips silently, and Jahangir understood, shrugged his shoulders, and got busy with his own work. He put salt in a cup and started looking for lemons in the fridge.

In the meantime, the tea had boiled. Noor Jahan closed the burner and put a strainer on the pot that was nearby, pouring the tea into it. During this whole process, her attention was less on the tea and more on the screen.

Taking the cup, she was going out of the kitchen. Jahangir took out a lemon from the fridge and turned, coming towards the counter. The water in the kettle had heated up. He was looking for a mug to pour the water into, the mug which contained warm water with salt and lemon mixed in it. He often used it once a day, either in the morning or at any time.

But where was the mug at this moment? Jahangir's eyes were looking around and suddenly it clicked in his mind. He ran out of the kitchen, reached the lounge, but it was too late. Akbar Azam was about to take a sip of the tea he was holding in his hand and Jahangir... before he could call out, he took the sip.

Oh! The expressions on his face...

Jahangir closed his eyes.

"What happened, Bade Abu (Elder Father)?" Noor Jahan rushed towards him in panic, but before that, he had turned towards the washbasin.

Jahangir shook his head regretfully and headed towards the kitchen.

After two or four minutes, she came back fuming. "This was your doing, wasn't it? Extremely cheap, just like you."

Jahangir looked at her tongue spitting sparks and her mouth chewing embers. He calmly put the chicken in the roasted spices and, stirring with a spoon, spoke in a very cold tone:

"If you had looked at the mug instead of your mobile, you would have seen that there was already salt in it."

You put it in deliberately. You knew I was going to pour tea into it."

"I don't need to stoop to your level. The smell of spices being roasted in the air was very appetizing, but the tones and words were very sharp and bitter."

"Oh no, you can never reach my level. And as for need, you've been doing these kinds of things since childhood; once you cut up my new frock with scissors and ruined my hair too."

"Because you tattled on me to Dad for playing cricket during exams and coming home late at night. And he beat me with that very bat."

"I didn't tattle. He used to get reports about you from here and there himself."

"And who used to instigate him in this matter by telling him their slightly better result?"

"Oh hello, I never told a slightly better result, I was a star student from the beginning; my ability and capability were discussed throughout the school and family."

"Looking and listening to you now, I don't see any ability or capability?"

"How would those who stir a spoon in a pot see educational capability and academic ability?"

"You... you..." Jahangir brandished the spoon like a sword.

"You are making fun of a very respectable and honorable skill, through which hungry people fill their stomachs."

"Those who can't do anything in life, do this work

Shut up."

"You shut up."

"Go. Get out of here, let me work."

"I'm not going, it's my grandfather's house, I have as much right as you do."

"Your grandfather's house is in the graveyard now, should I send you there too?"

"Are you threatening me?" She turned red with anger and stepped forward.

Just then, Ami entered the kitchen; their voices were reaching the lounge. She was forced to get up and come.

"What's the matter, what happened? You've grown up, yet you still fight like children."

"Bari Ami (elder mother/aunt), he's threatening to send me to the graveyard."

"Ami! Take her away from here, or I really will send her there. I'm working, and this idle, useless, good-for-nothing, incapable person shows up from nowhere."

"Look at this, are you listening? Does anyone say so much to a guest in their home? Insult them like this?" In front of Bari Ami, Noor Jahan's voice and eyes began to well up.

"Jahangir, stop it, you talk too much too. Come on Noor, you come with me." Ami tried to seize control.

"If you were here a little while ago, you would have noted the lady's words and attitude." Jahangir covered the lid of the wok and lowered the heat.

"Okay, just end the matter now." She took Noor Jahan's hand and led her away, otherwise this third world war would have gone on for who knows how long.

Akbar was lost in deep thought. He didn't even have a mobile phone in his hand at the time. This clearly meant it was a serious and big matter.

"Are you okay?" she asked, adjusting her sari, and sat on the sofa.

"I needed to talk to you about something very important, but I can't remember it. I've been sitting here thinking about it for ages," the 'virtual god' (husband) expressed his problem.

"Keep thinking, you'll remember what it was." The wife smiled. Her husband's memory was a strange enigma; when he started forgetting, he would even forget his own name, but he always remembered so many things from his childhood.

"By the way, where are you going?" He carefully observed his wife's preparation; dressed in a beautiful, colorful sari, her hair neatly tied in a bun, makeup applied properly on her face.

"Mrs. Hamdani invited me to her granddaughter's Aqeeqah (a celebration after a child's birth), I am going there."

"Mrs. Hamdani? The one whose husband is a contractor? No, that's Mrs. Hashmi. Mr. Hamdani was with you, wasn't he? He was your senior."

"Oh, well, didn't he have a sister who never married? A very attractive lady. She was a lecturer in a college; her dressing sense was amazing. A friend of ours tried very hard, but she was a rock?" Akbar went on and on until his wife glared at him.

"Mashallah (what God has willed), otherwise your memory is such that you don't even remember your own wife's face, but you remember so many details about others?"

"Look, I'm surprised myself, what is this after all..."

Akbar the Great got flustered. The brain, like the heart, is a strange labyrinth. Whatever you want to remember stays forgotten. However, many necessary and unnecessary matters remain lit on the highways of the mind like neon signs.

"Okay, Badi Ammi! I am ready." Noor Jahan arrived, sparkling and perfectly groomed.

"Yes, yes, let's go, I was waiting for you." Ammi stood up, and suddenly a dim neon sign lit up in Akbar the Great's mind with full brilliance. He remembered what he was forgetting. By the time Begum Sahiba arrived, he had typed it into his mobile so he wouldn't forget again, as the matter was very important and necessary.

Noor Jahan was very happy and satisfied leaving the house. Her heart was ecstatic, feeling that the embarrassment, shame, and mortification caused by the salty tea incident had been rectified.

"Wish I could see that tomcat's face, it would be so much fun. But oh well, it will still be fun when that cunning fox sees his favorite shirt in a terrible state." And what she was happily imagining and thinking in her mind had practically happened.

Seeing the condition of his favorite and almost new shirt, Jahangir was truly in shock. The drawings made on the shirt with colorful markers were indeed very beautiful and worthy of praise, but the shirt was no longer wearable.

"Alright, you cunning one! If that's how it is, then so be it. Now watch how I take revenge for my innocent, speechless shirt." Jahangir, standing there, rubbed his face with his hand and resolved to take revenge, and within the next half hour...Action had been completed .

What is a girl's first love, mobile, and second love? Obviously makeup. The life of that creature is in this parrot. Therefore, the first love, Noor Jahan, had taken with her. Jahangir did to the second love what Emperor Akbar and princes do to their close relatives for the crown and throne. That is, to humiliate, to destroy, to eliminate.

He couldn't find many things, just a couple of kits with beautiful colors arranged in them, a couple of other things that were on the dressing table.

Jahangir picked up a beautiful glass bowl kept as an ornament, poured water into it, and put that stuff in the water, with the help of which even a witch could become a fairy. He hadn't even fully understood and been happy seeing the colors mixing in the water when his father's voice came. Yes! When Jahangir reached them, they were sitting with their mobile and problem, "Look, it's messing up again, I don't know how these apps disappear and where? The alarm is ringing at the wrong time and there are many things that appear by themselves, disappear by themselves.

Sell it and buy another one. It's giving a lot of trouble now."

Jahangir was checking the mobile and suddenly stopped short.

"What is this? Jahangir couldn't believe his eyes. So the mobile screen went in front of his respected father's eyes.

"What is this?" Balancing his glasses on his eyes, Abu Jan looked closely at the screen.

Then he saw Jahangir, whose facial expressions were incomprehensible.

"I wrote this down for my memory, so I wouldn't forget."

"I had to talk to your mother, didn't I?"

"Why?" It was as if someone had fed Jahangir a lot of chilies.

"What do you mean 'why'? Well, are you going to get married or not? Although your employment is still not proper, I thought that when responsibility falls on you, you will improve."

"First of all, my employment is perfectly fine. Even if I don't have a job, I get so many orders online and otherwise that I have a decent income." Jahangir was terribly annoyed.

"And secondly?"

"Secondly, I don't want to marry her."

"Why?"

"I don't like her."

"Oh!" Akbar the Great looked at his ungrateful, insolent, and sharp-tongued son from head to toe.

"Who are you to keep the right of liking and disliking with yourself?" The father's satisfaction and confidence were on a high level.

"Then who has this right?"

"Us."

"Whose wedding is it?" The sharp-tongued son had another question.

"I will talk to your mother on this subject and she will tell you." This time the father was the one getting angry. Does this current generation think of themselves as big shots or Alexander the Great, even if they haven't stepped out of their city?

What's up? Jahangir was stuck on the virtual front."

"If you showed such consistency and steadfastness in your job, you wouldn't have had to leave your job three times in one year."

The son's eyes widened at his respected father's sarcasm.

"No king among our ancestors would have taunted his son like this."

"For your information, son, our ancestors were used to talking with swords instead of their tongues."

"You also used your tongue like a sword just now." The son's face showed both sadness and seriousness.

"Okay, now you fix my mobile, these talks can happen later."

Let me get rid of this trouble maker. Jahangir thought to himself and started looking for the mobile's fault.

The respected father looked at his son carefully. "She is a good girl, but I don't know what's wrong with these modern children's minds."

Life is good, but they are determined to kill it without cause. God knows what's wrong with these modern parents' minds?

Akbar the Great was a little bothered by his son's words. That night, he spoke to his wife and insisted on contacting Noor Jahan's mother and father by phone to discuss the matter.

"But what about Noor Jahan's consent?" Auntie Jaan knew those two "Tom and Jerry" well. So she fell into thought.

The virtual god told her the details of conversation with his son without censor and filter.

My mother was afraid that Noor Jahan's reaction might not be the same..

"Daughter's consent will be asked by her parents. If I or you ask now, it would seem strange." "Yes, but your son is not ready. What will we do about that?" she expressed her concern.

"The young man is following in his father's footsteps; I was also trying to establish my business first, running away from marriage, until father forcibly put shackles on my feet. Then this life imprisonment started seeming good."

"But you didn't have any problem with me. Here, these two have become sworn enemies of each other. See what happened today? Noor Jahan blamed Jahangir for the tea. In return, her own good shirt got ruined. In response, Jahangir drowned her makeup in water. Their childhood passed, but they still fight like children."

Mother narrated the whole story, which made Akbar Azam smile and twirl his mustache.

"Then, by God, this marriage must happen, Begum. Love is hidden somewhere behind the fights." "I don't know, you think carefully and decide." Mother put all the burden on her metaphorical husband and absolved herself.

Noor Jahan's temper was already flaring up to the sky over the destruction of makeup kits when a call from her mother in Hyderabad came. Hearing her talk made her even more irritated.

"Flat refusal. I will never marry that ape; I am doing this for the love of my elder uncle and mother..."

I have no interest in this monkey."

"Don't handle every matter so emotionally. Think carefully, then announce your decision," mother admonished.

"The decision today and right now will be the same ten minutes, ten days, ten months, and ten years later."

"I am not giving you that much time. You have only one month to think carefully, then I will come to Karachi with your father, and we will sit together and talk it over."

"You are welcome to come, but don't come to pressurize me," Noor Jehan warned her mother beforehand.

"Humayun Chacha called. His children are coming to Karachi next month. Humayun Bhai and Bhabi will also come." The mother provided information that made her very excited.

"When? Are Zeb and Babar coming?"

"Heard this week."

"Oh, that's great news you've told me." When the phone hung up, Noor Jehan's mood became quite pleasant.

Zeb and Babar were first cousins. They had shifted to America with their parents fifteen years ago. In these fifteen years, they had come to Pakistan three or four times, the last time five years ago. In childhood, there was such closeness and intimacy among them all, then distances grew. There were also educational preoccupations; contact was occasionally made through Facebook to inquire about well-being. They wished each other on festivals and birthdays.

"Oh well, thank goodness, there will be some fun."

Relief would be found even from seeing the face of that sole grumpy person. When Noor Jahan went to sleep at night, she was quite satisfied and happy. The pain of the makeup being ruined had also lessened and faded a little.

☆☆☆

The next morning during breakfast, when Noor Jahan informed them about the guests' arrival, Akbar Azam and Begum were startled.

"But we didn't receive any call from Humayun here." Mother furrowed her brows.

"Huh?" Akbar Azam broke a piece of brown bread indifferently and started thinking, previously he was annoyed with his son who had imposed a ban on all kinds of fats after a slight increase in cholesterol, and parathas were the first to come under the ban.

While eating a bite, he was pondering over Noor Jahan's information. He put some pressure on his mind and his memory started working, he remembered something.

"I think Humayun's call came to me two, three days ago." He informed in an apologetic manner.

"And you are telling me now? If Noor Jahan hadn't mentioned it, you wouldn't have remembered?" Mother was getting upset.

"I remembered, Begum Sahiba!" He tried to cool her down and gave further information.

"Yes, I remember, he had informed about the children's arrival. In fact, he also said that he would send the day, date, and flight time." Father said while addressing Jahangir.

"Go get my mobile from the room and check, there must be a message from Humayun."

"Yes, okay." Jahangir went to their room to get his mobile.

You are going too far. I have told you many times that if there is any important matter, contact me, Jahangir. Your memory is beyond my comprehension. You remember all the useless things in the world and forget the important things to remember.

Begum Sahiba was expressing anger after forgetting breakfast.

Akbar Azam, forgetting all his majesty, was listening with his ears to his better half.

According to Pakistan time, the flight will arrive at Karachi's Quaid-e-Azam International Airport at nine in the morning on the sixth, Jahangir announced.

The sixth is today. Noor Jahan's hands stopped while eating breakfast. And according to the clock hands, it is eight forty minutes. "This time you have crossed the limit."

Mother looked at her husband with extremely reproachful eyes.

The next ten minutes were very hectic and chaotic. Mother ordered Noor Jahan to go to the airport with Jahangir, both quickly ate their remaining breakfast, swallowed more than they ate, and quickly left for the airport.

Is our house a punishment? Whether it is Hyderabad or America, all the guests come here? Jahangir was muttering while starting the car. What a bad thought you have, you should be ashamed. Guests are Allah's mercy. By the way, if you are so bored, make Mars your home, no one will disturb you there. Noor Jahan advised him after scolding him.

You would have to bear the hospitality, then you would know whose grandfather's house it is.

It remains a state guest house all year. I have no objection to guests arriving, provided they don't make me leave my home. Jahangir had said this. "When a person has no argument, what does he do? When he fails to silence someone, he tries to make the other person mute."

"Yes, exactly, and now you be quiet for a little while so my attention doesn't wander and we can reach the airport safely." Jahangir increased the car's speed and after half an hour they reached the airport safely.

Zebu-nissa, who was Zeb and Zebi in childhood, was now just Zee in America, and Babar, who was Bunty in childhood, had shrunk even further to just B.

"Did you put your name on a diet instead of yourself?" Jahangir assessed Babar's somewhat heavy physique, which was very close to the danger mark, meaning he was completely obese, or obesity wasn't here yet but was coming.

Zebi alias Zee was still far behind her brother in weight, but far ahead in attitude.

"Dude, it's so hot here." She had a small fan in front of her face, but the air from the ceiling fan above and this mini fan was insufficient for her. Load shedding was as usual three to four times a day, during which the fans ran on solar power, not the AC.

"Yes, actually the sun isn't air-conditioned, is it? It just rains heat and sunlight," said Noor Jahan in the same cool tone while drinking a ice-cold squash.

A smile appeared on Jahangir's face. In the last three days, the guests spent two days in jet lag, sleeping off their rest. And today, when their eyes fully opened, their tongues also opened.

Jahangir was cutting vegetables briskly. Mother came. She put oil in a pan to heat and took out a packet of kebabs from the freezer.

Jahangir looked at his mother questioningly. "Are guests coming?"

"Who is a bigger guest in this house than your father? He is hungry and wants to eat something chatpata, saying your son has ruined the taste of his mouth by making him eat only vegetables. Is he making him follow a diet or fast?"

Mother narrated the whole story. Jahangir's forehead wrinkled.

"Explain to your virtual god that half the cure for a disease is diet. With a poor diet, no matter how many medicines you take, there will be no relief or benefit." Jahangir stepped forward and turned off the stove.

"This time the doctor strictly said to use minimal fat. But he doesn't listen, he does his own thing." Mother looked at her son helplessly and then at the turned-off stove where she had put oil to heat.

"Wait five minutes. I will treat Father's hunger." Jahangir took a microwave plate, placed four kebabs on it, brushed them with oil, and put them in the microwave. He put the buns in a tray.

He laid a lettuce leaf and put small pieces of carrot, tomato, cucumber, and onion on it, along with fresh yogurt that he made at home himself. He took out the yogurt in a clay bowl and placed his father's favorite coconut chutney. In the meantime, the microwave bell rang. He took out the kebabs and placed them on another plate.

And put everything in a large tray and handed it over to mother. Also gave instructions.

"It should be like this; the whole valley should be finished."

Mother left with the tray, he again got busy with his work.

☆☆☆

His appearance was very rough, wearing a night t-shirt and trousers, hair styled with fingers instead of a comb. Light stubble. A slight frown on his forehead which appeared when he was deeply engrossed and focused on some work, like during cooking or right now when his gaze was fixed on the laptop screen.

Noor Jahan looked at him once. Pursed her lips, thought something, then thought again and decided to get up.

How do I say it to this arrogant person? His ego is already sky-high. He considers himself a big shot; if I praise him, he will think he is no less than an atom bomb.

Noor Jahan was in a great struggle of life. Just a few words of praise were needed, but this 'but' felt very heavy. The mind said never do it by mistake, keep your ego and nose high. Conscience was reproaching. A person's skill and hard work deserve appreciation, and justice must be served. Thinking, the conscience finally defeated the mind; she was just getting up when she arrived like a sudden calamity and went straight to Jahangir and started.

"Cousin, the fish you fed me in the brunch was so delicious, never eaten anything like it in my life, you know I praised your dish so much on my Facebook page."

There are lots of likes and comments coming. Look, he said enthusiastically and placed his mobile screen in front of Jahangir's eyes. Jahangir looked at the mobile screen for a while, then ran his fingers through his hair, leaned back against the sofa, and closed his eyes. He was very tired. Zi was now taking a selfie with her mobile.

Noor Jahan made a face and looked at her. "Troll somewhere." What I had to say, she came quickly and said it. Now if I praise her, he will think I am copying Zi. "Noor Jahan got annoyed.

"It's your fault too. It took you hours to say one sentence. If you don't immediately put your thoughts into action in the 3D, virtual, and online world, this is what happens. Someone else gets ahead of you."

A voice came from inside Noor Jahan, and this time she got angry with herself.

"Get real, Noor Jahan, you. You talk so much normally, but to say two words of praise, you become a mute. But this is the problem! The person you constantly fight with, praising him? It's better to leave home to climb the peak of K2."

"Why not Mount Everest?"

"For that, you have to go to Nepal. K2 is in Pakistan, right?"

Zi and Bi came to Karachi, Akbar the Great and his wife's mobile phones kept ringing every now and then. Calls from relatives near, far, very far, and very, very far started pouring in. Everyone wanted to invite the guests to their home. In every house, there was a boy or girl eligible for marriage.

"Yes, the name of America Bahadur is big. Even its pebbles seem like diamonds to people." Abu Jan started tracing the family tree.

"Hmm. What kind of dilemma is Ammi in? 'What are you lost in thought about?'"

"I'm thinking about Jahangir and Noor Jahan; both have refused to marry each other." Ammi had lines of concern on her forehead.

"Both are senseless. Don't worry, they'll come to their senses." The 'virtual god' shooed a fly away from his ear.

"How will they come to their senses? Where will they come from?" She became irritated.

"Allah will grant them sense, understanding, and awareness; no one else has the authority." Abu, like a good person, left the matter to Allah.

It was very late for Zee. God knows what connection she had with Jahangir. The contact just wouldn't disconnect. Noor Jahan had been noticing for a long time and restraining herself. Finally, her patience gave way. She stormed into the kitchen where Zee's chattering tongue and Jahangir's laughter in between could be heard.

Noor Jahan, who came in childhood, addressed Zee in a very harsh tone:

"Zee? Are you learning to cook, Chef Jahangir?"

"Who knows, maybe I am learning." Zee smiled. She hadn't noticed Noor Jahan's bitter tone. After Every five minutes, she kept taking her selfies and posting them. This time mobile and she both were ready. This time she came out of the kitchen for a selfie.

Inside, Noor Jahan, with angry expressions, was talking to Jahangir.

"Why is she roaming around so much?"

"Yours?"

"Personality. Looti is. Jahangir raised his neck, then glared at her, "What concern is it of yours?"

"Why would I be concerned? I am thinking about big uncle and aunt. Be careful, you are the only son of your parents, if some witch takes you seven seas away, what will happen to your parents?"

"Really? Only this concern?" He had smiled with great malice.

"So what else would be a concern?" Noor Jahan felt like...

Anyway, she herself couldn't understand what her heart wanted?

"Madam Queen! You worry about yourself, what knowledge does Mister B impart to you sitting for an hour?" Jahangir suddenly counterattacked.

"You are jealous? Aren't you?"

"I am jealous, you are easy."

"But my shoe is not even jealous of anyone, meaning my shoe doesn't care about anyone either." Jahangir's tone, standing in front of the stove, was so cold as if he was not in the kitchen but sitting on the ice of the North Pole or the South Pole.

"Go to hell, you too and she too." Noor Jahan, annoyed, came out of the kitchen.

☆☆☆

In the city's famous five-star hotel...It was an interview. Jahangir had come back after giving an interview for the post of chef. After bathing and freshening up, he sat down and his mother brought lemonade, Jahangir's favorite drink.

"Thank you, my dear mother." He beamed.

"Tired? You took a long time."

"I don't get tired from work, I get tired sitting down. I sat for almost three hours, waiting." Jahangir took a sip of the lemonade.

"How did the interview go?"

"It went well." Jahangir looked around.

"Where is father? Did anything unhealthy happen behind my back?"

"He went for a haircut, and nothing unhealthy happened. I gave him the salad you made," said the mother, smiling.

"Surely Mahabali (a nickname for his father) said something?" The son guessed from his mother's smile.

"It's his habit to say something. Seeing black chickpeas and vegetables in the salad, he was saying, 'Does your son think I'm a horse or a donkey?'"

"You have spoiled the habit of the 'king' by feeding him spicy and rich foods," the son said with a smile and finished his drink, putting the glass down.

"By the grace of God, this is not my doing. I found him already spoiled. Your grandmother, before I came, had thoroughly spoiled him, mashallah, by cooking him very tasty dishes. Those tastes are still stuck in his mouth," the mother said as she got up. "Let me check the curry, I have put Noor Jahan (a house helper) to work with me."

She walked towards the kitchen.

"Only God can save that curry!" said Jahangir.

The lawn was not too big. But it was green. Wearing a full-sleeved dress with small flowers, Noor Jahan, sitting on a chair in the lawn, looked like a part of the same environment. Bobi took out a chocolate from his pocket and offered it to her. Noor Jahan began to unwrap the chocolate.

Bobi stared at her. Noor Jahan glared at him and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"You weren't this beautiful before; now you've grown up more."

"Oh?" Noor Jahan pouted, enjoying the taste of the chocolate. "But you're still as 'bhoondoo' as you were before."

"'Bhoondoo'? What do you mean?"

"It means fool, idiot." Jahangir intervened and explained the meaning in English.

"Me?" Bobi couldn't believe it. He looked at Noor Jahan with extreme shock.

"Really?" Babar's face looked a little pitiful. Noor Jahan felt she had gone too far.

"Just joking." She smiled.

"Your smile is as beautiful as you are."

"Why are you singing so many praises of my beauty?" Noor Jahan narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

"The poor guy has a problem with both his eyes and brain," Jahangir interrupted.

Babar was lost in his own thoughts and asking Noor Jahan...

What are odes?"

"Don't burden your mind with your result. When are you going to meet your grandmother?"

... Bobby smiled. It was a very meaningful smile. "Very soon."

Jahangir first glared at him, then at Noor Jahan. The root of all trouble was this knot of a girl.

The weather's brow was creased with heat. The sun's fiery temper was even higher. Load shedding was routine, there was some peace due to solar panels, but Zeebi was not at peace. Flustered, she was pacing here and there. A mobile phone was in her hand, she raised her hand to take a selfie, and had even thought of a caption: "Miserable in Karachi's heat". Before she could take the selfie, a strong push from behind made the mobile phone fall to the ground.

Noor Jahan's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know what she was lost in that she didn't see such a big girl and collided with her.

Zeb-un-Nisa alias Zeebi quickly picked up the mobile phone first. The new and expensive mobile phone screen had a scratch.

"I am sorry, really sorry, I didn't see you." Noor Jahan's apology didn't lessen Zeebi's regret, shock, and anger.

"Are you blind? Couldn't you see me standing here?"

"I am saying sorry."

"Will your sorry make my mobile phone as it was?" She screamed so loudly that both Jahangir and Babar came running.

"What happened?" Jahangir looked at both of them carefully with anger: the miserable Zeebi and the ashamed Noor Jahan.

Look at this, my new mobile, what has happened to it," Zimbi said to Jahangir, then turned towards Noor Jahan. "You have never seen such a mobile before."

Who me ? Noor Jahan could not believe her impertinence.

Jahangir came forward. "Behave yourself," the words were soft, the tone was scolding.

"You keep your mouth shut," Zimbi snapped. "Why? Only you have the right to speak?" Jahangir replied in kind.

"Zimbi didn't say anything wrong. If your new and expensive item gets ruined, your anger might be more than this." Babar stepped forward in support of his sister.

"Jahangir's mentality is not that third class; he values people more than things," Noor Jahan replied to Babar, speaking the truth about her eternal enemy.

"You two have a lot of sympathy for each other?" Zimbi squinted her eyes and looked at them both one by one.

"Why does it bother you?" Noor Jahan also put all regard aside at Zimbi's bad temper.

"I am only bothered about my mobile and nothing else." Zimbi turned sharply and walked away.

"You both should not have been so rude to my sister."

Babar cast a reproachful glance at the two old enemies and followed his sister.

Noor Jahan was standing silently. There was shame and regret on her face. Jahangir turned towards her.

Where were you running around with bangles on?"

"Nowhere," replied Noor Jahan, who always answered back, but this time she wrapped herself in a blanket of silence.

☆☆☆

Zimi and Bobby had gone to visit their grandmother. The two siblings were angry with their two long-standing enemies [parents]. Talking politely was out of the question; they didn't even say goodbye when they left. Jahangir was indifferent. Noor Jahan was fuming.

"Hmph, let them show off their airs, I don't care at all." She repeated her favorite phrase to herself.

Jahangir's routine was the same. He had given up the job search and was working hard on his online business, striving to raise capital to open his own diner.

Noor Jahan now noticed that his work was literally, not figuratively, 24 hours a day. It was a normal routine for orders to come in until one or two in the morning. Some enthusiasts were ready to eat something even at the time of Suhoor [pre-dawn meal during Ramadan], around three or four in the morning.

The lives of some people start with food and end with food. They don't eat to live, they live to eat.

The realities of poverty and inflation are one thing, but those whom the Lord has given abundance have made their mouths and stomachs wide. Noor Jahan also remembered something she had read.

Someone was asked, "What is the difference between the food of the rich and the poor?"

The answer was given:

"The rich eat when they are hungry or want to, and the poor eat when food is available."

Noor Jahan

These days, she was really walking carelessly in her own thoughts. First, she bumped into Zainab and dropped her mobile phone. Now, she slipped on the stairs and fractured her leg. She had a plaster cast for a week. She shifted from her room on the upper floor to a lower room.

When Bari Ami brought the breakfast tray, Noor Jahan felt embarrassed; she felt very ashamed. Helpless and dependent, she was at the mercy of others. When she expressed her golden thoughts to Bari Ami, she laughed.

"O fool! I only bring the food/breakfast tray from the kitchen to here; the cooking is Jahangir's job, and you eat it yourself, with your own hands."

Noor Jahan nodded in affirmation. These days, sitting and lying on the bed, she had a lot of free time. For thinking and for observing. On the third day of her injury, she reached a conclusion. Jahangir was not as bad as she thought he was.

Today, Jahangir made pasta for her. He brought the food tray with fruit salad himself. "Thanks." Noor Jahan felt her thanks were very ordinary, but what else could she say? "Keep all your thanks collected, will do it all at once," Jahangir's manner was careless. "That soup you made yesterday? Will you teach me too?"

Jahangir frowned and looked at her. "Mamma also likes it very much, I will make it for her," Noor Jahan quickly clarified. "Must accept you as a teacher," Jahangir's eyes...

Noor Jahan continued eating pasta while suppressing her smile.

While watching the live match, father's mood went from pleasant to serious and then angry. His favorite team was about to lose after almost winning, and now defeat was certain. The sovereign picked up the remote. The shining LED screen went dark. He also turned off his mobile and put it aside. Now he didn't care if they won or lost. Breaking ties with both small and large screens, he thought of forming another connection, which he had come for. Addressing us, he started a conversation or debate.

"You haven't told me anything, son. Will she stay on the line forever or will she come online too?"

"Why don't you ask yourself? Why do you use my shoulders to fire a gun like this?" the Queen Consort replied clearly and instantly, or rather, asked a question.

"I will not ask, I will just order. Which will be obeyed immediately." The awe, grandeur, and majesty of the shadow of God returned, which had not returned in years. At this, the lady of the house just shook her head.

"She is such a lovely, capable, and intelligent girl. After all, what is wrong with her?"

Jahangir, who was coming inside, paused for a moment at the sovereign's question. He guessed the topic from the context. And now he was sitting and thinking about the same question. "After all, what is wrong with her?"

If this question had been asked a few days ago, he would have found hundreds, even thousands, of flaws and shortcomings. But now his tongue was silent, his heart was saying something that his brain was rejecting.

"Wow, young man, wow, until yesterday she was a sworn enemy, a cunning,Crafty, shrewd, and who knows what else? Today even your cow has flipped? Such a U-turn?

"Now she looks good. If she looks lovely, what can I do?" The heart, with a look of indifference, folded its ears. For the first time in his life, regarding Noor Jahan, he agreed with the mighty Abba Huzoor.

"Lovely, intelligent, and capable."

☆☆☆

The plaster was off. The foot was completely fine. Bathed, fresh, very cheerful and healthy. And she was listening to her mother's scolding very happily.

"Fracture happened, plaster put on, so much happened and you're telling me now?"

"I am perfectly fine, all is well if end is well. If I had told you earlier, you would have been worrying there, that's why I didn't tell you. Badi Ammi also refused. And everyone took great care of me. Now you tell me, when are you coming to Karachi?"

"Humayun Bhai and Bhabhi are coming from America. I will come then. I will meet everyone."

After talking about this and that for a while, Noor Jahan switched off the phone.

"So Humayun Bhai and Bhabhi are coming? Surprising that Zaibi and Bobby didn't mention it." Lost in his thoughts, he was outside the room.

"They didn't even say goodbye when leaving. How would they tell this?" Convincing himself, he somehow reached the kitchen.

Jahangir had an order, he was busy preparing it. Cutting vegetables briskly, Jahangir looked up at him and smiled.

"How are you?"

Noor Jahan's eyes went from Jahangir to the fresh yogurt in the clay pot on the counter."

"Was it frozen? 'Do you make fresh yogurt every day?'"

"'Yes.' Jahangir nodded in affirmation. 'If you were a girl, you would be very domestic and skilled,' Noor Jahan had said with great simplicity and sincerity, but she became flustered upon hearing Jahangir's spontaneous and uncontrolled laughter."

"'Doesn't being skilled suit men?' Jahangir asked after the laughter subsided."

"'These qualities are associated with women. Forbidden for men,' Noor Jahan explained."

"'Women have made it forbidden for men. First, our mothers and sisters pamper us, then this responsibility is transferred to the wife. But your mother must have been strict in this matter.'"

"Noor Jahan picked up a piece of the kebab and put it in her mouth. 'The lucky wife is one whose husband has good manners and knows and fulfills his responsibilities.'"

"'You have this quality too... you are being very kind,' Jahangir transferred a heap of fried cabbage into a tray and kept talking. 'I haven't received so much praise in all the years from childhood till today as I have in these few minutes.'"

"There was mischief in Jahangir's smile. 'Better late than never,' Noor Jahan hid her smile."

"'If my good qualities are being highlighted for a specific reason, then let me make it clear that I will be very busy for the next three hours, fulfilling a special request program.'"

Jahangir put all the washed vegetables in a strainer and began to wash them.

"I am not that picky."

"My food is liked by discerning people, not picky eaters."

"Are you praising yourself or me?"

"Both of us." At Jahangir's quick reply, Noor Jahan's smile was spontaneous. Jahangir also joined in.

After childhood, this was perhaps the first time both had smiled together.

"Blood pressure is a little high." Begum Sahiba announced, putting the BP apparatus aside.

"This useless machine is faulty. Always tells my BP is high." Shahanshahs don't just have loyal humans, but things too. The spouse spoke in her specific style.

"Where is that royalty now? Gone are the days when Khalil Khan used to fly pigeons." Begum Sahiba also flew one.

"We are kings of our own house." He twisted his mustache.

"Helpless and powerless," Begum Sahiba taunted, and the majesty of Shahanshah Moazzam awoke. He sat up straight.

"I understand what you are hinting at. I can straighten the young man like an arrow in a minute. I gave an opportunity, but your son didn't appreciate it. Now I will decide myself. If your darling doesn't like Noor Jahan, then Zeb-un-Nisa will be our daughter-in-law. This is my final decision. I will talk to the girl's father today." The Shahanshah's majesty was at its peak.

Jahangir, who was standing outside, felt as though he couldn't breathe. But it was his father. He had come to ask about his meal. However, hearing the respected man's booming voice made everything clear to him.

He quietly turned back to the wall. But his father's voice kept echoing in his ears. "If not Noor Jahan, then Zeb-un-Nisa..."

"But why not Noor Jahan?" He stopped in his tracks, thinking.

"Because the intensity and vehemence with which you have been refusing Noor Jahan, this is what happens afterwards."

"Another girl? How can another girl take Noor Jahan's place?"

"Her too, Zeb-un-Nisa?" Deep in thought, he was walking towards the terrace. His mobile phone's message tone rang continuously with three or four messages.

Jahangir took out his mobile from his pocket. "I'm sorry for everything." "We are always friends."

Jahangir took a deep breath. It was Zeb-un-Nisa. One or two similar messages were from Boby.

Noor Jahan was coming from the front.

"Look at this." She showed her mobile screen to Jahangir.

She had also received similar messages from Zeb-un-Nisa and Boby.

"These two are beyond my comprehension, Sehar, Noor Jahan, sometimes a friend, sometimes an enemy, sometimes war, sometimes peace, sometimes a quarrel, sometimes a truce," she went on and on, wrinkling her nose.

"These days it's the season of friendship, peace, and truce. Enjoy it." Jahangir smiled.

Jahangir agrees with her, nodding his head. The tone was simple, the words too, but Noor Jahan stopped short.

There was something different about the manner, not visible but felt.

"Is it that easy for a heart and mind to change?" Noor Jahan asked as she walked alongside him.

"Whether changing is easy or difficult, the important thing is that since everything has been turned upside down, what is to be done now?"

"What has been turned upside down?"

At Noor Jahan's question, he stopped walking.

"A lot, or perhaps everything." Jahangir smiled. Noor Jahan hadn't noticed either, how magnetic his smile was. An untouched attraction began to take effect.

Jahangir was right; a lot had been turned upside down, and everything was about to be turned upside down.

Boly and Zumbi had returned, more polite and kinder than before. It was a different matter that their politeness, sociability, and kindness were stinging both Jahangir and Noor Jahan badly, for themselves and for each other.

"Zebi isn't giving me too much attention?"

Noor Jahan tried to keep any other emotion from entering her tone, but both emotions spilled out.

"What about Boly? How much is he following you around?" Jahangir calmly asked.

Is this my mistake?"

"Then is it my fault?"

Both of them are overdoing it a bit too much.

Noor Jahan gritted her teeth.

"Why are you worried?"

"Why? Is there no concern?"

"So? Jahangir admitted. "Me too." Noor Jahan agreed with him.

Today's weather was strange. People who always negated each other were agreeing with each other.

Those who carried out enmity were on a path further than friendship.

Those who always avoided each other started waiting for each other.

But now the time had changed and the circumstances too, when the authority to decide was given to both, both had lost time and each other. Now it was difficult for the past time to come back.

☆☆☆

A hot, warm and heavy evening spread all around. In the room, Noor Jahan, wearing Bluetooth in her ears, was talking to her mother, on whose first good news she was overjoyed.

"Hain! When are you coming? I was missing you a lot," she said with a childlike happiness, and upon hearing the second good news, her smile disappeared.

"Ji?" Along with the smile, the voice and words also left her side.

"My proposal," she uttered two words with great difficulty in pieces.

On the other side, my aunt was telling her about the arrival of uncle and aunt, who were officially going to talk about the relationship between the two with Bobby's consent and liking.

Noor Jahan was listening absentmindedly. When the phone hung up, she started getting angry at Bobby. This simpleton's audacity?

She wished she could reach his head immediately and clean his slate, but it wasn't that easy.

Knowingly or unknowingly, it was her encouragement that the matter reached this point. To tease Jahangir, to make him realize, or to put him down, she used to give unusual importance to Bobby. Bobby had given her attention his desired results; he had said yes to his parents for Noor Jahan. And the same action was done by Jahangir, to annoy Noor Jahan, he gave special attention to Zameen and the result was what it should have been. Zameen had told her parents about her liking.

Noor Jahan couldn't bear this? She was glaring at Bobby with angry eyes.

"What did you say to your parents without asking me? And why did you say it?"

"Why are you so angry?"

"You did such a thing, if I don't get angry then what will happen?"

"You only said that whatever I said was nonsense, why did you become serious?" Noor Jahan growled, cutting him off.

"Why do you girls show so much 'attitude'? Her scolding had no effect on Bobby.

He was smiling in a relaxed manner.

"Uff," Noor Jahan felt like smashing his head.

"Why his? You should smash your own head. It is your fault, you were unnecessarily showing false love. You yourself committed ingratitude,"

She started walking towards the kitchen with a hanging face. On the way, Zeeba came in with a smile on her face.

"Listen," she stopped and addressed Noor Jahan. "What happened to Jahangir?"

"What happened, I cannot tell you, you will smash my head." Keeping her thoughts to herself. She only shrugged, which meant, "I don't know."

"You don't know either? Why does he have mood swings? Sometimes close, sometimes far, sometimes very close, sometimes a complete stranger?" Zeeba was annoyed.

Actually, the thread of matters was entangled, of which she had no idea at all. And not just her, no one had any idea that hearts and lives would change so much.

Zeeba had come very happily to talk to her, and Jahangir's mood started to sour, life was about to get ruined. The mood had to be upset.

"I am an ass," he was very bitter while making a sweet dish.

When Noor Jahan came, he was layering cream over mango pieces. Seeing any type or kind of sweet, a glow would appear in Noor Jahan's eyes. But this time, a pale smile came to her face.

One can't tell, how does someone become so important? She kept watching Jahangir make the sweet in silence.

How good it would be if the old intimacy between us remained, or maybe Jahangir sprinkled dried fruits on the dish from above.

Or maybe?

Or maybe there was just friendship and nothing else. Jahangir put the dish in the freezer and closed its door.

Noor Jahan saw his back and when he turned, she saw his face.

Something else? Her thoughtful eyes were fixed on Jahangir's face.

Was this an admission? An admission of love, an acceptance of liking, the liking that encompasses admiration and adoration.

"Why are you looking at me with such surprise?" Jahangir smiled.

"Is it that easy for you to say everything?" She was truly surprised.

She had thought many times about how Jahangir would confess his love? In what words, in what style, but after all, she hadn't thought that he would say this very calmly while making a sweet dish. Then how should I look? With anger?

Which expressions? The tone was indifferent but there was a smile on his face.

"The ones that rarely appear on your face." Jahangir was not bold, just a little brave at that moment. Noor Jahan's face gathered all those colors that Jahangir had described in words.

He didn't try to say anything. His face was an open book of unspoken words. A river of meaningful silence flowed between them, in whose clear waters the lamps of affection were flickering.

Just then, Bobby made an entry. "Hello, what's happening?"

"Nothing." Both of them got flustered and confused.

"I have good news," he chirped.

"Mama, Papa are arriving by tomorrow's flight."

"Tomorrow? But they were supposed to come next week." Noor Jahan's eyes widened and Jahangir's heart sank.

"It's good, isn't it? Things that are meant to happen will happen a week early." Bobby's eager eyes were fixed on Noor Jahan. He had no idea that Jahangir was looking at him with fiery eyes.

"Shall we go out? The weather is beautiful, and it's cloudy. Maybe it will rain."

"I can't go anywhere right now. I have work." Noor Jahan made an excuse.

"What work?"

"It's very, very important work."

"What work is more important than me?" Bobby became playful.

"All work is important besides you." Noor Jahan said this and went out into the kitchen. Bobby looked at Jahangir with surprised eyes. "How moody is this girl?"...

Think about it," he warned, "the one who was there also got out from there."

Many years later, the foreign guests had come to the heart's delight. After resting, the conversation started and had no pause. Relatives' arrival was also ongoing.

Noor Jahan was working in kitchen as his helper and learning simultaneously.

"Hold the knife correctly, like this," Jahangir first taught her how to grip the knife.

"Cooking is an art, and before that, holding a knife is also a skill. Correct grip in the right place."

Noor Jahan learned.

"Stirring a ladle and spoon in a pot is also an art."

"Don't stir the spatula. Gently, lovingly sauté the spices or turn things over."

Noor Jahan also learned this basic skill.

"When will I be able to cook very well? Like you?" Noor Jahan asked with great enthusiasm.

Jahangir didn't laugh out loud, but his smile was no less than a laugh.

"What did I say?" Noor Jahan got upset.

"Cooking doesn't come just by stirring a knife and spoon. There are still many trials of love."

"I never said teach everything all at once. I will learn slowly," Noor Jahan prepared to get angry.

"It takes a lot of time to learn little by little..."

Jahangir explained the plan.

"This was all very easy before. We ourselves put mountains of obstacles in our way," you admitted slowly, and Noor Jehan put the spinach in the pot.

"Now how to cross these mountains? It is a very difficult situation." Jahangir suddenly became serious.

"Show them a way," Noor Jehan looked at him with pleading eyes.

"There is only one way." Jahangir took a deep breath and began to speak further.

Noor Jehan was listening to him with great attention and thought.

The same thing that Noor Jehan had heard with so much attention and thought, when he said that same thing in front of his mother, she didn't pay even a little attention. In fact, she wasn't even a little surprised when Jahangir said to her:

"Mother, I want to marry Noor Jehan."

"Now what new game is running in your mind?" She glared at her son.

"Grow up, Jahangir! I know you two are always bickering and don't miss any chance to tease each other, but that doesn't mean you should mess around with a big and important matter like her relationship and marriage. And beware if you try to mess up. No one will be worse than me."

At his mother's scolding, poor Jahangir really became very sad. "Do you think I am so cheap and low? Mother "I can mess up things of the Noor, but I can't even think of ruining her life. I'm being serious."

Mother: "Where was your seriousness then, when your father himself said it with his own mouth? He sincerely wanted you and Noor Jahan to get married, but then she was the worst girl in the world, and despite your father's insistence, you didn't agree. Now what revolution has suddenly come about?"

Jahangir: "This wretched heart just flips like that. It takes a U-turn overnight." (Jahangir looked helplessly at his mother, putting all the blame on his heart.)

Mother: "Now what do I know if it's a matter of your heart or if your brain is working overtime to trouble the girl." (The mother looked indifferently at her son.)

Jahangir: "Good heavens, mother! You don't trust me? Am I that untrustworthy?" (Jahangir's heart was sinking into the depths of shock.)

Mother: "If your past record was good, I would definitely trust you and believe you." (The mother showed him the green light and sent him on his way.)

Outside, the weather was pleasant, rain was predicted. Everyone was praying for rain to get relief from the intense heat and humidity. Inside the room, Noor Jahan was talking to her mother with Bluetooth in her ears, and her problem was the same one Jahangir was facing. Her mother couldn't believe her words.

Mother: "What? Now you are ready for Jahangir? Who until yesterday was the worst person in the world. What wings of a Surkhab have grown on him today?"

Forget the past, I was a fool. I was stupid, ignorant." Even with Noor Jehan's confession, her mother's tone didn't change.

"As if I don't know you. You must have made a new plan to hurt Jahangir, but listen carefully. Marriage matters are very important and serious. Making a joke of them or using them to trouble someone, that's a very cheap act. I don't understand. You people have grown up, you're mature, but your fights and quarrels never end."

"Believe me, mother, there is no fight or quarrel between us now. We are both truly serious about each other. And yes, I was trying..." but her words had no effect on her mother. "Tell me the truth, what is going on in your mind?" "Nothing is going on. I am telling the truth."

"Look, Noor, your truth is currently beyond my understanding, that you are ready to spend your life with your mortal enemy."

Noor Jehan got upset. "A person doesn't stay the same forever; change comes sometime. We both have changed a lot now."

Noor Jehan was trying to convince them, but they weren't convinced.

Jahagir was just stepping out with the car keys when he accidentally bumped into another character. "Going somewhere?" Their eagle eyes saw the car keys in Jahaangir's hand. "Supermarket." Jahangir answered briefly and tried to move forward.

Very good, I also have something I need to get. Will you take me?"

"I just need to pick up a few things, I'll be back in a moment." Jahangir tried to get out of it. "I don't need to do any major wedding shopping, just one or two things." Zeibi got in with him, completely ignoring his helper.

When they went outside, they ran into Noor Jahan. "Where are you two going?" Noor Jahan looked at them in surprise.

"Shopping." Zeibi smiled, a sense of entitlement in her tone and manner. When she opened the front passenger door and sat down, Noor Jahan was consumed with jealousy. She glared at Jahangir, who was opening the driver's side door and getting in.

"Is he cheating on me? Is he making some super plan to hurt me like in the past?" The plant of suspicion grew in Noor Jahan's heart.

"But such a big drama?" Her heart tried to deny the suspicion.

"Jahangir is a great actor, he can pull off an even bigger drama." Noor Jahan was arguing with herself.

Jahangir started the car, and Zeibi started talking.

"Are you happy?" Zeibi suddenly asked without any preamble.

"I am what I seem to be." Jahangir replied guardedly.

"You look troubled." Zeibi said honestly, looking at his face.

"I'm sorry Zeibi! I don't want to marry you."

Zebi asked again loudly.

"Really?"

"Yes, you were wholeheartedly willing for this, what was my fault? I didn't realize it then, but I do now."

"Sleep isn't coming." Zebi looked at the wet road through the screen.

"And Jahangir told me you are very expert at doing practical pranks."

"I am not playing a prank on you. Okay, I accept it, so what now!"

"Sir, now Jahangir was getting angry. My job was to inform, I did it, to everyone. Now if no one takes my word seriously, they will face the consequences themselves." Jehangir was getting angry while driving.

The grey, pleasant evening had put on the black cloak of night, but the moon peeking through the clouds spread moonlight in that darkness. The night was very strange, very beautiful, but Noor Jahan didn't like anything. Neither this night, nor the moonlight, nor the earth, nor the sky, nor the clouds, nor the winds, she even hated herself.

"Did I become so untrustworthy for everyone and I didn't even know? Even my real mother doesn't believe that I am not lying this time."

This time, thinking this, her tearful heart smiled spontaneously.

"It's not about this time, it's about everyone."

Footsteps were heard from behind and someone came and sat beside her.

Noor Jahan knew these footsteps. It was Jahangir.

"I had spoken to Bobi"

"Hmmmm."

"First he laughed for a long time, then said you are playing the same joke on me that Jahanagir played on Zainabi."

"Ugh f..." Jahanagir closed his eyes, then opened them.

"Stupid" Noor Jahan ground her teeth.

...commented. Both siblings are alike. Jahanagir.

"Mother is coming tomorrow, face-to-face talk might convince her." Noor Jahan looked at Jahanagir.

"Why don't you talk directly to Barray Abu?"

...sat up. "I tried to talk to him too."

"Then?" At Jahanagir's revelation, she sat straight.

"Then the same old story, he also thought I was planning to bother or trouble you," Jahanagir was sad and Noor Jahan too.

☆☆☆

There was also an elders' gathering in the drawing-room, sometimes voices got loud, sometimes low, within those loud voices the echo of a marriage contract was also heard.

Noor Jahan was running around restlessly, mother and father had arrived here at night. She hadn't gotten a chance to talk to mother yet.

Jahanagir had gotten a job at a big five-star hotel. Today was his first day, he was at his job. Seer Zaibi as usual and as always on his mobile .

Bobi had gone out. Had to do some shopping. Offered Noor Jahan to come along, but she refused and after Bobi left, she thanked Allah from her heart. She had peace for a few hours. But no, where was the peace available? She was desperately waiting for a chance to talk to her mother and she got the chance.

"Why are you not listening to me? I don't want to marry this Mughal prince Zahiruddin Babar." Noor Jahan was very annoyed.

"You yourself had approved for this Mughal prince. Maybe you remember." The mother looked at her carefully.

"Was my mind not working? Now it's fine?"

"It's fine at the wrong time. Nothing can be done now. The elders have talked about it."

"Oh no..." Noor Jahan looked at her mother with extreme shock. In fact, at that moment, all the parrots and pigeons in her hands flew away. "You should have thought about all this earlier, daughter. I told you repeatedly to think carefully and make a decision about Jahangir yourself, brother. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have asked for you with great desire, but you were obsessed with Jahangir? You were obsessed with enmity? At that time he was the worst person in the world. How did he become the best person in the world today?" The mother asked, showing her daughter the mirror.

"It didn't happen, this wretched heart, it leaves a person nowhere." Noor Jahan mumbled to herself.

"What are you saying? Mom seems irritated. I tried to make you understand so much about Jahangir, but no,"

Children who consider themselves very intelligent do not understand their parents' words and advice. Children want to stumble first, then learn their lesson.

"You talk to Bade Abu." And Jahan looked at her mother with great hope and expectation. What was discussed has happened, there is nothing left to talk about now. Mother flatly refused and ended the conversation.

After the bright morning, the pink afternoon, the yellow late afternoon, the desolate evening, and then the black night, one by one, precious moments were turning into different colors and getting lost. It was as if Noor Jahan's life was slowly draining away.

Jahangir's condition was no different from hers. He was lying lazily on the sofa. Just then, his mother came in.

"What happened, are you tired?" She lovingly touched her son's forehead. "Very, very much," Jahangir opened his closed eyes.

"Let me make you some tea and something with it..."

"No, let it be." Jahangir stopped her and sat up straight.

"Mother!" There was something in his eyes and tone that made her worried.

"What is the matter? Why are you worried? Your wedding is tomorrow and you are sitting here with a long face."

"I told you everything." Jahangir's tone was complaining.

"What thing?" His mother's innocence was worth seeing.

"I told you about Noor Jahan."

"Oh..." Mother finally understood, "

whatever is happening is your will - and happiness was in it. What happens now?I j vs

You didn't believe me and this day has come..." Jahangir looked like a defeated person. Ami felt pity for him but what could be done now?

"Don't say anything like that, Jahangir. Your father and everyone else are very happy. Don't let everyone's happiness and relationships get ruined." Ami warned Jahangir.

"And the life that is being ruined? We didn't do it, did we?" Ami's tone was subdued. Jahangir's face fell further.

Everyone was educated and sensible. It wasn't a suffocating or old-fashioned environment, yet both felt tied in unseen chains. The mirrors of relationships are very delicate. They break and shatter with just a scratch.

"What helplessness that one cannot say anything, cannot do anything..." Noor Jahan's watch consistently showed twelve o'clock.

Just tonight was left. Guests would start arriving from tomorrow morning.

Bade Abu was coming out of the room into the lounge with his mobile to his ear.

"Yes, yes, I have spoken to the Maulvi Sahab, he will come on time. No need to worry."

Saying goodbye, he switched off his mobile and lay down on the sofa in the lounge.

"Hey, will I get something to eat or should I sleep hungry?"

The spouse glared with sharp eyes to her oppressed emperor husband...

"Have you gone to bed hungry until today? Thank God. He wakes us up hungry, but doesn't let us sleep hungry."

"Thank you, a million times thank you, oh pure Sustainer, You have blessed us with countless bounties. We were acting like gods, my respected wife, you don't understand our seriousness or our jokes even now." He complained, leaning comfortably against a cushion.

Begum Sahiba was about to open her mouth to reply when Jahangir came out of the kitchen. "Dinner is ready, should I set the table?"

"Brother, sister-in-law, and the children should arrive first, then we'll set it. Eating alone like this won't feel good." Mother hesitated.

Everyone had gone shopping. Noor Jahan was also taken along. Shopping was happening almost daily anyway, but somehow everyone still had something left to buy.

"They don't know when they will come back and they will eat there as always, I can't wait at all, let alone more than a little. My stomach is rumbling with hunger." Father announced in clear words.

"Okay, I'll serve the food." Mother got up and walked towards the kitchen. Jahangir looked at his respected father once and addressed him.

"I need to talk to you about something very important." His tone and face were extremely serious. But his respected father would only be serious on his own terms, not someone else's. "No, brother, on an empty stomach, no one's words make sense nor are they understood. Whatever you want to talk about, do it after eating, when some light returns to my eyes, right now it's all darkness due to hunger."

The Emperor's harsh answer made Jahanagir's eyes go dark. He had barely mustered the courage to speak. What would happen now? He didn't know.

☆☆☆

Noor Jahan was also worried about the same thing. The hustle and bustle of the bazaar, the shopping mall's liveliness, the excitement of shopping, everything had faded.

"Why have you made such a long face? What will people think if they see you? Tomorrow is such an important, happy day, and there's no happiness on your face at all." Her mother gently chided her.

"Are you saying this? Even though you know everything?" Noor Jahan looked at her mother with a complaining gaze.

"Are you tired from just this much shopping? Or are you hungry?" He came close to the mother and daughter. He had been trying to pick out a tie for himself for the past half hour but still hadn't decided which color and design to buy.

"Both, tiredness and hunger." Noor Jahan forced a smile.

"Let's go to the food court then."

"Let them come too." Noor Jahan pointed towards Zaibi who was buying jewelry and the girl.

"Okay, okay, okay." Zebi's face was constantly beaming these days.

He said with a laugh.

☆☆☆

No matter how cruel the night is, it eventually passes.

Tonight passed too, just like fate, which was also unkind to them both. They spent the entire night tossing and turning until the Muezzin called out "Allahu Akbar." Noor Jahan was awake; she now sat up.

After praying, she presented all her problems and issues before the Lord. When all the doors are closed, this is the one path that is always open to everyone. There was a strange sense of satisfaction and peace. Holding it in her heart, she stood at her room's window and looked outside.

Although the sun had not yet risen, the deep dark night had passed, replaced by a whitish-grey haze in which everything was clearly visible. From the window of this room, a part of the lawn and the main gate were clearly visible.

Someone opened the gate and entered. Noor Jahan started, squinted her eyes, and involuntarily took a deep breath.

It was Jahangir. He closed the gate, took off his cap, put it in his pocket, and headed towards the house entrance. Noor Jahan moved away from the window and sat on her bed. She had a rosary in her hand, on which she was slowly reciting a prayer.

"O Ever-Living, O Sustainer (of all creation), in Your mercy I seek help." She remembered her mother's words, "Whatever is in your destiny will happen," and she became anxious. Only Allah knows what is in one's destiny? Dropping the beads of the rosary one by one, she was now experiencing conflicting emotions. At times great peace and satisfaction, and at times restlessness and anxiety. She tried repeatedly to focus all her attention on what she was reciting.

"O Ever-Living, O Sustainer (of all creation), in Your mercy I seek help." As she recited, her eyes became moist. Her mother prayed after the prayer and came and sat near her daughter, whose moist eyes were not hidden from her.

I made a mistake, I didn't take you seriously, actually your words seemed like a joke to me."

"To me too, everything seemed like a joke, but when life joked, I came to my senses."

Noor Jahan kept her thoughts to herself. Her lips were moving continuously. She kept reciting until the gray dust turned into silver whiteness.

Mother got up and removed the curtain from the window. The room filled with light. Cool, silvery light spread everywhere. She involuntarily shivered, and a gust of dry air blew in.

"The weather is changing," Mother commented.

"Yes," Noor Jahan nodded in agreement politely, then addressed her mother with a question. "Shall I make tea for you?"

"Make it," she agreed.

Noor Jahan went down the stairs to the kitchen. Jahangir was there, who had just arrived a few minutes ago and was putting milk in a saucepan on the stove.

"Mother will also drink tea," Noor Jahan informed him.

"I know. This is her and Abu's tea, milk tea, with nominal sugar." He leaned on the stool.

Noor Jahan looked at the mixture of milk, tea, and sugar heating in the saucepan, then at Jahangir, on whose face seriousness and silence were both profound.

"Did you talk to Barray Abu?"

"Yes," he nodded in agreement.

"Then... that nothing can be done now."

Then what will happen?" Noor Jahan felt as though she herself was sitting on the burning stove, not the tea.

"I remained optimistic that our plea would be heard, would be accepted. I had no idea that time would slip through our hands. Regrets were etched on Jahangir's tormented face."

The tea was boiling. She strained it into cups, took out cookies from the container, and carried them upstairs with the tea. In a state of absent-mindedness, she placed both items in front of her mother. Jahangir's voice echoed in her mind:

"Our parents' respect and honor are more important than our desires."

"This isn't just a desire, it's love," Noor Jahan had almost sobbed.

"Relationships should take precedence over love. They shouldn't be broken."

"And the heart?" Noor Jahan's voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"The heart can be reasoned with." Jahangir was either acting too brave or was just cruel.

"A broken heart?"

Jahangir had no answer to this question. Only silence remained in his possession, which took Noor Jahan's finger and came along with her, and stayed with her for a long time, even when a commotion broke out in the house after the arrival of close relatives. The noise of happiness had created a hullabaloo. Noor Jahan did not face Jahangir. She kept a fast of silence, getting tangled with herself.

"However much we girls consider ourselves free and independent, an invisible chain remains tied to our feet. The chain of traditions, ethics, modesty, courtesy, and sacrifice. To free ourselves from this chain..."

You need selfishness and apathy, which I did not have in Noor Jehan. Jahangir was also far from these negative qualities. To achieve love, one has to be a little or a lot selfish. Noor Jehan remembered a post she had read somewhere. And to be selfish, you don't need bravery, you need cowardice. That emotion that limits a person only to his self and the happiness of his self. It comes from cowardice and low spirits. Sacrifice is the work of the brave. Maintaining relationships is a sign of high spirits.

Noor Jehan kept thinking, kept arguing with herself, kept explaining to herself, kept entertaining her heart, today was a very busy day. Everyone was busy with their own activities and work. A storm had also come inside her. Due to which the fabric of existence seemed to be scattered. With great difficulty, she kept trying to collect herself and save herself.

The sound of laughter and talk of the people in the lounge had become faint by the time it reached the room. Thank God. He showed us the happy day of our children. Ami was thanking God again and again. Sometimes loudly, sometimes in her heart. Even at this time, while giving thanks, she was looking at her spouse.

Zille Ilahi was reviewing his attire which he had to wear at today's function. Kurta, shalwar, waistcoat, simple and dignified.

"Begum, we have a sherwani too, can we wear that today?"

"Sherwani? It's your son's wedding, not yours." 'Ah, how many wishes are buried here' After hearing about her wedding, she felt a tickle in her heart first, then a sigh with regret came on her tongue.

Shehwani dress is not conditional on marriage, it is a dress, can be worn anytime.

"Okay , if you want to wear it, then wear it. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have made such an expensive dress for you." The Emperor's forehead wrinkled. The Emperor smiled, they knew what fun it was to tease the beloved.

"You don't get upset, we will wear this dress that you got made with great love for us." They waved a white flag. They themselves make the mud dirty and then fly the dove of peace. Ami smiled.

"What news of the son?"

"Clouds of sorrow and sadness are hovering. The son thinks of himself as a big shot, if we, the Shadow of God, didn't teach him a lesson, then what kind of Emperor are we?" They twisted their mustache.

"He is your only son," Ami said.

"We should keep his heart, and he is the king of hearts."

"We are also the only father of that good-for-nothing, aren't we? The son should listen to us and keep our respect."

"Only father?" Begum Sahiba was stunned for a moment. Then she remembered that fathers are probably always only one. The manner was embarrassing. The virtual god was embarrassed. Speechless. Immediately took refuge in mobile.

As soon as Kinzi and Aliya entered the room, Noor Jahan pretended to lie down with a sheet over her face, but the attempt failed. Kinzi pulled the sheet off.

"What time is this to sleep?"

"I have a headache," helplessness was evident on Noor Jahan's face.

Tell Jahangir Bhai to suggest some other tea, a ginger, cardamom tea, that makes a headache disappear in minutes."

"Why should I tell him?" Noor Jahan asked, bending down at Alina's suggestion.

"Jaanu, then who should we tell? I know how to make tea."

"But you can't make tea like Jahangir Bhai," Kinzi claimed. I remained silent in front of both of them, while Noor Jahan was burning up inside.

"It doesn't feel like it's your Nikah today, why are you so sad, so quiet?" Kinzi, who was always talkative and outspoken, observed her face closely.

"I told you, I don't feel well." Noor Jahan tried to compose herself.

"Today? Did you have to feel unwell today?"

"Today my luck went bad." Noor Jahan apathetically pushed the sheet aside.

"Anyway, your Nikah is happening in such a strange, dry way," Alina objected.

Noor Jahan's silent but questioning gaze fixed on Alina.

"You didn't even put up a single post."

"What?" Noor Jahan helplessly closed her eyes, then opened them. There was a time when if she didn't share updates minute by minute, hour by hour, her time wouldn't pass, and today, so much time had passed she had forgotten her mobile phone; sharing any news or information about herself felt like the most useless thing in the world, completely meaningless and pointless.

She was in trouble, her mental state was such that no answer came to mind. Just then, Aapi Suraiya came in their hands with medicine

Thank you, Ami."

"Come on, take your medicine and quickly fix your headache." Alina and Kinzey both stood up.

"Ami?" After they left, Noor Jahan looked at her mother with pleading eyes.

"Noore beta, I have a lot of work. Eat this tablet, or drink it if you prefer, and rest for a while." Ami was in a hurry and left. Darkness spread across Noor Jahan's face.

"I wish a miracle would happen." She thought helplessly. Despite so many people around, she felt completely alone and solitary. She only had a few hours left, then she had to get ready.

"I don't know why, if the engagement had happened, I could have broken it off later." She fumed.

"You can go now, no relationship has been established yet. Neither engagement nor marriage. But you are sitting here defeated, having thrown away all your weapons. While maintaining respect for elders and relationships, you can still speak up." Her inner voice whispered to her. A wave of energy passed through her.

She stood up. Standing by the window, she took a few deep breaths and composed herself. It is not necessary to be rude and fearless to convey your message to elders. It can be done with gentleness and respect. Noor Jahan was convincing herself. Determined to untangle the tangled silk, she came downstairs.

In one room, Alina and Kinzey were lying down with face masks and cucumber slices over their eyes. Noor Jahan quietly passed by them. Her eyes were searching for big uncle or big aunt, who were nowhere to be seen. But from their room, the sounds of Jahangir and Talha laughing were coming.

She was a very close cousin, a close and intimate friend.

Noor Jahan moved forward. She wanted to go into the room and ask Jahangir about her mother and father. But just as she was about to go in, Jahangir's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Noor is still the same as she was in childhood. A little foolish, a little innocent, it is very easy to fool her just like before."

"And you have been a master in this matter from the beginning." Talha's laughter then became uncontrollable.

"It is an honor for me, from you, sir." Jahangir's tone was full of mischief. A strange ecstasy was evident from his manner.

Noor Jahan's feet became still there. For a few moments she remembered neither where she was nor why she was there? Different faces and voices, everything seemed to be jumbled up.

"Let's go, we're leaving, let's prepare for today. I prayed very hard, indeed Allah is very kind."

Jahangir came out smiling while speaking. And when he saw Noor Jahan standing like a statue there, he himself became a statue. His tongue also probably turned to stone. For a long time, not a word came out of his mouth. The sorrow and anger in Noor Jahan's eyes and face was enough to understand what she had become.

Jahangir suddenly realized what a situation he had gotten himself into.

"And listen to my words." There was movement in Jahangir's statue. "I have heard your words." Noor Jahan's sharp gaze fell on him and cut him from top to bottom.

"You..." Jahangir in a state of distress,

"If you say one more word or try to follow me, such a scene will be created in this house that it won't be good for anyone."

Talha came out after hearing their voices; Noor Jahan had already left.

"What happened? Is everything alright?" Talha asked Jahanagir, who looked completely different from a moment ago.

"Hello! Are you okay?" Talha shook him by the shoulder and repeated his question.

"The path has opened up, man," he said with a wounded smile.

Noor Jahan didn't know how she reached her room, grateful she didn't face anyone.

"Control yourself, Noor Jahan! Don't make a spectacle of yourself in front of anyone," she whispered to herself in front of the mirror.

"Why couldn't I understand? He suddenly became kind while bothering me? Became a friend while being an enemy? A well-wisher and suddenly fell in love?"

"Oh God, how foolish am I? And how easily I became a fool. He was right about me, but not anymore."

She rubbed her dirty eyes with pain.

"Why should I waste my past tears for him, who doesn't care about these tears?" Noor Jahan, with great burning, kept her eyes from crying.

Her eyes were rebelling. Her heart was protesting, but she was intent on punishing herself for the foolishness she had committed. She was inflicting pain on herself by stopping her tears. The pain inside was increasing as she tried to prove herself brave by holding back her tears. She managed to sit on the bed, holding herself together. Just then, her mother walked in.

"Is your headache better?"

"The pain in my heart is bigger than that," Noor Jahan whispered. In the state she was in, her mother's arrival and closeness were supporting her, comforting her as if someone had caught her while falling from the sky to the ground.

"Noor!" her mother addressed her.

"Ami (mother)..." she sobbed. No matter how brave she made herself out to be in solitude, all restraints broke in front of her mother at that moment. She put her head in her mother's lap and cried terribly. She kept crying until the inner pain and dust came out, until the burden of her heart lightened.

Her mother kept stroking her hair silently.

Finally, she sat up straight. She wiped her red nose, which was sniffling, with a tissue paper and tried to dry her wet face with her hands. She controlled her choked voice.

"You didn't even ask why I was crying?" she asked her mother in a complaining tone.

Her mother looked at her daughter with great affection.

You have always been impulsive and emotional. To think about something, to understand what to do, just a moment is enough for all that."

"What do you mean?"

"What can I tell you? You will understand yourself in a little while."

"Why are you talking in riddles?" Noor Jahan snapped.

"Oh, alright, here you go, listen in plain words..."

What the mother told her in brief words enlightened Noor Jahan's mind completely. Immediately, she was unable to say a single word. She looked at her mother with disbelieving eyes, who nodded in affirmation to reassure her. But clouds of doubt hung over Noor Jahan's face.

"...You are joking?" Her agitation grew.

"So, what do you think? Can I joke like that with you?" The mother became serious.

"Then that Jahangir?" A flustered Noor Jahan stammered.

"Take out your clothes and things, we have to go to the parlor." The mother suddenly became very busy and seemed in a hurry.

Whether Noor Jahan was out of her senses or something else was the matter, she just sat there motionless.

Qazi Sahib solemnized the marriage. At the time of 'Ijab-o-Qubool' (proposal and acceptance), Noor Jahan hesitated slightly, and the breath of Jahangir, sitting next to her, caught in his chest. The bride's face was hidden in a red, gold-embroidered veil. What were the expressions there? What were the circumstances? He was unaware.

Qazi Sahib was calling out. For a moment, Noor Jahan wanted to say no in response and settle all past accounts with this 'philosopher' sitting next to her, who was trying to look very innocent. But this refusal would have been more agonizing for her than for her companion. So Noor Jahan bint Shah Zafar nodded in affirmation.

For her own happiness and the happiness of her heart, and the reflection of that happiness appeared on the face that was sitting next to her.

☆☆☆

Babar and Zeb-un-nisa's parents were also like those ninety percent Pakistanis who choose to go abroad to earn and live. They raise and bring up their children in the same environment. And for marriage, they prefer their homeland and family. These two siblings did not agree with their parents' wish, but now, being forced, they came to Pakistan.

Babar was not as foolish and stupid as he made himself out to be, nor was Zeb-un-nisa so ill-mannered and rude; it was just a shell they had put on themselves. Both their focus was currently on their careers. In their future planning, there was no commitment to anyone, no engagement, no marriage, no friendship, no love.

Jahangir and Noor Jahan's initiative and interest initially surprised both of them. But very soon, they realized that the 'Tom and Jerry' friendship between them And their affection will only be to irritate, trouble, and burn each other.

"You'll see, in the end, in the story, these Tom and Jerry will be interested in each other," Zeebi predicted in front of her brother. She had given this new name to Jahangir and Noor Jahan.

"It's very difficult. Talk happened between the elders regarding their relationship, but these people have rejected each other's proposals," Babar revealed.

"Wow, this is the most awesome and interesting twist of the story!" Zeebi's eyes lit up. They continued their drama. Until Zeebi's prediction and father's style proved correct that somewhere behind these fights there is love.

The kindness and favors of Babar and Zeebi started to bother Jahangir and Noor Jahan. When the noose they had put around their own necks started to tighten, they started losing their minds. Both the siblings were enjoying the whole situation.

There was another being who was after teaching these Tom and Jerry a lesson. This was Zill-e-Ilahi (father). When things went too far and Jahangir came to his mother for help, she put the whole matter in front of her husband, and the Emperor of the world's royal temper, majesty, and grandeur reached its peak.

"We also said this to the young man at that time that he rejected our choice. Now with what face have you come to our court with a request? You are not our subjects. If children, even they are like children to a ruler. Anyway, this is your home, not a court. Come out of your dream world and talk to us properly."

Begum Sahiba became angry and Zill-e-Ilahi became annoyed. "You always support this unreasonable person."

"It is your own reflection, your own mirror. By God, did I not support you in front of Aba Mian (father-in-law) when he used to target you with his anger?"

Begum Sahiba showed them the mirror.

Why are you digging up old graves?" he snapped.

"You are the one digging up old graves by asking why I refused earlier. Forget the past refusal and look at today's acceptance. Now both Jahangir and Noor Jahan are willing with all their heart."

"Mother was performing the duty of advocacy with great fervor."

"Don't be so emotional; the same thing will happen. Whatever is our children's wish and will is final. It's just necessary to teach a lesson to those who consider themselves all-knowing."

The respected Emperor made his decision and ended the matter, and the punishment or trial of the all-knowing generation began. But this secret was exposed a little earlier than the father's hope and expectation. Jahangir was already worried and confused. His father was not that stubborn, obstinate, and imposing of his will. But when he remained firm on his stance instead of listening to his repeated requests, he began to suspect that something was fishy.

In every matter of life, he was always given freedom of decision, his wishes and opinions were always respected, even if the parents' will and happiness were something else, his will was given priority, and now in such an important matter of life, he was being as stubborn as gram flour dough.

His mother's attitude was also quite suspicious.

she had never been so helpless and powerless in front of his virtual Godas She was revealing herself in front of her son . Jahangir's sixth sense was warning him. He was receiving signals repeatedly that something was wrong, and finally one day he overheard Zeibi and Bahar talking and laughing at this Tom and Jerry pair.

"Oh God, I am such a big donkey! I never realized it until today." Jahangir was scolding himself in front of the mirror.

"How easily everyone fooled me together. As if I am a character in a story." He started laughing even now. And why shouldn't he laugh? He was as if bound in chains, now suddenly free.

"Let me go and give the good news to the lady," Jahangir had found his wings, he was restless to fly. But suddenly the next thought stopped him.

"It's better to keep it a surprise for now. The happiness at the exact moment might not be the same as later."

Jahangir did not tell the real truth to Noor Jahan, but in his happiness or foolishness, he narrated the whole story to Talha. And the misfortune was that Noor Jahan overheard the incomplete conversation and another twist came into the story. Thanks to Noor Jahan's mother, whose heart melted and tongue opened upon seeing her daughter's tears, which her brother-in-law and sister-in-law had strictly instructed her to keep shut. When she informed her daughter about the real situation, she was stunned.

First, she kept looking at her mother with surprise and disbelief, then anger appeared in those eyes.

"Being so grown up, you all were playing this childish joke on us."

"It was your uncle's stubbornness and planning. You know his temperament. He insisted a lot and forced Mulla and his team to keep the secret a secret."

And these Bobby and Zaheen, I will tell them. Hidden talents, actors." Noor Jahan gnashed her teeth.

"These two were enjoying this situation the most." Ami smiled.

Noor Jahan's heart secretly recommended smiling. But her displeasure was neither over nor less.

"Enough, Ami! You could have at least told me." She complained to her mother.

"I did tell you. Otherwise, brother had strictly instructed that this secret should be revealed only at the time of the Nikkah, not before."

"And you obeyed him like good and obedient children?"

"Obviously, when our own children were doing as they pleased, we thought we should obey our elders." Ami taunted in a very sweet tone.

Noor Jahan sat silently. She had crossed the river of surprise. In front of her was the river of joy and happiness. But she was hesitating to step in.

"Ami, please tell me the truth, are you not joking with me?"

"No," Ami stood up.

"At this moment, you need silence and solitude, not my words. Stay alone for a while. It will all make sense. Everything will become clear in this room."

Indeed, a halo of silence and solitude surrounded Noor Jahan.

The certainties of belief began to flutter around her. The sky of satisfaction and peace was shading her.

☆☆

When the two united in the crowd of colors, lights, and happiness, it was a crowd of well-wishers.

One by one, everyone left from there. Now there was no one else there except these four.

congratulations. The story of Tom and Jerry come to end What happened? Bobby leaned over slightly and wished congratulations again. There was mischief in the words and manner. Tom and Jerry, seated on the sofa, merely glared back.

"How can people think someone is so idiotic? I haven't understood it to this day," Rabi blurted out.

"I'm thinking the same thing," Jehangir sighed.

"Best of luck." The brother and sister expressed their good wishes and went downstairs.

Jehangir looked sideways at his side. She was looking at him, glaring at him.

"In fact, another mountain remained to be climbed." Jehangir took a deep breath of helplessness and despair.

Upon returning home, the newlywed couple first appeared before the 'Emperor of the World'.

"Yes, tell me." Emperor twirled his mustache and began the conversation. "Have you gained any sense? You only find well-being, not harm, in obeying parents. You find happiness, not sadness."

"Yes." Both sat respectfully with their heads bowed, and there was no doubt that they were truly grateful to their elders who had prioritized their will and happiness and not made it a matter of their own ego.

"You are very good, father," was the only sentence that came out of Jehangir's mouth, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Hmm, hmm." The father cleared his throat loudly.

The harshness and mercy at had been carefully maintained on his face were melting away. Through the cracks, worry and...

"You people must be tired, sit comfortably, I will be right back." Another favour from the emperor of the world he came out of the room and went out. "The house is crowded with the people. Before anyone comes here, we must clear some things." Jahangir addressed Noor Jahan without wasting a moment.

"No, no, you have to explain. You made a fool of me and called me a fool in front of Talha." His newest spouse was addressing him with the same strict demeanor as a wife of many years.

"When did I make a fool of you?" Jahangir was stunned.

"You knew the truth. You didn't tell me." Then Jahangir scratched his head. "I thought you would be surprised. That's why."

"Not surprised, rather you reverted to your old character when you used to trouble me. So you thought when would you get a better opportunity to bother me than this. You kept silently watching my spectacle," Noor Jahan made a wife-like accusation.

"That's wrong. I didn't want to trouble you at all. I just thought how happy you would be when you found out at the very last moment that the Nikah was happening with me and not Boly."

"Oh yeah? Look, the Nikah happened. But I am not happy at all, just angry with you."

"This is unfair of you. Now you are coming into your old character: getting angry, making false accusations."

"You called me a fool in front of Talha, is this a lie?"

Noor Jahan's gaze was fixed on him. On the beautified face were two beautiful eyes which were certainly angry, but now he had the right to them. Jahangir now wanted to talk about other things with those eyes and that face but for now he had to clear his name.

"Look, you think for yourself, a sensible, educated girl is about to get married. But she is unaware of who she is getting married to. Now, such a situation can happen in movies, dramas, and stories, but in real life, that too in today's digital age, how can someone be so unaware? Or so innocent?

You are also a product of this digital age, you also thought that your marriage was with Zebi." Noor Jahan's tone was less intense compared to the closeness. Jahangir started getting restless.

"But I had a doubt. I investigated and found out the reality, which was very pleasant." Jahangir tried to dispel her anger.

Who isn't affected by beautiful words? But Noor Jahan was in a mood to settle accounts. She paid absolutely no attention to how passionate Jahangir's gaze was, how much softness and sweetness there was in his words as a result.

"You were so clever from the beginning." "Every fault of mine and every word of yours is accepted, now let me say something." Jahangir's gaze was stuck in her earrings and then in her bangles. "Let me say something."

"I am thinking of having our Walima tomorrow or the day after."

"Walima?" Noor Jahan looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

"We will leave in two or three days. The departure is six months later," he reminded her.

"Don't go, stay here forever."

"Huh?" At Jahangir's soft voice and manner, she was taken aback. She had now noticed how close he was sitting. Noor Jahan huddled.

How will everything be arranged so quickly?" she asked quickly, afraid of Jahangir's speaking eyes.

"You say yes. Everything can be arranged."

"What are you arranging, young man?" Abu came back into the room while strolling.

"Walima," Noor Jehan informed them with great simplicity and innocence.

"Whose Walima?"

"Mine." Jahangir was flustered by their sudden arrival and interruption. He was thinking of a suitable answer when Ami entered the room. Her face was towards her husband.

"I asked you to do one thing, what are you doing here instead?"

"Uh, I..." This time it was the master's turn to be flustered.

"Now come on." Ami took him with her.

"Abu is so afraid of Ami," Noor Jahan smiled.

"He respects her and loves her too. By the way, I'm just like him," Jahangir informed her.

"Listening to your talks, it seems like the character from Maula Jatt is trying to be Romeo."

The dancing butterflies around Jahangir began to fly away after hearing Noor Jehan's family tree.

"Anyway, you're just like my Ami. An expert at ruining all romance. The tone was such that Noor Jahan felt pity. She raised her eyelids and looked at him.

"I had prayed for him just like this, and now that the prayer has been answered, the heart's desire has been fulfilled, then why so much anger and displeasure?" Noor Jehan stopped.

The passing moment took hold of both of them at once. The golden-silver moment took hold of them both at once.

Will you make the Seekh Biryani yourself?" it was a request

with mischief

"I will make the Petha too." Jahangir beamed.

"Aha, your words are enough for that."

She smiled.

"There is a lot to say..."

Suddenly there was a noise outside the room and the mischievous cousins' group came in.

"The departure is still six months away." Kinzi quipped.

"The guests will leave the day after tomorrow." Zebi informed.

"Tyrants! Let me have some peace for some time." Jahangir cried out.

"Peeeaace," Talha stretched the word even longer. "Anyway, this word doesn't suit married people much, Jahangir bhai."

"Aba Huzoor is calling you." Misha peeked into the room and delivered the message.

"Ugh! All important tasks have to be done today, right now." Poor Jahangir was the most helpless at that moment.

"Look, maybe it's for the Valima." The new bride whispered, planting a seed of hope in his heart that instantly grew into a whole garden.

"You stay here, I am not going." Jahangir instructed as he left the room, making everyone burst into laughter.

But Noor Jahan's laughter wouldn't stop. That laughter made Jahangir stop again.

"Why do many sensible people become crazy after marriage?"

"Aba Huzoor could answer this question better." Who was coming right here .

Safabrandscorne

Mirrors of the hearts (novel read)

Mirrors of the hearts

"The rich eat when they are hungry or want to, and the poor eat when food is available."

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Mirrors of the hearts (novel read)

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