Pain | درد

اور بھی دکھ ہیں زمانے میں محبت کے س

راحتیں اور بھی ہیں وصل کی راحت کے سوا

(AUR B DUKH HAIN ZAMANAY MEIN MOHUBAT  KAY SIWA

RAHATAY AUR BI HAIN VASL KI RAHUT KAY SIWA)

Zohaib sat down on his chair after completing an early morning round in the children's ward of the hospital.

"Zahra you love kids huh, I never knew this", Zohaib said with a smile looking at Zahra.

Today Zahra was acting very clingy to her daddy that even at the time of his round in the children's ward when he was trying to hand her over to his female colleague Zahra was not ready to leave her daddy. Due to this for the first time, he took her with himself to the children's ward where she was laughing and pointing her fingers at the kids trying to say something to him. Usually, he keeps her in his cabin to keep her safe from getting an infection from the patients.

Zohaib took out his cell phone to check the time when a reminder popped up.

"ZAHRA'S VACCINATION DAY"

Zohaib moved his eyes towards Zahra and heaved a sigh. Zahra's vaccination was a nightmare for him. He remembered the last time when she got vaccinated she had cried for hours.

"I'll have to do that", He said to himself. He informed Saleem Bhai to come and pick them up today because he wouldn't be able to drive leaving Zahra away from him. He took Zahra in his hands and went towards the section of the hospital where the vaccination takes place.

"Zahra it's gonna be okay", Zohaib was convincing himself more than Zahra after seeing the injections in front of him.

Zohaib was talking with Zahra to deviate her attention. The nurse came forward, massaged Zahra's left thigh, and injected a needle of the syringe carefully. Zahra's eyes shoot up to her daddy when she felt pain. She nibbled her lower lip and her eyes welled up with tears. He knew she was crying internally because that's how she cries in front of strangers.

"Zahra beta, kuch nahi hotha ro lo thorha", Zohaib said with a pang of hurt creeping in his heart.

It was like she wanted permission from her daddy and started crying. The nurse carefully injected another injection on her other thigh.

(Total 3 injections are injected to the infants at a time, 2 on one thigh while 1 on the other one).

"Sir apply warm fomentation or cold compress on the area to reduce the pain and swelling", Nurse said.

Zohaib nodded his head and hurriedly went outside where Saleem Bhai was waiting for him already.

"Saleem kindly drive fast, I have to reach home soon", Zohaib said and sat down in the back seat of the car. Zahra was wailing in pain. He tightly gripped her both legs in his hands so she could not move them because that will increase pain.

"Ya Allah rehm", Zohaib muttered in agony.

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Ding Dong!...Ding Dong!

"The nameplate says we are at the right place, but why no one is opening the gate. I guess they are not home", Faryal said looking at Meesha in confusion.

"Let's try for the last time, maybe they didn't hear the doorbell. The house is quite big.", Meesha said confidently and rang the bell again.

After a few minutes, an elderly security guard opened the small window beside the gate and said" What do you want beta".

Faryal cleared her throat and said, "Salam chacha! we are here to meet Mrs. Murtaza. Are uncle and aunty home?".

"What's your name? I'll have to ask Barhi bibi first.", the security guard said.

"Faryal...Faryal from the Durrani house", Faryal said.

"Okay! Wait a minute beta", He said, picked up a telephone, and spoke to someone in a low voice.

"You can come inside", he said and moved towards the small door beside the gate and opened it.

"Chacha I'll have to park my car inside. It will be better if you open the main gate, please. If possible.", Meesha said pointing towards her car on the road.

The security guard opened the main gate, Meesha parked her car on the car porch, accompanied Faryal, and they entered the beautiful house in front of them.

"What a surprise", Ayza's mother said with a smile and took Faryal in a motherly hug.

"Assalam u Alikum aunty, how are you?", Faryal asked lovingly.

Aunty broke the hug and looked at Faryal "Very well now, after seeing you".

Faryal handed the bouquet of beautiful flowers to the aunty and Meesha gave the gifts in her hand to the house help.

"Uhu Uhu", Meesha cleared her throat to get their attention.

"And this Kabab mein hadi happens to be my best friend, Meesha", Faryal chuckled.

"Assalam u Alikum aunty", Meesha said and elbowed Faryal.

Aunty hugged Meesha and said "Walikum Assalam, come inside both of you".and led them to a living room.

"Make yourself at home both of you, I'll come back in a few minutes", Aunty said and left the place.

"Aunty has such a positive aura", Meesha said.

"I've told you already, She is such a graceful and loving woman", Faryal said proudly.

After some time aunty came back along with a house help who gave them a fresh mango juice.

"It's getting hot outside, when are your summer vacations starting Faryal", Aunty asked in concern.

"Shukar hai, the administration notified us today that our summer vacations are starting from tomorrow. I had only one class today so that's why I got free early", Faryal said.

"That's great, and what about you beta?", Aunty questioned looking at Meesha.

"I still have to attend my classes, we both study in different universities that's why I am still waiting for mine. Khush khabri sunnay k leye kan thars gye aunty", Meesha replied playfully.

"Where is uncle? I wanted to meet him as well", Faryal said.

"He is in the office, I've informed him about your arrival he will join us shortly. I am so happy you both paid a visit, I get bored in the house alone", Aunty said sincerely.

"I'm happy to meet you as well, I've heard about you from Faryal", Meesha said to which aunty looked at her with a lot of emotions in her eyes.

"How's everyone at home? they should have come with you as well. It's been days since I've seen them. Zohaib aur Zahra say tou baat ho jathi hai ", Aunty asked.

"They are fine Alhumdullilah, Sorry aunty I've not informed anyone except Zain and Huzaifa. Next time In'Sha'Allah we will try to come together". Faryal replied.

They were busy in the conversation when a house help came and said "Barhi bibi you have not told us what should we cook for the guests".

"I'll cook today for these kids", Aunty said with a smile.

"No aunty please, you don't have to trouble yourself. We will leave in some time, we just wanted to meet you", Faryal said.

"No way, I'll never let you go like this you both have to stay. What will I tell your uncle when he will come home", Aunty insisted.

Meesha thought for a few seconds and then said "Okay, we will stay for the lunch on one condition, I'll cook the lunch and you both will stay here and talk to each other. Anyways Faryal is of no use in the kitchen" she completed her sentence with a giggle.

"You might be tired", Aunty reasoned.

"Not at all aunty", Meesha replied.

"Okay but take the help of helpers okay beta", Aunty said to Meesha, Meesha nodded her head and went away with the helper.

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"Ayza looks exactly like Zahra", Faryal said in astonishment.

"Or the correct sentence would be Zahra looks like Ayza", Faryal corrected herself with a smile as she looked at the photo album in front of her.

Faryal was flicking through the album when she stopped at a picture and looked at it carefully.

"It's Ayza's 10th birthday party", Aunty said while touching the picture. It looked like she was trying to feel it again.

"She is looking like a princess, surrounded by so many kids", Faryal said genuinely.

"Yeah indeed!" aunty said with glassy eyes. "And look this is Zohaib, he was a very cute kid. Right?",

Aunty said trying to control her emotion and wiped a tear that was ready to fall from the edge of her eye.

Faryal nodded her head in agreement, took aunty's hands in hers, and said "You can talk to me openly aunty, you don't have to control or pretend anything in front of me. You are a strong woman. Showing your emotions would never make you a weaker person, You can trust me. Kehthay hain na dukh bantnay say kum ho jatha hay."

"I know your loss can never be recovered but we can talk about Ayza. Celebrate her life, her achievements, her dreams. The thing which hurts me the most is that no one talks about her. If no one would talk about her how will Zahra come to know about her mother, her great mother". Faryal said everything looking directly into aunty's eyes.

"My Baba Jan says, nothing goes away by ignoring it. The feelings you hate, keep knocking at your door until you address them, and make peace with them. Instead of sleeping away, eating away, or running from it, sit with it. Healing happens by feeling it." Faryal said further.

Both of them sat together in complete silence for few minutes and then aunty said, "Ayza was a strong-headed ambitious girl. She always knew what she wanted in life be it her dreams, goals, career, or even a life partner."

"Zohaib and Ayza were childhood friends starting from being school mates then college mates, studied in same medical college, started their job together, and then got married. We all know that Zohaib only became a doctor instead of a businessman just because Ayza was going to the medical college instead of business school. Their life was like a fairy tale". Aunty completed her sentence with a broken voice.

"I still remember when she opted pediatrics as her specialization Zohaib choose it too despite his interest in cardiology." Aunty continued while the tears were falling from her eyes making her vision blur".

"She loved kids a lot. When she came to know that she was expecting a baby she was so happy. Her every conversation would start with her baby and end with it as well. She used to plan and sometimes would get worried about the room decoration, birthdays even the schooling of her baby, at that time it sounded funny. But now when I think about it she was absolutely right, her worry was right maybe she already knew she would not be able to see her kid in this world"

"I'm not saying anything to make you uncomfortable beta",  Aunty took Frayal's face in her hands and continued. " I'm just trying to tell you that Zohaib's pain is much greater than ours. We might have lost a kid but he has lost his childhood partner, his best friend, his wife, and the mother of his child so soon. You are the only one who can fill Zahra and Zohaib's life with colors again. It's only you beta who can keep both of them happy, I know my Ayza would be so happy to see you together and happy from the above. He will realize very soon In'Sha'Allah what kind of a person you are.", Aunty said and burst into tears.

Faryal moved forward and hugged aunty. Tears were also falling down from her eyes seeing aunty in pain.

"Ayza is still here aunty, we just have to feel her presence. Jo log yaado mein zinda rehthay hain unko koe maar nahi saktha", Faryal said and tightened her hold on aunty in her embrace.

"Luckily we have Zahra, we can take care of her. We can do everything which Ayza wanted for her. I know Ayza might not be here with Zahra physically but she is surely taking care of her from above. I pray when Zahra grows up, she becomes a fine lady just like Ayza, making her Ammi proud of her", Faryal said sincerely.

Aunty broke the hug wiped Faryal's tears and kissed her forehead. "I might have lost one daughter, but got another one, May Allah give you a long prosperous life beta". Aunty said lovingly.

"I'm always there for you aunty, you don't have to feel alone anymore", Faryal said.

"I'm so sorry that you have to deal with the pain you didn't even have caused, I'll apologize for Zohaib's behavior as well", Aunty stated.

"You don't have to apologize, aunty.  Muje Zohaib say koe gilla nahi. He allows me near Zahra now, never stopped me from calling myself Zahra's Ammi in front of him. I'm grateful for these little things. Despite his mentally traumatized state, he is single-handedly raising Zahra. He is an amazing father, his overprotective nature for his child is justifiable. No matter how much I try the world will only call me a stepmother, whether I accept it or not. We can not blame him for not trusting me because the world is full of mean stepmothers as well. I'll wait for the day when he would be able to trust me. ", Faryal said everything which she couldn't share with anyone else.

"Don't let society or people give you the title Faryal. If you consider Zahra your own flesh and blood, that's the only thing that should matter. In'Sha'Allah that day will come soon when Zohaib will realize and accept reality. Wo kehthay hain na neeyut saaf tou manzil assan.", Aunty advised Faryal in a motherly way to which Faryal nodded her head and smiled.  Both of them were feeling a little bit light after sharing what was hidden in their hearts.

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"Did you cook that Faryal?", Uncle said taking a bite of the food cooked by Meesha.

"No uncle, Meehsa cooked it", Faryal replied.

"Faryal and cooking? Huh...She will show you the fireworks by blowing up your kitchen. Patakhay bhool jaen gay ap log", Meesha said and burst into a fit of laughter making uncle and aunty smile as well.

"She is just exaggerating", Faryal said in embarrassment and slapped Meesha playfully.

The four of them ate their dinner together. After a long period of time, Ayza's parents felt happy. Their home was filled with laughter and happiness just because of Faryal.

"Now that you have made amazing lunch for me, you deserve a gift from my side", Uncle said and handed cash to Meesha.

"Oh no uncle, ab ap muje sharminda kr rahay hain. You liked it, that's all matter to me", Meesha said while denying politely.

"Take it beta, betyan maa baap k ghar say khali hath jathi hovi achi nahi lagthi. I didn't know you both were coming otherwise I would have bought gifts for both of you", Aunty insisted. Meesha hesitantly took it from the uncle.

"This one is you Faryal", Uncle moved her hand towards Faryal. She didn't want to take it as well but she did not want to make them upset at the same time and took it from the uncle.

"Tumhri tou eid ho gyi meri wajah say", Meesha teased Faryal.

"Meeshuuu", Faryal whined making uncle and aunty smile.

Faryal and Meesha bid their good-bye after assuring uncle and aunty they will come again soon.

Meesha dropped Faryal first at Durrani house and then went to her home.

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Assalam-u-Alikum\Namaste.

How was today's update?

I want to keep Ayza's parents in the story as well because this story is all about emotional healing, and they need it too. What do you think about it?

P.S: I think this is the longest chapter I've posted until now, I'll post the continuation of this sequence soon in the next chapter.