FF: A Lifetime With You [Ch 6, Pg: 22]

CHAPTER 1

"Nanu Nanuuu" her voice echoed through the silence, "where are you? Nanuuu". The voice seemed distant...for a moment he couldn't comprehend who was talking, or where he was? Perhaps because he had drifted off to his world...his past...again. He woke up with a slight headache and the memory of a hazy dream? or perhaps a glimpse of his past. He sighed, they had finally come, he had been awaiting her arrival, afterall it had been a month since he last saw her and Zaina. He noticed the afternoon sun rays had poured into his room like everyday, giving the wooden floor and furniture a beautiful shimmer. He smiled enjoying the warmth of the sun in the confines of his air-conditioned room. It was strange how little things such as this could bring a smile to his face, he wasn't always so observant, he was now, time had changed, he had changed...Suddenly, two chubby little hands blocked his vision, "guessh nanu!". In a swift move he had her in his lap, "Nanu! nofair" she said angrily, twisting her mouth, "you know your supposed to guessh". He still didn't get why his 5-year old grand daughter Zaina who spoke every word clearly still couldn't pronounce 'guess', and oh yes she had this unusual habit of using the phrase 'you know'. Chuckling at this thought, and twirling her curly black hair he gave her a noisy wet kiss, at which she annoyingly wiped her hand on her cheeks, and frowned saying "Ewww you know Nanu don't do that!". He ignored her and asked her why she was late, "Nanu you know all coz of mumma, you know busy putting make up, lipstick, eyeliner, you know nanu as usual the list goes on" she shook her head like a grown up. He loved Zaina, mostly because everything about her reminded him of his daughter Hareem...his past...happy times...and...his wife...

Zaina toddled off after a while to look for her mamu, perhaps cooking a scheme of what the best way was, for him to give into her request for a candy...

"Assalamu'alaikum baba, sorry we were late" Hareem said encircling him from behind, "Where's Zahir, tell him he needs to be quick the girl's family is waiting!". "He's getting ready Hareem, you know he takes his time" he smiled remembering his days, "after all he's asking her hand in marriage, he has to look his best". She smiled and shook her head, her brother would never change perhaps his wife could do something about this habit of his. She sighed looking at her dad, it had been a month since she had last seen him, wrinkles were now quiet visible on his face, his hair were graying, he had stopped using his gels for which she had endlessly reprimanded him, she remembered how she used to scare him with articles from science journals about how gels cause premature graying and hair loss...but it never stopped him, he was a stubborn man, she thought lightly shaking her head...for some reason the thought of his graying hair saddened her...He now had a light beard which highlighted his personality and matched his age, but his light brown eyes were the same...penetrating, 'full of life' some would say... but only she could see the sea of loneliness in them...her heart cried out for him and for herself, wishing why destiny had been the way it had...her dad had been exceptional throughout their childhood and teenage years, he had been energetic, lively, more like a friend... he hadn't changed with time or age, perhaps he hadn't for her and Zahir...She noticed prayer beads in his hand, and smiled inwardly. He had become pious, spent much more time praying and in reverance...specially after her marriage 7 years ago. "Baba you are sure you don't want to come?" she asked for the umpteenth time, "No, I'm sure...I uh...It feels right being here today, and I'm sure that my daughter will take care of everything, besides your Afsheen khala and Ayan Chachu are coming so they'll fill my void" he said smiling and turning towards the balcony. A calm wind was blowing, swaying his slightly overgrown hair...He closed his eyes momentarily and opened them when he felt something warm on his cheeks, he smirked realizing like many times that a lone tear had escaped again...unknown...

"Baba, remember we can't meet mom if you cry" she said smiling showing off her dimples. He was startled...he hadn't realized that Hareem was around, or else he would have stopped himself...he hated causing her misery. "You'll be fine baba?" she asked pressing his shoulder affectionately, "Yea, don't worry" he smiled and then said "I love you beta...I uh miss you" he said, although he tried keeping a straight face, his heart tugged when he said the last words, he really did miss Hareem, she had always been much more mature than her age, she had been like a mother to Zahir, she was someone with whom he had shared endless times, laughing...shouting...letting out his anger...then crying...Since her marriage he saw much less of her, so he missed her, the house seemed lonely again without her chit chat...her constant advices...He ocassionally talked with Zahir but as a young man he spent less time with his father and much more with his friends, young men... he sighed shaking his head. It seemed like he lived only for Hareem's visits. She simply said "you know I feel the same" and walked out of the room, because she didn't want her father to see her tears. Once outside she went to her childhood room and sat on the floor, pressing her knees to herself she cried...she cried her heart out...and in between her sobs she remembered...a memory she had registered clearly in her mind...a memory she often went back to...

***

She was crying on her bed, when her father had come, held her and said "You know beta, if you cry Mumma won't come to meet us, even we can't go to meet her like this, she doesn't like cry babies...", a 6 year old Hareem had looked up at her dad's eyes, they were shimmering...he was speaking the truth she had decided...and so she promised her father between her sobs "Baba, I swear I won't cry anymore, can we meet her then? hmm?". "Yes, Darling, but you'll keep your promise, and if Papa cries you'll remind him won't you?"...

***

She smiled, despite her maturity at 6, she was after all a kid...she had believed that one day she would really meet her mom, so she had never cried since...atleast not around her dad...She wiped her tears, put on some concealer to hide the dark circles around her eyes and closed her room...

CHAPTER 1 : PAGE 1

CHAPTER 2 : PAGE 3

CHAPTER 3 : PAGE 9