OS: Tranche de Vie Series

Disclaimer: These are random musing of my brain on MaHer's future life. Some are drabbles and some are closer to an OS. So I far I've written about 6 so I'll post them when I can.

Tranche de Vie: Comfort

I threw my bag the moment I entered the room; and crashedface first into my pillow. I took a deep breath in and closed my eyes. Nosooner had I closed my eyes; I could feel his presence at the door.

“Mahid”, I called for him in my tired state as I stretchedmy hand out for his.

I could hear the door close and lock latch. I was engulfed inhis warm embrace seconds later. His arms wrapped around me; his hands restingaround my waist. I could feel myself relax as I leaned my body close to his.

“The kids…”, I mumbled.

I didn’t need to say anything else as his gentle squeeze ofmy hand was answer enough. A mass casualty event affects everyone in thecommunity not just the hospitals. As Mufti, I know he had been knee-deep in itas me rallying the community for the blood drive along with setting up food andshelter for those working the incident and the families affected.

The warmth of him is enough to wash away the horrors of theoutside world.

He is my comfort, my home, MY Mahid.

Great start ❤❤❤🤗🤗

Disclaimer: I know we all aren't feeling the happiest today so a happy snippet. Enjoy!

Tranche de Vie: Joy

My almost 4-year-old bolted out of the room like she was late for something important.

I am being summoned, “Papa! Let’s go!” as she gets about halfway through the corridor.

I catch up to her in a few strides, and she grabs my hand to pull me towards the stairs.

I kneel to reach her eye level and height and ask, “Why don’t you call me Abbu?”

The eye roll and the exasperated sigh had me purse my lips to prevent me from laughing.

“Papa! You aren’t old and don’t have a beard. Abbu is for old people,” she explained matter-of-factly like it was the most simple thing in the world.

I could hear a stifled chuckle coming from our room. Iturned to see her mother and my wife Seher leaning against the door frametrying very hard not to laugh.

“Your mind is just as khurafati as your Ammi’s,” I said under my breath.

“DON’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MY AMMI! My Abbu bahut mohabbat karte hein unse; he will beat you up,” she snapped back before making her way down the stairs.

My wife joined me where I stood stunned. We locked eyes and burst out laughing. The kids these days are way smarter and ready with a quick reply for everything.

We intertwined our hands and I brought our joined hands to kiss hers.

“Not bad for two people whose paths were never meant to cross, truly Allah ki mehar.” I said as we head down to leave for our ice cream outing.

For Tahir - Because I love that he is Team MaHer

Tranche de Vie: Dosti

It was the end of the year picnic for Madrasa’s boys and girls. There is food, fun, games and the annual kite off. The kids gravitated towards me after the first picnic, to teach them how to fly a kite. The girls have taken the top prize the last few years, since Seher began to join the outing and taught the girls. Seher, Tahir and I stood on the side watching the kids fly their kites.

“Do you remember the first time we bought the kids to the picnic,” Tahir spoke out loud. “Do you know the secret behind it?”

This caught Seher’s attention and her eyes lit up withcuriosity; whereas I was glaring at Tahir.

Unprompted, Tahir continued, “You see, my best friend was soon to be married; he wanted to have a private conversation with his bride to be so…the only thing he could come up with was take her brother’s class on the picnic along with both of the families.”

Tahir braced himself for the anger that was coming for outing the secret.

Before anything could happen, Seher asked, “I bet you could share some great stories from your friendship. From your childhood. How did you two meet?”

“Tahir and I met when we were seven,” I begin surprising both Seher and Tahir. “He was one of Dada Huzur’s students at the Madrasa; he had bought him home as a friend for me. He thought I should have a friend my age especially after Ammi’s death. Someone I could play with and talk with, go to classes at the Madrasa with.”

Needless to say, it didn’t start out well at all. I was quiet, moody, angry, too serious, too guarded but he came every day even if just to play in the corner by himself. Eventually we became best friends and now he is my brother.

“Tahir Miya, I doubt you know this, but you bought a young boy joy and friendship after the biggest tragedy in his life,” I let him in on another secret of mine.

Tahir was visibly touched by the revelation.

Tahir and I both extended our hands for a handshake. I shook his hand then pulled him in for a hug.

“Thank you for being that little Mahid’s friend and this Mahid’s brother.”

❤❤❤

Tranche de Vie: Pain

Mahid’s POV

The room felt eerily quiet; the lights were on and nothingwas out of place yet... My voice echoed in the room as I called for her. Noreply; then I saw her sitting on the balcony. She was blankly staring at thesky. I gently put my hand on her shoulder to get her attention. I moved to sitin front of her; that’s when I noticed her tear-stained face. I wanted to fixwhatever has caused Seher this pain; that’s when I realized she was clutchingsomething in her hand. I saw two other pregnancy tests.

I picked one up. NEGATIVE. It all made sense now. I cuppedher face and she fell into my arms as her silent sobs shook her body againstmine.

I wanted to scream, cry and ask why us but I needed to bestrong for her. I held her till her sobs turned into quiet tears as theycontinued to drench my kurta. Eventually there were no tears left.

“Come on let’s get you to bed,” I told her as I carried.Neither of us could sleep as we stared into the abyss. No amount of words wouldmake this better.

The tears burned in my eyes as I thought through everythingwe had endured the last year and half. The elation and joy of finding out wewere pregnant. The quiet celebrations. The joyful debates on whether it will bea boy or a girl. Secretly buying toys and baby clothes even though it was tooearly and we hadn’t told our families. Then losing the baby 3.5 months in as wewere preparing to surprise the families with the pregnancy.

Seher stayed in bed for a week then buried herself in work.We decided against telling the family about the pregnancy and the miscarriage.Seher just wanted to move on; didn’t want to see the pity in people’s eyes.Time passed, there was a positive home test, but the blood work proved it was afalse positive. Since then, today was the third negative.

I can see daylight breaking through; the dark of the nighthas passed, at least for the world. I turn to see Seher has finally fallenasleep.

I told one of the house staff to take breakfast to Seher ina few hours and let her know I’ll be home for dinner. She inquired about mybreakfast and lunch; I didn’t have much of an appetite.

Three days had passed and Seher had barely gotten out of bedor eaten. My concern and helplessness were both growing. I didn’t know how tofix this, how to help her. I could see her fading before me and I couldn’t doanything. We felt worlds apart even though we were both going through the samehell. By the tenth day, I had finally convinced her to leave the room. She wasa step behind me when I crossed the threshold of our room but seconds later, Iheard the door shut behind me.

“Seher! Open this door. Open the door at once or I’ll breakit down,” I yelled as I pounded on the door. I could feel myself gettingangrier as I continued to pound on the door. Angry at myself for not being ableto help; angry at her for not talking to me; angry at the universe for constantlyputting in us in this situation.

Seher’s POV

Just as he was about to break down the door, I opened it. Myeyes breathing fire and rage.

“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT. YOU NEVER WANTED TO MARRY ME, NEVERWANTED THIS LIFE, NEVER WANTED OUR BABY. IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. I HATE YOU. IHATE YOU MAHID NIYAZI,” I screamed.

I could see the shock and hurt on his face, but I didn’tcare. I wanted to burn the world down. I wanted everyone to hurt as much as me,even him. He came near me and I begin pounding my fists on his chest screaming,“WHY DIDN’T YOU LOVE OUR BABY? WHY? You didn’t care at all. You didn’t cry; youjust moved on as if nothing happened. You don’t have a heart.”

He grabbed my wrists to stop my assault, pushed us into theroom and closed the door behind us. I could see the anger raging in his eyes.

“You think I don’t care? I don’t love you or loved our baby?THAT WAS MY BABY TOO,” he roared.

“Losing the baby hurt me as much as it hurt you, but I hadto stay strong for you. You were falling apart and I needed to hold youtogether instead of falling apart myself. Just because you didn’t see my tears,doesn’t mean there weren’t any. I hid my pain so you could hurt less,” hetrailed off his tone softer now.

The realization of his words snapped me out of the fog I hadbeen in for months and I stumbled back. As if it’s second nature, he steadiedme and guided me back to our bed. As I laid there, it felt like it was thefirst time I had really seen him; he looked so tired, so weary, so ragged.

“Look Seher, let me call Khalajaan. If you won’t talk to me,at least talk to her. Bottling all of this up isn’t good for you,” he saidclearly worried as he sandwiched my hands in his.

NO! I said simply.

“Seher, I don’t want to argue,” he begins but I cut him offwith can you just hold me tight please?

He was shocked, this was the longest conversation andphysical contact we’ve had in over a week.

He complied, wrapping his arms around me. I could feel hisheart thudding on my back. It felt good to be held again as we both remainedsilent.

“It hurts, Mahid,” I whispered as I turned to face him. Icould feel him tense up.

“Should I call the doctor?” he asked worriedly, panicclearly growing in his eyes.

I shook my head; no.

I moved his hand over my heart covering it with my own; “Ithurts here.”

I moved my other hand over his heart, “It hurts here too.”

The tears returned but today we cried together. We mournedtogether for everything we had lost. We held each other, we grieved, we finallyallowed the pain to escape.

Loved reading your work.

So sad, I feel so bad for Maher

The way they shared their pain

Hope they will get their rainbow baby soon

Also I didnt notice you wrote more stuff, read them all now. lovely

thanks for these works to make us enjoy our OG Maher that we miss badly in the show

Tranche de Vie: Happy Birthday

HELP! I’m trapped in the fort! Come fast!

My phone beeped with the message. It was already a long daywith all the meetings, and the phone beeping just annoyed me further. Whoeverit was, they were going to be at the receiving end of my wrath.

The meeting was promptly dismissed as soon as the messagewas read. I sped home and rushed towards my secret childhood hideout.

As I ran down the corridor, getting closer to the door, Icalled out her name, “Seher! Seher! Seher! Can you hear me?” No response.

I burst through the door and the sight before me stopped meon my tracks. I stared, my mouth open but no words came out.

“Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! HappyBirthday Dear Mahid! Happy Birthday to you!

Seher had decorated my secret hideout with birthdaydecorations, lights and cake. She said something or asked me something, but Ididn’t hear her words.

No one since my mother’s death had thrown me a birthdayparty. There were wishes and gifts but nothing like this that Ammi used to dofor my birthdays.

“Mahid!”, she called out for me again. She put the cake withthe lit candles down and touched my arm to bring me back to the present.

“What is this?”, I asked. My previous worry and annoyance ifthis were one of her khurafati ideas completely gone.

She moved around me to close the door. “It’s your birthday.I wanted to do something special.” She said and I could see the earlierexcitement being replaced with concern on her face.

“No one has thought to or done anything like this before,not since Ammi. Sukriya,” I said as a smile formed on my face and the joy wasback on hers.

“Blow out the candles and make a wish,” she prompted.

I did as instructed.

“Happy Birthday, Mahid. May Allah grant all your wishes,”Seher wished as she hugged me.

If only she knew, she is the only wish I need in my life. Ifshe is by my side, I can fight through any darkness to get to her light.

We cut the cake, it was delicious. We spend the rest of theday in the room; just us, celebrating.

Definitely one of the BEST BIRTHDAYS EVER!

Very beautiful😍😍😍😍😍

Loved it

Keep writing it is only source to connect with og maher