Chapter 11:
Scene 1: The Night Deepens
The dinner dishes had long been cleared, and the silence of the night had taken over the house. Outside, the street lamps flickered softly, and a breeze rustled the leaves in the courtyard. Inside, the study room was dimly lit, the yellow glow from the lamp casting warm shadows on the wooden shelves. Haroon sat by the bookshelf, leafing through an old case file out of habit. Maryam entered with two cups of tea.
Maryam (smiling softly):
"Yeh lo, garam garam chai. Raat ke iss waqt tumhari favourite."
Haroon (looking up):
"Shukriya, tum mujhe har waqt samajh jaati ho."
She handed him the cup and sat beside him on the rug, their knees gently touching. The comfort between them had grown like vines around an old tree — steady, entwined, natural.
After a few sips, Maryam leaned her head on his shoulder.
Maryam:
"Kal raat tumhara diary aur sketches dekh kar main to kisi aur hi duniya mein kho gayi thi… Haroon, tum itne ache shayar bhi ho, aur artist bhi… Ab tumhare baare mein sab kuch jaanne ka dil karta hai."
Haroon was quiet for a moment, staring into his cup as if the chai carried the images of his past.
Haroon (softly):
"Aaj tum se kuch baat karni hai, Maryam. Aisi baat jo main kabhi kisi se nahi keh saka…"
Maryam straightened and looked at him, her expression attentive and caring.
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Scene 2: Haroon's Truth
Haroon (beginning slowly):
"Maryam… main zindagi mein bohat jaldi akela ho gaya tha. Saat saal pehle mere walid, Zafar Iqbal Siddiqui — wo police mein ACP thay — unki maut duty par hui thi. Ek din aik bara hamla hua tha Police Training Academy pe… wo un terrorists se samna karte hue shaheed ho gaye."
Maryam's hand went to her mouth, her eyes wide.
Maryam (softly):
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un... Haroon, mujhe kabhi andaza nahi hua ke tum itna sab kuch seh chuke ho…"
Haroon nodded solemnly.
Haroon:
"Us waqt main DSP tha. Unki uniform, unka junoon… sab kuch mujhe virse mein mila. Lekin main unka sirf beta nahi tha… main unka dosti jaisa saathi bhi tha. Har baat share karte thay hum… Unki maut ne mujhe tor diya tha."
Maryam reached out and clasped his hand.
Haroon (his voice low):
"Meri maa… wo to us se bhi pehle chali gayi thi. Jab main sirf class 7 mein tha. Diabetes ki patient thi. Ek din achanak insulin reaction hua… aur sab kuch khatam ho gaya."
Tears welled up in Maryam's eyes.
Maryam:
"Toh phir tum… bachpan se akelay the?"
Haroon smiled, a wistful, pain-soaked smile.
Haroon:
"Bas rishtedaar, cousins, doston ka sahara tha. Mere wedding pe bhi jo log mere taraf se thay… wo sab dost aur cousin thay. Khandan ka asli rishta… sirf khali yaadein reh gayi hain."
Maryam placed her head gently against his chest.
Maryam:
"Main hamesha tumhare saath hoon, Haroon. Ab tum akelay nahi ho…"
Haroon wrapped his arms around her.
Haroon (kissing her forehead):
"Tum meri zindagi ka woh roshan kona ho jahan kabhi andhera nahi hota."
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Scene 3: Embracing the New Life
The silence returned, this time thicker with shared grief and understanding. The kind of silence where hearts speak louder than words.
Maryam finally broke the moment.
Maryam:
"Phir bhi tum ne kabhi apne dukh ko chehra par nahi aane diya. Tum ek mazboot insaan ho, Haroon."
Haroon (soft chuckle):
"Main sirf is liye mazboot hoon kyun ke ab meri zindagi mein tum ho."
They sat quietly, sipping the remaining tea.
Maryam:
"Aur ab… ek nayi zindagi bhi aane wali hai humari godh mein. Tumhare maa baap agar hote toh kitne khush hote."
Haroon nodded and looked up at the ceiling as if silently speaking to his late parents.
Haroon (whispering):
"Agar ammi abbu zinda hote… toh tum se mil kar bohat khush hote. Lekin mujhe yakeen hai ke jahan bhi hain… wo hum dono ko dekh rahe hain."
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Scene 4: Lights Off, Dreams On
They walked together to the bedroom. Maryam laid down first, her hands gently on her growing belly.
Maryam (sleepily):
"Humara baby kis par jayega, Haroon?"
Haroon (smiling):
"Agar beti hui toh tum par. Aur agar beta hua toh… mujhe umeed hai meri tarah bahadur hoga."
Maryam (yawning):
"Bus meri tarah sensitive bhi ho."
Haroon laughed softly, turned off the light, and slid into bed beside her, pulling the blanket over them.
He whispered into the darkness.
Haroon:
"Tum meri zindagi ka naya safha ho, Maryam. Tum ne mujhe woh sab diya hai jo kabhi khwaabon mein bhi nahi socha tha."
Maryam (half asleep):
"Ab kabhi mujhe akela mat chhodna…"
Haroon:
"Qasam… kabhi nahi."
They drifted into sleep, wrapped in each other's warmth — the pain of the past replaced by the promise of a new beginning.
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[End of Chapter 11]