Their Last Season

"Rahil, long time no see."

Hamza said while embracing his friend in a hug.

"Man, it's you who disappeared," Rahil retorted.

"After marriage, it seems Bhabhi is the only friend of yours," Rahil teased him.

In reply, Hamza smiled.

"Oh! I just mentioned her and you are already smiling." He elbowed him while saying it.

Hamza shook his head.

They were sitting in the hall of the courtyard.

They were talking when they saw Hamza's elder brother Hashir's car coming through the main gate.

Hashir saw them and started coming towards them.

They greeted each other.

"Bhaijaan, you know that day I saw you, but I couldn't meet you," Rahil said while sitting down.

"When?" Hashir questioned.

"Last week, on Saturday, I saw you," Rahil said while remembering the date.

Hashir stiffened.

Hamza noticed it.

"But weren't you in Kanpur last week, Rahil? It's nearly impossible that you would have seen Bhai, because he was in Delhi on that day," Hamza informed Rahil.

"Yes, yes, I was in Delhi. You must have seen someone else."

Hashir agreed with Hamza.

"No, Bhaijaan, I can't mistake someone else for you.

You were there with a girl of fourteen or fifteen years and a woman and a man in their mid-thirties," Rahil said, baffled.

"Rahil, when I said I was in Delhi, it means I was in Delhi," Hashir said calmly, but his body language wasn't.

Rahil opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn't speak.

The silence in the hall could be cut with a knife.

Hashir's phone rang.

He excused himself.

Hamza and Rahil continued their conversation.

But the atmosphere was tense.

---

Sumaiya and Hamza were sitting on the balcony of their room.

"Sumi, when is your leave getting over?" Hamza asked.

"I have taken three months' leave, basically, so after fifteen days," Sumaiya replied while taking a sip of coffee.

Hamza turned towards her.

"So it means by next week we have to be in Delhi."

Sumaiya nodded.

"Okay, I will inform Abba and Amma," Hamza said.

Sumaiya's hand paused.

"Can I ask you one question?"

Her tone was unsure.

That made Hamza look towards her.

"Of course, Sumi," he said softly.

Sumaiya bit her lower lip.

"Is Abba Jaan old-school?" she asked.

"In some things he is, and in some things he isn't," Hamza told her.

"Like?" another question piped up.

"He values his culture a lot, so he doesn't accept things that go against his cultural values.

Like a woman's love marriage," Hamza informed her.

"What about men?"

"He doesn't like it, but he accepts it."

"Isn't it hypocrisy? Because Islam gives permission to both men and women to marry the person of their choice," Sumaiya reasoned.

"I know, Sumi, but we can't change years of belief."

"Hamza, having feelings for someone is not forbidden in our religion.

What is forbidden is dating, but if we like someone, we are allowed to marry them."

"I know, Sumi."

"But why did you ask?" he questioned.

"What?"

"About Abba being old-school."

"I saw Bhabhi putting on a small veil when Abba is in the room, covering her forehead.

So according to Shia fiqh, a father-in-law is a mahram, so we don't have to cover our hair in front of him," Sumaiya reasoned.

"Oh!"

"And also he doesn't interact much with the women of this house.

Even Ammi remains silent in his presence."

She added.

"Their equation is like this.

My Amma is quite submissive," Hamza told her.

"Okay."

"At my house it's different.

Abbu flirts with Amma sometimes in front of us."

Sumaiya chuckled.

Hamza smiled.

---

Hamza knocked on his parents' door before entering.

He greeted them.

His father replied with a curt nod.

His mother kissed his forehead.

And the peace he felt.

"Abba, Sumaiya and I have to be in Delhi by next week," Hamza told him.

"Okay," his father replied.

"Hamza, will she continue her job?" Mr. Aftab asked.

"Yes, Abba," Hamza said without a thought.

His father frowned.

"I have told you earlier, Abba, I don't have any problem with her continuing her job. It would be unfair on my part to ask her to discontinue when she has worked all her life for the post she is in," Hamza calmly told his father.

"New generation, new rules."

His father shook his head.

He didn't like it from the beginning, Sumaiya being a working woman.

But Sumaiya's proposal was the one Hamza liked.

And he loved Hamza too much to deny him.

---

"You were a liar."

He said while looking at the photo frame.

Which felt like a miracle now.

A tear escaped his eyes.

It fell on the frame.

"Ira, how could you do this to me?

Hadn't you promised to come back?"

Danish muttered while looking at the picture.

He caressed her frame and put all her belongings into a carton.

---

It was the night before they were leaving for Delhi when Sumaiya walked towards the kitchen to meet Amina Aunty.

She didn't know why, but she felt a pull towards Aunty.

"Aunty," she called.

"Choti Bahu, do you want something?" Aunty asked while rubbing her hands on a hand towel.

Sumaiya took a step forward and gave her a packet that she had been holding.

Amina Aunty looked at it.

"Won't you open it?" Sumaiya asked.

Aunty nodded.

Inside the packet was a shawl on which Sumaiya had done the embroidery herself.

An intricate pattern of leaves.

"Before you say I can't take it,

it's a gift from your Choti Bahu," Sumaiya warned her.

Aunty smiled.

She took a step and wrapped her arms around her.

Sumaiya was surprised but hugged her back.

When they pulled apart, Sumaiya asked for her mobile phone and added her contact number.

"Whenever you need me, I am just a call away.

I can't be her."

There was a pause.

"But I can be another daughter."

And with that, Amina Aunty again engulfed her in a hug.

Sumaiya gave her hand-embroidered shawls to Bhabhi, Ammi, and Bijaan in the hall.

"You all made me feel like I have been a part of this house for a long time.

Thank you.

For all the love you have given this Choti Bahu of yours."

Later on, Sumaiya was going to her room when she remembered to tell Aunty about her food preference for travelling.

Everyone had retired to their rooms.

So Aunty was alone in the kitchen.

She was also about to leave for her house.

Sumaiya was heading towards the kitchen when she heard Amina Aunty crying.

She stopped.

"I know it was a crime to be in a relationship in this place.

I know my daughter was on a misguided path.

But didn't she deserve a second chance?

Why was her season of autumn her last season?

Why couldn't she welcome spring?"

Aunty said bitterly.

And it clicked.

Sumaiya realised it was about Shanaya.

"Was Shanaya in a relationship?"

Her mind questioned.