Their Last Season

The car was moving on a road to a familiar place, but little did they know that they were embarking on a journey they had never imagined.

The moment they got to know about Hashir's accident, they started their journey towards the haveli.

Hamza was very distressed about his brother's well-being.

Whatever doubts he had, they all took a backseat when he heard the news.

They reached the haveli.

The moment Amma saw Hamza, she broke down.

Hamza hugged her tightly.

He whispered soothing words to his Amma.

But when a child is in pain, nothing can provide solace to a mother's heart.

Sumaiyya caressed the heads of Amin and Aariz.

They were the twins of Hashir and Sabiha.

No child deserves to see their parents in pain.

It carves something into their hearts with permanent ink, something that cannot be expressed in words.

After consoling his mother, Hamza headed towards the hospital.

He saw Hashir being shifted from the emergency ward to a normal ward.

He released a relieved breath.

Hashir looked pale.

Hamza's eyes welled up.

Tubes were attached to his body.

The sight made Hamza's chest tighten.

Nobody likes to see their loved one lying on a bed, attached to multiple life-supporting machines.

He wished it to be a nightmare.

"Ya Allah, please grant him Aafiyat," he prayed.

Sumaiya placed her hand on his shoulder, providing comfort.

After seeing Hashir, he went towards Abba and hugged him, gently caressing his back.

"Bhai will be fine, bhabhi," he assured Sabiha.

She nodded with teary eyes.

Sumaiya embraced her.

.....

It had been four days since they had come there.

Hashir was stable now.

Sumaiya saw Hamza sitting quietly in the study room.

He was present there physically, but mentally he wasn't.

Sumaiya placed a cup of coffee in front of him.

It broke his chain of thoughts.

He looked towards her and smiled.

It didn't matter how distressed he was; a glimpse of this woman and a wave of peace would run through his body.

Indeed, Allah created our spouses as a source of peace for us.

He took her hand into his.

She sat in front of him.

"Say it, Hamza," she whispered softly.

She knew that a lot was going on in his head.

"When I looked at bhabhi and the kids in so much pain after bhai's accident, I feared what the future holds for them if bhai is wrong."

He paused.

"I am afraid, Sumi. Afraid of seeing my brother's lovely family break apart."

He exhaled.

"I wish bhai hadn't done anything he shouldn't have."

Sumaiya tightened her hold on his hand.

"Hamza, the future is something we can't control, so why worry about it? Just leave everything in the hands of Allah and pray."

She smiled.

"Once bhai is fine, he will have to answer my questions," he muttered.

She nodded.

"Whatever it may be, we are together in this," she assured him.

He looked at her in adoration.

Her cheeks turned pink.

Life is beautiful when your companion is your peace.

.....

It was the next day.

Sumaiya was talking to Rahila on the phone.

She misjudged a step and fell down the last four stairs.

A scream escaped her throat.

Amma was the first to notice her.

"Hamza! Hamza! Come, beta, Choti Bahu has fallen down!" she shouted.

Hearing her, everyone gathered around.

"Sumi!" he exclaimed.

"Is it hurting a lot?" Hamza asked, inspecting the ankle she was holding.

She nodded.

He lifted her in his arms and headed towards their room.

"Hamza, I have informed Dr. Nusrat. She will be here soon," bhabhi informed him.

He nodded.

His face showed his distress.

The doctor arrived.

"It looks like a major sprain. She has to be on bed rest for a week," the doctor said while prescribing medicines.

"If these medicines don't help, then we will go for an X-ray," she advised further.

Hamza nodded.

He made her take the medicines and advised her to sleep.

"Sleep well, meri jaan," he whispered.

She was already engulfed in sleep.

Hamza had to visit the hospital to check on Hashir.

He requested Amina Aunty to stay with her.

It was afternoon when Sumaiya felt thirsty.

She stirred and saw Amina Aunty sitting on a chair near the bed.

"Slowly," Aunty said while filling a glass.

She had seen her reaching for water.

Sumaiya took the glass and drank it.

"Hamza?" she asked.

"Beta, he has gone to the hospital with Badi Begum and Badi Bahu," Amina Aunty told her.

She nodded.

"He told me to stay with you till he comes back," she added.

Sumaiya's eyes swelled up at his concern for her.

"Choti Bahu, I will be back in a while," Amina Aunty said while going out for something.

She nodded.

She heard a notification tone again and again.

But she knew it wasn't from her phone.

She glanced at the table near her, where she saw Aunty's phone.

The screen lit up because of an incoming message.

What caught her attention was the message.

"Amma, please forgive me, for Shanaya's sake."

She saw the line.

She understood that the message was from Aunty's son.

She knew Aunty had two children, Shanaya and her brother.

A wave of confusion ran through her body.

Why was he asking for forgiveness?

And most importantly, why had he written "for Shanaya's sake"?

Sumaiya was sure Shanaya's suicide was fishy.

Something was terribly wrong, but what, she couldn't pinpoint.

Her mind wandered to the past events that had been happening.

She remembered the HR whose eyes always seemed to be searching for something in her.

His eyes reminded her of someone.

But she couldn't pinpoint who.

Whenever she saw him, she remembered Silah. She didn't know why.

Maybe the same grief echoed in their eyes.

She remembered that the man smiled, but it never reached his eyes.

Her reverie was broken when she heard Aunty's footsteps.

She saw her taking her mobile phone.

The way her body stiffened and the subtle clench of her jaw made Sumaiya's doubts deepen.

Little did she know that it was just the beginning.

She was on a journey she had never imagined, even in her wildest dreams.

............

"If I have to injure myself again for veiling the truth, I will do it again," a man said to his assistant.

"But sir, isn't it dangerous?" the assistant asked.

He nodded.

"But not more dangerous than the storm that will come after the veil is lifted," the man whispered.

Their conversation was interrupted when they heard the creak of the door.

It was Sabiha who entered with her Amma and Hamza.

Hashir schooled his expressions and gave them a painful smile.