Their Last Season

The sun was at its peak, in its full glory.

The heat waves were flowing.

A girl in her early twenties was mixing something in a jar.

Mangoes were placed on the slab.

She was mixing jeera powder, salt, and sugar in the water.

Her Abba loved Aam Panna, so she was preparing it for him in the kitchen. Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead, and she was wiping them again and again with the edge of her dupatta.

Her lips were chapped.

She moved her tongue over them for soothing.

Once done with the beverage, she poured it into two glasses.

Taking the tray, she reached her parents' room.

Knocking on the door, she entered.

Her father saw her, and his lips curled into a smile.

She sat on the sofa and handed him his glass of Aam Panna.

Her father clicked his tongue.

"It's so hot today, Gudiya. Why did you have to work in the kitchen for me?"

She smiled.

"You love Aam Panna in this type of weather."

"Prepared by your hands," he added, taking a sip.

"So, how can I not prepare it for you?"

She smiled.

Just then, a hurricane entered.

"Ayla Appi," he said in distaste.

Ayla looked at him.

"What happened, Hamzu?"

"I am not talking to you," he declared.

Just then, they heard another set of footsteps.

"Me too," Hashir chimed in.

Ayla kept two fingers over her lips in order to hide the smile that was curling them.

"Can I ask why?"

"Bhai, tell her that she made Aam Panna for Abba only. She cheated on us," Hamza huffed.

Ayla burst out laughing.

Hamza and Hashir looked at her with betrayed expressions.

"My drama-baaz brothers, I have prepared it for you both as well," she said.

Their faces lit up.

"And mine?" Amma asked, entering the room.

She passed her a glass.

"Huh! But the first one was for your Abba," she huffed.

"My Gudiya loves me the most," Ayla's father bragged proudly.

"So do I," he added.

They all laughed.

******

The moon was peeking through the clouds.

The stars were twinkling.

Ayla leaned against the window, watching the clouds play hide and seek.

She walked towards her almirah and took out a diary.

Dear Diary,

When our eyes meet,

This heart pounds.

My breath gets caught,

And my eyes smile.

Is it love?

If it is, then

Maybe I am in love.

I saw him today.

I immediately averted my gaze

Because I don't have any right.

But I want to have that right.

I know he feels the same.

We haven't talked,

But our hearts have.

I don't want a relationship outside marriage.

I want a marriage-a halal one.

A relationship just like Ali (RA) and Fatima (RA).

Will this prayer of mine be fulfilled?

She closed her diary, taking a long breath, as if soaking in the serenity of the atmosphere.

"Ahil, long time no see," Hashir exclaimed, seeing him.

Ahil just shook his head.

Ayla had just arrived from college.

She plopped down on the sofa without glancing around the room.

Then she heard a cough.

Her eyes flew open.

She saw a person.

Her breath stopped.

Ahil was sitting on the opposite sofa, looking at her with amusement.

"You?" Ayla whispered.

"Yes, yes, me," he answered with a smile.

"Hashir has just gone to attend a call," he informed her.

Ayla nodded.

"Okay, I am leaving."

Ayla hurriedly stood up.

She was about to exit the room when she heard him speak.

"One day, I will come to this house, and you will sit with me with every right."

Ayla couldn't speak.

She just exited the room.

Ahil shook his head with a smile.

Ayla Khan certainly had a power over him.

Ayla smiled as she remembered the interaction.

*******

The next morning, Ayla was studying for her exams when a maid informed her that her father had summoned her.

She closed her book and fixed her dupatta. Reaching her parents' room, she knocked.

"Abba, you called?" she asked, entering the room.

"Haan, Gudiya." He patted the place beside him, indicating for her to sit.

"Ayla, I have fixed your alliance with the son of my friend," he said warmly.

She couldn't breathe.

She felt the floor slipping beneath her feet.

"Tomorrow they are coming to fix the date."

Another bomb.

She felt as if someone had poured cold water over her in freezing weather.

She tried to say something.

Not a single word could escape her mouth.

Her Abba was telling her about the alliance, but she wasn't listening.

She just stood up and hurriedly walked out of the room.

Coming into her room, she closed the door.

She sank down against the wall.

She clutched her hair.

"No... no... no..." she kept mumbling.

"This can't be true."

"I can't marry anyone else."

Abba didn't even ask me before saying yes.

No... this is wrong.

No way...

She gasped for breath.

She clumsily wiped her tears.

Her bangles chimed.

She didn't cry.

Only her eyes rained.

It was evening.

She stood up, fixing herself.

She marched towards her father's room.

"Abba, I can't marry your friend's son."

Her father was bewildered.

He thought he had misheard her.

"Come again?"

"Abba, you heard it right. I am not okay with this alliance."

"Why?"

Just one word escaped his mouth.

She took a deep breath.

If not today, then never.

Three lives would be saved.

Her Abba loved her.

He would understand.

"Because I love someone else."

And the very next moment, the skin on her cheek stung.

Ayla looked at him in disbelief.

Her Abba, who had never even raised his voice at her, had just slapped her.

She looked at her father.

He was enraged.

"Abba..." she whispered.

"How dare you?" her father roared.

"How dare you say something so filthy?"

She parted her lips to say something but closed them again.

She couldn't believe her Abba could react like this.

"You have been having an affair behind my back," he stated.

Ayla hurriedly shook her head.

"No, Abba. I don't have any affair.

I just love him."

Her father marched towards her and held her by the shoulders.

"Tell me the name of that lover of yours."

She felt as though molten iron was being poured into her ears.

"Say something, Ayla!" he roared again.

"Ahil," she whispered.

"Ahil Raz? You mean..." she heard Hashir exclaim in disbelief.

She nodded.

"That son of..." He cursed.

"I can't believe this..." He looked bewildered.

"Bhaijaan, we just have feelings for each other. Nothing else."

Her left cheek stung.

This slap was from Hashir.

The men who were supposed to be her protectors were becoming her abusers.

"You are marrying Aamir. That's all," her father declared.

She was also their blood.

"No. If you don't let me marry Ahil, then no one.

I will marry only with your consent, but only with Ahil," she stated.

Her father dragged her to her room and closed the door.

"Tomorrow, you will get all dressed up, and you will cooperate."