Chapter No:13
Tania glanced into the side mirror of the car — Almeer was still standing there, but now he had disappeared into the swirling dust. Shehroz sensed her unease and asked, "What's the matter, Tania? Are you feeling alright?" She replied, "Yes, I'm fine. How long before we get there? I'm already starting to feel tired." Shehroz said, "Wait! Let me get you some juice. Did you have breakfast this morning, or are you on an empty stomach?" He pulled the car to the side, reached into the back, and handed her juice and a sandwich before driving on again. Tania took them but remained lost in her thoughts, until Shehroz gently interrupted, "Tania, please eat something first. If you fall ill, how am I going to answer to Uncle, Mama, Baba, and Romesa — all of them at once?" At his words, Tania began eating the sandwich, and after finishing the juice she felt considerably better. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the seat. Seeing her drift off to sleep, Shehroz turned the music down even lower so as not to disturb her. They were to reach within half an hour. He tried his best to avoid any jolts, but the rough terrain made them inevitable, and the bumps eventually woke Tania. Shehroz asked how she was feeling and informed her they were almost there. When she felt a dull ache in her head, Shehroz said, "Open the dashboard in front of you — there's medicine inside. Take a painkiller, and there's a water bottle on the side. Drink some so you feel better."
Tania took out the medicine without any argument and swallowed it. A little while later the road improved somewhat, and Shehroz began explaining that this side of the track had been paved on his father's request through a friend, so that the route to the house would be properly laid — the rear stretch had always been like that, and hardly anyone ever came through there. The farmhouse had arrived. Shehroz woke Tania. "Oh! I fell asleep again," she said. Shehroz remarked, "You probably didn't sleep at night — your eyes are saying as much." What could Tania have said about why her eyes were red? She stepped out of the car and was standing there when Uncle, Aunty, and Romesa's friends all drew near from behind, and the driver who had gone to pick up guests from the airport arrived as well. Everyone had come. Shehroz instructed the servants to carry the luggage inside. Tania had left her purse on the car seat; her mobile was in her hand. Shehroz noticed the purse on her seat and picked it up.
Everyone had come inside. The farmhouse looked like a mansion built in a new style — beautiful and entirely finished in marble, refined and tasteful to the eye. Now Tania understood why Romesa had wanted the function held here. She stepped into the hall and found it further adorned with flowers and lights; the eye could scarcely rest on any one thing — there were exquisitely expensive chandeliers. Tania was gazing upward when she suddenly walked into someone. Before she could fall, someone caught her with great composure. As the scent of a masculine perfume reached her, Tania looked carefully and found it was Shehroz, who was saying, "Please be careful — if you had fallen you could have been hurt, and right now there isn't a clinic nearby, let alone a doctor." Tania separated herself from him and apologised. Shehroz then said, "Do take care of yourself. I had come to give you this purse — you left it on the car seat." Tania remembered she had brought a purse along. She thanked him, took the purse, and moved ahead. She could see the stage, decorated beautifully, as if someone had dressed the hall for a mehndi ceremony. Just then Romesa came close. "Tania!" She turned. "Where had you all gotten to?" Tania said, "There was a car broken down on the road — the driver asked for space, so we had to wait a little." Romesa said, "Oh, I see! How was the journey? It is quite far, but look how lovely this place is — and whatever we do, no one will tell us the function's time is up, not even late into the night. The late-night fun goes on here, cousins tease each other. Look at that side — see how my cousins are exchanging quips with one another. Come, let me introduce you as well." Tania walked on with Romesa.
On the other side, Almir was still turning the same thought over in his mind: "What do I do with this heart — how do I make it understand that she does not want to be with me, while I am incomplete without her?" Seeing her son despondent, Asieh Begum asked, "What are you thinking about, son?" Almir said, "Tania was with someone… I don't know — there were quite a few cars behind too; it seemed like some kind of gathering, but you had told me that Tania's father had no siblings." Asieh Begum said, "Yes, Uncle had told me the same." Almir sighed deeply. "If only, Mama, Baba had not been unjust — I am paying the price for it. Tania would have been in my car instead of that one. She ignored me as though I mean nothing to her at all." Asieh Begum consoled him, "Be patient, son. Time untangles all knots. When I am better, I will go to Shahab Bhai myself. Time is the greatest healer." Almir asked, "How much of the road is left, Mama?" The answer came, "We will arrive within ten minutes." Ahead he could see several cars, and he noticed that a farmhouse had been decorated beautifully — as though some function were being held. Asieh Begum, looking on, said, "It seems there is a wedding here." Almir replied, "Yes, it does seem so. Come, let us take the side way — our farmhouse is further along." Ten minutes away, a narrow half-unpaved, half-paved road cut through dense trees along which the car was speeding. At one point Almir stopped the car and noticed the name plate read "Asieh House." Almir was surprised. "Mama! The name plate has your name on it?" Asieh Begum explained, "Yes! Baba had gifted it to me on my birthday. At the time, Jehangir was not in the country, and I had kept those documents with a friend. Baba had said to keep it hidden from everyone — it would come in use in difficult times. Baba had also come to know of Jehangir's nature; the man they thought was gold turned out to be stone. At the time I couldn't see anything beyond Jehangir. Till the very end, Mama and Baba kept asking for forgiveness, but both had suffered strokes — nothing could be understood except the word 'forgiveness.' Nana Abu then transferred this house into my name. The servants here are all his — very loyal people. I came here secretly, behind Jehangir's back, twice, when he had gone out with friends. I have brought you here for peace — it is a peaceful place." Almir asked, "Does anyone know? Did the driver not tell Baba?" Asieh Begum said, "No. They were all loyal to my Baba. Now get out — must all conversations be held in the car?"
Outside, the freshness of the breeze carried its own particular feeling. The gate opened and the gatekeeper said, "Sir! Give me the keys — I will park the car." Almir handed over the keys and asked for all the luggage to be brought in. Asieh Begum took Almir's hand and entered. A path had been made through the middle of the lawn; beautiful stonework paving and large glass doors had been fitted. The sliding door opened and a woman and a man came out from inside. "Bibi ji! You have come after so long — is this Almir Sahib? He has grown so much. I saw him when he was small." After Almir had met everyone, he went inside and was left speechless at the sight of the grand lobby stretching up to the ceiling, the chandeliers, and the intricate carvings. The maid asked, "Food is ready — shall I set it on the dining table?" Asieh Begum said, "Please do, but let us freshen up first." She told Almir, "You can explore the whole farmhouse at your leisure — there are twelve rooms; choose whichever you like. I will go to my room." She went into the master bedroom at the far end. Almir marvelled at the work as he looked around. Asieh Begum said, "Baba had this house built to my liking. He wanted to build a dream house where I and Jehangir could spend our free time with the children. Whenever I grew weary of Jehangir's behaviour I would come here — spending a few days would restore my spirits." Almir said, "Mama, why did you never tell me? I was young then, but now I will not let anything bad happen. Baba will not be able to come here anymore."
The mehndi function preparations were excellent. The lighting arrangements were fine, and generators had been installed so that even if the power went out there would be no disorder. Carpets had been spread across the hall; cushions and bolsters had been laid, and a stage had also been erected where the mehndi ceremony was to take place. Shehroz had checked all the arrangements, and his friends — to whom he had already sent the location — were also supposed to arrive. In the hall, the girls had taken hold of the dhol, and the mehndi trays had been set out. The photographers had taken up their positions; only the groom's party was awaited. Amidst all these preparations, Shehroz's eyes were searching for Tania, who was nowhere to be seen. He grew worried that perhaps she had fallen ill again. Just then a call came from Shahab Uncle, who asked for the location once more. Shehroz was pleased. "Yes, Uncle! I'll send it right now." His happiness also stemmed from the fact that today, during the function, Baba was to speak to Uncle about Tania — he did not want to wait any longer. He wanted to give Tania every happiness she deserved. He went to his sister, asking after Tania, and Romesa told him she was in the room with Mama, where Tai Jan and Phupo and everyone else were gathered, and Mama was introducing her to all of them. Shehroz headed toward his mother's room and heard a voice: "Yes, she is dear to me — she is my choice, and not only mine but my son's choice too. I have decided that this time I will send her away only after the nikah."
Shehroz knocked and came inside. "Mama, where is Tania?" Just then Tania was seen coming out of the washroom. Shehroz told her that Shahab Uncle was about to arrive and the groom's party would be there in ten minutes. At hearing that Baba was coming, a gleam lit up in Tania's eyes. Shehroz thought to himself that Tania's heart was so pure — whatever she felt inside showed straight on her face. Tania asked for the way out, and Shehroz said, "Sorry! I was lost in my thoughts. Please come through." Tania's ears also caught Shehroz's remark: "If I could step out of your thoughts, I might manage to think of something else." She found herself in a tangle — on one side Almir, and on the other Shehroz with his meaningful eyes and so much care. How was she to protect herself? She walked into the hall, thinking, and sat down on a chair to one side. Jameel Sahib came inside. "Ladies, please come outside with flowers — the groom's party has arrived." At the sound of the dhol, everyone rushed out. Jameel Sahib noticed Tania sitting alone and said, "Daughter! Come outside — everyone is doing the bhangra." Tania came out, and Shehroz was there too, dancing the bhangra with his brother-in-law. The cousins had formed a circle around them; the cameraman was capturing the event. Tania's eyes fixed on Shehroz, and as Shehroz noticed her, he simply kept looking — as though time itself had stilled. Tania was looking so lovely as she clapped along, a strand of hair falling across her face again and again in the breeze. Shehroz's brother-in-law noticed and said, "Get the nikah done today — the girl is a perfect match for you, brother. Don't delay." Shehroz averted his gaze; the season within his heart had become very beautiful. Garlands were placed around the elders, and the younger generation, dancing to the beat of the dhol, came into the hall, where the mehndi ceremony formally began.
Asieh Begum could hear the distant sound of the dhol somewhere in the silence. Almir said, "Mama! That earlier house — there's a function going on there. I had ordered some items and the delivery person is nearby. Let me go get it — I'll be back in five minutes." Almir started the car and came outside. Right at the same spot where the car had broken down earlier, the tyre got stuck in the mud and sludge made worse by the rain. Almir went inside and said to one of the men, "Our car is stuck — could a few people help pull the tyre out?" Shehroz was speaking with a servant and came outside. He asked, "Who is there outside?" He was told that someone's car was stuck and they were asking for help.
When Shehroz looked at him, he felt as though he had seen him somewhere before. Meanwhile, Romesa said to Tania, "I need a photo with my brother — he's nowhere to be seen. Please call him for me." Tania came outside and was told that Shehroz was out front. She had only just come to look for him when Almir's eyes fell on her. He exclaimed, "Tania! And here?" He asked the servant nearby, "What is going on here?" The servant replied, "It is the mehndi function — it's Shehroz Sahib's family's." Almir pointed toward Tania and asked, "Who is she?" The servant said, "She belongs to Sahib ji's household."
Hearing this was like a blow to Almir's heart. Shehroz and Tania? How could this be? Tania is still my wife — bound in nikah to me! A nikah upon a nikah? O my God...
— End of Chapter 13 —
Along with the Spring
All rights reserved © 2026 | Written by: Ishrat Zahid (Zauq-e-Isha)
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and events are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to any living or deceased person or real event is entirely coincidental. The purpose of this story is entertainment only; no offence to any individual, sect, or group is intended.