Taabindagi (Sequel Of Sharar)

Chapter 26 is up on Stck

•••

Hanan quietly locked the bedroom door behind him and turned toward his wife, who was standing near the window with her back to him. She had been staring daggers at him earlier, and now she wasn't even facing him.

"Kya hua?" he asked carefully, trying to tread lightly. He couldn't recall doing anything wrong today, but if Ayat was upset, there was a high chance it was something he did.

(What happened?)

"Shah ke nikkah ki baat kaha se agayi? Abhi unki age hi kya hai?" Ayat turned around with a stern look, arms crossed. Hanan instantly relaxed. Thankfully, it wasn't his fault this time. This one was on Shahzain and Shahnan.

(Where did the idea of Shah's nikkah come from? He's still so young.)

"Isliye toh sirf nikkah hoga. Shadi jab woh settle ho jayega..."

(That's why it’s just the nikkah. The wedding will happen once he’s settled...)

"Hanan, aap jante hain hum kam age ki shadi ke support mein nahi." she interrupted sharply.

(Hanan, you know I don’t support early marriage.)

"Woh toh main bhi nahi hoon. Apne time jhel liya hai." he muttered. "Lekin tumhare bete ke sar pe pyar ka jo bhoot sawar hai uska kya?"

(Neither do I. I’ve endured it myself.)

(But what about the madness of love your son is under?)

"Apka bhi beta hai. Aur iss mamle mein toh sirf apka hi beta hai." Ayat's eyes narrowed. "Kash ek aulad bhi humari tarah zaheen hoti..."

(He's your son too. And in this matter, he’s only your son.)

(I wish at least one of our kids was as smart as me...)

"Tum? Zaheen?" Hanan raised an eyebrow. "Kabse ho gayi?"

(You? Smart?)

(Since when?)

"Apse toh zyada hi hain." she shot back.

(I'm smarter than you.)

"Theek hai tum reh lo khush fehmi mein." he replied nonchalantly, like he was doing her a favor by letting her believe it.

(Fine, stay in your delusion.)

"Hanan, aap na..." Ayat huffed, too flustered to finish her sentence. He always underestimated her. Every single time.

(Hanan, you are...)

"Bohot achha hoon, aur mujhe pata hai tum mujhse bohot pyar karti ho." Hanan finished her sentence with a smug grin. "But, sweetheart, abhi romance ka time nahi hai. Shahnan ka socho."

(I'm wonderful, and I know you love me a lot.)

(But, sweetheart, this is not the time for romance. Think about Shahnan.)

"Hum... romance?" Ayat looked positively offended. "Aap baap dete dono ek jaise ho. Apne matlab ki baat ke alawa aur kuch samajh ata hi nahi." Her voice rose, as always.

(Me... romance?)

(You and your son are the same. Can’t think beyond your own interests.)

"Theek hai hum dono ek jaise hain, isliye janta hoon Shahnan apni karwake manega." Hanan replied, equally riled now.

(Yes, we are alike. That’s why I know Shahnan will do what he wants.)

Ayat scowled and turned away, and Hanan's anger fizzled out just as quickly as it had ignited.