Taabindagi (Sequel Of Sharar)

Twenty-Seven

“Eira achha nahi lagta.,” Sharfa crinkled her nose. “Kullu is cute.”

(Eira doesn’t sound nice.)

Eira sighed and gave up on correcting her. “Achha koi kaam tha kya?”

(Anyway, did you want something?)

“Kaam? Apse kya kaam hoga hume? Aap konsa hume... oh haan, ghoomne chalogi?” She perked up, suddenly remembering the reason she came.

(Want something? What would I want from you? It’s not like you’re going to... oh right, wanna go out?)

“Kaha?... nahi rehne do. Mujhe kahi nahi jana.” Eira refused immediately, knowing that once Sharfa started talking, she’d never stop.

(Where?... Actually, forget it. I don’t want to go anywhere.)

“Ab kyu nahi?” Sharfa’s face fell.

(Why not now?)

“I have an exam tomorrow. I need to study.”

“Ek din pehle kon parhta hai? Humse toh nahi hota. Tension mein aur bhool jate hain. Isliye no study no tension. Haan lekin Al ek din pehle hi parhte hain. Phir bhi humse puchte hain ki 1st ka answer bata do, 2nd ka bata do, 3rd ka bata do. Arey! There are only three questions, and he still doesn’t know them. Why would he? Pure year toh dates pe rehte hain aur parhai ke liye Momo yaad ati hain...”

(Who studies a day before the exam? I can’t do it. I forget everything under pressure. So, no study, no tension. But Al studies just one day before. And then still asks me what’s the answer to question 1, 2, 3. Like, there are only three questions, and he still doesn’t know them. Why would he? He’s always on dates, and only remembers Momo for studying…)

And just like that, the dam broke. Sharfa launched into a whirlwind of stories, without pausing to breathe. Eira tuned out, her brain still trying to rest despite the noise.

“Aur pata hai, ek baar humne dekha humse answer puchke Haley ko bata rahe the, phir humne bhi sarey wrong answer bata diye. Phir hume bura bhi laga tha, but Al tab tak Emma se answer puchne lage. Aur phir hume kehte ki...”

(And you know what? Once he asked me for answers and gave them to Haley. So I gave him all wrong answers. Then I felt bad, but by then he’d started asking Emma for answers. And then he tells me…)

Momo and her best friend, Eira didn’t even bother reacting anymore. The last time Sharfa had visited, she had spilled half the tea about Aliyar Baig and his supposed “date history.” This time, Eira wasn’t even surprised.

“Tumhe jana tha na kahi?” Eira finally interrupted, hoping to escape the storytelling marathon.

(Weren’t you going somewhere?)

“I forgot. Toh kahi chalein?” Sharfa tapped her forehead.

(Oh yeah! I forgot. So shall we go?)

“Nahi, tum Nomi ke sath chali jao.”

(No, you go with Nomi.)

“Woh toh so gaye... Ja rahe hain unpe water dalne.” With Lily still in her arms, she pranced out of the room, plotting her mischief.

(He’s sleeping... I'm going to pour water on him.)

Eira exhaled a long, relieved breath. Peace at last.

•••

Shyra, anxiously pacing in the living room, glances at her children. Eira, with a bored expression, taps her fingers on the sofa arm. Ehan, looking slightly forlorn, tries to conceal his hunger, not wanting to add to his mother's worries.