Chaos in the Canvas √

12 | revelare

And the excuse that she was sleeping was definitely out of question too - not only will that seem insulting to them all; it would clearly give away her lie. Everyone knew that Hemayal Khakwani could not sleep when her beloved Dadu had died just a day ago, and they all knew that she could never sleep when Ibrahim Yazdani was sitting just one floor below her in the house - after many long years. This excuse would never spare Hemayal's skin; if possible, it would only burn it more.

"Mehmal, where is Hami?" Anisha Bhabhi stepped out of the kitchen and walked slowly towards her, eyes going behind Mehmal to look for a sign of Hemayal.

She found none.

"She refused to come, Bhabhi." Mehmal sighed as she said, a heavy sigh that indicated the tiredness in her very bones.

"I understand the girl. She had had a little too much. Baba should not force her to meet them." Anisha Bhabhi sighed too, her all sympathies for the woman who now sat above in her room, scared and most definitely crying.

"I know and I get her too but what can I say to Taya Abbu? He asked me in front of everyone to go bring Hemayal downstairs." Mehmal leaned against the side of the staircase, eyes tired as she shared with Anisha Bhabhi.

"I don't understand Taya Abbu, seriously. Does he not know what condition Hemayal is in right now?" Mehmal complained as she groaned loudly, eyes rolling heavenward, head shaking in distaste.

"I wish Dadu were here right now. He would have saved Hemayal, he always did." A sad smile stretched Anisha Bhabhi's lips as she remembered the one man who had always become Hemayal's shield, even when Hemayal's own father was hell bent on gifting her pain.

Hemayal being in this condition after his death was not much of a surprise at all.

"I know." Mehmal sighed heavily, "I seriously can't imagine how she is even holding up. We were all close to him but Dadu and Hemayal's relationship was something extraordinary. I seriously can't imagine the pain she is going through right now."

"She is so broken; it pains me to even see her." Anisha Bhabhi too crossed her arms as she leaned beside Mehmal against the metal railing of the staircase.

"Yes, and we have to find some excuse for her. She is in no position to see Ibrahim and everyone; it will break her even more." Mehmal said, straightening her spine, looking around the house that was buzzing with people.

People, some of them she did not even know, had come to offer condolences at the death of her Dadu. Voices, strange and foreign rose from all around the house and they did little to ease the headache that had taken over her.

"You can tell them that her foot is injured, that she can't walk." Anisha Bhabhi suggested with a shrug and Mehmal shook her head with a sigh.

"I considered it but Taya Abbu will not buy it. He knows that her foot is better and she can walk around a bit." Mehmal put forward her problem, massaging her head slowly.

"It does not matter if he buys it or not. Ibrahim and his family will buy it and besides, Abbu will not say anything in front of them." Anisha Bhabhi said and the fog lifted immediately.

"Oh, yes. You are right, he will not say that I am lying in front of them now, would he?" Mehmal instantly exhaled a deep breath, a heavy burden having been lifted from her shoulder.

"Exactly, and hurry up, they have been waiting for quite some time now." Anisha Bhabhi hurriedly patted her arm as she ushered Mehmal towards the drawing room, eyes wide open, gesturing her to not do any blunder.

"Okay." Mehmal took a deep breath before she ran a hand over her clothes and walked towards the door, heart drumming in her chest.

Stepping inside, she scanned everyone with a distant look before any pair of the eyes could land on her. The first ones were those of Ibrahim, who was seated beside Hadeed Lala on the single sofa, and Mehmal saw as his eyes instantly darted past her shoulders, gazing outside for any sign of Hemayal but he was supposed to find none.