From You To Love
From You To Love By Nageen Khan
(Originally named in Urdu as Tum Se Muhabbat Tak)
Translated by MISS GREY
Description:
FROM YOU TO LOVE is Nageen Khan’s first story which she wrote in her teenage years. She had no experience of writing a novel which is why sometimes you will find a little immaturity in some characters. But when you read this novel, you’ll feel the essence of love.
FROM YOU TO LOVE tells the story of cousins who live under the same roof. Between them is love, fighting, and bickering, but they love each other equally. But where love exists, there is also jealousy and ego getting in the way.
FROM YOU TO LOVE is also a story about university friends who find solace in each other and share everything with one another, from sorrows to happiness.
Read FROM YOU TO LOVE exclusively on WWW.MUSTATEERAPK.COM, and don’t forget to share your thoughts. Your feedback and support mean a great deal to the author.
Notice: From You To Love published on MustateeraPK with the permission of the respective rights holder.
Chapter Fifteen
It had been more than a week since Inshal had stopped her studies, but who was worried there? It was afternoon, and she had just come out of the kitchen after finishing the cooking when Amar was seen entering through the front door.
“Assalam-o-Alaikum, Amar Bhai. You came home early today?”
“Wa Alaikum Assalam. Yeah, yaar. Zaid’s reports were supposed to come today, so I picked them up and came straight home.” Amar was surprised to see Inshal at home at this time, but he hid his surprise.
“Amar Bhai, Zaid is going to be okay, right?” Inshal glanced at Zaid’s reports for a moment ,then asked Amar.
“InshaAllah. The doctors are very hopeful. Just keep praying,” Amar said tiredly.
“InshaAllah… Should I bring you some food or tea?” By now, Inshal had gotten used to asking this question. After all, she asks Hamza the same thing every day.
“Why would you bring me food? Yaar, leave it and tell the maid to do it.”Since Amar was only home at night, Saima Begum had told him that they had a maid for the housework who would cook food during the afternoon , and then go home.
“Which maid, Amar Bhai? I’ve never seen any maid in this house.” Inshal knew the whole story about that so-called maid, but what would Inshal be if she didn’t stir things up a little?
“Inshal, where have you been? I told you to hurry up, cook the food, and massage my feet. For once, listen carefully to what I—” Saima Begum, who had no idea Amar had come home early, came out of her room scolding Inshal. But the moment she saw Amar standing right in front of her, her tongue came to an immediate stop.
“Oh, Nisha, my child, go upstairs to your room,” Saima Begum said, glancing at Amar’s face. It was written all over his face that he had heard every single one of the “flowers” Saima Begum had been throwing at Inshal, and now was staring at her in disbelief.
As soon as Inshal caught Saima Begum’s signal, she disappeared from the scene. But she was naturally a little mischievous, so instead of going straight to her room, she hid behind the stairs and started watching what was happening downstairs.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Amar?” Saima Begum was already sweating under Amar’s suspicious stare.
“Amma, you make Nisha do all the housework, even though you know how loved she is by all of us… Especially because she was dada Jan’s whole world,” Amar said in disbelief.
“Oh, no, no, Amar. Nisha herself was interested in doing the housework, so I just—”
“So you didn’t think it was necessary to stop her either?” Amar cut her off.
“No, beta. I didn’t stop her because I thought she’s a girl and she’ll go to her husband’s house and people would say, ‘Look, Tai Amma didn’t pay any attention to the girl who had no parents.’” Saima Begum hurriedly tried to defend herself.
“Amma, let’s make one thing clear right here. Inshal isn’t going anywhere from this house.” Amar said it in a tone that ended the matter.
On the other side, tears welled up in Inshal’s eyes out of helplessness. She quickly turned around and headed for her room.
“You’ve completely lost your mind. If only one of my children would ever listen to their mother!” Saima Begum muttered as she went back into her room. Amar also went upstairs, lost in thought.
**********
After reaching the room, she stopped crying, thinking that she was probably going to spend the rest of her life crying anyway. She quickly called Maria. Maria immediately picked up.
“Yeah, Nisha, speak .” Inshal briefly told her about the whole scene that had happened downstairs.
“Then that’s perfect. Tell your Amar Bhai how Saima Aunty has stopped you from going to university, and get him on your side first.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” With that, Inshal ended the call, took some clothes out of her cupboard, and went to freshen up. She had just dried her hair and sat down after tying it up when there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.” And just as Inshal had expected, Amar walked in.
“Come in, Amar Bhai. You could’ve called me if you needed something.” Inshal said it merely out of formality.
“Oh, no, Little doll . Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.” Amar began, and Inshal immediately became alert.
“What were you doing at home at this time today? I mean… why didn’t you go to university?” Amar finally asked.And Inshal’s heart practically danced with joy. Amar had brought the conversation exactly where she wanted it to go all by himself.
“Amar Bhai, I’m at home at this time every day.” Inshal said making such a face as if there is no one more innocent than her in the world.
“Inshal, what are you saying? Speak clearly.” The worry on Amar’s face was obvious.
“Amar Bhai, Tai Jan has stopped me from going to university. You know how much I love studying, and yet I don’t know why she’s treating me like this.”As soon as she said it, Inshal hugged Amar and started crying.
“No, Nisha. You must’ve misunderstood. Why would Amma do something like that?” Amar said in disbelief. Today, there was no end to Amar’s shock.Every passing moment seemed to bring another revelation crashing down on him.
“No, Amar Bhai. I’m telling the truth, I swear. You’re always at the office, so how would you know? You can ask Zaid if you want.” Inshal was hurt now, so she wiped her tears as she spoke.
“No, my doll. I believe you completely. Just come downstairs with me. I’ll deal with everyone right now.” Amar gently pulled Inshal away from him and walked downstairs.
**********
Hamza was sitting in his room playing Candy Crush when suddenly Amar’s shouting started coming from downstairs. He too headed down.
“Amma, I never expected this from you.” When Amar reached downstairs, he found Saima Begum sitting in the TV lounge watching television.
“Oh, my goodness! What have I done now?” Saima Begum said innocently. By then, Inshal had also settled herself comfortably on the sofa, while Hamza sat down beside Amar.
“What happened, Bhai?” Hamza asked. But if he had known how expensive that question was going to be for him, he would’ve never asked it.
“You just stay quiet… because perhaps you’ve forgotten that you took Inshal into your nikah in front of Dada Jan and the witnesses. Have you forgotten that day?” At Amar’s words, Hamza shifted uncomfortably in his seat, while Saima Begum’s eyes went wide with shock.
And Inshal… She silently cursed Maria and the exact moment she had agreed to listen to her. Without letting anyone notice, Inshal immediately ran to her room.
“Amar, what are you talking about? Have you gone crazy?” Saima Begum asked in a voice filled with shock.
“I’ve made my decision. From tomorrow, I’ll personally pick Inshal up and drop her off at university.” Amar said clearly and went upstairs.
“Hamza, what nonsense was Amar talking about?” Saima Begum angrily asked. Hamza simply shrugged and quietly slipped away from there, afraid that Saima Begum might start taking her anger out on him now.
To Be Continued…
Leave a Reply