Chapter 4

Next morning, when Miraan asked a servant about his uncle, they informed that he had left for Lahore early morning. He found it weird, as he knew that there was no political event in Lahore today. ------------------- Chashman was working on a drawing in her room. When she saw Amna entering the room looking in a hurry. "What happened ?" Chashman asked , looking up, her focus from the drawing was long gone. she placed her sketch book down. "He- he is downstairs" Amna said with big eyes, she seemed out of breath. "Who ?" Chashman asked with knitted brows as she stood up. "Mr rohero! Baba is asking you to come downstairs" Amna said. everyone was home as it was Sunday. All expressions left Cashman’s face, there was nothing left except coldness. "I don’t want to meet him" she said with no emotion in her voice. Amna always felt something break in her hearing this cold, detached voice of Chashman. When she was like that, Chashman didnt care about anything. "Baba is asking you to come downstairs. please... " Amna almost pleaded. Chashman took a deep breath and headed outside, Amna saw her leave, her shoulder squared, it felt like she was going for a war instead of meeting her father. Chashman saw Mr rohero sitting in the drawing room in front of her uncle. " Assalam ualaikum " she uttered but her eyes were on her uncle instead of Mr rohero . Mr rohero stood up seeing her daughter enter. she kept standing just a few steps inside of the threshold. "Wa laikum Aslaam! " Mr rohero said as he took a step towards her. "Mamu apny bulaya ( uncle you called me ?) " Chashman said not even taking a look at Daem rohero. he stopped right there, feeling her hatred , her coldness always broke him, didnt matter how many times she did it. "Mr Rohero needs to talk to you " Mr Saeer said in a calm voice. Chashman came forward and sat beside him. it was clear that she wasn't going to give Daem any chance to come near her. "How are you ?" Daem asked her taking a seat. he felt weak at that moment. "Fine " Chashman said keeping her focus on her hands. Daem saw how much her daughter had grown up. it wasn’t the young girl who laughed just seeing him infront of him. "Why is he here ?" Chashman asked her uncle. "I am here to take you with me. thats your home, you should be there " Daem rohero said finally and it took seconds for Chashman to loose her temper. "This! Is! MY! HOME! I have already told you that i don’t want anything to do with you. Thats not my home, thats not where i should be! i will never go with you" Chashman said barely containing her tone as she stood up. she was ready to exit the room, she had enough. "Chashman! kese bat kr rhi ho ( how are you talking ?)" her uncle said trying to make her realize her mistake. "Don’t call me again, uncle. I am not going with him. ever! " Chashman said looking at her uncle with reddening eyes. and Mr Saeer let her go .Her red eyes showed that she was near her breaking point. "Baba Saeen hadn’t been feeling well lately. he wants to meet her. " Daem rohero said defeated. "Its her decision... i cant do anything about it. she is very dear to me, i cant force her " Mr Saeer and Daem nodded getting his condition. Daem rohero got up defeated. he left after greeting Mr Saeer ahmad. Gloominess surround the Ahmad house whole day. Amna and Hanan gave her time, knowing that she needed it , before they would be allowed to lift it up.