The condition

After passing through the lawn, there footsteps halted and they stood infront a large brawny door that led into the house. Both of them were nervous. Amarra was nervous because if they are rejected from this place they'll probably had no place to live.She was utterly worried for her daughter.  And Zahra was nervous because her subconcious kept signalling about something havocal. Moreover, she does not want to let anyone humiliate her mother. She knew her Dada won't accept her mother and let them live here easily. They've to pass through a great ordeal to live in here.

 Ammara hands reached for the door knob, she turned it and pushed it inside. The door opened and they both made there way into the house. They were left in an awe. A very modernly designed lounge had there mouth hung open.

Zahra looked around and she found some boys and girls sitting on the cream colored sofas, centered in the lounge. All of them chatting and laughing haughtily. And all of them looked from 18 to 25 years in age. They were too engaged and preoccupied in the conversation to notice there presence. 

Zahra wondered where to go next, they cant be standing here all day. So she decided to approach them. As  soon as she moved, a man in his early fifties came running down the stairs and proceeded towards them. Zahra stopped and looked towards her mother. Her mother knew who he was.

"Haider bhai, Assalam alaikum" Ammara greeted.

This caught everyones attention in the room and all of those lads turned and looked at there Taya Abu and them, conjecturing, who these two ladies are. 

"Wa alaikum salam. Kia haal hai beta?  Umeed hai k sab khairiyat hai!" He warmly welcomed them.

(How are you dear? Hope everything is alright!)

"Allhamdullilah" Ammara told.

(By God's grace)

"Mujtaba kidher hai aur kesa hai? Kia wo saath nahi aaya?" He asked softly  and looked expectantly towards the door, hoping his brother would be coming.

(Where is Mujtaba? And how is he? Didn't he come along?)

On hearing Mujtaba's name tears brimmed in Zahra's eyes. Her throat clogged and her vision blurred. Her heart wrenched for her taya who was expecting his brother to come from the door. Little did he know, he is never going to come.

'Kaash Baba Kaash ap waqayi uss darwazey sei andar aajaye' she thought with dismay.

(I wish Father I wish, you could really come out of that door)

 Before Amarra  could say anything Haider's attention diverted towards Zahra who was trying hard to control her tears.

"Zahra!" He exclaimed.

"Kesi ho beti? Kitni bari ho gyi ho MashAllah!"

(How are you daughter? MashAllah you have grown up!)

Zahra was overwhelmed at his warm gesture and when he called her "beti" it reminded her of his father and she could not control her emotions anymore. Her arms moved on her own accord and gave him a tight hug. She felt as if he is hugging her father which made fat tears rolled down her eyes which were soon replaced by big sobs.

Haider only wondered why she was crying and rubbed his hands at her back to soothe her. He let her cry to her fullest and she cried her heart out on her Taya Abu's shoulder. The whole room was enveloped in silence. Only her painful big sobs could be heard. Zahra hugged him tightly like  he used to hug her father whenever he came back home after a day or two. Her taya resembled her father in all the ways and that was enough to make her emotions out of control. She could feel her fathers scent around him.  She did'nt know but she found an unfathomable connection with him. He was very much alike her father.

 Her big sobs had grabbed everyones attention and all the heads were turned towards there Taya abu and the crying girl. Everyone pondering who is she. And why is she crying so wholeheartedly on his shoulder. The Ladies of the house who were working in the kitchen on hearing somebody's sobs immediately came out and the whole scene infront of them left them baffled and confused. They clearly knew about Ammara and Mujtaba but they had no idea that Ammara would be coming back to haveli with her daughter. And they too contemplated what Ammara is doing here again and that too with her daughter? And why her daughter is crying so painfully? And where is Mujtaba? And why they are carrying bags along with them? All of them kept looking towards them.

After crying heartily, Zahra felt her tears died down and she cleaned her wet face with her hands and get off of his taya's shoulder. Her face was blotched and eyes were swollen red. Haider didn't find it right to ask her why she was too disturbed and only comforted her more.

Zahra wiped her tears properly and after settling herself she looked around to find everyone's attention is on her and she casted her eyes down.

"I am fine," 

"Ok beta, Agha Jaan is waiting for you both in his study," he told empathically. He was about to ask regarding Mujtaba but something inside him stopped from doing so and he kept quite.

"Lets go," Ammara quietly said and grasped her daughters hand, who tightened the hold, indicating she is nervous.

Haider ushered them both to his fathers study, meanwhile no words were exchanged and when they reached to the door he knocked and heard a harsh "come in,"

He opened the door and let them both in then followed behind and closed the door shut. Zahra was nervous and fidgeted with her fingers while looking down and did'nt dare to raise her head up. She always does that whenever she is trepidatious or apprehensive.

"Why are you here again, Ammara bibi? To destroy the peace of our house once again?" an old man's voice coldly and calmy said. Zahra figured it out, it was her dada, Shabbir Murtaza Syed, who hates her mother to no extent. She was furious for letting him  disrespect her mother and her head shot up rebelliously to counter him. She found him sitting on his chair on the other side of table, sipping his coffee.

Amara notice the rebellious posture of her daughter but before she could say anything she squeezed her hand, indicating her that its not the right place. Zahra immediately got the signal and internally calmed herself to say anything.

"Mein yaha par kisi ka sukoon barbaad krney na hi pehlay aaye thi mein buss yaha madad ki talash mn aaye hu," Amarra said softly yet confidently.

(Neither did I come to destroy someone's peace before nor now, I just came here to seek help)

"Is your husband dead that you came here for help?" He mocked.

After listening to his words, Zahra hardly control her tears. She tried to emotionally shut down herself after her fathers death but whenever his topic was brought up her emotions couldn't seem to get in control. And right now, she was trying her best to keep a control on her feelings.

"Yes, he died two days ago," Amarra told with a sharp edge at the end of her sentence implying she was close to crying. But Zahra consoled her by squeezing her hands.

"What?" Haider who stood close to the door asked in total bewilderment.

"Yes, his blood pressure shot up which...which caused heart attack" she replied without looking towards him.

"Why didn't you inform us?" Haider asked in complete shock.

"To keep his will. His last words were not to inform his father of his death" she said looking down.

Haider's throat clogged and before tears could escape he immediately left the room, his mind couldn't digest the fact his younger brother is no more.

 And now both of them were left alone with the old man, who  put up a facade of looking unaffected from the news of his son's death. Zahra saw this in his eyes. He was deeply saddened on the news of his son's death but maintained a calm composure outside.

"He was dead to me long ago and if you're here to inform us of his death, then you've done so, the door is there, you may leave" He coldly stated.

"We have nowhere to go, I am left alone with my daughter."

"Did your husband make you live on streets that you've nowhere to go?"

"We were in a debt and that we couldn't pay back so those people took our house,"

"Whatever, I dont care. Leave my house, right now!"

"I need a place to live. Please let us live here!"

"Let you live here?" He sarcastically questioned.

"Yes, please. I have no place to go" Her voice small and shaky.

"The answer is a big fat no. You may get out now" he calmly told.

"Where would I go all alone with my daughter? Please let us live here!" her voice desperate.

"Do you really think I care? Go wherever you want to but not here!"

"Please! have mercy where would I go alone with my daughter. I have no place to go!" Amara begged.

Zahra eyes were already spilling tears out seeing her mother begging. She was totally broken witnessing her mother so helpless and vulnerable.

"If you're playing an emotional card by bringing your daughter here, then you clearly know that I disowned my son now you both are not related to me in anyway"

"Mama we should go," Zahra spoke, she couldn't bear this anymore. But Amara totally ignored it.

"Please let us live here, we're left alone in this world. Please I beg you to give us some space in your haveli" Amara eyes were now filled with tears.

 She was doing all this for her daughter. Where could she probably go? On the streets? She cannot let her daughter live on the streets. No. Never. The only option is to beg to him to give her a place to live.

"Please,"

"I'll let you live here only, if you agree to my one condition" he suddenly spoke.

Amara eyes sparkled. She now had a hope that there are some chances to live under a roof. She know how much a cunning and manipulative man Shabbir Murtaza Syed is, but in this situation where he is her last hope she had no choice but to agree whatever he says.

"I'll do as you say" she told.

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