Chapter No: (5)
Written By: Ishrat Zahid
Asia Begum's breath was hitching, yet her eyes held a frantic restlessness. She gripped Almeer's hand with trembling fingers and spoke in a hushed, strained voice, "Almeer! Go to my locker and retrieve that 'Amanat' (trust) right now. If it falls into Jehangir's hands, I will never be able to forgive myself. He is in Singapore right now—this is the only time. There is a small box at the very bottom of my wardrobe; the locker keys are in it. Go, Almeer! Take everything and hide it somewhere."
The terror in his mother's voice shook Almeer to his core. He alerted the nurse and stepped out to address Tania and Shahab Sahib. "Uncle! I have some urgent work at home. Please look after Ammi." Tania nodded reassuringly, and Almeer hurried through the hospital corridors, disappearing into the night.
Upon reaching home, Almeer avoided the main entrance, opting for the back door instead. He didn't want any servant to witness him entering or carrying anything out. His heart hammered against his chest like a thief's. He tiptoed into his mother's room, retrieved the key box from the hidden spot in the wardrobe, and opened the locker with shaking hands. Inside lay an old jewelry box, a thick envelope, and some files. Almeer stuffed them all into a bag, relocked the vault, returned the keys to their place, and slipped out through the back door just as silently as he had entered.
On the drive back, Almeer's mind was a battlefield of questions. "Where should I keep this?" Suddenly, Tania's face flashed in his mind. "Can I trust her? I barely even know her. Just then, his phone rang; it was Tania. "Sir! How long will you be? Aunty is asking for you. Baba is here with her. "The warmth in her voice eased Almeer's burden. "I'm almost there, Tania. Is Ammi okay?" "Yes, Sir! She is fine."
Returning to the hospital, Almeer went straight to his mother. He pulled the files and the box from the bag and placed them before her. "I brought them, Ammi. I used the back entrance; no one saw me." Asia Begum breathed a sigh of relief. Almeer whispered, "Ammi... I'm thinking of leaving this 'Amanat' with Tania's father. They seem like good people. " Asia Begum looked at him intently. "You know best, son. If you feel they are trustworthy, do it. Just... find Sofia, Almeer. Only then will my soul find peace."
"Sofia?" Tania, standing at the door, felt a jolt of recognition. She had just walked in. Almeer introduced Tania to his mother. Tania smiled and said, "I was here with you after Sir left, Aunty. You were asleep." Then, with a flicker of curiosity, she asked, "Sir... who is Sofia?" Almeer sighed heavily. "She is my paternal aunt, Tania. Lost to us for many years." A look of pure astonishment crossed Tania's face. "What a strange coincidence, Sir... my mother's name was also Sofia." A profound silence descended upon the room for a moment.
Almeer mentioned that Shahab Sahib had gone to the mosque. When Tania's phone rang, she stepped out so as not to disturb them. As soon as she left, Almeer turned to his mother. "Ammi... does Papa really not know about this?" Tears welled up in Asia Begum's eyes. "Almeer! Our old maid gave these to me. She protected them for years. When she fell ill and realized her end was near, she called me and handed them over, warning me that Jehangir must never know. I was blinded by my love for Jehangir back then. When your grandparents were slandering Sofia, your father asked me if his sister was truly dishonorable. Even though I knew the truth, I said exactly what they wanted to hear. She was pure, Almeer! I need forgiveness. Sofia will never forgive me, and my Allah will be displeased with me. I don't want to die like this!"
Sobbing uncontrollably, Asia Begum's condition worsened. Almeer called the nurse, who administered a sedative. When he stepped out, Shahab Sahib was standing there with tea and sandwiches. Emotionally, Almeer spoke up. "Uncle! Could you do me one more favor? This is a small packet—an inheritance belonging to my aunt. It isn't safe at my house. I want you to keep it." Shahab Sahib took the packet solemnly. "I will keep it safe, son. Just make sure your father doesn't find out." After tea, Shahab Sahib asked Tania if she wanted to go home, but she chose to stay. "Baba, you go and rest. I am here with Sir Almeer. If he needs to step out, Aunty shouldn't be alone." Almeer looked at Tania with gratitude. He realized that sometimes, strangers show more empathy than one's own blood.
A while later, the nurse called them both back in. Asia Begum was now calm. She gestured for Tania to sit beside her. "You are just like a daughter to me. What does your mother do?" Almeer intervened softly, "Ammi... her mother has passed away. Compassion filled Asia Begum's eyes. "Dear, why don't you go home and rest?" Tania replied affectionately, "Aunty, you are like a mother to me. When my mother was being treated, we lived in the hospital just like this. It is Sir Almeer who needs the rest."
During their conversation, Asia Begum asked, "Tania, dear... are you engaged?" Tania smiled and shook her head. "No, Aunty. Baba would be all alone. I have no such plans yet." Asia Begum remarked, "Daughters look best in their own homes. I only worry about Almeer; he doesn't even look at anyone. When he came back from shopping at the mall, I thought to myself that I must meet the girl who taught my son how to shop. My son is exactly like his aunt; she was just like this." Tania asked curiously, "Where did she go?" Asia Begum's voice broke. "Fate separated us. Now, before I die, I want to see her. If only she had a daughter... I would have married my Almeer to her. " Almeer squeezed his mother's hand. "Ammi! We have to find her first. Focus on getting better now."
Just then, the doctor entered. Reviewing the reports, he addressed Almeer. "Fortunately, she has survived, and her speech remains intact. However, her right arm and left leg have been affected, for which daily physiotherapy is essential. She needs a full-time attendant. If her blood pressure remains stable, you can take her home tomorrow morning. But remember—another stroke could lead to a coma. She must not face any mental stress."
Almeer listened with his head bowed, while Tania silently watched the pain etched on his face. She had no idea that Aunt Almeer was vowing to find... it led directly to her own doorstep.
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Copyright Notice: All rights reserved by the author. All contents of this novel, "Bahar Ke Sang," and its ownership are legally reserved under the name of the author, Ishrat Zahid. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or transmission of this work, in whole or in part (including screenshots, sharing in social media groups, or PDF creation), without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Legal action may be taken against any individual or platform under the Copyright Act.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction intended for entertainment purposes only. All characters, names, places, businesses, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead) or real-life events is purely coincidental. The views expressed in this story belong to the characters and do not reflect the personal opinion of the author.