ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Naaz Jamal is a storyteller at heart who believes that fiction is more than just made-up tales—it’s a way to share lessons, emotions, and truths. She secretly began writing at the age of seven but started publishing her work on Wattpad in 2019. With a master’s degree in English, and a deep love for psychology, philosophy, and meaningful conversations, Naaz weaves stories that reflect life’s raw realities and unspoken emotions. Her words often carry fragments of her own journey, hoping to reach and heal someone out there.

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BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

“Will we meet again?” standing in the silent corner of the huge ground he asked in a hushed voice, eyes filled with emotions that he was unable to hide. 

“I don't know.” She was looking in his eyes, trying to hide her feelings from him. 

“Give me your contact number, I promise I won't disturb you often.” His demand was somewhere between genuine and innocent. 

“I don't have a personal mobile, it's mummy's mobile.” She expressed the truth with a loud beating heart. 

“Take my number, call me whenever you can.” He muttered and she nodded. Drawing a notebook from her bag she passed it to him, and turned to see someone who was calling her from behind. 

“Your dad is waiting for you outside.” someone informed her, making her face turn pale. 

“Give me my notebook, I'm going.” She took the notebook from his hand and pushed it in the bag before running towards the gate. She turned back to see him for the last time. Their eyes met for a moment and she was gone forever leaving him in a haze. 

Tringggggg….

“Ugghh…” she groaned while hitting everywhere on her pillow but the alarm clock was not there. Huffing with frustration she opened her eyes, hit the alarm clock to turn it silent. 

“Why Monday again? Why?” sitting on the bed she muttered and looked here and there, this frustration wasn't there because it was Monday, but because of the dream. 

Closing her eyes she hid her face in her palms, took a deep breath and let it go. But this little breath came with many memories and left a lasting pain in her heart. 

She was a silent person since childhood, owner of an intelligent brain but a timid heart, therefore low confidence to express her opinion and choice openly. Eyes full of colorful dreams but being a girl of an orthodox muslim family she was unable to paint them down on the canvas of reality. 

Her silence was often considered as her weakness and foolishness. Just a glare from her father and her heart shivered to death. 

I'm sorry was always ready to slip from her tongue, and others were always ready to catch it except one. 

Born and brought up in a toxic environment He also was the owner of a silent nature but his eyes were more talkative than words. Back then he was just 16 when learnt the art of hearing the unsaid words and understood the feelings buried under the veil of shy eyes. He was the only person who understood this girl without saying and without listening to anything. He was there to hear her unanswered questions. He was there to tell her some interesting facts about her that she hadn't discovered in her 16 years of existence. He was there to hold her hands whenever she felt scared of life but… unfortunately, their friendship was a secret! 

She was going to school just to get a paper called degree. Not to talk to boys. Not to make friends. Not to make relationships.

A secret friendship that started when a new boy got admitted in her class when they both were 12. From sharing notebooks and pens they didn't realise when they started sharing an unbreakable bond. Four years of being classmates. Four years of having a tête-à-tête. Four years of constant support. But she never claimed that he was her friend. He was just a classmate. Because she was going to school just to study. Not to make friends. 

Then came the last day of their 10th class. It was the last exam. The last meeting they had. The last few minutes when they talked to each other. The last time she wanted to tell him that they were not only classmates but friends. Best friends. Even more than best friends, but she didn't dare. On the other hand he also wanted to say something but what? She tried to figure it out but couldn't. She knew he had sympathy for her and she never wanted sympathy. 

“Ambar.” A loud voice echoed in the home, she took a deep breath again and unhide her face from her hands. “Ambar.” Another call. She looked towards the door of her room.

“Coming.” She yelled. Her heart was still beating faster than usual. It was just a part of the past which kept reminding itself through the same dream. Ten years but she was unable to come out of it.

“Come back to reality.” she told herself. There was no space of daydreaming left in her life. She had been dealing with nightmares with open eyes. But this dream always came to make her heart clench. There was no trace of the past left with her, still this scene came to her dream every now and then. Taking a deep breath she looked at the left side of the bed. A smile broke on her lips. A two year old girl was sleeping beside her. She leaned down and kissed the cheeks of this girl before stepping out from the bed. 

“Office nhi jana aaj?” The question was simple, its answer could also be a simple sentence but sometimes situations are complicated. 

(Don't you have to go to the office today?)

She had to go to the office but she didn't want to go. Today she wanted to sleep for an extra hour. Today she wanted to feel comfortable for a little more. 

“Mummy.” A small voice came from the room, and soon a little figure was coming out of the door while rubbing her eyes. A smile crawled to Ambar’s lips. Scooping up the little girl from the floor she embraced her lovingly. 

“My little baby.” Kissing her chubby cheek Ambar embraced her little daughter tighter than before. Running her fingers in those little hair she set them and slowly caressed that soft cheek. 

“Get ready for office, adore her after coming back.” An overbearing voice forced her to look towards her right side. Her father was coming out of the room. 

Didn't she deserve some sweet moments with her little sweetheart?

Leaving the little girl from her arms she stood up. Those little innocent eyes told the story of longing but this mother had to unhear it one more time.  

After getting ready for the office she was back in the dining area. Cooking lunch and making breakfast before going was mandatory for her. 

“I will come late tonight.” She muttered on the breakfast table, her parents looked up at her but she ignored the long stare instead focused on her daughter laying in her lap feeding milk through a feeding bottle.

“Again late?” Her father asked. She looked at him and nodded without uttering any word. 

“For how long will you do this job?” Her mother asked. She disliked Ambar going to the office and coming back late but Ambar had no other way around. She needed money. 

“Until I get another better job.” She replied without looking at her mother. All her attention was fixed on her daughter. 

“Shadi kar lo.” She suddenly looked up at her mother. Her heart skipped a beat. Eyes filled with tears but she didn't let them come out. 

(Get married.)

“Ek baar kari to thi aapke kehne se.” Ambar said without looking towards her parents. Removing the empty feeding bottle from her daughter's mouth she cleaned her lips with a napkin. 

(I did it once because you asked me to do so.)

“Ek shadi kamyab nhi huyi toh dusri shadi kar lo.” 

(If one marriage is not successful then get married again.)

“Aur iska kya hoga?” Ambar asked, looking towards her daughter. 

(And what about her?)

“Hum rakh lenge ise.” Ambar suddenly looked at her father. A wave of anger ran in her frame. Face turned red but she couldn't raise her voice. She couldn't say that she didn't want another Ambar to live on the mercy of him. She couldn't say that she would never leave her daughter alone in the same toxic environment in which she had been living. She couldn't voice her pain. 

(We will raise her.)

“Mera Beta unhone rakh liya aur meri beti ko aap rakh lenge?” She looked up at her father. Her eyes were red with the urge to flow down the tears but she controlled herself. 

(He took away my son, and you'll take away my daughter?) 

She stood up and walked to her room carrying her daughter. Opening her mobile gallery she saw a picture of a three year old boy. A cute little boy. Ambar’s eyes filled with tears. She missed her son every single day. It had been two years since she met him. Two years since she saw him. Two years since she held him in her arms. 

He is five now. 

Does he even remember my face?

Does he even remember me?

Does he even remember that his mother used to love him endlessly? 

How does he look now? 

Does he still look like me? 

A mother was questioning everything in silence but there was no answer. 

Ambar was only 20 when she got married. She wanted to complete graduation but her father arranged a good match for her and she was forced to leave college in second year of graduation.

Within a few months, the marriage turned out as an abusive one. She complained to her parents but every time they had a single solutio-  It takes time to make relationships work. 

At the age of 21 she became a mother. A son came to her life like a ray of hope. She hoped for betterment in her husband's behaviour, she expected violence to be decreased but nothing changed. Time passed at its own pace, her hatred towards her husband grew too much, her parents still assured her a better future, unfortunately nothing became better. Another pregnancy brought another hope. She hoped for a beautiful future with her two children and a man whom she was serving all day and night just to make him happy. Alas, she learned another harsh lesson, Man Can't Be Loyal. When she was handling home, her son and second pregnancy, her husband was having an extra marital affair with his colleague. Nine months of pregnancy changed everything, now, she had no space left in her husband's life, heart as well as home. He was already done with her, he lost all his interest in her, now he was interested in someone more beautiful and more intelligent than her. Birth of her daughter came with a notice of divorce. Her husband wasn't interested in keeping the daughter but he didn't let Ambar take her son along. 

This mother begged in front of two cruel men but no one responded in a positive way. Her cheater husband ignored her begging and took away her son on the other hand her heartless father didn't agree to file a case to take custody of her son. She didn't want alimony, she only wanted her son. In the four years long abusive marriage she got only two reasons for happiness, unfortunately one was away from her. 

After divorce she somehow got a job and now she had been saving as much as possible because she needed money to file a case against her ex-husband. She wanted her son back. 

<><>

As soon as clock hands hit five she shutdown the computer and left the office, not to return home, but to meet a lawyer. Yesterday only she got to know about a lawyer who charged a relatively lesser amount. And today she was on her way to meet him. 

“Umm, well, let me tell you everything clearly. I can't say anything without knowing the point of the other party, but you have two positive points, first you're working and earning your own butter and bread, which means you're capable of raising your children and other things, the court usually doesn't take away children's custody from the mother. Especially when the father is already married to someone else.” 

“How much will this lawsuit and legal proceeding cost? I mean… approx…” she asked. 

“Umm… 50,000 to 1.5 lakh.” Ambar's heart skipped a beat. She had saved some seventy thousand rupees in these two years. How would she arrange more money? But she couldn't delay this process anymore, she had been living away from her son for two years already, not anymore. 

After meeting the lawyer and discussing everything Ambar was hopeful. She kept everything secret because she knew her father would never support this decision. Well, she didn't need support, she only needed one less hurdle.

<><>

After a few months one day when Ambar stepped in the home she was shocked to see an unexpected face. No one else but her ex husband. 

Ambar looked at her father. He was looking red in anger. A few files resting on the coffee table.

Both the men looked at her as if going to murder her the very next moment.

“What's this?” Her father asked.

“I want my son back.” Maybe it was the first time when her voice was powerful enough to be heard by everyone while making a demand.

“At the time of divorce it was already decided that you will keep the daughter and I will keep the son then what's this new drama of yours?” The man, who used to be her husband for four years, yelled at her. She kept an eye on him and smiled like a sarcasm while repeating a small portion of his sentence.

“It was decided? What was decided? And who decided? It wasn't a decision, it was a decree issued by you. I never agreed to leave my son.” Abmar was more than confident at this time. Maybe for the first time in her life she was not scared of these two men whom she feared to death. 

Today she wasn't a timid daughter or scared wife, she was a strong mother who was ready to do anything to get her child back. 

“Main biradri ke bado tak le kar jaunga ye masla. Tum log kisi ko muh dikhane layaq nhi rahoge.” Amir stood up after shouting. Ambar wasn't scared but her father was. 

(I'll go to Elders of the community. You people will be too ashamed to show your faces in public.)

“Baith ke masla suljha lete hain, Amir.” 

(Let's discuss this matter peacefully, Amir.) 

Before anything could happen a voice of small footsteps came out of the room. Ambar opened her arms and the little scared figure ran towards her. Maybe she was scared of the loud voice echoing in home and she sensed her mother's presence. 

Ambar picked her daughter up in her arms. The little girl saw her father with curiosity as if trying to recognise who he was. 

“No, I won't discuss this matter here. I'll approach the elders of our community.” Amir yelled one more time. Abmar smiled sarcastically. 

“Jaiye. Zarur jaiye. Mujhe unse insaaf ki ummeed nhi hai.” Ambar said without looking at Amir but deep down she wanted this man to look at his daughter for once. At least once. But he walked away leaving her in tears and another broken hope. 

(Sure, go. I do not expect justice from them.)

“Tum hamari izzat mitti mein milwaogi. Kya kahenge biradri wale? Ladki court chali gyi? Job karti hai? Kyu ziddi ho gyi ho tum?” her father yelled. Ambar felt her heart skip a beat, she was the same woman who had bowed her head to her father's and husband's decision every single time but not today. 

(You will ruin our reputation. What will our community say? The girl goes to court, she works outside with men. Why are you being stubborn?)

“Maine to aapka har feysla sar jhuka ke mana tha, badle mein mujhe kya mila? Dard. Aansu. Zillat. Jab mere sath nainsafi huyi tab kaha the biradri wale? Takleef mein sath dene to koi nhi aata jab hum khud apni ladayi ladna shuru kar dete hain tab criticize karne sab aa jaate hain. Ye sab log dogle hain.” Ambar replied without making eye contact with her father and walked to her room. This was the first time when she raised her voice otherwise she only knew how to bow her head. This was the second decision in which she was going against her father, first was going out from home to do a job but at the time her father agreed as he knew he had not a good source of income to feed his divorced daughter as well as granddaughter. But he was entirely against Ambar going to court for her son's custody. 

(I silently accepted all your decisions but what did I get in return? Pain. Tears. Humiliation. Where were our community members when injustice was done to me? No one comes to support me in my painful time, but when I start fighting my own battle, everyone comes to criticize me. They all are double standard people.)

<><><>

Communal boycott, constant criticism from her father, financial challenges and lack of support, she survived everything for one and a half year. Each hearing of the court came with a hope to see her son but he never came to court. 

And today, before going to the court, she was sitting on the prayer mat crying and praying to get victory as well as her son. 

Today was going to be a crucial day. 

Today wasn't a usual trial but it was an argument. The very first verbal argument. Ambar was scared like anything, her lawyer told her clearly that he wasn't a specialist in verbal argument so he arranged another lawyer for this task. Now everything depends on the ability of this new lawyer whom she hadn't met yet. 

Holding a madly beating heart she stepped in the chamber of her lawyer. Neither her father joined her nor supported her in this battle but today her mother smiled with tearfilled eyes and blessed her victory. 

“Hello sir.” She greeted the middle aged lawyer and took a step ahead, “That lawyer is coming. Right?” She asked just to confirm and the old man nodded his head with another level of confidence. 

“Yes, he is coming. I have been discussing this case with him on a phone call and he was positive regarding the custody of your son. But keep in mind, he charges too much.” Ambar tried to smile but now, only assurance didn't give her happiness. 

“Yeah, I remember.” She nodded 

“Here he is… Mr Zaid Hamid.” Said the lawyer with a smile while gesturing towards the entrance from where someone just entered. Ambar was unable to turn to see the man. This name reminded her of something or better to say someone. Someone whom she hadn't forgotten because of her dreams.

She turned back, Zaid already knew who was the mother of this six year old boy. While studying the case he saw some photos that were to show that Ambar had a great bond with her son, she wasn't a careless mother. 

“Zaid.” She muttered after turning back. 

“Ambar.” His voice still held some feelings but he decided to act professionally. 

“Mere bete ko wapas dilwa do,” She cried out helplessly, her hands joined in front of the man who wanted to hold her hand for the rest of her life. 

(Get my son back.)

“I'll get him back for you. It's my promise. And I never break my promise. Stop crying.” and he started discussing everything with the other lawyer. 

<><><>

“Just imagine the suffering of a mother who has been missing her child for the last three years. Even in court trials she had been appealing to meet her child in court premises but the defendant always had an excuse to delay the meeting. Just imagine, a mother begging in front of everyone just to see her child. At the end I would say only one thing, No one can, and no one should separate a child from his mother. I would further appeal to the honorable court to issue an order to arrange a meeting today only.” Said Zaid and Ambar cried out helplessly. 

“Your honour, the child is a school going boy, visiting court and indulging in these matters will disturb his schedule as well as mental peace, eventually show a negative impact on his innocent mind. Kindly keep him out of all these things.” Lawyer of the defendant party said actively. 

“Staying away from the biological mother and living with the stepmother also don't do wonders to a child's mental health. Meeting his mother won't harm him at any cost.” Zaid replied and the judge looked at the condition of a mother who was crying silently but miserably. 

“Call the child within half an hour,” it was an order which was not less than a shock for Amir and his lawyer. 

“Madam, the child is in school right now, it will disturb his studies.” 

“Not a big deal for a six year old.” And the order was passed leaving no space to argue. 

<><><>

After lunch break the hearing continued, Ambar was looking towards the entrance of the room every now and then, waiting for someone. And finally her three years long longing ended when a little guy walked in holding the hand of his father. 

Forgetting all the formalities and protocol she kneeled on the floor, opened her arms and embraced her little son, kissing his face and crying with a smile. 

“Remember me?” She asked with a fear that she was forgotten by this little boy in three years and the boy broke the hug. He blinked twice. 

“Aap kaha chali gyi thi mummy? Mujhe aap hi chahiye wo wali mummy nhi chahiye mujhe. Wo mujhe achhi nhi lagti, daanti rehti hain, pyaar bhi nhi karti, aap kaha chali gyi thi?” The boy cried while complaining and Ambar embraced him one more time. 

(Where did you go mummy? I want you only, I don't want that mummy. I don't like her, she keeps scolding me, she doesn't even love me, where did you go?)

“Now I won't go anywhere. No one will scold you. I won't let you go away from me. Never.” 

The scene was emotional. The judge, who was also a mother, was silently watching the longing of a mother and son. Both were crying for each other. Ambar was fearful, she knew it was just a meeting, now it will be more difficult for her to leave this boy after holding him in her arms after many years. She didn't want to be separated from this boy one more time. 

“Your honour,” Zaid passed a few papers towards the judge. Ambar didn't know, now someone else was fighting her battle, she was only focusing on her son. Sometimes watching him, he was not as small as before, he had overgrown her lap size already. His chubby cheeks weren't as chubby as before, his school uniform was telling clearly that it wasn't ironed today. Shoes weren't polished. His greasy hair told her that he hadn't had a good bath for many days. 

“Does papa love you?” Ambar asked and the little boy thought about it, he didn't know if his father loved him or not. 

“He loves Laraib more.” The boy replied innocently.

“Who is Laraib?” Ambar asked

“My younger brother. Don't you know him?” Ambar glanced at the man who was her husband for four years. Is this so easy for a man to forget a woman? A woman who was around him every time. A woman who was there for him in every up and down. A woman who wanted nothing but his love in return for her loyalty and efforts.

“Do you know you have a sister too?” Ambar looked at her son and asked.

“Sister? My sister?” 

“Yes, she looks like you. Exactly like you.” The little boy smiled as did his mother. In between the emotional conversation Abmar noticed something patting on her shoulder. She looked up, Zaid was patting her shoulder with a pen. He had a smile on his face. She looked everywhere the environment wasn't like before. Amir’s face was looking dull, so was his lawyer. Ambar looked at her lawyer who was smiling just like Zaid. 

“Congratulations.” Zaid muttered. Ambar's face lost its color for a moment, she looked everywhere again, trying to figure out what happened within a few moments but she didn't realise she was holding her son in her arms for the last half an hour. And those thirty minutes of hearing were enough to show how happy a child was after meeting his mother. 

“What?” She asked. Zaid nodded and blinked without uttering any word. His signature style hasn't changed yet. He still talked to his eyes. 

“Really?” She asked in a hushed voice.  

“Trust me.” 

<><><>

“Soon he will be with us, only six months. My baby will be with me after six months.” Ambar told her mother with a smile but her mother was silently watching her. The old lady wanted to tell her something but couldn't gather courage. She wanted to share about a visitor who came this morning just after a few minutes Ambar left for court. She wanted to reveal an eleven  years old secret that no one knew besides her. 

“Ammi, aren't you happy?” Ambar asked happily. She was caressing her daughter's head who was sleeping in her lap and dreaming of getting a court order regarding her son's custody. 

“Tumne bataya nhi wo naya wakeel kesa hai jisne tumhara case liya hai?” Ambar suddenly looked up. Did she already tell her mother about the new lawyer? As far as she remembered she never discussed anything with her parents because they were always against her. 

(You didn't tell me how the new lawyer who has taken your case is?)

“Baat huyi us se?” Ambar was unable to understand the reason behind this enquiry but she again looked at her daughter who was sleeping peacefully. 

(Have you talked to him?)

“Hmm… I thanked him.” She replied. 

“Just thanked him. Nothing else?” 

“What one can talk to a lawyer?” This time she looked at her mother who was already looking at her.

“What's the point of this inquiry?” Ambar asked and her mother left her alone in the room.

Strange. This behaviour was unexpected. Before she could think about it, her mother again came to the room, this time she was holding a small wooden chest which was used to keep bills or mails or any small and useless thing. She stepped in the room and locked the door from inside, Ambar was again confused. 

“Why do I feel something odd in your behaviour?” Ambar asked and her mother sat down in front of her. 

“Dursi shadi kar lo.” 

(Get remarried.)

“Ek shadi ne bohot rulaya hai, dusri karne ki himmat nhi hai.” 

(One marriage have already made me cry a lot. Can't even imagine another one.)

“Har aadmi ek jesa nhi hota.” 

(Not every man is alike.)

“Koi guarantee to nhi hai dusra behtar hi hoga. Wo bhi pehle wale jesa nikla to? Ya to rote rote Zindagi guzar jayegi ya 1-2 bachhe aur leke wapas yaha aa jaungi.” her voice was bitter, well… life had been also serving her bitterness. 

(There is no guarantee that the second one will be better. What if he turns out to be like the first one? Either I will spend my life crying or I will come back here with 1-2 more children.)

“Aur agar koi tumhe apnana chahe, har khushi dena chahe to?” Ambar was again unable to understand the reason behind this question. 

(And if someone wants you to be a part of his life? If he wants to give you every happiness?)

Her mother opened the wooden chest, many useless bills, old prescriptions, some expired medicines, a few keys whose locks were unknown and junk came out of it then came out an envelope. A Brown paper envelope. 

“It's yours.” Her mother passed it to Ambar. 

“Mine?” she furrowed

“Yeah.” 

Ambar looked at the envelope, it seemed as if it was opened and closed many times. It was an old letter. Eleven years old. She opened the envelope and turned it upside down. Two papers fell out of it. One was almost empty, only a number was written on the left bottom corner but no name was present under it. Other was a three folded piece of paper. Ambar unfolded it slowly, with no intention to damage it. 

Dear Ambar, 

I don't know where to start but… I want to tell you something that I'm unable to tell you when you're in front of me. I'm scared. I'm scared of losing you, that's why I don't want to approach you. But being inexpressive will also lead to separation. My hands are shivering while writing this letter, please don't be angry. I know you don't have feelings for me, I'm just a classmate for you but you're not just a classmate for me. You're a friend. More than a friend. I don't want to name this feeling LOVE because I know you will never accept this. You're so nice and modest. 

I don't know how to say but… can you wait for me? I'm writing this letter today because I know I'm not going to meet you after today. I'm shifting back to our home town. Maybe I'll come back after completing my graduation. Will you wait for me? I have already started imagining my whole life with you, and trust me it's beautiful. We will get married after graduation. Don't worry about anything, I'll bring our families around. I promise. And I never break my promise. But Ambar for all these things I need your support. You stay by my side. 

You must be thinking why I didn't say all these things before and why am I saying this through a letter on the last day of exam? So the answer is… I didn't want to hamper our friendship. I wanted to befriend till the moment we wave a good bye. I respect your modesty, I don't want to be in a haram relationship with you. I don't want to be your boyfriend. I don't want any late night calls, secret meetings or a romantic relationship with you. I just want your togetherness because you're so good. Think about it. Call me, I'll wait for your answer. I'll wait for you. I'll wait for you to complete our story. 

Take care. 

With love and respect 

Your Zaid. 

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye that fell on the word Your making a question mark on its existence. Now it was only Zaid, not Your Zaid. 

“Once I opened your bag when you were sleeping after coming back from school, and I found this envelope in a notebook, a number was written in the same notebook, I tore that paper and never let you know about this.” Ambar looked at her mother. 

She had been dreaming about that very day for the last eleven years as if someone was trying to remind her about that notebook that she took back from Zaid’s hands but she remembered, there was no contact number of Zaid when she checked the notebook back then. Now she understood where the number had gone.  

“Maine bohot baar socha ye letter jala du, ya phad ke pheyk du lekin na jaane kyu itne saalo se sambhal ke rakh rakha hai.” Her mother added 

 (I thought many times whether I should burn this letter or tear it up and throw it away, but I don't know why I have kept it safely for many years.)

“Ab bhi kyu de rhi hain? Agar pehle diya hota to baat alag thi, ab kya kyu main iska?” Ambar tore it in many pieces in front of the old lady. She couldn't tell her mother how deeply she loved Zaid, she also wanted to picture her whole life with him but her parents killed her wish one more time. 

(Why are you giving it now? If you had given it back then it would have been a different matter. What may I do with this now?)

“Aaj tumhara naya wakeel aaya tha tumse milne lekin tum pehle hi jaa chuki thi.” Ambar was stunned and her heart started beating faster than usual. “Zaid… ye wo hi Zaid hai na?” 

(Today your new lawyer came to meet you but you had already left.)

(He is the same Zaid. Right?)

“Ammi don't link these matters. He is a lawyer and I'm just a client. That's it!” 

“Lawyers do not hide tears while talking about a client's suffering.” Ambar looked at her mother. Her eyes filled with tears but she looked away and softly shifted her daughter on the bed from her lap. She wanted to cry out but how could she cry for her secret teenage unsuccessful love? 

“He still…” 

“Stop it Ammi, I'm a divorcee with two kids. He is also married.” She didn't know that he was still single but her mother knew because Zaid indirectly presented a marriage for Ambar proposal in front of her.

“Who told you that he is married?” Her mother asked. 

“I… umm… I just know.” Ambar placed the pillow and pulled the blanket over herself, a silent gesture for her mother to leave. 

“Agar zindagi dusra mooqa de to use gawana nhi.” And her mother left holding the bits of that letter. Ambar couldn't help but cry out. Why didn't she read this letter eleven years ago? And Why did she read it today? 

Jab tak Zaid ke dil ka haal nhi pta tha use sabr tha, ab jab waqt guzarne ke baad uske dil ka haal pta chala tha to sabr nhi aa rha tha. 

(She was at peace when Zaid’s heart was a mystery. But now that she knows the truth, peace eludes her.)

“Stop it Ambar. Just stop it. It was just a teenage confession. He must be married by now.” and she closed her eyes with an unsuccessful attempt to sleep. 

<><><>

“Meri ek baat kaan khol kar sun lo, agar tum soch rhi ho ki bete ke zariye tum meri property hadap logi to ye tumhari bhul hai.” Amir grit his teeth, he already knew today he was going to lose the battle. He took his son just to save his property from division. 

(Listen to me carefully, if you are thinking that you will usurp my property through my son then this is your misconception.) 

Ambar kept watching him and smiled like a sarcasm. How poor this man was. He was thinking about property, not about his son. 

“Neither do I need you, nor your money and property. I just want my son because I don't want him to become like his father. Monster. Cheater. Heartless. I'll raise him like a gentleman who knows how to respect his wife, how to be gentle with women, and how to be loyal when his wife needs him the most. I will teach him to be a good father so that his daughter will not feel like an orphan even when her father is alive.” And she walked ahead because she knew she would cry out if only one more sentence came out of her tongue. Courtroom was two minutes walk away. Today she was happy as well as tired. Happy because he was going to get her son back and tired because she was already done with struggles.

“Ambar.” This was the last voice she wanted to hear. She was unable to move ahead but there was no room to avoid this man. 

“Hello, sorry I didn't even thank you properly.” She tried to smile but couldn't. He hummed and tried to gather some words to say what he wanted to but Ambar was fast to address an off topic. “But why do you come today? Today isn't an argument.” She reminded him that he was a specialist in verbal argument; he wasn't her actual lawyer. 

“Ek client se fee leni hai, usne di hi nhi. Apni fee lene aaya hu.”  Zaid replied and Ambar knew who that client was. 

(I am here to collect my fee from a client, she hasn't paid me yet.)

“I already asked about your fee but sir said that you charge too much… he didn't tell me the exact amount. You tell me, I'll pay.” Only she knew how difficult this conversation was, she didn't make eye contact. 

“Yeah, my fee is more than you can expect.” She looked up, their eyes met but she was the one to look down immediately. 

“Fine.” She nodded. “Just tell me.” 

“Not now. After getting your son back.” She glanced at him and nodded then walked towards the courtroom followed by Zaid. 

…..

It's always difficult to wait, and waiting becomes more difficult when the result is about to come out. Same was happening with Ambar, she was feeling her heart beating marathon, she understood in this almost two years long battle that being ready for every negative thing was crucial. Anything could happen at any stage, a victory could be changed into a defeat and a defeat could turn into victory. Defendants could ask for more time, or simply show up with some false medical information to buy some time, or make up a false story to miss the hearing. Continuously praying in her heart she was standing in the courtroom when the little boy walked in with someone. 

Ambar didn't know anything after that, she was still confused, was it a dream or reality? Was she actually getting her son back or after a few moments an unpleasant alarm will wake her up? But even if it was a dream she wanted to hold her boy in her arms and she did so. 

….

“My fee.” Zaid came in front of her. Her heart started beating faster again. She had no savings left. She paid the last expenses of the court after selling her gold earrings. It was the only precious jewellery she had. Now she had nothing to pay Zaid, her last option was to borrow money but she had to do it for sure. She looked at her son who was standing next to her holding her hand. 

Everything costs a lot... Real good luck is when you get something after paying for it. Otherwise life is gambling... Everything is at stake, and return is not guaranteed.

“What's your fee?” She asked while looking away from his face. She didn't want to look towards him to beat her heart with loud emotions. 

“As I already said, I charge a lot with no concession.” He said in a firm voice, his hand passing a black folder towards Ambar, she glanced at his face and held the zipped folder. Hands shivering. 

What does this file hold? 

Detailed bills? 

A Cheque filled with a particular amount?

Or something else? 

She asked many questions to herself and held the zipper to unzip the folder but looked at Zaid. 

“It may take two or three days to pay your fee. Is it okay? Will you wait?” She asked, Zaid's brows furrowed.

“Listen to me madam, I've already waited too long. No more delays.” His firm voice shivered Ambar. Zaid didn't ask for his fee for the last six months, and now this sounds urgent!

“I'm sorry to make you wait,” she apologized and unzipped the folder. 

What was that? She questioned herself when found a certificate in the folder. 

A Marriage certificate. She furrowed and looked towards Zaid without bothering to notice two details. First, it was unsigned, second, she didn't notice the names on it. 

“You Made a mistake,” she thought he passed her the wrong file but he shook his head. 

“It’s not a mistake.” She furrowed and looked at the file again. The creases on the forehead vanished, face turned pale and jaw dropped when she noticed the names on it. She picked it up just to find another paper beneath it. An agreement. Legal papers for court marriage. 

Ambar's eyes filled with tears. Pursuing her lips she shook her head and took a step back. 

“No Zaid. It's unacceptable.”

“I already told you, there is no concession in my fee, there is no room left for delay! I want it right now. I've already waited too long.” 

“Zaid log kya kahenge?” right now she wasn't a mother who didn't care about people, she was a weak woman who was scared to choose her happiness. Zaid took a step ahead and smiled. 

(Zaid what will people say?)

“Let them say how beautiful this Unexpected Reunion is.” 

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The End.

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