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It had been a week since Mama left. Aarish and Maham had gotten back into their old routine. Dad was trying his best to get by without Mama. I tried to become to the leader of the family. Well, it wasnt as though I had to, but everything seemed to come down on me. Where was this and where was that kept. Where did Mama put this and how did she wash the clothes. I could hear my Mama's voice telling me "Ansa.. what are you going to do when I'm not around.. if you dont learn now then you'll be sorry". And rigth now, I felt exactly that. Why on earth didnt I pay more attention to how Mama did things?
My life in a week had changed dramatically. I had become a house maid, daughter, mother, sister all at once. I spent each night cooking for the next evening. I had no time to have a social life. Before I even thought about calling Anam or Daniyal, I'd have to think whether I'd done the dishes, given Dad tea, cleaned up my room and what more! Truthfully, I didnt mind. I actually liked being in charge and for once being treated like a responsible adult. Even Aarish turned to me when he wanted something. I liked that.
We contacted Mama every second day, even though we had decided to only call her once a week. But, Dad would bring his phone cards each day and say "I saw this new card.. lets try this one and see how it works". So, we'd all gather around the phone and listen to Dad converse with Mama. Maham would say a few words and Aarish would mumble something as usual, but I didnt know what to say. I'd talk about something not making any sense at all. Mama would get bored and I'd pass the phone on to Dad. And then, I'd feel all numb again as though nothing had ever happened. I missed Mama though... more than ever. Without her I felt all alone, I couldnt even talk to Anam about it cus I didnt even know why I felt the way I did.
Mama had been gone for about 3 weeks now and Aarish was considernig on taking some weeks off and flying back as well. But he'd been lazy and not got around to applying for leave. Aunty Sajida and Aunty Shazia had hepled out a lot. Every weekend we were at one of their places for dinner. Aunty Sajida would call me each day either at work or at home to find out what was happening, how everyone was coping and if she should come over with food. She and I had become best friends.
"Aunty... Maham wants to talk to you. She's trying to pull the phone off me... " I told Aunty Sajida and she laughed.
"Aunty!!" Maham screamed into the phone "I see no one even notices me around here! I thought I was your favourite"
"As if.. I happen to be Aunty's favourite.... just face the facts" I yelled at Maham. She pulled faces at me and finally gave the phone back.
"ok Aunty... I think I better go. Dad's waiting for chai as well"
"ok beta... let me know how your Mama is when you talk to her... "
"sure.. ok Khuda Hafiz"
"Allah Hafiz"
I was thankful to Allah Mian for creating such lovely human beings. Even though I didnt talk to Aunty Sajida about everything, I felt reassured and comfortable with her.
Daniyal called me once everyone was asleep.
"Hellooo.." he said as I picked up. I laughed hoping no one heard me.
"What's up with you...?" I asked
"All is good...! How you been...hows your mum... hows the fam?" He asked
"All good as well...and on your side?"
"Couldnt be better... talked to your mum?"
"yeap... called after dinner. She's good..."
"excellent... i havent seen you in ages.. "
"I know.. I just get no time after work.. gotta come home and organise dinner and then cook for the next night.. its crazy!"
"poor you..." he laughed ".. you'll be a proper wife by the time your mum's back"
"a proper maid more like it!"
We talked what seemed like 20 minutes, but looking at my alarm clock suggested something else. It was 2 already!
"Dan! look at the time!" I screamed
"oh yeah... hmmm relax got no work tomorrow"
"still... I've gotta go"
"fineee... go"
"pllss?"
"Im messing.... i'll talk to you soon arrite?"
"yeap... sweet dreamz arritey... Khuda Hafiz"
"you too... Allah Hafiz"
I woke up fairly late in the morning. Aarish was occupying one bathroom and Maham was still snoring in her room. I could hear voicec downstairs, it was Dad and Aunty Sajida.
"whose here?" Aarish came out of the bathroom in his towel.
"hmm sounds like Aunty..."
"at this time?"
"dunno..." I thought to myself. I went down to see what was happening.
Aunty Sajida was downstairs looking a bit worried. Dad was standing up with the phone in his hand.
"Whats wrong?" I asked without even saying salam to Aunty.
"oh nothing beta... " she replied not convincing me the slightest of bits. I wondered whether everything was ok in their home. Was uncle arrite? I got worried.
"whats wrong Daddy...?"
"I dont know.. Aunty is saying there was an accident in Pakistan" Dad replied.
"It's nothing to be worried about.... " Aunty was even less convincing.
"Who was in the accident...?" I didnt want to know it was Mama.
"Mama... and your Mamoo was in it too and I'm not sure who else.." She said
"Mama? was it a car accident?" I asked. I couldnt think
"Yes... but she's only got a few scracthes" Aunty was trying hard to convince me.
"Did they call you Daddy?"
"No.... someone called Aunty" Daddy replied.
Why didnt they call us? Why did they call Aunty? Where did they get Aunty's number from? None of it made sense. I took the phone from Dad and called my cousins in Pakistan. They wouldnt tell me straight either. They repeated the same things as Aunty did.
"Wheres Mama?!" I asked out of frustration.
"She's in the hospital.. It's just a check up, baji" My cousin, Rauf, told me. His voice was heavy and seemed as though he hadnt slept for days. He was never like this. As i questioned more, a few tears fell from my eyes. I wiped them away quickly as Dad came in to take the phone from me. He spoke to Rauf for a bit, but no one told us anything. Everything seemed so fishy.
It was evening, and Aunty Sajida had brought dinner for us. We had called Pakistan about four times and still hadnt been able to talk to Mama. All they said was she had a few scratches on her face. If that was all, why couldnt we talk to her?!
"Aarish... can you get a few days of work?" Dad asked.
"hmm... yeah I'll try" Aarish replied in his mumbled voice.
Everything seemed to be falling apart. As soon as things got a little back on track, something else would come in the way. The whole numbness was coming back again. Maham was quiet, Aarish was losing control of his feelings and Dad, he seemed to be falling into depression. He needed to talk to someone, he needed his wife. The person he loved the most, the person he hadnt been away from for more than 4 weeks in the last 25 years of marriage, that person was in a hospital across the world. And no one, not a single relation would give us the correct information. So our best option was to send Aarish there.
haey :(
just write everything at once plzzz..
great stuff Ansa.. i mean sadzzz 
thanx 
Hi Sadzzz
This is great.
Just wanted to know if you were going to publish this or not.
what happens next 
its all soooooo sad.
hey farhana.. thanx
hmm i dont think its good enuff to be published.. no modesty speaking but i think its a pretty ordinary story… i mean im sure everyone knows whats going to happen next sort of thing… nahin?
thanx Passionate and uzzybuzzy 
No probs :)
can you not leave big gaps between your postings.
hehe.. sorry dudes... thing is im at work and it gets bit hard trying to write at the same time :)
sadzzz
You’ve got another reader/fan. 
Good job :k:
thanx Sehar
sigh
can i be ur publisher ?
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by T2: *
*sigh
can i be ur publisher ?
[/QUOTE]
hehe how sweet of u
Next bit pleeeeeeeeeeeez!
(good stuff)
wow…
i’m so hooked…
sadzzz u write really well :k:
pakistani drama ki tarah chal rahee hai story.. qistwaar :D