White Roses Scene 16

White Roses as symbol of love 

Just a few more days, my love, just a few more days,

We are forced to breathe in the shadow of oppression.

Tanveer and Shahzaib were present at Aneesa's house. Naheed placed water in front of them and went to the kitchen to prepare food, while Uzair sat with them. When Naheed returned, she got engaged in conversation with them.

"Aunty, you must get tired doing all the work alone," Shahzaib asked when he saw her working.

"Alone? Sahira is there. She helps," Naheed replied.

"Aneeesaaa...she doesn't do any work?" Tanveer pulled her name out in a derogatory manner, and Uzair glanced at her with a scowl.

"No, son. Where else would these household chores come from her? Zakaria even says she should learn to work. Besides, girls often have to face many difficulties," Naheed replied with a smile.

"Yes, yes, absolutely," Tanveer said, and Uzair was still staring at him.

"Auntie... you've never forcefully intervened in this matter either," Shahzeb remarked.

"No," Naheed replied with a smile. "It's her choice, what can we do? We've made every effort from our side."

Meanwhile, Sahira came out of her room.

"Why are you guys asking about her?" she asked them both as she approached.

"Just like that, her name came up, And so nothing." Shahzaib said, trying to deflect. 

"Liar. You mentioned her." Uzair pounced on him.

No, son. Don't talk to adults like that...say sorry Sahira scolded her son. While Uzair turned his eyes away.

"It's ok Bhabhi. Don't scold. He is a child. Your son is a complete copy of his aunt Aneesa." Shahzaib said with a faint smile.

"Rude bit." Tanveer spoke in Shahzaib's ear. Shahzeb elbows Tanveer and stands up.

Shahzaib teased Tanveer, and he stood up.

"Alright Auntie, let's go. The ones we came to meet aren't even at home," Shahzeb said, picking up a glass of water and taking a sip.

"What does that mean?" Naheed asked, puzzled.

"Auntie, he's actually talking about Uncle and Shehroz," Tanveer explained, trying to handle the situation.

"We will keep coming back. It's our home," Shahzaib said, smiling, as he reached out his hand towards Uzair. But Uzair didn't shake hand. Shahzaib withdrew his hand himself and clenched his fist tightly. He was furious at the two-inch-tall boy. Aneesa's reflection was visible. He felt like throttling the boy sitting in front of him. But they both went outside.

"Do you had seen his stubbornness," Shahzaib expressed his anger to Tanveer.

"What do we have to do with him? Leave him. First, let's solve Aneesa's issue, then we'll see about his too," Tanveer reassured him, patting his shoulder.

"Don't you get angry?" Shahzaib asked Tanveer.

"I do. I get angry a lot. I'll settle all scores in one day," Tanveer replied and they both laughed. 

"Definitely... definitely... we all will, even..." Shahzaib chuckled.

"Bro, just stop it. Whenever you go in front of her, your voice just doesn't come out." .

"It becomes necessary. I will deceive him by being his sympathizer. Everyone has their own way." Shahzaib clapped Tanveer while saying.

"You will go very far." They both laughed at this.

Uzair was sitting on his knees on the couch with his face saddened. Sahira was scolding him and cleaning the rice for dinner.

"Go, go and study. Always playing around. Sometimes you need to stop."

"No, no, no." He was still sitting upset. Call Aneesa. I will study then.

"I will tell your father. You have become very naughty." Sahira threatened him.

"Then why did father hit you?" He went to him and putting his arms around his neck asked.

"When? When did he hit me?"

"He hit you one day, at night." Remembering with quite innocence. He was a child. But he understood.

"He doesn't hit. He is very good."

"If they are good, then why do they hit you?" His question remained the same.

"You don't study, that's why." Sahira said lovingly and sat him down in front of her.

"I don't study?"

"Yes."

"So if I study, they won't hit you?"

"Yes. Will you study?"

"But Aneesa Auntie doesn't study either, and no one hits her."

"She does study, but she hides it from you, so she can go far away."

"Why?" He started to cry.

"Why are you crying now? You study too. You'll also go away with him."

"Get married?"

"Oh God! You have such a sharp mind! Ask your father."

"But they hit us. And you all were saying to get her married. Both Aunt Samaira and Uncle Junaid." He mentioned everyone. "Will everyone go away?" Uzair's question was perplexing Sahira.

"Yes, yes," carrying the rice pot, she headed towards the kitchen. Uzair was holding her dupatta and following her.

Naheed was preparing curry for the rice.

"Mom, you go, I'll do it." Sahira said, taking the knife from her hand. Uzair was standing behind her. Tears were in his eyes.

"What happened to him?" Naheed asked when she saw him.

"It's nothing. Just excuses for not studying."

Naheed called him to her, but he stubbornly stood beside his mother.

"Mom, you go. He's being stubborn for no reason. If you show him love, he'll become even more obstinate."

"I'll tell Auntie. She'll take me to Mamu's place. I'll tell her about you too." He said to Sahira.

"Yes... tell her, but for now, go and study."

"You come too. Otherwise, I'm not going."

"Bring the bag here." Upon Sahira's instruction, he hurriedly went and fetched the bag from the room. They both seemed preoccupied now.

Shahroz entered the kitchen. Sahira saw him.

"Come here, let's talk in the room," Shehroz said in a stern tone.

She started to leave, but Uzair grabbed her dupatta and followed her.

"Where is Uzair's birth certificate, bring it out," Shahroz said and left.

Now she was searching everywhere anxiously.

"Let's check in the cupboard," Uzair was following behind her,

"Yeah, " Sahira said and started looking into the cupboard. 

She knew if the papers weren't found, what Shahroz would do.

"Found them or not? I was told to search for papers, not to make them." Shahroz was standing over her head.

"Yes, yes, I'm looking. We'll find them." She had placed her head in the cupboard. Her hand went straight to the papers. Then she paused.

"Why do you need?"

"I'll enroll Uzair in a boarding school; he doesn't study here," Shahroz said.

Sahira's heart sank. She clutched the papers tightly. She felt dizzy. Then she took refuge in the cupboard to compose herself.

"What happened?" Shahroz caught her and made her sit on the bed.

"Nothing, just felt a bit dizzy."

"You go and get some water." Shahroz instructed Uzair.

"You lie down on the bed comfortably." Shahroz covered her with a blanket.

Uzair brought a glass of water. Shahroz placed the glass to Sahira's lips. Sahira was watching Uzair as she drank.

"You go. Take this," he said.

"Do you want to secure Uzair's future or not?" Shahroz was sitting beside her.

"He's still young; he needs us, Shahroz."

"Needs? Even when we're not here tomorrow, he'll have to learn to live."

"What about tomorrow, who has seen tomorrow, it's today, our today, our son."

"He is our tomorrow. A bright tomorrow."

"How will I live without him, Shehroz?"

"Oh Sahira, I'll make sure to talk to him every day," Shahroz suggested a solution to overcome the distance.

"So I can love him, sitting in front of him? If he cries, can I wipe his tears?"

"He'll go when he has to. That's it."

"He does study, Shahroz!"

"What does he study? Put emotions aside. We can't take him on the path of our struggles. And most importantly, those who know I are at that school. They'll take care of our Uzair."

"Nowadays, no one cares. It's all about a day or two."

"It's good, isn't it? He'll learn the bitterness of life."

"He's still young, isn't he?"

Uzair came in and lay down with Sahira.

"Why did you come back again?" He saw his mother after his father scolded him.

"Innocent child!" Sahira bent down and kissed his cheek.

"It's okay. If we don't find the birth certificate, we'll get a new one tomorrow."

"Shahroz!" Sahira's voice trembled.

"The second option was there, but you yourself chose to hit the mark."

"Will you leave your parents alone?"

"Okay now, you leave. Leave your son."

Sahira was holding Uzair's hand.

"Think again, will you go to Lahore or send him to boarding school?"

"Are you blackmailing me?"

"Understand what you need to."

Sahira's blood boiled, Shahroz walked out.

"Mama! What were Dad saying? Will they enroll me in a new school?"

"Yes."

"Why, isn't this one good enough?"

"It's good, but the one they're talking about has strict rules. They pay more attention to the students."

"Even here, teachers are strict. I study every day."

Sahira remained silent, lightly smiling as she ran her fingers through his hair. Uzair looked at Sahira. Her face was clear, devoid of any wrinkles. Truly, his mother was beautiful; every boy's first love is his own mother. He too had boundless love for his mother.

"Mama, are we going to uncle's house?"

"Who said that?"

"Dad was saying just now."

"It's something else, you go to sleep." Sahira draped the blanket over Uzair and stood up.

"I'll check the dinner, you sleep."

She has now come to the kitchen. Shahroz was sitting outside. Sahira could see him.