Author's POV:
Noor sat on the window sill with earpods plugged in. She was looking at the night sky. Hiba entered the room as Noor didn't hear the knock. She came towards Noor and placed her palm on her shoulder. Noor turned around and found her mother. She pulled out the earpods.
"Aap.. Aap.. Yahan?"
"Noor, kya hum baat kar sakte hain?" Hiba asked in the most soft way possible. Noor looked for few seconds and nodded. She tried to get up when Hiba made her sit back and she too sat on the sill.
"Noor, mujhe pata hain tumhein mujhse bahut saari shikayatein hain aur honi bhi chahiye.. Maine anjaane mein hi sahi par tum dono ko disappoint kiya hain.. "
She took a deep breathe. Noor kept looking down.
"Aaj main yahan tumhare saamne hoon. Tumhare man mein jo kuch bhi hain gussa, frustration sab kuch, nikal do aaj. Tumhein jo bolna hain bolo, gussa karna hain karo, ladai karni hain karo par baat karo. Kyunki meri Noor kehti hain baat karne se sab kuch thik ho jaata hain."
Noor looked at her for sometime and then looked at the front. She continued looking at the stars. Minutes passed by. Hiba thought she would not talk, she felt dishearten.
"Mujhe pata hain aap humein ek acchi lifestyle dena chahti thi aur shayad issliye overtime bhi karti thi. Apne aap ko over exert karti thi. Main aaj yahan tak padh pai kyunki apne mujhe financially strong rakha. I know that. Hum samajh gaye the that you too need time to cope up, aur shayad ek waqt baad aap realize kare ki humein bhi apke waqt ki zaroorat hain. Par woh din kabhi nahin aaya. Hum wait hi karte reh Gaye."
"Aapko yaad hain maine aapse kahan tha ki main school function mein aap dono ka wait kar rahi thi.. Aur aap dono nahin aaye the. Uss din mujhe aisa lag raha tha jaise mere haath se kuch chut raha hain, par yeh bhi nahin samajh aa raha tha ki thamna kya hain. Then I wished ki aap aaye aur mujhse kahe ki aap mere saath hain, agar main bikhar bhi jaungi toh aap mujhe samet lengi. I wished ki aap mere baalon mein haath fere aur mujhse kahe ki sab thik hain aur jo nahin hain wo ho jayega. Mujhe assurance de ki aap hain.. Kabhi kabhi pyaar ke saath assurance bhi important hoti hain. Mujhe pata tha aap mujhse pyaar karti hain, par kabhi express karna bhi zaroori hota hain warna insaan bhul jaata hain. Kabhi kabhi batana bhi important hota hain ki woh apke liye kya mayne rakhta hain."
Hiba took a deep breathe and wiped her tears. She took a hold of Noor's hands. She thought Noor would take them back but she didn't.
"Noor, beta I am so sorry. So sorry..My baby.. Pata nahin maine kabhi yeh realize kyun nahin kiya. Main apne kaam mein itni busy hogayi ki tum dono ko time hi nahin de payi.. aur phir jab time mila toh meri betiyan already mujhse bohat dur ho chuki thi. Main tum dono ki life mein maa baap dono ka role nibhana chahti thi par main toh ek bhi role acche se nahin nibha payi. I have disappointed all of you."
"Main aaj jaisi bhi hoon, acchi, buri, jaisi bhi, uss ke liye aap responsible nahin hain. I am responsible for who I am today, maine khud choose kiya hain yeh."
Hiba looked at her.
"Kya aap ab bhi mera haath thaam sakti hain? Hamesha ke liye?"
Hiba took hold of both her hands in a tight grip.
"Marte dam tak.."
"Par ab aapko bohat problem hone wali hain?"
Hiba looked at her with a confused look.
"Woh kya hain na, main bohat jyada bikhri hui hu.. Mujhe sametne mein aap thak jayengi.."
"Jitni bhi thaku, farak nahin padta. Main tujhe samet lungi.."
