Qubool Hai (MeeraSim FF)

17 - Rakm

Meerab woke up to an empty bed and she quite liked the quiet mornings in the goan, the chirping, occasional whizz of a motorbike and the patter of far away footsteps. She had a newfound respect for her husband and was optimistic about her prospects.

She asked Nano about her favourite grandsons favourite dessert- it was sheer kurma. Meerab thanked god that it was a simple dish and she decided to make it for him as an offering to their friendship.

She figured that he wouldnt have issue her cooking as he clearly said that she was to do as she pleased, and right then, she pleased some sheer khurma for him- as a token of their friendship.

So with Nano's help, they ordered for some fresh milk and vermiceli noodles. And in the time it took for the milk to be pasteurised, they peeled almonds and bloomed the saffron.

——————————————

Murtasim, Rohail and Amir headed for the goan's panchayat. The bad blood between them had dissipated as they had bigger matters on hand.

The panchayat was to take place on neutral ground.

Thankfully, they had been informed that there had been no casualties and his men had been discharged from the hospital - bandaged and medicated.

A darri- woven rug arranged over the grass ontop of which a crowd of villagers were sat, facing the men on the chairs. It was the Khans on one side and the Maliks on the other. A few older mediators seperating the two. A few trees behind to shade them from the sun.

Malik Mukhtar and Malik Mir had their rifles in their lap- a show of their hostility. Afterall, their men had been shot on Shah Nawaz's land. The father and son duo were a spitting image of one another- barley any resemblance to the nazakat of Meerab, Murtasim thought to himself. Besides - she was a Khan now.

Out of habit, Amir adjusted his oversized turban before starting. 'Malik Mir hamaray zameeno par aaya tha, dhamki deyne kay liye - yeh panchaayat kay faisalay lay khilaaf hai.' Amir started. ( Malik Mir came onto our land to threaten us- This is against the order of the court.)

Then Malik Mir replied, 'Baat karney kay liye aaye tha kyun kay yeh maamla panchayat kay liye intezaar nahi kar sakta tha.' ( We came to talk because the matter could not wait for the panchayat.)

Amir already knew, but it was more of a show of the spectators of the panchayat court so asked anyways, 'Woh kausi emergency ki baat thi?' ( What emergency was that?)

'Tumhare drilling ki awwaz, humaray jaanwaron kay sukoon kharaab kareygi.' ( The noise of your dilling will disturb our livestock.) They were all accustomed to caring for livestock. They knew that the animals are noise sensetive- the stress negatively impacting milk yields. The Khans executing their plans would cause the Maliks to suffer financial loss.

'Tou? Fasal ko paani chahiye.' Amir stated- they were only bothered about their own business. ( So? Our crops need water.)

'Paani kahein say bhe lay au. Bas humara nuksaan na karau.' ( Bring water from whereever, just dont give us loss.

Then Murtasim spoke up. 'Tumhara nuksaan say hummay koy farak nahi parta. Tumnay yeh zameen chun kay dey the.' ( Your loss dosent affect us. You chose to give us land that was far from our water source.)

'Hann, Panchayat ka faysalay say zameen hum ne dey. Par iska hargiz matlab nahi hai, kay tum humaray zameeno pe koy bura asr karlo.' ( Yes, we gave you land because the panchayat ordered it, but that does not allow you to conduct business that negativley impacts us.)

What crops survives without water?

'Tou kya khali rehnay dey? Fasal ka kya faida jahan say humaray loag kha nah sakein?' ( Should we leave it empty? Whats the point of land that our people cannot eat from?)