Five.
3973 Words
Aaina.
In the middle of the day, right after brunch..the first lady was sat frustrated on a couch, eyes swollen with the lack of sleep and worry evident on her face.
Her husband had been accused of s****l harassment. The man who didn't care enough to lift his head up and even greet a woman properly, that man was being accused of harassment.
There was no doubt in Aaina's mind when it came to Zaydaan. The one thing that Idrees Ziagil had taught his sons was to not look at women who were not theirs. Ahad, who had been a playboy back in the day, even Ahad hadn't been accused of such a thing.
But the Prime Minister was being targeted and it truly worried his wife.
The media was having a field day, or field days if that was even a thing. Even international media was happily reporting it all, creating a perception that the noble, the respectful, the very charming Prime Minister of Pakistan might just be a harasser.
On the other hand, Zaydaan didn't want her to worry. He didn't want her to think over it. Leave it, Aaina.
He wanted her to simply forget about it, like it was not a big deal. He had left in the morning without eating his breakfast, grumbling that she was worrying for nothing.
Aaina knew how worried he was himself. And then there was Zayla, their daughter who had fever since last night and just wouldn't eat enough.
She let out a sigh, putting the oatmeal in her daughter's mouth, or trying atleast.
"I'm really on my last stage of patience, Zayla. Open up." She mumbled.
Her daughter crossed her arms and shook her head. She hated oatmeal but Aaina wanted her to eat healthy, especially since she was sick.
"Poori ki poori baap pay chali gai hai, akar bhi waise aur nakhre bhi."
(She's gone exactly on her father, the same attitude and the same tantrums)
Aaina whispered more to herself than to anyone really, she lifted the spoon up once again.
"Open up, my baby. You need this." She tried again.
Her daughter shook her head.
"No, mama."
"Subah aap ke baba bhi yehi bol kar gaye hain mujhe. No, Aaina. No, mama. Bus na sunna hi reh gaya hai life mai,"
(Your father said the exact same thing to me this morning. No Aaina, no mama. All there's left in my life is listening to your no's)
She whined, putting the spoon back and looking at the hallway from where Ahad and Noora were just walking in.
The railway minister looked at his best friend, chuckling at her disheveled condition.
"Kya ho gaya hai, subah subah kyun whine kar rahi ho."
(What happened? Why are you whining so early in the morning?)
Ahad greeted her in his own way, Aaina rolled her eyes.
"Good morning." She greeted the both of them properly. Ahad mumbled his Salam and went to sit on the chair besides Zayla.
"Morning, bhabhi." Noora said next, sitting on the right side of the sofa.
"Morning, Noora."
Aaina mumbled, focusing her attention back on on Ahad and Zayla.
"What happened to my darling?"
Zayla, who usually got very chirpy and happy upon seeing her Ahad chachu, merely pouted.
She didn't reply to Ahad, instead she just buried her face by her mother's side, not looking at anyone. Aaina put a hand on her forehead, feeling the temperature and knowing that the attitude was just a result of her fever.
Ahad looked at Aaina, waiting for her to respond instead. The first lady ranted out all her worries in one breath, causing both Ahad and Noora to raise their eyes.
"Zayla is just not agreeing to anything, she woke up early, had a fever. Now she won't take her medicines because she doesn't want to. Zaydaan kept on grumbling in the morning at that stupid case." She said, annoyed.
Her face turned worried and she looked at her best friend.
"He's worried himself, Ahad. And he doesn't want me to worry." She murmured, voice soft and so damn vulnerable.
"He's bhai, what do you expect?" Ahad retorted. She just shrugged.
She looked at Noora and then back at Ahad.
"And then there's my mother. She has taken every moment to make me somewhat realise that Zaydaan can be guilty. Which is so f*****g pathetic."
Ahad knew that his mother hated Zaydaan, hated the entire Ziagil family. He was not even sure if the woman loved his own daughter. He didn't think she did, she had hardly shown any signs of affection in all these years.
Still, he felt bad for Aaina.
"Okay, and..?" He asked her if there were any other problems, glancing at the clock as he realised he was late for a meeting m
"A small protest is happening at the foundation in Lahore, against Zaydaan and me as well." She informed.
Ahad knew that one already, the party members were going to handle it though.
He stood up, sighing.
"Uff. Listen, don't worry. Things will be fine in their due time. I have to reach the ministry but I'll call you the moment I get some time. Okay?" He quickly said, knowing that he had to make it out in time.
Aaina nodded.
She felt Ahad nod at Noora, telling her goodbye as he rushed towards the staircase, going downstairs in a hurry.
Noora, who was still sat by Aaina's side, stared at Zayla. She noticed the paleness of the little girl, realising that her fever was probably high.
Noora, herself was so busy all the time that she hardly had any time to spend with Zayla or Aaina. Since Aaina was usually busy too, the two women only met during the morning before they were off for their respective work.
Today, however was different. Noora didn't seem like she was going to work anytime soon and Aaina was still in her pajama shalwar too.
"Are you home today?" Noora enquired from her sister in law.
Aaina shook her head, she didn't really know if she was going to work or not. Zayla was sick, her mind was somewhere else but this meeting with a few NGO owners was important.
"For an hour or so. I have a meeting for the food drive thing. Zayla is sick though, I might cancel." She replied.
Noora clicked her tongue.
"You go, Aaina. I can look after her, I'm not going to the office today." She told the first lady, Aaina sighed.
She trusted Noora with Zayla, infact Noora was extremely responsible. But Aaina didn't want to dump her responsibility on Noora just because she had a free day. She pondered for a moment.
"Are you sure?" She questioned.
Noora gave her a warm smile.
"Yes. We can bond over our mutual love for Ahad chachu if she's not too moody." Aaina looked at Zayla, lifting her head up and making her sit properly.
Her daughter whined and Aaina let out a small chuckle.
"Seems unlikely for today." The first lady commented. She picked up the spoon full of oatmeal yet again, placing it in front of her daughter's mouth, who refused yet again.
"Fine, you don't want this? Okay. I'm not taking you to baba for lunch." At the mention of Zaydaan's name, she finally opened up.
Aaina gave her a few spoons, trying to get her to eat as much as she could before she brought the medicine close to her mouth.
Her daughter let out a whine yet again, ready to protest. Aaina kissed the top of her head.
"Drink this, get better and we can go." She said again, bringing the medicine near her mouth.
Zayla opened up her mouth and took the medicine, protesting no more.
"Okay, here we go. My beautiful baby. Was that so hard?" Her daughter just giggled, the sound of her laugh putting some sort of content in Aaina's heart.
She put her daughter's head in her lap, running her hand across her hair, knowing that this soothed her.
Her head was still warm, indicating the fever. Aaina knew that Zayla was close to sleep, since her eyes were drowsy.
She glanced at Noora again, questioning her about their mother in law. While Safina Ziagil was pleasant with Aaina, loving to the point where sometimes she didn't feel like her own mother didn't love her. On the other hand, her mother in law was almost a typical mother in law with Noora.
It didn't make much sense to Aaina. Ahad was her favourite son, in that manner, Noora had to be her favourite too. But she wasn't. Aaina was.
"How is everything with mama? Is she okay with you now?"
Noora let out a sigh, frustrated that she could handle so much work, so many foreigners, she could impact people so much yet she could not handle her mother in law.
"I don't know, Aaina. She's nice in front of Ahad and when he's not with me, she taunts me about not giving her grandkids." She replied, confused herself.
"Ahad is her favourite, if anything, she should be nicer towards you." Noora shrugged, at this point she had stopped caring. There was no point in thinking about something that couldn't even be changed.
"Well, she's not. Any updates on the case?" She turned around the conversation.
Aaina took a deep breath.
"Not really. All we know is that it's a complete conspiracy. Zaydaan already has so much on his plate, the Russian President's visit is so close and this isn't the right time for all this." She said with a huff.
"Is there a right time for such defamation anyway?" Noora asked.
"Who would even be so filthy to spread such a fake news. I don't understand."
"The chaudhrys are not in control. Are they? Who can it be then?"
"Saaniya is God knows where, Awan is out of jail though and his party has been pretty opposing lately. Who even knows!" She threw her hands in the air indicating her frustration.
"I don't think he'll plan something after spending five years in prison." Noora suggested.
"Revenge makes people do crazy things, Noora."
She murmured, glancing at her daughter who was almost asleep. Soft baby snores escaped her mouth and Aaina let out a small sigh, happy that she was finally dozing off.
Noora noticed it too, whispering to her sister in law now.
"Someone's asleep." She whispered, Aaina nodded with a smile.
"Can you stay with her? I have to go change." Noora nodded happily and Aaina got up, ready to change her clothes.
--
On her way to her room, she took out her phone and dialled her husband.
"Hello?" Zaydaan picked it up after a few rings and Aaina greeted him in a haste, knowing that he was probably busy.
"What?" Zaydaan replied, his tone wasn't rude. It was just I'm actually busy kind of tone.
"What what? Are you alright?" Aaina questioned, walking towards her room.
Zaydaan, he was always closed off when it came to such things. No matter how many years had gone by, it always took extra effort from Aaina for him to open up and actually talk about things that worried him.
He would usually shrug them off and act like nothing was wrong.
"I'm busy." Zaydaan said back, She knew there was no point talking back so she simply nodded her head, even though he couldn't see her.
"Fine, call me back." She mumbled.
"Mhm." He didn't say yes or no.
"I'm serious, call me back." She exclaimed.
The last thing she heard was a small chuckle and the call ended. She rolled her eyes but a smile still graced her face. Calling him always reminded her of the initial days of their marriage.
"Some people can never change." She murmured to herself and finally opened the door to her bedroom.
The next thing she saw shocked and worried her at the same time.
--
Her mother stood in the middle of her bedroom, hands holding a few papers and a shocked expression on her face.
She, soon covered it with a casual posture.
Aaina walked inside the room. No one was really allowed to enter into their bedroom if they were not inside it. They didn't really need any keypad security system since their private space was quite far from the actual Prime Minister House. Their home considered of close family and the staff that they trusted more than anyone.
Still, Zaydaan had clearly instructed everyone to not enter their bedroom. Ever.
She took a few steps towards her mother, frowning at her behaviour.
"Mama? What are you doing in here?" She questioned. Her mother shrugged.
"Oh, nothing. I was just looking for you and then I found these papers in your drawer." She said it so casually that Aaina couldn't believe her mother was being so intrusive and acting like it was nothing.
She shook her head.
"That's Zaydaan's drawer and you're not allowed in here." She said, voice quite firm.
If her mother had just been in the room, Aaina wouldn't have thought much of it. But to open the Prime Minister's personal drawer and actually extract papers out of them, it wasn't something casual.
Her mother frowned.
"Am I not allowed to visit my daughter's room?" She enquired, eyes almost sad.
Aaina clicked her tongue.
"You're not allowed to visit the Prime Minister's room. And please don't open his drawers again." She took the papers from her mother's hand.
"What's that?" She asked, too unbothered to read the file.
"He knew, Aaina." Her mother whispered.
"Knew what?"
"He knew all about your father's whereabouts. See, that's him in Malaysia." She pointed at a picture and Aaina groaned.
How to explain to my mother that I was the one who had asked him to keep tabs on father? Only because I didn't want him to find another way to f**k up my life. Or my sister's life.
"Mama, Zaydaan didn't deem father important enough to keep tabs on him in the past few years. I was the one who wanted to know if he was okay or not, he did it for me. These papers? I was just looking at abbu's pictures last night and put them back in Zaydaan's drawer. " She explained, covering the bitter words with her warm ones.
There was no point in counting the sins of a dead man. Of her own father.
She held her mother's hand and gave her a warm smile. Her mother shook her head, still not convinced.
"Something is really wrong, Aaina. You're blinded by your love for him."
If anything, her own mother was blinded by her hatred of Zaydaan.
"No. You're blinded by your hate for him. I miss abbu, I loved him. But he did bad things and he suffered. I wish he was alive but he's not. He died because he made alot of people his enemies." She tried to make her mother understand.
She only walked towards the door, suddenly feeling anger.
"I can't believe you're talking like this about your father. Allah will curse you, Aaina." She said, at the same time she opened the door and walked out.
Aaina walked towards her as well, knowing that it was hightime she left her mother with Saira.
"Mama, come. I think you should rest." She told her mother, holding her hand yet again and making her walk towards her room.
As they were halfway across, Aaina's eyes landed on her mother in law.
Safina Ziagil, in her Gul Ahmed lawn and her pearl necklace, looked every inch of regal that she could. She was freshly showered, her wet hair showing in the malmal dupatta over her head. Her soft rasberry perfume caused a scent to spread all around them and her signature smile made Aaina smile too.
"Aaina. You're still here?" Her mother in law questioned, confused that her daughter in law still hadn't left.
"Salam, mama. How are you?" Aaina greeted her properly.
Safina only smiled, moving forward to air kiss her daughter in law's cheeks.
"I'm okay, meri jaan. How are you holding up? I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with you." She consoled in her own way.
Aaina nodded, thanking her.
"It's fine, mama. I'm doing better now. Are you going to visit the foundation with me in the evening?"
"Oh yes. Every friday, I remember."
Every Friday, Aaina was accompanied by the ex first lady to her foundation. Sometimes, they would travel to the Lahore, karachi or rawalpindi branch and sometimes they would even go to sialkot, gujrat and a few other cities.
It all depended on how much time they could take out. Safina would take hundreds of food items with her, most of them for kids and several clothing items for the women. It was something that was widely appreciated by everyone, since she used her own money to do so.
"And Where's our little Zayla?" Her mother in law asked.
"She's sleeping with her aunty Noora."
"That woman really needs to have kids of her own." She grumbled, eyes almost rolling at the thought of Noora not having any children.
Aaina knew how frustrated Noora was over this so she decided to help the situation just a bit.
"One day, mama. Don't give her a hard time. They'll have kids when they want to." She tried to explain. Her mother in law clicked her tongue, voice coming out almost whiny.
"Ahad is so good with Zayla, I'm sure she's the one who doesn't want babies." She said.
"It's their decision. Come on," Aaina didn't know what else to say and clearly, her mother in law was not interested to hear anything about this matter.
She just changed the topic.
"Fine, Mera bacha." She turned her head, now staring at Aaina's mother and the woman she had once been almost friends with.
When Imran and Idrees would meet up, their wives would spend hours drinking tea and talking about life in the elite world. But that had been years ago, now they would only look at each other in courtesy.
"And you? How are you? How's Saira?"
"Saira is still sleeping, I woke up to find Aaina." Her mother replied.
"Oh. I would have offered my services but your daughter is the queen of the house now, it's her charge." Aaina let out a small laugh, not agreeing at all. Even though it was partly true.
"That is so not true." She disagreed.
Her mother in law, once again air kissed her cheeks and even embraced Aaina's mother, before saying goodbye.
"I'll visit you in the evening, khayal rakho apna." (take care)
"You too, mama."
As Safina Ziagil left, Aaina started to walk her mother to her room yet again.
She felt her mother grumble under her breath before speaking out loud.
"You shouldn't call her mama. A mother in law can never be like a mother."
She has been more of a mother to me than you have been ever since I got married. She was the one by my side when I was in labor and needed a strong woman. She was the one who held her son's hand even though they hardly talked. She was the one who told me I was an incredible woman and I had to be an amazing mother too.
Aaina wanted to say but she kept it inside and just gulped, opening the door to the bedroom.
"Sure, mother. Whatever you say." She said instead. She walked inside the room, looking around it before seeing her mother's face.
"Do you need anything?" She asked.
"Your time. I want to talk about my doubts." She nodded.
Maybe some time together would do us both some good.
"Mama, I have a meeting and then I'll come back to take Zayla with me to lunch with Zaydaan. I have to visit my foundation in the evening. I'll come by and have dinner with you if Zaydaan's not home." She explained.
Her mother clicked her tongue.
"He's involved, Aaina." She insisted. She ignored her mother's comment.
"We'll talk when I come back. Sana is right outside if you need anything, or you can call downstairs as well." She told her, kissing her mother's cheek.
"Get some rest."
She mumbled, then closed the door behind her.
Her hand on her heart and her eyes closed.
They say that one can always trust a mother. How do I trust my mother when she says that my husband killed my father? How do I do that?
With a heavy heart, the first lady walked back to her room.
She quickly applied some light makeup on her face, not applying more than necessary since there was not much time left for the meeting.
She was in the middle of applying her makeup when her phone buzzed with a tiny vibration.
She picked it up, smiling as she read the text.
Zaydaan ❤️
Some people can never change? Don't think I didn't hear you wife.
Aaina
Oh really? Was I wrong though?
Zaydaan ❤️
Yes. Extremely.
Aaina
How so? You didn't pick up my calls in the first few years and if you did, you always ended them rather quick.
Zaydaan ❤️
Well, now I take a few more seconds before I end the call.
Aaina
How can I ever win an argument with the Prime Minister?
Zaydaan ❤️
Can't win it with the husband either.
Aaina
Ahan? Okay whatever you say.
Zaydaan ❤️
See ♂️
Aaina
This emoji thing is really annoying.
Zaydaan ❤️
Are you sure?
Aaina
No
Zaydaan ❤️
Stop showing your teeth and go do something productive. Always keeping tabs on your husband.
Aaina
Haww!! Zaydaan!!
Zaydaan ❤️
Go now.
Aaina
Are you okay?
Zaydaan ❤️
I'm okay. Go to your meeting now and then come to me for lunch.
Aaina
Okay. I love you.
Zaydaan ❤️
Mhmm.
Aaina
We'll discuss that one when I come for lunch!
She stood back up from the bed and applied her lipstick, giving herself a final touch of makeup before she quickly got dressed. The first lady wore a multi colored dress before setting up her dupatta.
She quickly wore her heels and picked up her bag, ready to leave the room.
Her eyes glanced at the television for a moment and she contemplated on seeing the headlines for a moment, just to see what the people were actually talking about.
The first lady switched it on, eyes glued to the news channel. A minute ago, she was ready to leave the room, now, she was on the bed, staring at the television in shock.
Zaydaan Ziagil was right. This wasn't just an accusation, it was a pre planned strategy.
The first lady was right too. A storm truly was coming.
"While the recent alligations on the Prime Minister Zaydaan Ziagil have been making news for a while, the recent one by Saaniya Chaudhry has taken the public eye by storm. She took to social media on her official account, tweeting that the Prime Minister had groped her twice inside the parliament lodges and had once even called her to his room. When she didn't go, he threatened to leak her pictures. Saaniya also claimed that after she voiced out her concerns to the first lady Aaina Zaydaan years ago, she also threatened Miss Chaudhry with her pictures and misused her power for the wrong reasons, defending her husband. "
"Saaniya has vowed to get justice by using the law, she further tweeted that she has filed her case and expects the courts to listen to her plea and punish the Prime Minister for breaking his moral code and being ethically corrupt."
- Writer
