Chapter:10 'She lost her childhood friend'

Shame and veil were the norm in those days. It used to be 'masculine portion' and 'feminine portion' at that time. The brides were also felt shyness. A girl's friends and female cousins were like her sisters and usually female cousins were called friends. Here, too, in Abu Sufyan Villa. Of course, there was only one chain of family, but according to this period, on the occasion of 'happiness and sorrow', 'men and women' were preferred boundaries among males and females, in the middle educated class. Elderly people, young people, teenagers and children according to their age were engaged in conversation with their peers and children are usually engaged in their games . Similarly, there was a lot of activity among women. Entering through the entrance, there were three thrones on three sides, all three of them were covered with pink sheets and embroidered with red flowers. The big huge pillows were also of the same colours as the sheets on which the elder women of the family were leaning and talking with each other while there was necessarily a 'Paandaan on each wooden thorn.

Looking down from here, two steps down from the upper floor, the middle-aged women on the sofas in the form of a semi-circle, as usual, were talking about their sons and daughters educations, engaged in their relationships, clothes, jewelry, shoes, slippers and so on. At the same time, the boys mothers were keeping an eye on the young age girls coming around here and there, they were noticing their manner of walking, getting up, sitting, talking. Teenagers and young girls enjoyed secrecy with their peers, unaware that the women on the sofas were dreaming of making them their daughters-in-laws. Like the boys outside, the baby girls inside were also enjoying their games.

Entering through the corridor on the left were three rooms, the doors of which were at a distance from each other. This distance indicated how large the room would be from the inside. The first room belonged to the head of the family Abu Sufyan Mirza and his wife, the second one was the room of his youngest son Muhammad Abdullah Mirza and his wife and in the last, corner room was for the daughter of Muhammad Abdullah Mirza who was youngest from her three brothers. There were Aaliya Bano's three elder sisters-in-law (who were his brothers wife's) and 6-7 friends who were her cousins, the daughters of her maternal and paternal uncles and aunts, were preparing her for the engagement ceremony.

"Wow sister-in-law! You made a pretty dress for engagement bride. God willing, you are expert in stitching the suits."

Aalyia Bano's middle brother's wife Zarqa praised Jethani (the elderest brother's wife) Sofia's generosity.

"But one thing is for sure, my dear! The way you put the gota kanari (the shining laces) with sophistication is incomparable. Your expertise made the dress charming."

Sofia also praised for Zarqa in a sisterly manner.

"Hey, will you two continue to compliment each other? No one will compliment our real moon?"

The third brother's wife Shehla made attentive both Sisters-in-law to the 'bride of engagement'. She was sitting on the bed with her arms wrapped around the bride, Aaliya Bano. The young bride was feeling shy to heard their compliments. Both the elder Sisters-in-law started enjoying themselves.

"Yes, why not. There is no doubt in it that our Husband's sister is one in millions. Her beauty made our preparations beautiful in actual."

Zarqa, the middle Sister-in-law touched Aaliya Bano's chin with affection.

"And the little bride! There is no example to your application of Henna on Aaliya's hands. There was such a feeling that wow and adorable, you are great."

The eldest Sisters-in-law Sofia gave a heartfelt gift of henna applied to Aaliya Bano by youngest Sister-in-law Shehla, then the Aaliya Bano started looking at the henna on both her hands unmade and was smiling carefully. She imagined her 22 years old faience smiling face in her Henna full hands, this smile was a part of his personality.

"Sofia bhabi! I listened, if the colour of the bride's henna is dark, then the mother-in-law is very loving. Am I right, bhabhi jan!"

Aaliya Bano was even more embarrassed when the question had asked by her 15 years old cousin sister who was her maternal uncle's daughter.

"You fool! Not the mother-in-law, but the mother-in-law's son loves."

Another teen age girl who was Aaliya Bano's maternal aunt's daughter, had corrected the statement of the first girl.

"Oh, Allah, repentance. You girls age is so small but if someone listen to you, you are talking like a Grandma. Let's get out of here, get out, hurry up."

Sofia lovingly scolded the young virgins.

"No, we would not going out. We would sit here with the bride."

Even the girls were not affected by up loving scolding. No young grandma was ready to go out.

"My dear girls! The three of us are enough to prepare the bride for ceremony."

Now Zarqa was also agreed with Sofia while Shehla started fixing Aaliya Bano's veil.

"Sister-in-law scold us, as you wish but don't advise us to go out for God's sake. Some grandma type ladies and aunties are outside there, as they will see us, start to the orders, tell you. Do this, do that, pick it up, give it away and bla bla bla. Oh my God !"

Another girl said and all girls were agreed with her.

"Seek refuge in Allah, girls! What a dishonest and lazy you all are."

Sofia kicked again.

"Bhabhi Jan! Why don't we start a drummer with wedding songs?"

The piece of advice came from the Aaliya's Paternal uncle's daughter.

"Yeah all that sounds pretty crap to me, from that time till yet, you all are just talking and making jokes but didn't do any work by hands. It's a good idea to beat a drummer."

Shehla corrected Aaliya Bano's veil and said that the girls were immediately happy. Zarqa combed Aaliya's hair and put the veil for head covering. Sofia started wearing bangles to Aaliya Bano. One of Alia's peers hurriedly got up to fetch the drum and as soon as she opened the door, she saw a colourful ghost in front of her and she screamed loudly while the ghost was clapping like a transgender without any fear. At the same time, all the girls in the room, Aaliya Bano, Sofia, Zarqa, Shehla also were unconsciously screaming for no reason. A strange thing was standing in front of them.

"Haey, Haey... Come on dear groom! Put the floral veil on your face... I will give the moon of my house to you ... I will give the moon of my house to you ... Come on dear groom! Put the floral veil on your face..." (wedding lyrics)

This small, colourful, ghost-like hedgehog came into the room, clapped his hands, and started singing and dancing. Everyone looked at him in amazement. The strange round shape creature was dancing in wearing green shiny dupatta with reddish clothes.

"Quiet, quiet,"

Sofia scolded him for this nonsense.

"Who is it? What are you doing here? Who let you in? "

"Ha Haey Baji!(the elder sister). Don't break such hearts. I too have come to celebrate your sister's happiness. May Allah keep her happy. Keep her settled. Keep her blessed."

The stranger transgender came near to Aaliya Bano to give her the greetings.

"It simply came to our notice then. You go out and sit. Such people do not enter the women's room in the house.".

Shehla tried to avoid him but he did not go out.

"Haaa baji. Why are your veiling with me? I came to congratulate you all for your husband's sister engagement ceremony. You all broke the heart, of this 'Marjani' (the heart broken person)..."

When this Hejra (transgender) said the last sentence while looking at Aaliya Bano then she immediately understood that this 'Marjani' is actually 'Marjan Jin' who has made this effort to reach her.

"Okay, you sit here."

For the first time, Aaliya Bano spoke sympathetically and allowed him to sit on a chair with her hand gestures. Marjan became satisfied. Now the way was clear for him to clear Saqlain-al-Jamal position while Aaliya Bano's heart was beginning to be restless.

"Aaliya, what are you doing? What would they think if one of the women outside came in and saw us with this transgender?"

Zarqa scolded Aaliya Bano for this act.

"No, not at all. I'll just say her some of my points and leave. I live near her college. She keep helping me as I am poor. She oftenly give me food. That's why i came to congratulate her."

Marjan told half-true story to Zarqa, shaking hands, showing false tears. He did not live near Aaliya's college.

"You can't go without food."

Aaliya Bano said to Marjan, who became a transgender person without caring about anyone.

"And you will play the drums and sing the wedding songs for me."

At this sentence, the girls started making faces, the sisters-in-law started looking at each other's faces. No one liked Aaliya Bano's move.

"now tell me. Do you have any problem? "

Aaliya Bano asked to so called transgender, Marjan.

"When you get married, who will feed me, Baji?" Marjan was afraid for his future.

"Sister in law! Please order food for him."

Aaliya Bano requested Sofia. She gestured to the girls standing in front. One girl got up and everyone went out behind her.

"Thank you very much! I will go out and eat."

Transgender Marjan said in a seemingly sly manner and while correcting her head scarf, she kept her eyes away from the sisters-in-law and said in a way to explain something to Aaliya Bano with the gesture of her eyes:

" Problem is that baji! My 'guru' (Master) has been arrested today. That's what I had to tell you. He had torcher by his relatives. "

Aaliya Bano was shocked. Tears began to flow from the eyes of the transgender person, whether they were true or false, only Allah knew best.

"But what crime did your guru (master) commit?" Now Shehla asked curiously. Transgender Marjan looked at Aaliya Bano first with strange eyes and then these three Sisters-in-law one by one.

" Aahhh ! My Master ! He had fell in love."

Transgender called his master in imagine then told his 'crime of love'.

"But you guys are transgender. I mean how can you guys make this love etc? It's impossible."

Sofia asked strangely, she was right because transgender are uncountable, neither in males nor in females.

"We become anything out of compulsion. The creator of universe has also made ours hearts. My master is my chief. He is not like me. He is a real masculine but unfortunately, he has just fell in love with a girl outside of his caste. His own people imprisoned him."

Marjan, who had become a transgender person, was apparently answering Shehla and Sofia, but every word of it was falling on Aaliya Bano's heart.

"Well, whatever your guru or master has a problem with, what can we or Aaliyah do about it? It's not a matter of being so upset about it. Living outside of caste is not a sin. Yes, it will be difficult but it will be possible. Nothing is impossible. So let's go get you some food."

This time Zarqa wanted to get rid of this strange person.

"In our land, it is a sin to be attracted to someone outside the caste and it is also impossible to get what you like. We are commanded by our elders to stay within our limits. He who disobeys the rules, he becomes like my master."

After answering Zarqa, transgender Marjan got up from his chair and started walking out, sudden, he turned back to say something to Aaliya Bano:

" Madam! Pray for my master. Your prayers can now help this unfortunate one. Congratulations on your new relationship."

After making a final request to Aaliya Bano, so called transgender Marjan walked out the door. The three sisters-in-law again engaged in grooming Aaliya. No one wondered why that eunuch was asked to pray only to Aaliya Bano and why only the prayer of Aaliya Bano could have been used by his master who was the guru. Aaliya Bano's heart was now exhausted with grief. The blushing of shame and happiness on her face was now turning white. A 'childhood friend' was left behind. Where was he imprisoned? It was not told. Who has done so much for her till today, will she not be able to do anything for himself today or will she become numb? There was a tussle of questions within Aaliya Bano.

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