Chapter 52: His Mother

Alizeh frowned as she stared up at him, clearly displeased. “And you’re lying to me,” she

accused, her small hands reaching up to tug at his ear in an innocent but determined

attempt, recalling how her own mouth would mimic this action whenever she wanted to

pout.

Her antics made Sheharzaad chortle, the sound escaping before she could stop herself.

Sensing this, he shifted his head slightly, catching Sheharzaad in his peripheral view. “Now

look,” he said, turning his focus back to Alizeh with mock exasperation, “even my secretary

is laughing at me. Is that what you want?”

Alizeh placed her hand on her lips, forming an "O" shape. “No!” she said.

“Then stop what you’re doing,” he replied, raising an eyebrow in warning.

Her lips pulled into a pout, but she gave a solemn nod, lowering her hands.

“You’ll come to the haveli soon, na?” she asked, holding out her pinky finger with a serious

expression, signaling her need for a promise from him.

He looked down at her small, outstretched pinky and nodded, locking his with hers. “I will,”

he promised.

Sheharzaad saw it as an opportunity to slip out of his office. “Sir, may I leave?” she asked,

hoping his attention would remain with his little cousin.

But his eyes flicked over to her, fixing her with an unreadable look. “No. Sit over there and

keep working,” he instructed, pointing to the sofa in the corner of his office.

She opened her mouth to protest. “But I—” His expression hardened, a subtle warning she

knew better than to ignore. She gave him a reluctant nod, collected her laptop, and trudged

toward the sofa, settling down to work while still within his line of sight.

...

Dua glanced at her brother, her tone softening as she spoke. “Baba isn’t well, bhai,” she said

quietly while sipping on her coffee. “He misses you… keeps asking about you, especially

after the recent attack he had.”

Alizeh and Haseeb were off at a nearby table, engrossed in a game. It seemed Alizeh was

winning, her delighted laughter filling the air as Haseeb, defeated, rolled his eyes in mock

frustration.

Shehryaar kept his gaze trained on his cup, his jaw tightening at her words. He knew well

enough the reason behind his father’s declining health and why his life, ironically, had no

life left in it.

“I’ll come,” he assured her finally. “Tell him not to worry.” He paused, shifting his attention

back to Dua. “But what brings you here, Dua?” he asked, noting the hint of anxiety lingering

in her eyes.

Her gaze darted away, her response coming out almost too quickly. “Nothing,” she replied,

her words fumbling.

He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Don’t lie to me,” he said firmly, watching as her

expression faltered.

She sighed, defeated. “I’m not lying, bhai. I… I just came here to see you. Can’t I?” she asked,

her tone turning softer, seeking his approval.

He leaned back, scrutinizing her closely. “You can, but only to see me. Understood?”

She quietly gave him a nod, knowing how possessive her brother had gotten after that

particular incident. She knew he would never let her get closer to a man again after what

she did the last time. Despite her condition, she wasn't spared from his wrath.

“Yes, bhai,” she gave him a verbal response when he demanded it through his eyes.

“Good for you,” he said, sipping his coffee. His hawk-like eyes noticed how his sister was

trying not to meet his gaze.

Some time elapsed as they all continued talking. Alizeh was now sitting on Shehryaar's lap,

while Haseeb, who had been playing a game with Alizeh earlier, now sat a little distance

away from Sheharzaad. Dua and Shehryaar were busy in conversation.

Sheharzaad was surprised when Alizeh came over to her, smiling and shaking her hand.

Alizeh talked for a few minutes, blabbering about how pretty Sheharzaad was and telling

her about her dollhouses and her oh-so-dear brother, Shehryaar. Once she was done talking,

she ran back to Shehryaar, settling herself in his lap and now playing a video game on his

phone.

Sheharzaad’s eyes moved up and found him smiling. Again.

This was the second time today he smiled.

By now, she had established in her mind that Shehryaar Haider Syed did not know how to

smile, but he proved her wrong.

“Tw yeh jallad hasta bhi hai,” she muttered.

(So this hangman laughs as well?)

“Jallad?” Haseeb, who was sitting just a short distance away from her, suddenly said loudly

and looked towards Sheharzaad with wide eyes.

(Hangman?!)

She closed her eyes, thinking he had earbuds in and wasn’t listening.

“Huh, what were you saying, Haseeb?” Dua asked, turning towards Haseeb.

“Please keep quiet, or he’ll kill me,” she muttered under her breath while picking up a pen

from the floor that she had purposely dropped to avoid their gaze.

“What were you saying?” Dua asked again as Haseeb looked at Sheharzaad out of the corner

of his eye. She appeared focused on her laptop screen but subtly shook her head.

“Ah, nothing. I was watching something on my phone. Why do you care about whatever I

say, huh?”

“Whatever, Haseeb,” she said and turned back to her brother.

After a few moments passed, Sheharzaad looked towards Haseeb, mouthing a thank you.

“Never mind,” he replied, coming closer and sitting next to her.

“Thank you,” she said this time aloud.

“No problem. Are you my brother’s secretary?”

“Yes, I am,” she answered.

“Oh, good. He must give you a tough time.”

“Very. Are you his brother?”

“Kind of. His cousin brother.”

“I never knew my boss had a family.”

“Even our family doesn’t know that we have Shehryaar bhai,” he said, and she laughed.

“What?”

“You don’t know, and you’re his secretary? Unbelievable. You know he’s a private person.

Very private. He mostly lives here but sometimes comes to the haveli for... for meeting us all,

and that too only when we insist a lot.”

“Doesn’t his mother ask for him?”