This situation wasn’t as simple or insignificant as Kulsoom thought. No child in Khan Haveli had ever changed their name before.

"Kulsoom, koi tumhare naam ka mazak nahi banata, apne dimagh se aisi baatein nikal do." Eifa quickly interjected, her face slightly uneven as she hadn't applied her serum properly.

(Kulsoom, no one is making fun of your name. Get these thoughts out of your head,)

"Tumhe kya pata hai? Eifa, school mein sab mera itna mazak..." Kulsoom snapped back defensively.

(And how would you know? Eifa, at school, everyone makes so much fun of me...)

"Naam badalne se kya hoga? Jab hum bahar jate hain toh log humari har cheez ko judge karte hain aur koi na koi kami, koi baat unhe mil jati hai, koi perfect nahi hota." Eifa cut her off firmly, pausing to take a breath. This time, her tone was gentler. "Kulsoom, tum jitna inn sab se chirhogi, woh utna enjoy karenge. Iska solution naam change karna nahi hai, balki inn sabko ignore karna hai."

(What will changing your name accomplish? When we go out, people judge us for everything, and they always find something to make fun of, to hurt us with,)

(Kulsoom, the more you let these things bother you, the more they'll enjoy it. The solution isn't to change your name but to stop caring about what they say.)

Sharfa had been silently listening to the conversation, wanting to say something but refraining since she wasn't the type to interrupt. She only spoke when addressed directly.

"Mujhe mera naam nahi pasand," Kulsoom now said in a softer tone, her gaze lowered.

(I don't like my name,)

The room fell silent. Eifa glanced at Sharfa, who gestured as if to ask if she should say something. Eifa shook her head. If Sharfa started talking, she'd never stop.

"Kullu, tumhara naam dadi ne bohot pyar se rakha hai." Eifa moved from her bed to sit beside Kulsoom, placing a hand on hers as she spoke gently. "Aur phir naam kon badalta hai?"

(Kullu, your name was given to you with so much love by dadi,)

(And who changes their name anyway?)

"Badalte hain," Sharfa couldn't hold back any longer. "Bollywood mein hi kitne actors apna name change karte hain, humne uss din hi Instagram..."

(People do,)

(In Bollywood, so many actors change their names. I just saw this on Instagram the other day...)

"Dadi naraz hongi." Eifa quickly cut off Sharfa and turned back to Kulsoom.

(Dadi would be upset,)

Sharfa pouted, frustrated that her point had been dismissed.

"Aur phir iski ijazat bhi tumhe koi nahi dega." Eifa added.

(And besides, no one will give you permission to do it,)

"That's the problem. Isliye toh tumse baat kar rahi hoon, warna main yaha tumhari baaton ke liye nahi baithi hoon," Kulsoom retorted, her tone sharp, leaving Eifa surprised.

(That's why I'm talking to you about it. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be sitting here asking for advice,)

"Kitni badtameez ho tum." Eifa stood up and stomped back to her bed.

(You are so rude.)

"Jao karlo dadi se baat, aur jab daat sunke aaogi tab mujhe maza ayega. Kyuki maama papa ne kabhi tumhe data nahi, iss liye aisi ho." Eifa's face was already drying out, so she picked up her moisturizer and began applying it while speaking.

(Go talk to dadi about it, and when you come back after getting scolded, I'll enjoy it. Since maama and papa never scold you, that's why you are like this,)

"Momo, do you have any ideas?" Kulsoom turned to Sharfa after being disappointed by Eifa, which seemed to annoy Sharfa.

"Oh, Momo bhi issi room mein hain, finally kisi ko realise hua otherwise dono hume aise bhoole hain jaise, jaise hume insan nahi yaha rakha hua furniture hain. Bataiye, humari koi value nahi? Koi woh nahi? Hum baat kar rahe the aur Eifa ne..."

(Oh, now someone remembers that Momo is also in the room. Finally, someone acknowledges my existence instead of treating me like I'm just furniture here. What about my value? Am I not important? I was just talking when Eifa...)

"Sharfa, kam bola karo." Kulsoom cut her off, or else Sharfa might have kept going forever.

(Sharfa, talk less,)

"Hum baat hi na karein issey achha agar tum log ko itni problem hai," Sharfa pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. Kulsoom sighed in frustration.

(I won't even talk if you guys have so many problems with it.)

"Mujhe toh kabhi koi support hi nahi karta." Kulsoom complained.

(No one ever supports me,)

"Kulsoom, tumhari baat bhi toh..." Eifa, now putting her skincare products back on the dresser, paused, searching for the right words. A wrong word and Kulsoom's complaints would start all over again. "Bachkani hai."

(Kulsoom, your point is...)

(Childish.)

"But," Kulsoom began to respond, but Sharfa jumped in before she could finish.

"Oh, enough! You two be quiet and just listen to me."

"Issi ki suno. Main chali sone." Eifa said playfully and lay down.

(Listen to her. I'm going to sleep,)

"Badi dadi se baat karni haina naam change ke liye? Aur badi dadi kaisi hain yeh hum sab jante hain." Momo began, and Kulsoom nodded.

(So, you need to talk to badi dadi about changing your name, right? And we all know how badi dadi is,)

"Wahi toh problem hai," Kulsoom said. Eifa, curious about Momo’s idea, sat up again to listen.

(That's the problem,)

"Look, hume jab bhi kuch chahiye hota hai aur hume maloom hota hai ki mom mana kar dengi toh hum mom se puchte hi nahi. Simple!" Sharfa explained, waving her hands in the air casually. "Hume direct dad ke paas jate hain, and of course, he never says no. But haan, kabhi kabhi dad bhi badal jate hain, mom ki haan mein haan karte hain. Unki majboori rehti hai waise, apni wife ki bhi sunni parhti hai unhe. Warna toh dad kabhi nahi rokte hume kisi cheez ke liye, lekin Mom ki wajah se kabhi kabhi kar dete hain refuse, aur tab hume bohot gussa ata hai, kya matlab woh wife hain? Hum daughter hain, humari bhi koi value hai. Pata hai uss din kya hua..."

(Look, whenever I want something and know Mom will say no, I don't even mention it to her. Simple!)

(I go straight to Dad, and of course, he never says no. But sometimes Dad sides with Mom because, well, he has to listen to his wife too. Otherwise, he'd never stop me from anything. But when Mom steps in, he occasionally does, and it makes me so mad. I mean, sure, she's his wife, but I'm his daughter, don't I have value? You know what happened the other day...)

"Momo! Point pe aao," Kulsoom said, exhausted. Eifa put her hand on her lips to stop herself from laughing.

(Momo! Get to the point,)

"Point?" Sharfa blinked, as if trying to remember what her point was.

"Oh, right. So, when Mom says no..."

"Toh tum Hanan uncle se permission leti ho but main maama papa se baat nahi kar rahi iske liye. Unko agar mere naam ki fikar hoti toh bachpan mein hi change kar dete."

(You go ask Uncle Hanan for permission. But I’m not asking my parents about this. If they cared about my name, they would have changed it when I was younger.)

"Will you let me finish?" Sharfa said, irritated.

"Hum keh rahe the, agar mom dad dono mana kar dete hain toh hum mummy papa ke paas chale jate hain. Aur unn dono ki baat mana karne ka courage kaha mom dad mein."

(I was saying that if both Mom and Dad say no, then I go to my grandparents. And they never say no to anything.)

"Toh kya Kullu... Kulsoom Shahzain chachu se baat kare iski?" Eifa asked, confused about why Sharfa was bringing up Shahzain, who had been settled in America for years.

(So, should Kullu... Kulsoom talk to Shahzain Chachu about this?)

"Unse kyu? Woh toh ghar pe hain, woh kya help karenge?" Sharfa was baffled by the question.

(Why would she talk to him? He's not even here, so how would that help?)

"Tum hi ne toh kaha tum mummy papa se baat karti ho." Kulsoom was also confused.

(You just said you go to your grandparents...)

"Arey toh hum karte haina. Aap apne dada se karo baat. Bade dada ki baat thori mana karengi badi dadi." Sharfa clarified, looking at both of them as if they were from another planet.

(I do, but I meant you should talk to your granddad. Badi dadi wouldn't say no to him,)

"Oh, right," Kulsoom finally understood.

"Point toh hai, dadi dada ki baat ko mana nahi karti, aur dada hum log ki." Eifa agreed.

(That's true. Dadi doesn’t say no to dada, and he always supports us,)

Sharfa’s face lit up with pride, and she pretended to dust off her imaginary collar. "Hum aisi waisi advice dete bhi nahi. I'm very smart, and my plans work 99% of time."

(I don't give just any advice.) 

"100% kyu nahi?" Eifa asked.

(Why not 100%?)

"Woh ek ziddi germ hota haina, woh Al hai, hamesha stupidity karta hai. He always mess things up. Ek baar uske low marks aye the, toh humne unse kaha ki..."

(There's always this stubborn germ—Al. He's always messing things up. Once he got low marks, and I told him...)

"Al?" Eifa mouthed to Kulsoom, confused. Kulsoom shook her head and lay down, and Eifa followed suit, now feeling sleepy.

"Lekin woh itne coward hain aur jake... What the..." Sharfa was still talking when Kulsoom turned off the light.

(But he's such a coward...)

•••

The soft glow of dawn gently embraced Khan Haveli, painting it in hues of pink and gold as birds filled the crisp morning air with their lively chirping. The scent of dewy grass mixed with the faint sweetness of blooming jasmine, giving the grounds a fresh, earthy aroma. Eifa stepped onto the lawn with a small watering can in hand, her white cotton dress swaying lightly with each step as the gentle breeze stirred around her. She tilted the can over a row of delicate rose bushes, watching with satisfaction as droplets sprinkled the petals, making them shimmer in the morning light like tiny jewels.

Just then, Shahnan returned from his morning jog. His black t-shirt clinging to his athletic frame, his hair slightly tousled and a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead. His presence carried an easy confidence.

Shahnan paused to take in the peaceful sight of Eifa immersed in her morning routine, he couldn't resist a small, casual grin as he approached her.

"Good morning," he greeted warmly, his voice breaking through the soft silence of the morning.

She turned, her face lighting up with a smile. "Good morning," she replied. "Subah subah kaha se arahe ho?"

(Where are you coming from so early?)

Shahnan glanced down at his jogging attire, the corner of his lips twitching with mischief. "Jalebi bechke araha hoon," he said as if it were the most natural answer in the world.

(I was selling jalebi,)

"Jalebi?" She repeated, then narrowed her eyes at him.  "Tum seedha jawab nahi de sakte?" she scoffed, feigning annoyance as she turned back to her plants.

(Can't you give a straightforward answer?).

With a chuckle, Shahnan settled into a nearby chair, pushing back his damp hair with one hand before taking a long sip from his water bottle. "Aap seedha sawal toh puche pehle," he shot back, the cool water refreshing him as he leaned back, watching her with a hint of amusement.

(Why don't you ask a straightforward question first?)

Eifa gave him a side-eye, her brows raised. "Uffo, main toh bas aise hi keh rahi thi," she muttered, her voice carrying a touch of irritation. "Ehan aur Kian nahi uthte na itni subah. Ehan toh namaz parhke phir so jata hai."

(Uffo, I was just saying it casually,)

(Ehan and Kian don't wake up this early. Ehan prays and then goes back to sleep.)

"Toh aap itni subah kya kar rahi hain?" Shahnan asked, noticing that unlike the rest of the cousins, Eifa seemed to be the only one who was an early riser.

(Then why are you up so early?)

She shot him a quick smirk. "Pakore tal rahi hoon," she replied, tossing back his words with a cheeky gleam in her eyes.

(I'm frying fritters,)

Shahnan laughed, delighted by her comeback. "Oh, I see." Shahnan said with a playful smirk, getting up and walking over to stand beside her. "Actually, you were waiting here for me,"

"What?" Eifa’s hazel eyes widened. "Main tumhara intezar kyu karne lagi? I just came to water plants," she replied, her voice laced with defensiveness.

(Why would I wait for you?)

"That's just an excuse," Shahnan shrugged, pretending to look disinterested as he glanced at the vibrant blooms around them. "Movies mein yahi toh hota haina? Beautiful si morning mein larki... heroine, flowers ko pani de rahi hoti hain aur tab hero ki entry hoti hai..."

(Isn't that what happens in movies? On a beautiful morning, the girl—the heroine—is watering flowers, and then the hero makes an entrance...)

"Bas!" Eifa lifted her hand, a laugh escaping her lips as she shook her head. "Movies kam dekha karo," she advised, waving a hand dismissively. "Waise bhi yeh scene hero heroine ke beech mein hota hai aur na tum koi hero ho, na main heroine."

(Enough!)

(Watch fewer movies,)

(Besides, that scene happens between a hero and heroine, and you're no hero, and I'm no heroine.)

"Main hero kyu nahi ho sakta?" Shahnan folded his arms across his chest, raising an eyebrow at her challenge.

(Why can't I be the hero?)

"Kyuki..." Eifa paused, momentarily stumped. Then she focused on watering again. She moved a step forward, and Shahnan followed her, keeping in stride.

(Because...)

"Kyuki hero heroine se age mein bade hote hain aur tum..." She left the sentence hanging, teasingly, daring him to complete it.

(Because heroes are usually older than the heroine, and you...)

Shahnan’s playful demeanor shifted, a hint of annoyance creeping in. The peaceful atmosphere of the morning felt disrupted.

"Yeh zaroori toh nahi," he retorted, his voice lower, more serious. "Mohabbat toh dil se hoti hai, age se thori." he added, his gaze shifting to the freshly watered blooms, their colors bright but blurred in his peripheral vision.

(That's not necessary,)

(Love comes from the heart, not from age.)

"Mohabbat?" Eifa’s hand froze, the watering can still, as she studied his face. His gaze was focused on the roses, the softness in his expression contrasting with the firm set of his jaw.

(Love?)

"Achha!" she finally exclaimed, drawing out the word as she put down the watering can and placed her hands on her hips, her tone teasingly scolding. "Tumhe yaha flirt ke liye koi aur nahi mila jo tum ab mujhse flirt karoge?"

(Alright!)

(Couldn't you find anyone else here to flirt with, so now you're going to flirt with me?)

"Flirt?" Shahnan looked taken aback, nearly choking on the word. He couldn’t help but wonder where Eifa’s mind had wandered off to.

"Sharm karo, Shahnan," she chided, wagging her finger like a strict elder. "Main tumse pure 4 saal badi hoon, aur tum mujhse flirt karoge?" She emphasized the four years as though they created an unbridgeable gap between them.

(Have some shame, Shahnan,)

(I’m a full four years older than you, and you’re going to flirt with me?)

Shahnan slapped his forehead, feeling the frustration rise. He wished he could just remove her from his life entirely, but the problem was with his heart—where she had firmly taken residence.

"Galti ho gayi," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he turned away, the earlier humor lost. With a quiet sigh, he began walking back toward the house, his shoulders slumping slightly.

(I made a mistake,)

"Isse kya hua?" Eifa murmured, a flicker of confusion crossing her face as she watched him retreat. Shrugging it off, she turned back to her plants.

(What happened to him?)

•••

Huzaifa set his cup of tea on the wooden table, the light clink of porcelain echoing softly in the room. Across from him, Kulsoom sat with a hopeful expression, her eyes wide and earnest as she voiced her concern.

"Dada, aap khud hi bataiye, mera naam baki sabke comparison mein ajeeb lagta haina?" Kulsoom’s voice was soft but filled with an almost childlike vulnerability, her gaze fixed on him with expectation.

(Dada, tell me honestly, doesn’t my name sound odd compared to everyone else's?)

Huzaifa scratched the back of his ear thoughtfully. It was true, he mused. When Kulsoom’s name had first been chosen, he hadn’t been entirely convinced, but he could still recall Rukhsar’s face lighting up with excitement. How could they have denied her?

"Ajeeb toh nahi hai apka naam," he began, choosing his words carefully, his deep voice rumbling in the small, cozy room. "Par main apki feelings samajh raha hoon." He noticed the spark in Kulsoom’s eyes dim slightly at his response, and he quickly added.

(Your name isn't odd,)

(But I understand how you feel.)

“Lekin naam yunhi thori badle jate hain. Bahut si jagah par masla ho sakta hai, affidavit banwana parhega, documents bhi update karwane honge..."

(But names aren’t changed just like that. There could be a lot of issues—an affidavit would be needed, and all the documents would have to be updated...)

He watched as Kulsoom’s hopeful expression fell, her mouth pressing into a small frown as she considered his words. Her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on the embroidered edge of her kurti.

"Toh Ehan bhai karwa denge na woh sab?" She asked, her voice quieter, as a new idea began to take shape in her mind.

(Ehan bhai can take care of all that, right?)

"Affidavit ka toh koi masla nahi, par documents update hone mein waqt lagta hai lekin..." Huzaifa sighed deeply, his chest tightening as he prepared to reveal the true hurdle. "Tumhari dadi kabhi nahi manegi," he said, his tone edged with a hint defensiveness, knowing well how stubborn Rukhsar could be.

(An affidavit isn’t an issue, but updating all the documents takes time. But...)

(Your grandmother will never agree,)

Kulsoom sighed in response, her gaze dropping to her hands. It always came down to Dadi—her approval or lack thereof seemed to dictate every decision.

After a thoughtful pause, Huzaifa leaned back, with a glint lighting up his eyes. "Khair, main baat karta hoon unse," he offered, lifting his cup to his lips, savoring the last sip of it. "Waise bhi mujhe tumhara naam shuru se na pasand tha."

(Well, I’ll talk to her,)

(To be honest, I never liked your name from the start.)

Kulsoom’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, her curiosity now piqued. "Toh phir rakhne kyun diya?"

(Then why did you allow it?)

He gave a light chuckle, almost a scoff. "Tumhare baap ka idea tha, chit mein naam likho aur jo chit aye wahi naam rakhdo bachhe ka," he explained, as he shook his head, remembering Kabir’s suggestion that had led to all this.

(It was your father’s idea, he suggested we write down names on slips of paper and whichever slip comes out, that’s the baby’s name,)

•••

There was never a time when Momo knew something and kept it to herself. She always passed on her "information" and called it a public service. By breakfast, she had already announced to the whole haveli that Kulsoom wanted to change her name and even gathered two or three suggestions to make it easier for Kulsoom to choose later.

“Kulsoom, tumhe apna naam kyu change karna hai?” Kabir asked her at the breakfast table. When Sharfa told him about Kulsoom’s name change, he first thought it was a prank, but since Sharfa didn’t lie, he knew it had to be true.

(Kulsoom, why do you want to change your name?)

“Tumhara naam toh mujhe bhi nahi pasand tha, sahi hai change karlo.” Shyra cut in casually, pouring juice for Kabir as she spoke, her tone neutral, as if she were commenting on the weather.

(I didn’t like your name either, so it’s fine if you change it.)

Kabir looked at her, surprised, but Shyra didn’t seem to notice.

“Agar iss ghar mein kisiko mera naam nahi pasand tha toh rakha kyu?” Kulsoom discovered one thing that morning: neither her grandfather nor her mother liked her name, so her surprise was justified.

(If no one in this family liked my name, why did you even give it to me?)

“Kyuki tumhare papa... ko laga ki badi hoke tum apne name ki value samjhogi.” Shyra nodded her head toward Kabir, who looked down, scratching his head awkwardly, clearly dodging Shyra’s gaze.

(Because your father... thought you’d understand the value of your name as you grew up.)

“Itna pyara naam toh hai tumhara, tumhe badalna kyu hai?” Kabir defended, though his voice softened as though almost convincing himself.

(Your name is so lovely; why do you want to change it?)

“Haan, Kullu, ab naye naam pe uska nickname nahi socha jayega mujhse.” Ehan chimed in, unable to resist.

(Yeah, Kullu, now I’ll have to come up with a new nickname for you.)

“Tum chup hi raho, tumhare Kullu ki wajah se hi hua hai yeh sab.” Eifa whispered in Ehan’s ear, making him gesture for her to stay silent. The last thing he wanted was their father’s attention.

(You keep quiet, it’s because of your ‘Kullu’ that all of this started.)

“Koi ab Kulsoom ko ulte seedhe naam se nahi bulayega.” Kabir’s gaze flickered sharply to Ehan, catching him off guard.

(No one will call Kulsoom by any weird names anymore.)

Meanwhile, Shyra remained calm and composed, her eyes glinting with a silent “I told you so” as she sipped her tea. Kabir cast her a look, remembering how she’d once mentioned Kulsoom might question her name one day. But back then, he had simply brushed it off. Now, he could only sigh.

“Kullu, tum khud socho, kitna unique name hai tumhara. Kya tumhe aaj ke time milegi Kulsoom naam ki larki?” Ehan tried, leaning forward, trying to make her see reason. But instead of calming down, Kulsoom’s temper flared.

(Kullu, think about it; your name is so unique. How many girls today have the name Kulsoom?)

“Larki nahi lekin dadi amma zaroor milti hain iss naam ki.” she shot back, her hand slamming down on the table with finality.

(Maybe no girls, but I’ve met plenty of grandmothers with this name!)

“Kulsoom!” Shyra’s voice cut in, sharp and immediate. Her youngest daughter’s anger dissolved just as quickly, and with a sullen look, Kulsoom lowered her gaze, returning to her breakfast. Kabir, sensing the tension, stepped in with a gentle smile to smooth things over.

Kulsoom had inherited her mother’s fiery temperament, and handling two Shyras before his first cup of tea was more than Kabir had bargained for this early in the morning.

“Abhi mujhe office jana hai, lekin main shaam mein tumhari baat sunuga, theek hai? Tab tak tum apna mood off na karna.” Kabir said, dabbing his face with a tissue before leaning down to place a kiss on Kulsoom’s head. He turned and did the same with Eifa, who watched him with a warm smile as he straightened up. Shyra rose to walk him out.

(I have to go to the office right now, but I’ll listen to you in the evening, okay? Just don’t stay upset until then.)

Once they were alone in the hallway, Kabir looked over at Shyra, lowering his voice. “Yeh naam change karne ka idea Kulsoom ke dimagh mein kaha se aya?”

(Where did this idea of changing her name come from for Kulsoom?)

Shyra smiled, unfazed. “Don’t worry, Kulsoom toh har mahine apne naam ko leke insecure ho jati hai, kuch derr mein bhool jayegi.” She gave him a reassuring nod. Though not entirely convinced, Kabir shrugged, accepting the explanation. He reached for his briefcase, took it from her, then leaned in to kiss her forehead before leaving for work.

(Kulsoom gets insecure about her name every month; she’ll forget in a while.)

Back at the breakfast table, the siblings were still deep in discussion.

“Tumne dada se pucha?” Eifa asked, recalling Sharfa’s advice and peering at her younger sister.

(Did you ask dada?)

“Haan, aur unhone kaha hai woh dadi se baat karenge.” Kulsoom replied with a hopeful grin, her earlier disappointment fading.

(Yes, and he said he’ll talk to dadi.)

“Dada ne toh dadi se yeh bhi kaha tha Eifa ko Pune jane dein, achha khasa score kiya tha isne entrance exam mein but dadi ne toh nahi jane diya.” Ehan pointed out, dropping a truth bomb without a second thought.

(Dada also said to let Eifa go to Pune. She had scored well on her entrance exam, but dadi didn’t let her go.)

Kulsoom’s smile vanished, and Eifa shot Ehan a glare, giving him a light smack on the head. “Tumhara bolna zaroori hai?”

(Did you have to say that?)

Ehan scratched his head sheepishly, mumbling something as he rubbed the spot Eifa had smacked, though it didn’t actually hurt him.

Before anyone could respond, Momo’s familiar voice boomed from the hallway, followed by her quick footsteps. “Kullu, look at this!” She rushed over, pulling out the chair Kabir had just vacated and slid a notebook toward Kulsoom.

“Aao, Momo, nashta karlo,” Eifa offered, gesturing to the array of dishes on the table.

(Come, Momo, have some breakfast,)

“Waise toh humne kar liya hai lekin…” Sharfa said, eyeing the warm parathas with a shrug, “one paratha le lete hain.” She reached over, grabbing a paratha and rolling it up in her hand. Eifa nudged Ehan to pass her a clean plate, but Sharfa, in her usual fashion, had already taken a bite before he could.

(I already ate, but…)

(I’ll have one paratha.)

“What’s this?” Kulsoom asked, looking down at the notebook with a hint of skepticism.

“Name suggestions,” Sharfa said, mouth half-full as she swallowed.

Kulsoom frowned, turning the page. “Par ispe toh ghar walo ka naam likha hai, Nomi, badi mummy...”

(But this has all the family members’ names on it, Nomi, badi mummy…)

“Oh, dear!” Sharfa nearly facepalmed but held back, hands too busy with the paratha. She scooted closer, sliding the notebook to keep it safe from stray crumbs, and pointed with a finger. “Idhar family members ke name,” she explained, “aur idhar unki suggestions.”

(These are the family members’ names,)

(and these are their suggestions.)

“Tum ulta paida hui thi? Aise kon likhta hai.” Kulsoom huffed.

(Were you born backward? Who writes like this?)

“How would I know?” Sharfa shrugged, settling back into her chair as if it were no big deal.

“Waise, Momo, name suggestions toh tum le ayi ho, lekin dadi mani nahi hain.” Ehan informed her, casting a mischievous look her way.

(By the way, Momo, you brought name suggestions, but dadi hadn't agreed to change name.)

“Bade dada gave up already?” She looked at the three of them, clearly surprised. “Gosh, unse aisi umeed nahi thi. Batao bhala,” she continued, her tone casual as she bit into her paratha, “but haan, papa bhi mummy ke agey zyada nahi bolte, hain toh dono bhai hi. Kya umeed laga sakte hain.” She spoke of Huzaifa and Shahzain as though they were her long-lost buddies instead of her grandfathers.

(Gosh, I didn’t expect that. Can you imagine,)

(but yes, even papa doesn’t say much to mummy, after all, they’re brothers. What else can we expect?)

“Never mind,” Sharfa declared, with a bold smile, “Hum baat kar lenge badi dadi se.”

(I'll talk to badi dadi myself.)

Ehan nearly choked on his coffee. “Main aaj office nahi jaunga,” he wheezed, wiping his teary eyes, his gaze dancing with a spark of excitement.

(I’m not going to the office today,)

“You’re really going to talk to her?” Kulsoom looked at Sharfa.

Sharfa nodded, exuding confidence.

“Main bhi aaj uni nahi ja rahi,” Eifa added with a grin, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

(I’m not going to uni today either,)

They all knew it was bound to be memorable—an encounter between Sharfa Khan and Rukhsar Khan.