pen.books.and.scalpel

You would be wondering if Aliza struggled after leaving home with her child. And if she did, how much? But life favours the brave, doesn't it? She was on the verge of a breakdown when she left home. She was all alone despite having a big family. She cursed her fate and resented her life. But she had to live on for herself and her child.  She struggled during the initial days of her hostel life. She had never been to a hostel before, even in school. But she had been in a married life, so she was accustomed to living with strangers. She skipped work for a few days because she did not find it suitable to leave Iqra with the warden while she was away at work. She couldn't take her along too. But once she saw her savings becoming thin and thin, she decided she had to get back. She alternately carried Iqra to work on a few days and left her with her roommate on a few other days. On those days, she would be very apprehensive and hop back home as soon as work finished. But she had lear...

There was no way Aliza was going to react to Humaira's comments and suggestions. She was busy feeding Iqra as she was hungry for the fourth time in the day. Her daughter had recently turned 2 years old and had become exceedingly mischievous and difficult to manage. Aliza had to constantly watch over her to save her from ruining washed clothes, throwing clean vessels into the floor and spilling water all over the floor. Aliza's parents wanted to name her 'Noor' as she reminded them of the moon, the light of her life. But Aliza was adamant to name her 'Iqra', which means ‘to read’. She wanted her daughter to read as much as she could in her life and become independent, unlike her. She wanted her daughter to turn out to be the one deciding her life on her terms instead of waiting for others to do it for her. She wanted to read, too, after her separation, but life again limited her options. She was pregnant with Iqra when her urge to start college intensified, and m...

Cyra noticed how Ahmed slowly turned into someone  she no longer could associate with the man he was in Bangalore. It was not sudden but happened slowly. She watched him drift away like the dandelion seeds blown away by a gentle breeze. After months of returning from her home, she had been going through significant changes herself, which she did not imagine she would be doing. She hadn't imagined waking early in the morning and packing breakfast and lunch for her husband while she stayed home waiting for his return. She hadn't pictured herself taking care of the entire household, calling her in-laws for food as soon as it was ready and dining late after everyone. She hadn't even known she would have to plead with everyone to visit her mother occasionally.  'Don't you remember today is Friday, and on Fridays, we finish cooking lunch and other chores before 1 pm?' Rabiya yelled from the kitchen after noticing the curry still boiling in the pan. She switched off th...

By now, you are probably wondering what happened to Cyra and Ahmed, and it is right of you to do it. The day Aliza divorced Ahmed, Cyra grew confused. Should she, too, walk away from Ahmed's life now because he had lied to her or stay because now she is the only one in his life? Amidst her confusion, she heard what Rabiya said to Aliza's parents after the jamath left.  'It's pretty upsetting what Aliza has done. Ahmed did commit a mistake. But he is a man. She could have let it go, and I would have made everything right. But she has made the wrong decision by leaving my son and taking away our grandchild. I will see what happens to her now, and I am sure she will repent her decision. But you know what? My son would still be living with his wife under this roof. Yes, I am talking about that Bangalore girl. Whatever is said and done, my son likes her, and she did not choose to leave him, unlike your uncultured overconfident daughter. I will see to them they live their bes...

Everyone in the hall stared at Aliza as if she were the villain. How could a woman decide to end her marriage? How could she, even if her husband cheated on her and made her life a mess? Yes, he made a mistake because he is a man. He might have committed errors under pressure or unknowingly. He is a man, after all. So, is that right for her to call off their marriage? Don't all men do that, and don't their wives adjust to their mistakes and live accordingly? A woman deciding for herself? A woman who is pregnant taking away the child from her father? For god's sake! Ewww. This was how Aliza was looked at. Ahmed was showered with empathy because he won't be able to claim his heir ever again. How on earth was he to know that he would be punished like this for his mistake?  Ahmed tried to persuade Aliza to stay in the marriage, but she did not heed him. So he denied giving her a talak in the jamath. But Aliza had anticipated this, and she had come prepared. She told the jam...

Aliza and Cyra sat across each other in the idea of having either a heartfelt or a heated conversation. But none of them could face each other. Silence prevailed, and no one else interrupted too. Cyra would have happily waited in the car until her mother arrived if not for Fahim and his father. They welcomed everyone home once they reach their doorstep, be it their rival as well. But this was uncalled for. What did they even expect? Both women sort out their differences and live under one roof, sharing a husband? They weren't Khadija and Aisha though they aspired to be.  'This woman looks prettier than all of us combined. Is that why Ahmed ji decided to ditch me and marry her?' Aliza did not blurt out but thought to herself.  'She is educated, working and caring for her mother and business. She is well-behaved and looks assertive too. Maybe that's why.' Her thoughts continued to haunt her. 'She did not find anybody else other than my husband with so many qua...

'Do you realise what you have done? You gave away your life on a platter to another woman.' Aliza's mother yelled at her after all the relatives and neighbours had left who came in to gather all the information they could under the disguise of offering condolence. 'Arey, Aliza. Who even does that? Whatever you decide, you should have stayed there. You lost your opportunity to make Ahmed think in your favour. You could have convinced him to leave her. Tch.tch.tch...' Humaira tried adding her own flavour to the conversation. But Aliza responded to neither. She stayed quiet with no orientation to her surrounding. She was, in fact, not even listening.  'Can you both let her be? Let her rest now.' Fahim interrupted Humaira and his mother. 'Humaira, give her something to eat. She must be starving.' Humaira, who was clearly more invested in discussing Aliza's life, sulked at Fahim and went to the kitchen reluctantly to bring her the leftovers from lunch...

A jamath was formed comprising Aliza and Ahmed's family, Cyra's mother and the muthavalli of the mosque with its members. Aliza had not spoken to anyone after Ahmed's truth came out in the open. She sat beside her mother, who patted her head. Cyra and her mother were made to sit away from everyone because everybody thought she was the one who allured Ahmed into this marriage.  Aliza sat across Cyra and watched her from a distance. She took note of the woman she lost Ahmed to. She saw how they both looked so different yet the same. She could feel the pain in Cyra's eyes but was also jealous herself. Cyra's clothes looked pristine and modern, and her hair looked like it had been treated with utmost care. She saw how Cyra  looked elegant and confident even during pain unlike herself. Aliza assessed her own clothes and hair and was convinced why Ahmed had to choose someone over her. The discussion began after the head of the jamath addressed Ahmed and his family and ask...

On any other day, Ahmed would have picked up Aliza and made her dizzy by spinning her around. But today, he was dumbed beyond words and stared past her into oblivion. His mind played tricks by tuning into various emotions in short intervals. He was euphoric at one moment and miserable the next. Aliza, who expected a much-overjoyed expression from her husband, was content with what Ahmed had conveyed. Probably his mind was preoccupied with work, she thought.  Aliza understood Ahmed was troubled even though she might have preferred otherwise. She even thought he was not ready for such a huge responsibility right now. But she did not understand why they all had to pack again for Chennai. And why will Ahmed's landlady come along too? She had already sensed trouble when she found Ahmed living in the landlady's house instead of his building. Women can sense trouble miles away but can't dare pick the ones hovering around their lives. As they reached home the same night, Rabiya...

Cyra was fuming the entire way from the start of her ride. Her thoughts swayed between a spectrum of possibilities. She knew in her heart that something was terribly wrong, and she did not want to wait until Ahmed returned with another freaking lie. After an intense search, she retrieved Ahmed's address from his folder while he was preparing to leave for work. She stuffed it inside her bag after saving the unknown number in Ahmed's phone, just in case. She did not discuss her uncertainty with Ahmed or her mother. Meanwhile, Aliza was all smiles her entire travel, and Fahim kept describing all the places they came across. Fahim had caught her little antics straight away after speaking to Rabiya. He had managed to stay alert and did not blurt out anything that would give her away. Aliza later had to beg him to keep her secret and promised to cook his favourite meals after their return home. Fahim had hired a taxi for Aliza, and nobody wanted her to take public transport. After th...

Ahmed, who had just awakened, did not know that  a nightmare awaited him. Unlike every other day, Cyra was sitting at the foot end of the bed fidgeting with her fingers.  'Where are you lost, Cyra? Can I have my coffee while I get ready for the office?' But there was no reply. Ahmed held her shoulders and turned her face towards him lazily. Cyra looked tired, as if she hadn't slept, and the skin under her eyes a flaming red.  'What happened, Cyra? Is everything alright?' 'Oh, Ahmed. I am so perfect. I was worried about what your parents would say when we reached home.' 'Don't you worry about it, Cyra. I will take care.....' Ahmed stopped midway before finishing his sentence, realising what just happened. Did he just fall into her trap? He questioned himself. How did it even happen? He turned around and noticed his phone lying lifeless on the table, and he sure understood something had gone terribly wrong. 'I just meant, I...' he stumbled ...

After six weeks of her marital bliss, Cyra started noticing Ahmed's few suspicious traits that she hadn't known before. He would occasionally disappear from their room and wander the streets, even when a car was at home. Cyra and her mother insisted he uses it at his will, but he often would not. Cyra's qualms grew stronger when one day, her load truck driver said he saw Ahmed using the telephone booth on his way. Cyra, impatiently waiting for him to return because it was already late at night, only became more irritable after the driver's statement. When she inquired Ahmed regarding the same on his return, he pretended to have been talking to his office and that the call was urgent. 'Ahmed, we have a telephone at home. You can use it whenever you want to. Why do you want to use the one on the roadside?' 'Oh ho, Cyra. I had to make a call that would go on for a few minutes. And you might get important calls at home regarding your businesses. I didn't wan...

BOOK NAME: THE BEGUM AND THE DASTAN AUTHOR NAME: TARANA HUSAIN KHAN GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION  PUBLISHER: HACHETTE INDIA BOOK BUY LINK:  https://www.amazon.in/BEGUM-DASTAN-Tarana-Husain-Khan/dp/9393701628 Some books tell you stories, and then there are some books that actually speak to you and take you to the time zone and place it's based on. Throughout this book, I travelled to many places, starting from Tilism-e-Azam (a fictional land) to Sherpur in the 1800s to the present. Not only that, but in instances, I also became a part of the women in the story, including Feroza, Ameera, Lalarukh, and others held captive in Tilism-e-Azam. Ameera listens to her grandmother narrate her stories of her great-grandmother, Feroza Begum and the tales of women who lived with her. Ameera, who struggles to continue schooling because her parents are busy concentrating on maintaining their royal lineage and son's education, feels she resembles Feroza Begum in multiple ways. This book magic...

'Qubool.' 'Qubool.' Cyra and Ahmed mumbled, gazing into each other's eyes. Their marriage ceremony happened at her home several days after her mother's discharge. She learned from her neighbours and relatives what had happened but was understanding and indifferent. She loved her daughter and decided that it was best that they get married. Ahmed accepted Cyra's mother's proposal immediately, while Cyra needed to be evaded by her mother to make up her mind.  Ahmed was drowned in guilt from time to time, but he backed himself thinking even the prophets had multiple wives, and the Quran says you could have up to four wives. Clearly, he has taken only what he wanted, as every man does, while completely ignoring the Quran's other rules. He concluded that he was the reason for Cyra's grief and that it was his responsibility to resolve it. He supposed he could manage both his lives by hook or crook. He assumes himself as the saviour of Cyra and her famil...

Didn't Khaled Hosseini quote it rightly so in his book? , "A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you." Ahmed is no different. His heart wasn't like a womb or a heart anymore. It behaves like an organ that changes shape according to mood and instance. It probably had been waiting for an opportunity.  Cyra's mother was fast asleep after her ranting session with Ahmed. Cyra returned to her mother after settling the jobs at home. She could manage the mess left behind after her mother's misfortune all alone. She had made dinner for them all and brought separately packed food for each. She woke her mother up, made sure she was fed and cleaned and checked with the staff nurses if timely injections were given. Cyra was too tired herself but did not let her mother notice it. But Ahmed did. He sensed all the changes that happened with Cyra. 'You look aghast. I...