Her Canvas and his grudges 🌛⛅

Peaceful, soft morning when Aleezah woke up and stood before her mirror. The chirping of birds and the sunlight slipping by the curtains felt dreamy, but not for her. As she stood up and looked into the mirror, she was lost in her thoughts, trapped in a world she could never escape. While tying her hair, her eyes drifted to a picture placed beside her books - a picture of her mother, smiling, but with a pain hidden behind her eyes. Aleezah didn't want to cry, but tears welled up on her lashes and fell as she looked at the photo.

Just then, a knock at the door broke the silence.

"Ma'am, Aleezah, Major Asim is calling you for breakfast," a voice said.

Aleezah's voice trembled as she replied,

"Uhm I am coming, just 5 minutes..."

Her voice was barely audible, a whisper of sadness.

Aleezah sat across him...eyes lowered, preparing to say that she kept for years ...

Major Asim ashfaq never talked that much in the morning ,the silence filled the house louder than the words could .

She broke the chains of silence and said!!

" Baba , why you were so cold hearted towards Ami .... have you ever loved her"........

She said that with her trembling voice.

The spoon in his hand stopped mid air . His face hardened ,the soldier in him refusing to show emotion

Major Asim said : it's enough aleezah ,

He said quietly,but the guilt flicker in his eyes .

She could probably see that .

With breaking voice she said "you don't understand what it was like for her"and "what it's like for me "

The tears welled up her eyes before she could stop them. With anger and sorrow she grabs her bag and left.....

the door slambed shut leaving silence behind , And a father holding weight of the past.

Major Asim sat on the chair. Without taking a single bite.

Then he suddenly remembered the last words of his wife .

Hina : Asim I went to the doctor today.

He replied , yeah so...

Hina : I'm diagnosed with 3rd stage Cancer....

He was left speechless, frozed for a minute ,

Hina said, Asim I've lived a happy life with you, I have no regrets or pain , I just want to say that after my death ,aleezah will be alone, I don't want her to be left behind with no one.

" Please take care of her and yourself "

These words that fell from her lips, blurred the hate for her,that was filled in Asim's heart for years,

He promised that " I'll protect her no matter what ", he said that with trembling voice and left the room.

These bitter memories that he buried in his heart started living in his heart again......

He said " I promised .... but I can't...i can't even full fill her last wish" I failed!!! Whispered that .

Aleezah ma'am we have reached, Ma'am are you listening ??

She said : ohh yeah uhm okk.....and left the car...she was still thinking about her argument with her father.. she was lost in her thoughts until someone called her!

Aleezah! How was your weekend,have you read the letter on the notice board.

Aleezah what happened seems like you're lost in something, are you okey ??......

Aleezha replied "ohh no I'm not lost I was just thinking about the letter....

Ohhh so you read that??

She said " yeah I'm so excited for the science fair this year....

She was not happy about this at all , but she had to hide it..... She was quite mature then her age every year fun activities or festival came, she never felt excited for them.

After that they went to attend the lectures meanwhile they continued their discussion.. Until

Miss asfa Bhutto came in she announced that

The school is arranging science fair and the inspection week is with the science fair next week.

That's why in this week the students will have to make the models and classes will be continued after the inspection.

Everyone was happy and excited except aleezah.

In the shadows of the city, Azaan Zafar walked through the crowded hallways of his school, a stranger to the pain who thought that emotions are a way to show anger only. As the son of the late Colonel Zafar Farooq, Azaan's life had been marked by sadness, though he himself didn't quite understand it. His father's death had left scars on his childhood, echoes of which still lingered in his heart.

Azaan was rude and dark from the very beginning but the childhood scars shaped him to be evil. But after his father's death, things had changed. People had started whispering, accusing his father of being disloyal and a traitor. They questioned his father's honesty, and Azaan's own reputation suffered because of it.

Despite the turmoil, Azaan's behavior hadn't changed. He was still arrogant, But deep down, he was struggling. The loss of his father, the weight of his family's reputation, it was all taking a toll on him.

But he never care that much about it until one day

As he made his way to class, a group of boys blocked his path. "Hey, Azaan, how's it going?" one of them sneered. "You didn't come to play pedal this weekend."

Azaan's eyes narrowed. "I was busy," he replied, his tone even.

The boys didn't move, their eyes gleaming with anger. "I heard a rumor,"

one of them said, his voice dripping with meanness.

"Your father was a traitor. He gave away secrets about Operation White Falcon."

Azaan's face darkened as the boys started mocking his father. Without a word, he punched one of the boy so hard, .That the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the hallway , but that wasn't it the group of boys stood against him and the started fighting. They were furious they could do anything. But Azan was enough for them

It took several teachers and the coach to pull Azaan off the pile, their faces red with exertion. "Boys, what are you doing?" the coach bellowed, his voice shaking with rage. "Stop this right now!"

The teachers dragged Azaan and the other boys apart, their faces bruised and battered. The principal, Mr. Nasir Iqbal, glared at them, his eyes blaming. "This was the final warning for you, Azaan," he growled. "You're suspended for a week. And as for the rest of you... I want to see your parents in my office tomorrow. You're all suspended for a week as well."

Azaan stood there, feeling a sense of awkwardness wash over him. This wasn't the first time he'd been in the principal's office, accused of getting into fights. He was used to it, almost. But this time, something felt off. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it, more to the story.

As he stood there, his mind began to wander. What had his father really done? What was Operation White Falcon? And why did people keep calling his father a traitor? The questions swirled in his head, making him feel restless.

As the other boys left Mr iqbal called Azan's mother right away.

Azaan's mother, Mrs. Zafar, walked into the principal's office, her presence commanding attention. The principal, Mr. Nasir Iqbal, greeted her with a mixture of respect and unease.

"Mrs. Zafar, thank you for coming," he said, his voice measured. "Azaan has been involved in another fight again, and I'm afraid it's becoming a recurring issue."

Mrs. Zafar's expression remained composed, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "What happened this time, Mr. Iqbal?"

As the principal explained the situation, Mrs. Zafar listened intently, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew Azaan's temper was a problem, . And the reason behind this was his father's death but she need to figure out how to control his anger.

When the principal finished speaking, Mrs. Zafar nodded thoughtfully. "I see. I'll speak with Azaan and make sure he understands the gravity of his actions."

The principal nodded, relieved. "Thank you, Mrs. Zafar. Your family's...influence is always appreciated."

Mrs. Zafar smiled, a hint of pride in her voice. "I'm sure it is, Mr. Iqbal. Now, may I speak with Azaan?"

As Azaan entered the room, his mother regarded him with a mix of concern and disappointment. "Azaan, what's going on? You're making it difficult for me to defend you."

Azaan shrugged, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I don't know, Mama. They just keep pushing me."

Mrs. Zafar sighed, her voice softening. "I know, beta. But you need to learn to control your temper. Your father's legacy...it's complicated. We can't afford to have you getting into fights and causing scandals."

Azaan's eyes snapped up, a spark of anger occurring within him. "Why not? What did he do? Why do people keep saying he's a traitor?"

Mrs. Zafar's expression froze, a warning in her eyes. "Azaan, not now. We'll discuss this at home."

As they left the school, Azaan's mind was racing with questions and doubts. What had his father really done? And why was his family still paying the price?

While sitting in the car, Azaan was fuming with anger. His mother tried to put a hand on his shoulder, but he shook it off. She looked at him with sad eyes and said, "Azaan, why are you becoming like this? Your father was never like you. He was always calm, graceful, always dignified. He would never have lost his temper like you do."

Azaan's eyes narrowed as he turned to her. "Then why is he called a traitor?" he spat. "What did he do? Why do people think so low of him? And why do we have to pay the price for it?"

His mother's expression faltered, and she looked away, her eyes clouding over with a mix of pain and worry. Azaan knew he had hit a nerve, but he didn't care. He was tired of being treated like a child, tired of being shielded from the truth. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

But the answers where not to far away they were chasing him . And they will hunt him. SOON !!

Aleezah found Miss Bhutto in the staff room, grading papers

. "Miss Bhutto?" she said softly,

and Miss Bhutto looked up, concern in her eyes.

"Aleezah, what's wrong, beta?" she asked, putting down her pen.

Aleezah took a deep breath and told her about the argument with her father, how she had said he never loved her mother, never cared for her, and how she felt trapped in a past she couldn't escape.

Miss Bhutto listened attentively, her expression understanding.

"Beta, your father loved your mother deeply,"

she said gently.

"He's just struggling to cope with his own grief, and sometimes that makes him distant. But he loves you, Aleezah, and he wants to make things right."

Aleezah's eyes welled up with tears.

"I just feel like I'm stuck, Miss Bhutto. Like I'm living in a drama I can't escape."

Miss Bhutto pulled her into a hug.

"You're not alone, Aleezah. I'm here for you, and we'll face this together. And maybe it's time you and your father had a real talk, cleared the air."

Aleezah nodded, feeling a sense of resolve. She would talk to her father, and she would make him understand.

After that Mrs Bhutto planned to meet her father because she knew things are getting messed up.

Miss Asfa Bhutto waited in the cafe, sipping her coffee. She had asked Major Asim to meet her here, and she hoped he would arrive soon.

This time she was really worried about Aleezah, because now she was an adult and she can make her decision's Mrs Bhutto was scared what if she cause harm to herself because she was being depressed day by day.

Major Asim arrived, looking a bit frazzled. "Sorry I'm late, Miss Bhutto," he said, taking a seat.

"No worries, Major Asim," Miss Bhutto replied . "I just got here myself. Thank you for agreeing to meet me."

"Of course," Major Asim said, signaling the waiter to order. "How's Aleezah doing?"

"She's struggling," Miss Bhutto said honestly. "But I think she's willing to talk to you, to try and work things out."

Major Asim nodded, a mix of emotions on his face. "I hope so, Miss Bhutto. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm losing her."

Miss Bhutto said "You're not losing her, Major Asim. She's just hurting. She needs your love and support right now."

Major Asim nodded, his eyes welling up with tears. "I'll do my best, Miss Bhutto. I promise."

As they talked, Miss Bhutto could see the pain in Major Asim's eyes, and she knew he was doing his best. She just hoped that Aleezah would give him a chance to make things right.

Every person needs someone who knows him/her so perfectly that the advise he/she gives always comforts the person and Azan never had this person.