Pandrah Din

Andar / Bahar. Mohalla Chaudhrian. Pandrah din, ek ke baad ek.

Pehle din mohalla khamosh tha. Doosre din log salaam karne lage. Teesre din salaam thoda lamba ho gaya — aur chauthe din se sawal shuru ho gaye, jo dar-asal salaam ki asli shakal thi.

Zubaida ne ginna shuru kiya. Chaar log jinhone madad ki thi. Nau log jinhone raaye di thi. Aur ek aurat jo roz subah bina kuch kahe uske darwaze par doodh rakh jaati thi, aur jiska naam usay aaj tak nahin pata.

Zubaida

Main jeet gayi hoon. Yeh baat sab jaante hain. Bas yeh koi nahin jaanta ke jeetne ke baad kahan rehna hai.