Chapter 242

The attempt at normalcy was almost painful to witness, the forced cheerfulness of the women as they tried to bridge the chasm that had opened up between them. Roshanay could see the effort it took for each of them to maintain the facade, to pretend that everything was fine, that the news of Alizeh’s pregnancy was just another piece of happy family gossip. But the tension beneath the surface was undeniable, a crack in the carefully constructed facade that threatened to shatter at any moment.

Burhan, meanwhile, sat with a quiet composure, his usual easy demeanor replaced by a measured stillness, aware of the shifting dynamics at the table. He noticed Roshanay’s discomfort under Moosa’s unwavering gaze and, with a subtle tilt of his head, looked toward his sister, Alizeh, who had deliberately avoided Moosa’s eyes entirely. Her own eyes were fixed on her plate, moving slowly, carefully, almost ritualistically with each bite, as if to ground herself amidst the storm of emotions.