Work Text:
Harleen could still remember the feeling of being mutilated. The feeling of their perverse hands on her body. STOP! The feeling of nothingness when her senses dulled— when she succumbed to death. Sounds fading into a hollow echo. Her vision going completely dark. She remembers it like it was yesterday.
She remembers looking over her mother and sister in a spirt form. Remembers how Jaskirat took revenge. She remembers seeing his sacrifice. When he became Hamza. His life in Lyari. His happiness despite the dangerous situation he was in — with little Faizal, Ulfat bhabhi, Rehman bhai, the gang, Uzair. She saw the turning point of this relationship he built with them. Saw 26/11. Saw the bastards who raised hell in her desh. Saw him plan like an expert strategist. He became a slow poison—subtle, patient, and relentless.
She remembers her nephews — her siblings’ children. She saw the person Pinda became — so much like his father. She saw Pinda’s death. Aalam bhai’s death. Hamza’s broken marriage. His torture at the hands of the ISI. She remembers that man Uzair — who became her brother’s ultimate scapegoat. She remembers her mother and sister healing from loss. She remembers her brother finally going home only for him to turn away at the last second.
She remembers feeling sorrow, that her family turned out so broken.
She doesn’t, however, remember when she stopped feeling scared. Doesn’t remember when she started to forget those men. She remembers like it was yesterday; there’s no way she could forget. No matter how much she tries. But she doesn’t remember when her feelings just stopped. When she became so inconsequential. Maybe it because of all the things she saw while with Hamza. Despite the shivers that go her spine when she thinks about her assault and death. Despite her shaky hands. She knew it could be worse. No, what happened to her was truly disgusting and tragic — over land those people took everything from her and her family. Her fauji little brother went through much worse things. Despite forgetting so much — not really, it was never going to happen. She would never forget. Whether it’d be what happened to her, to her family, or what her baby brother went through. NEVER. She doesn’t remember why she’s back here again taking a family photo with her much alive father, happy mother, trauma free siblings, and sober soon to be brother-in-law.
She drops the playful smile she has as bumps into her brother. Strange flashes of light appear before her eyes. She feels her vision darken. Before she could process anything she finds herself falling backwards. The last thing she saw before fainting was the shocked face of her brother (Hamza) Jaskirat who had grabbed her arm on instinct.