"Umer is coming the day after tomorrow," Nano suddenly told her at lunch. She forgot to eat her food."He's coming the day after tomorrow? Who told you that?" she asked Nano restlessly."When you were sleeping at that time, he also wanted to talk to you, but when I told him you were asleep, he refused to wake you up," Nano explained in detail. A smile appeared on Alizey's face.
"Is he coming to spend his holidays?" she asked."Yes, you can take it that way. He's leaving the foreign service. He said he'll be joining the police service in a few weeks." Alizey was shocked."Umer and the police service? I can't believe it, Nano! Leaving such a good post—what will he even do here? Didn't Uncle say anything to him?" She still couldn't believe it.
"He had some quarrel with Jahangir. He didn't tell me the details, but they are not on talking terms these days.""What's new about that? This has been happening for years," Alizey truly wasn't surprised."Yes, but now they've had another fight. When he comes, we'll find out what really happened." Nano didn't seem too worried either.
"Will he be staying here?" she asked Nano."Yes, he said he'll stay here until he gets his posting. He was asking me if you or I need anything from him, something he could bring. For myself, I didn't say anything, but for you, I asked him to bring some perfumes. He laughed at that," Nano told her.
A memory stirred in Alizey's mind."He was saying, 'That's not something to request. I already know how I could face Alizey without perfumes.' Then I asked him to bring some good books for you, especially any new books about painting," Nano continued."You really shouldn't have bothered him, Nano.""Oh no, he insisted himself. Anyway, you get his room ready, and also have the annex cleaned. His belongings are coming too. For now, he'll keep them here, and once he gets his posting, he'll take them with him," Nano instructed her. Then, after finishing her lunch, she left.
Alizey sat there for a long time, lost in thought. Many memories were being refreshed in her mind."So, Umer Jahangir, at last you are coming back," she thought with a smile. Then, as something occurred to her, she stood up and went towards the room where he always stayed. As she opened the door, a delightful feeling overwhelmed her. She often came into that room to spend some time, and every time, it felt as though he were still there. His rocking chair, even when still, seemed to sway as though he had just set it in motion. Everything bore his presence. His voice seemed to echo in every corner—his calm, deep, composed tone, that soothing voice that sank into the heart, and then his spontaneous bursts of laughter. Whenever she entered his room, everything seemed to come alive. The illusion turned into an image, and the image turned into reality, circling all around her.
That familiar fragrance lingered in the room. The little things Umer used were all in their places, as if they had been put there only yesterday. She tried to recall—when had he come here the first time? She didn't have to strain her memory. She remembered very well the exact year, date, day, and time he had arrived. Some things you never want to forget. And when he had left—she remembered that too. Some things you never want to remember, yet they stay. For Alizey, from then until now, he was still here, in this room—at least for her.
She suddenly heard the sound of the door opening behind her, and she instinctively turned around."Good, you came to see this room already. I thought I should also take a look," Nano had entered. For a few moments she critically observed the room, then seemed satisfied."I think everything is fine, but still, you check everything thoroughly. I don't want him to face any discomfort here." With that, Nano left the room.
Alizey moved towards the dressing table and picked up a bottle of perfume lying there. Slowly, she removed the cap and tried to inhale the fragrance. A smile spread across her lips. Once again, an image rippled through her mind. She looked into the mirror of the dressing table. Suddenly, someone else seemed to appear there—in the very same place, years ago. She instinctively stepped back a few paces. She could almost feel a mist falling on her neck and hair.