(Present)
Umar is coming the day after tomorrow," Nana suddenly said to Aliza during lunch.
Aliza almost forgot to eat.
"He's coming the day after tomorrow? Who told you that?"
Aliza asked, restless and startled.
"You were asleep then. Umar wanted to talk to you, but when I told him you were sleeping, he said not to wake you."
Nana explained in detail, and a faint smile bloomed on Aliza's lips.
"He's coming for a vacation?" she asked.
"Yes—something like that. He's leaving the Foreign Service. Said he'll be joining the Police Service within a few weeks."
Aliza's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Umar… and the Police Service? I can't believe it, Nana! Leaving such a perfect post—what will he even do here? Didn't Uncle say anything to him?"
Aliza still couldn't grasp it.
"He had some sort of argument with Jahangir. He didn't tell me much, but… they aren't talking these days."
"What's new in that? This has been going on for years."
Aliza wasn't surprised at all.
"Yes… but this time, something serious must have happened again. We'll understand once he arrives."
Nana didn't seem too worried.
"He'll stay here, right?" Aliza asked.
"Yes. He said he'll stay until he receives his posting. He asked if you or I need anything—he'll bring it along. I didn't ask for anything for myself… but I did tell him to bring some perfumes for you. He laughed when I said that."
Uninvited, a wave of old memories washed over Aliza.
"He said, 'This is nothing to ask for… how can I go before Aliza without a perfume?'
Then I told him to bring you some good books as well—especially something about painting."
Nana kept speaking, but Aliza was drifting through memories.
"You trouble him unnecessarily, Nana…"
"No, he insisted himself. Anyway, just prepare his room a bit, and clean the annex too. All his belongings will arrive soon. For now, he'll keep them here. Later, when he gets his posting, he'll take them."
Giving her instructions, Nana finished her lunch and left.
Aliza sat there for a long time, lost in thoughts that had suddenly risen to the surface.
"So… Umar Jahangir… after all this time, you are finally coming back."
A soft smile touched her face.
With that thought lingering, she got up and walked toward the room where Umar always stayed.
The moment she opened the door, something warm and magical brushed her heart.
She often visited this room, and every time, she felt as though Umar was still somewhere inside it—just out of sight.
His rocking chair seemed to sway in the same silent rhythm he used to rock it.
Every object seemed to carry a trace of him—his scent, his voice, his calm, steady words, the sudden bursts of innocent laughter.
Stepping inside felt like stepping into a living memory.
Shadows of old emotions stirred around her as if the room still breathed in his presence.
Even the fragrance that used to cling to him lingered in the air.
His small belongings were placed exactly the way he used to keep them—
as if he had left only yesterday.
She tried to recall the first time she ever stepped into this room.
She didn't have to try too hard.
She remembered everything—
the year, the date, the day, even the hour.
Some memories refuse to fade.
And she remembered clearly the day he left too—
though some memories the heart does not wish to carry.
But to her, it always felt as if he had never really left.
As if he had been here all along—at least inside this room.
Suddenly she heard the door open behind her.
She turned, startled.
"Oh… you came to see this room too. I thought I'd come check it as well."
Nana entered, scanning everything with a critical but satisfied eye.
"I think everything is fine, but still, look carefully once. I don't want him to face any inconvenience."
Saying that, Nana left the room.
Aliza walked toward the dressing table and picked up a perfume bottle.
Slowly, she opened the cap and inhaled the familiar scent.
A soft smile touched her lips again.
Another old scene flashed before her eyes.
She lifted her gaze to the mirror—
and for a moment, it felt as though another version of herself stood there,
from years ago…
and she stepped back instinctively.
She could almost feel drops of that same perfume touching her neck and hair…