Chapter 18

• Hira's POV:
• “Hira, are you really alright?” Hassan asked me for the seventh time.
• “Yes.” And I answered him for the seventh time, looking nostalgically at my old house where I used to live with my parents.  My childhood memories start flashing back in my head, especially the one when we were about to move from this house. Baba rented this house after Ami’s death and now our house has become the home of others. 
• “Hira...” Hassan called out for me in a defeated way. 
• “Sorry. I am fine now. Could you drop me back home?” I said from the back seat of his car.
• “Sure.” He said and starts the car. 
• A heavy silence covers the atmosphere of the car, which was later broken by Hassan’s voice.
• “You should probably inform Zulqarnain.” Hassan said and throws his phone to the back seat. I texted Zulqarnain from Hassan’s phone that I am going with Hassan and he will drop me home. I know it wasn’t the right thing to do, yet I couldn’t show my weak form to him too. My tears were not stopping and I don’t want anyone to see my crying face or hear my sombre voice.
• I am not used to crying in front of anyone except Saba because whenever I cried as a kid, my mother had always said to me that my tears hurt her. But my classmates said that I look so ugly that she couldn’t stand watching me crying. Since then, I wouldn’t cry in front of anyone. I got perceived as a cold-hearted, emotionless person and I’ve possibly become one too. Then why, why do I get all teary in remembering Baba and Ami?
• Not long after sending the text, I got startled by the sudden vibration and ringing of Hassan’s phone. 
• “Hello, Assalam o Alaikum.” I answered, regaining my composure, but only received a silent response.
• “Hello?” I said again when I couldn’t hear from the other side.
• “Where are you now?” Zulqarnain asked in a grim voice.
• “Not far from your house.”
• “How long will it take you to reach here? I am standing near our house gate, waiting for you.”
• “Um… you don’t have to wait for me. Go inside.”
• “And tell my family that I sent her with a male friend when she was entrusted to me?” His reasoning left me speechless.
• “Okay, I am coming.”  I said.
• “I am waiting. Allah Hafiz.”  He replied.
• “Allah Hafiz.” I mumbled and end the call.
• “So... shall we move?” Hassan asked, taking back his phone and I nodded.
• Throughout the ride to Zulqarrnain’s house, Hassan kept irritating me to eat something and I refuse each time. Right now, the only thing I want is to get into my room and cry my heart out. 
• “Thanks for the ride. Allah Hafiz.” I said to Hassan when I was about to get off from the car.
• “Don’t torture yourself. Eat something. Ignoring meal won’t do any good, especially when you just came back from the hospital. I will call you later.” I nodded, mumbling Allah Hafiz and step out.  
• As soon as Zulqarnain sees me, he also got out of the car and silently opens the passenger seat door for me. After leaving him, I wasn’t expecting to see him again tonight but now it really feels awkward to face him and I have no idea how to answer him if he inquires about the reason of leaving. 
• Keeping my gaze low, I slid inside the car without saying a word. Zulqarnain closes the door with full force, perhaps to show that he is mad. He strides towards the driver seat and does the same abuse to his car door after getting in. He sat straight, staring onto the street before him but didn’t start the car. 
• I clear my throat, hoping that he would get the signal and start the car because we are still on the same spot for the last ten minutes.  His gave me a brief glance, before grabbing something from the back seat and putting it onto my lap.
• “Eat it.” He ordered.
• I open the small box on my lap and my eyes widened upon seeing a zinger burger.
• No way…!
• “Um…thanks for buying it, but I already had dinner with Hassan.” I said, looking at him. He clenched his jaws tight and shows me his phone. 
• I curse under my breath after reading Hassan’s text stating I hadn’t eaten anything.
• Traitor…
• “Yar, I am not hungry.” I said to Zulqarnain.
• “We aren’t going home until you eat it.” He said, staring into space.
• “What? ....What kind of condition is that?”
• “I don’t know and I am in no mood to want to know. Now, eat it silently and we will go home.” He leans back against his seat in a comfortable position.
• “And what if I won’t eat it?” I raised my eyes. 
• “I won’t mind staying here all night.”
• Eh…?
• “Have you lost your mind?”
• “Yes. Now eat it.” 
• I glance at the burger and feel my stomach grumbling.
• Maybe I should eat it…
• “Where is your burger?” I asked him.
• “I already ate dinner.”
• “Oh! Where?”
• “Where you left me.”  
• “I see… What did you eat?”  
• “Prawns.” 
• “Un-cooked?” 
• “NO.” he frowned at me.
• “Then what?”
• “I ate prawn biryani.”
• “Oh! ...with a cold drink?” 
• “Yes”
• “Which one?”
• “Why are you asking so much?”
• “I am trying to see how far you are good with lies. You didn’t eat anything, Hero. Because you were angry.”
• “Are you implying that I didn’t eat because I was angry at you...? Please... Why would I starve myself for you?” He scoffed.
• “They don’t serve Prawn Biryani, Hero.” I smiled looking into his eyes and he quickly averts his gaze.
• I Won!
• With the same smile on my face, I somehow manage to divide the burger into two pieces.
• “Sharing is caring.” I said, giving half of my burger to him.
• He stared at the burger in my hand for a while, before opening his mouth.
• Eh…?
• I was taken aback by his attitude and quickly pull my hand back.
• “What? I thought friends are supposed to care for each other.” He said with a grin.
• Idiot…!
• I put the box on his lap and said, “Owqaat main rahye hazrat (stay in your limits, Mr.)”. And start eating the portion that is in my hand. He released a dramatic sigh and start eating.
• Drama….!
• ~*~
• We got home quite late, so I directly made my way to my floor when I found out that Auntie and Uncle are also not at home. After changing my dress, I began twiddling with the mobile that Zulqarnain gave me. Unconsciously, I tap on the gallery and found it empty as it should be.
• What else could there be...?
• I sigh and got up for Namaz. After praying, I lie down on the bed and start to stare at the ceiling. Slowly, my eyes got teary again in remembering Baba. I now realize how strong his arms are whenever they embrace me while I’m crying. How solid that chest of his was, where I’d put my head on and used to be afraid upon hearing his weak heartbeats. He was like a roof to protect me from scorching heat of life. And now, that roof is gone, never to come back, leaving his fairy doll alone.
• I got startled and quickly wipe away my tears on hearing footsteps going up.
• Who could it be...?
• I frown and wondered, and soon got the answer when the person stumbled upon something and fell with a loud hiss.
• Ahmar...?
• What's he doing so late...?
• Without realizing, I left my room and follow him without making a sound. Reaching on the rooftop, I smelt something musty. Like... a cigarette?
• No way! He smokes???
• And suddenly, the teacher in me took over and I found myself charging towards him. 
• "Does your family know that you smoke?" He jumped on hearing my voice and dropped his cigarette. I lower my gaze at the cigarette on the floor and he abruptly stomps his foot on it.
• "Why are you here?" He asked gruffly.
• "Spying on you." He didn't answer me instantly but resumes asking after a moment of silence.
• "You were crying?" 
• "Huh? ...No." I was taken aback by his question.
• "But your voice is saying otherwise." 
• "I wasn't, and even if I were crying, why does it concern you?" I asked like a child.
• "You are behaving like a child." He said and I roll my eyes.
• "If my smoking concerns you, then yes I can be concerned with your crying." He folded his arms on his chest.
• "Why the sudden care? If I remember correctly, you don't like me." I said.
• "Means, you were crying." He nodded his head, completely ignoring me.
• "Listen Ahmar, I wasn't crying and you should go to bed now, and I won’t see you smoking again." I said firmly and turn to leave, but my way is quickly blocked by Ahmar.
• "So, you weren't crying? ...Then whose sobs had I been hearing earlier?" He said in the same firm voice like mine.
• "How would I know." 
• "And the sound of someone calling out for 'Baba'?"
• I called out his name so loudly???
• Once again, my vision has started to blur.
• "Step aside, Ahmar. I need to go."  I said, trying to control myself. I know if I don't go back now, I will fall apart, right here, right now. The emotional turmoil in me is making me weak.
• "You need to go so you can cry more? ....Listen, before you go, I want to apologize to you, on behalf of the four of us. Because of us, you lost your phone, along with the last picture of your Baba-" He didn't stop there but I became deaf, as my head started spinning and my legs start shaking.
• I try to reach out for something to hold but couldn't find any support to steady myself and then, I hit the ground.
• ~*~
• Ahmar's POV:
• My eyes went wide when she slumped down on the floor and her numb form starts to make me panic. I called out her name many times but she didn't respond, I tried to shake her but couldn't gather the courage to touch her. It's not like I've never touched girls before, I’ve had many girlfriends. We might have not done anything wrong, but touching wasn't a big deal to me.
• But her?
• I just couldn't...
• I shook my head and quickly call Tahir.
• "Bhonko? (Bark)" I hear Tahir's amused tone.
• "Oye, she collapsed." I said in a rush.
• "Who?"
• "The teacher yar, Miss Hira." 
• "WHAT? ....What did you do to her?"
• "What would I do to her?" I said in irritation and tell him the whole situation.
• "Oh! Pour some water on her." He suggested.
• "I can't leave her alone like this."
• "Oh, yeah right. Then cheer her up. Try singing."
• "Have you lost your mind?" I nearly shouted at him.
• "Oye! Do what I say or think of something on your own."
• I looked at her and said, "What should I sing?" 
• "Just hum something good." He said and hung up.
• Ghada (donkey)...
• I couldn’t think of any good songs and ended up humming to 'Chasing Cars' 
• I stopped as soon as I realize this song could not lift up her mood. A light tug on my shirt turns my attention to her, whose eyes are staring into space as she said, "What song was that?"
• "Chasing Cars." I answered, looking at her somewhat pale face.
• "Can you.... sing?" Her voice barely came out from the throat because of tears.
• "Hyn? ....Alright." I said and slowly start singing as I watch her carefully.
• Her tears start to flow more than before, and I change my position uncomfortably but didn't stop singing.
• By the time I end the song, she was crying hard with her hands on the ground before her, carrying the weight of her body. She looks pitiful but what am I supposed to do?
• Sitting beside her on the floor, I kept stealing glances of the crying girl beside me and sigh every time. This process kept repeating until I saw my brother striding towards us with a small water bottle in his hand.
• He stood by her side and stares at her for a few moments before putting the bottle on her head. On the other hand, she stops crying as soon as she notices his presence.
• "Dad and Ami are back. They are calling you." My brother said to me.
• "Couldn't you find a better lie?" I scoffed and say.
• "Why would I lie to you?" I look at the girl sitting between us and raise my head to him.
• He rolls his eyes and said, "Go."
• "No." I answered.
• "They are waiting."  
• "Fine... Teacher, you should go to your room too." I said politely to her and got up.
• "She will go back whenever she wants."
• Oh... Someone looks angry.
• I was about to say something but was beaten by a feminine voice.
• "Would you two just shut up for now?"
• ______________________________________