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Standing with constructors in the premises of the new school that was yet to be built, he was explaining everything to Arham when his gaze fell on a restless Safa waving her hand at him to catch his attention from where she was hiding behind a pillar.

He scrunched his eyes in a questioning look.

"Come here!" She mouthed, beckoning him.

He shook his head in annoyance before getting engrossed in the conversation again.

Waving both her hands, she again called for his attention. He looked at her from the corner of his eyes before resuming back, ignoring her. Her nose flared as she shot him a disdainful glance before shouting.

"Excuse me, sir. I need to talk to you."

All heads turned towards her as she stood there with her head held high as if she were the boss and they her workers.

"You can see I'm busy. I'm sure whatever you have to say, it can wait."

"No, it can't," she retreated with a flaring nose while Arham suppressed a chuckle at the interesting creature in front of him.

Excusing himself, he strolled towards her with sharp expressions as mellow rays of sun smoldered his stubbled face.

"What?" His coat hanging on his arm.

"Why the fuck is that clown of yours here and why the hell are you dressed as if it's your Walima (reception)?" She surveyed him from his coifed hair to his shinny shoes. "Are you going somewhere?" She squinted.

"Ms. Hayat, this is not your home where you can blatantly bring your colourful vocabulary into use. It's a public place. At least, show some manners."

"Mr. Azlan Shehryar," she folded her arms on her chest. "This is not your school where you can lecture anyone you want. It's a public place. At least, keep your speeches to yourself."

He threw his hands up in surrender. Arguing with this woman was not his cup of tea. Or anyone's for that matter.

"Now give me my answers."

He huffed in exasperation as he ruffled his hand through his gelled hair.

"Arham is here to look after the construction."

"Why? You tired already?" She sneered with a derisive look. He ignored.

"I'm taking Ayyan to the city for a checkup. The hospital here is not well facilitated to run proper tests. And as far as this dress is concerned, I'm a CEO in case you've forgotten. While my right hand is here, I'll have to take care of everything on my own there."

"And you did not even have the courtesy to inform me, you douche!" She seethed.

"I don't think I need your permission to run my business."

"I'm talking about Ayyan, you narcissist! How're you gonna take him, anyway? His Dracula of a father will never let you do that." She wasn't mocking or anything. She was actually concerned because what could be better than getting Ayyan the treatment he needed?

"He's not in village for a week. Mansha told me." He divulged before strolling ahead to receive the call he got.

"DO NOT FORGET TO INFORM ME ABOUT THE REPORTS!" She yelled after him and he turned his head a bit in okay, as she prayed to Almighty for Ayyan's health.

******

"I swear I'm gonna kill you in cold blood, you bish! Where did you hide my phone this time?" Flopped in the couch, she rummaged through her purse in search for her phone with the help of its torchlight. Typical Safa!

"It's in your hand." A familiar male voice intruded her session of tantrums and she shot up with ire bulging on her glistening face.

"YOU!" She hissed. "What the hell are you doing in my house, you liar?" She flashed her phone in front of him like a machete.

"I invited him over for lunch," Asmara intervened as she walked inside, putting her bag on the side table.

"Why? He's a liar!" She gave him a disgusting look and Asmara shook her head before putting the water in the kettle for tea.

"When did I ever lie?"

"You lied about your identity. You told me you were an architect and tricked me into saying all those things about that Dracula."

"Correction: I did not lie. You assumed it yourself. And you yourself described him in such a beautiful manner like you're doing just right now. Man, even he laughed at such delightful endearments."

Her eyes dilated to full extent as she gawked at him. "You told him?"

"Of course, I did. He's my best friend." He shrugged as if it was nothing while her heart came up to her throat.

"Relax, I was kidding!" He laughed on seeing her scarlet face. "But look at your face. It has turned into a tomato. Literally."

She sighed in content before launching at him again. "Arham Nawaz, I swear I'll strangle you to death if you ever dare to scare me like that again." Her teeth clenched as she punched him on the bicep and he owed.

"Madwoman!"

"That I am." Her lips stretched into a narcissistic smile.

******

Since the moment Azlan had told her about Ayyan's father being out of town, she had been getting worried about Mansha being home alone. So she packed her and Mansha's lunch, deciding to have it with her.

"There was no need to bring food. I've already cooked daal chawal for myself." The locks of her freshly washed wet chocolaty hair fell over her shoulders as she asked Safa to sit.

"Wow. You know how to cook? That's great!" Safa said with both surprise and rue. She was just thirteen and the entire burden of household was on her frail shoulders.

"Of course, I do!" She drawled with a bit of poignancy. Her face was masked with lines of domestic work and violence, making her look older beyond her age. Safa's heart clenched.

"So, how much have you studied?" She asked as she stood up to bring plates and spoons from the kitchen.

"Study?" A confused look descended on her gruesome face, her brown eyes somber.

Safa nodded as she arranged the table.

"A woman only belongs to kitchen, not education." She chuckled humorlessly and a bitter pain rolled down Safa's spine.

"Where did you learn that from? You need to keep a balance in life. A woman can both look after her home and build her career if she wants to and is determined. I mean look at me." She put the jug in the center and asked her to join her.

"Par, aap tou barey log hain na."

(But you're high people.) She flopped on the chair from across Safa.

"There's nothing such as high and low," clasping her hand on Mansha's, she said. "We all are humans and there's nothing a human mind can't do. You can join the school if you want."

"It doesn't matter what I want." She snorted. "Aba decides everything."

An unsaid and unheard scream roared inside every nook of Safa's body. She couldn't stand another life getting ruined due to the imposed decisions of the people related to it. Just because he was her father, didn't mean he had the right to resist her from accessing her basic and moral rights. Rather, it was his responsibility. As father, it was his duty to provide his children their rights and if he couldn't do that, she would.

"I'll bring your uniform and books tomorrow. If you want to study, you should." She cupped her face in a motherly embrace.

"But what about Aba?" The scared countenance of hers clearly reflected her inner havoc.

"I'll talk to him." She assured. "And besides, he isn't here for a week so you're free anyway."

"Thank you so much!" She hugged Safa as her eyes pricked with salty tears of happiness for she was finally embarking on a journey she had always dreamt of. "I won't give you a hard time. I already know how to read and write," she chirped as she pulled away.

"You do?" She asked in amazement.

"Yep. Ayyan would teach me whatever he'd study in school everyday." She chortled. But soon succumbed to despondency. "He's gonna be alright, right?" Her eyes glimmering with lost hope.

Heaving a long deep sigh, she chapped her lips. "I don't know. We can only pray. But we have to be ready for anything. We have to be strong, alright?" She was her only ray of hope but she didn't want to give her any false hope because they only add more to the pain if they don't work out. She needed her to be strong. To be prepared for any complication. Anything that could happen.

******