ended and Zoha and Hoorain headed to the cafeteria.

They sat at the table by the wall. Zoha wasn't as hungry and she didn't even bring lunch from home. Hoorain bought a big bag of Lays original chips and Pepsi can. She shared it with Zoha, as they talked.

"What will Manal do this time?" Hoorain casually asked, munching on the crispy chips. "What is even wrong with her?"

"She has gone psycho. Nobody can handle her," Zoha said.

"I still can't believe your Bari ammi turned her back on you like this."

Zoha's face was expressionless, as if she was dealing with the thought in her mind.

"Now I see bari ammi wasn't always her true self in front of me. She pretended to treat me nicely."

"How awful is to be betrayed." Hoorain could sympathize with her best friend; Zoha always told her about everything.

"I feel really alone in all of this."

"Why? I am here for you." Hoorain made her realize like they just became friends. "You should have never gone back to the house."

"I didn't want to. But.."

"But?"

"I couldn't help but admit to go with Shehryaar. I really didn't like the way he forced me."

"Didn't you realize one thing?" Hoorain's hand was wrapped around the cold can of Pepsi and she looked right in Zoha's eyes.

"What?" Zoha said, almost innocently.

"He stood out for you. He... he cares about you."

"I know."

"He went against his mother you told me. It's not easy to talk loud in front of your parents. Do you know why he did that?"

Zoha didn't know what Hoorain was getting at and why did she seem serious about this all of a sudden. She stared at her best-friend with little confusion. "What do you mean?"

"He likes you. You mean something to him." Hoorain stopped talking, noticing Zoha's face go pale.

"What are you saying?" Zoha said in disblief.

"Don't take me wrong, Zoha." Hoorain put her hand on Zoha's hand across the table. "Have you ever thought about that?" She spoke softly.

"Why would I? And why are you talking like this?" Zoha was nervous at the mention of this. She didn't want to think like this. It's bad. It's bad, she said in her heart.

"I know you don't think about like this and don't want to fall in love."

Zoha interrupted her. "What? Love? Stop Hoorain. Please stop this here. I don't want to talk on this matter anymore." She breathed.

Hoorain constantly stared at her. "Okay okay. Calm down. I won't talk about this anymore. I am sorry," she said.

Zoha didn't want to look into Hoorain's eyes. She was afraid of seen wrong.

"I said I am sorry," Hoorain said.

"Do you think I think like this? Why did you say that?" Zoha was kind of mad at Hoorain.

"I didn't say you thought this way..... I just thought as you told me about it."

"Because of this wrong meanings have come out of it. I don't want anyone giving me a wrong name. Maybe you are not understanding what I am going through." Zoha was disappointed.

"I would never want to hurt you, Zoha. Try to understand."

"But do you understand me?" She looked at Hoorain.

"I do."

"Then?"

"I think it would be better if we leave this conversation here."

A small pause took place. Hoorain gulped some Pepsi and got up to throw the can. Then returned to the table. She didn't talk to Zoha.

Zoha pulled out her phone and checked the time. It was one o' ten.

"Do you want to sit outside?" Zoha asked.

Hoorain rose from the chair. She did not reply. They strolled out to the vicinity of college. It was sunny, but not too hot. The temperature was mild after the day of heavy rain. They sat on the grass, away from the direction of sun. Zoha was quiet too. She was feeling guilty and disappointed at the same time.

"Hoorain, talk to me," Zoha begged.

"What?"

"Just don't be upset," she said. "I confess I reacted... it was just not right I guess. But whatever you said wasn't easy to take in. I am already in stress. Don't know what Manal will do next."

"She can't even dare to do anything bad," Hoorain said.

"How can you be so sure? Didn't I tell you how bad she is?"

"It's crazy how she is not afraid of anyone. If my brother got angry at me, I would have been so scared. I wouldn't even think about doing anything bad the next time."

Zoha looked around the big grassy place. Some students were working with groups of two and three. There were couple of guys whose voice were heard from the slightest distance. Zoha's next class was studio art and Hoorain was with her. Since they had the same interest, they had most classes together and it was better for Zoha to have her best friend in every class, because she didn't like to talk everyone. She was more introvert.

"There was no doubt when dadi used to tell me how spoiled Manal was. She has gone out of her senses."

"How will you face her if she does something bad?"

"I don't know. I pray to Allah that she doesn't struck another disaster." Zoha was worried.

"Coming time will tell you what it brings." More than Hoorain words could help Zoha feel better, it in some sense warned her of a bad time.

"But it doesn't really affect me anymore. I feel strong somehow to face her."

"One thing is right. You are well aware of Manal's actions and her capabilities. You know how to deal with her."

Zoha nodded lightly. Her hands were resting in the middle of her lap. Only thing that was in her mind was the journal she wrote in and how Manal threatened her of next time. She couldn't take the mad face out of her head. What would Zoha do? Was she really strong enough to face her ruthless cousin? She wished she could cover her eyes and all the bad things were gone from her life.

"I am confused. I don't know what to do." Zoha felt she was stuck in this problem forever. She could never get out of it. It was inevitable. "What do you think I should do?"

"Don't overthink it. It will only increase your anxiety. Have faith in Allah and indeed he can only get you out of this problem." Hoorain gave hope.

"I think you are right. I shouldn't overthink it. Whatever will happen will happen. That's it."

Zoha fell in series of thoughts. She told herself she wouldn't drive herself crazy thinking about something that wasn't worth it. She had to put an end to this conversation and immerse herself into some other activity.

"That's the best you can do," Hoorain said.

"Yeah," Zoha said. "Last night was the best night. The most memorable. I wrote in my mother's journal. It brought a feeling that can hardly be explained in words. I was afraid what if somebody read my feelings."

"Where did you keep it?"

"In the top shelf of the wardrobe. Nobody comes in my room. And nobody knows about it."

"Then there is no need to worry."

"It's probably the most secretive thing I shared with you. No ears have ever heard of it."

******************

The car was taken in the driveway. Zoha came out and headed inside the house. She chose to go to her room first to get fresh and pray Zuhr- there were still two good hours before Asr.

When she was done praying, she opened her wardrobe and rifled through the hanging clothes. She thought to change into new ones, then go down. In the kitchen, she checked for the food. There was one pot on the stove, which she opened the lid off. Today the chicken curry was cooked. She liked all types of dishes and never complained what was cooked the one day or the other day.

Zoha noticed there was only curry, no rice. She was used to eating rice more than roti. She looked for Rumina to ask why only curry was cooked. Was everything okay?

As after searching for her, she came to realize that not only she was not at home, unexpectedly, but no one else was either. She didn't hear anyone in their rooms. She looked on second floor and even the roof. No Saliha. No Shehryaar. No Manal. And not even Rumina. Zoha was confounded to find the place empty.

She searched once again in case if she had missed someplace since it was an enormous house. Her eyes went wide with shock, and her heart started hammering. She could not understand where everyone went. How could they all leave all at once without informing. And it was hard to believe that Rumina could be this reckless, to not tell her.

Although no one was at home, Sajjid was, because he picked her up from college. But the strange part was that he didn't mention anything about this. He must had known but he kept it from her.

How could he?

What happened that they all left her alone, not bothering to even leave a note. What had gone wrong. Zoha was scared. Even terrified. Nothing made sense. She needed to know where everyone was.

Outside in the lawn, Sajjid was standing, his back turned to Zoha, hand sticking the phone against his ear. Zoha balked before climbing down the front steps and watched Sajjid. Sajjid had never talked on the phone like this before in daytime. He often spoke to his family in night when he was free.

Zoha froze and quietly listened to his conversation, though she knew it was rude to invade someone's privacy. It wasn't ordinary like other days when everyone was home. Zoha was having a bad feeling about this.

When Sajjid turned, ending the call, Zoha stepped back to be out of sight. Then as Sajjid hadn't seen her, she approached him.

"Sajjid baba, where is everyone?" Zoha asked.

Sajjid was off-guard surprised by the question. He slipped the phone in his pocket, and looked down, unamused.

"Sajjid baba, I asked you something. Where is everyone? I don't see Rumina, Bari ammi, Shehryaar. Where are they?"

Zoha anticipated to hear something this time.

"Beta, there is a bad news," Sajjid said.

"What happened?"

"Bari bibi told me not to reveal it to you. But I have no strength to hide the truth from you."

"Please tell me fast. I am already scared." Zoha was nervously impatient.

"Manal bibi got into a car accident and she is in coma."

Zoha instantly covered her mouth in astonishment. Her heart beat harder as the image of Manal in coma struck her.

"Bari bibi told that Manal bibi was driving in hurry on highway and the car went out of control. She crashed into another car. The people who witnessed the accident, from one of them, a man contacted the hospital and us at home. Right as Bari bibi was informed, she hurried to the hospital without wasting a second."

"What hospital are they at? Can you take me there? Right now." Zoha didn't know what to do, beside going there. She was shattered by this news as everyone else was in the family.

"But Bari bibi told me not to tell you. She will get angry at me when she sees you at the hospital."

"Why doesn't she want me to not know about this?"

"I don't know, beta. That only she knows. I can't take you there without informing her."

Zoha held her temples in aggravation. Why didn't Saliha want Zoha to come visit Manal and consolidate her? What was the reason? Why everyone was so against her presence? What big sin had she committed that they were punishing her for?

"I don't care what Bari ammi says," Zoha said. "Please take me to see Manal. This is not the time to care about if she would want me there or not. Please, Sajjid baba." She implored like Manal was her best friend.

"Acha acha, Zoha beta. I will take you. Sit in the car."

"Shukriya. Bohat bohat," Zoha said out of relief.

They reached the hospital in twenty minutes. Zoha somehow had kindness and sympathy for Manal though whatever she had done to her. She wanted to see in what condition Manal was in because nothing was more important than anyone's life and Zoha prayed in her heart that Manal was okay.

Sajjid instructed her how she could get to where Saliha and Shehryaar were. Zoha asked on the reception and the receptionist guided her to the second floor, ward number 212.

As soon as receptionists left, Zoha took a deep breathe before coming in front of Saliha. She knew she was disobeying her. She held her hand in hand, taking small steps, agitated. Across the ward 212 stood Saliha, crying, her head leaning on her younger sister's shoulder, Rubab, who was stroking her head, quieting her, and giving her hope that Manal would get better soon. But Saliha insisted on seeing Manal right away when doctor wasn't allowing her.

Shehryaar was standing against the wall, one arm across his chest, and the other hand holding the tip of his chin, looking solemn. His gaze was transfixed at the tiled floor of the corridor. Beside him were Umair and Faiza, overtaken by distress.

Zoha gathered her courage and went to them to show that she was deeply struck by Manal's accident. But as Saliha's bloodshot, tears eyes darted up to Zoha, she formed a tight first.

"Why have you come here?" Saliha raged. "Who brought you?"

Shehryaar's attention rose to Zoha and he was surprised to see her.

"What have you come to see? The condition my poor daughter is in is because of you. You stole all her happiness." Saliha behaved emotionally.

The fire of hatred was burning in Rubab's eyes too. It seemed that she couldn't tolerate Zoha after what happened to Manal. Faiza looked at her with the same discontent. Zoha was encumbered by all the disgusted stares of them. She couldn't raise her eyes to look into anyone's eyes, except Shehryaar's, who appeared as the only sympathetic person towards her. He had the innocence and softness in his countenance that explained the story of his unspoken heart.

"Mummy, please," Shehryaar said, coming over to calm Saliha. "This is not the time to say these things."

"She has always been the one to eat all my poor girl's happiness and devastate her life. You must be so happy that this happened to her." Saliha spoke impolitely to Zoha.

"Mummy." Shehryaar attempted to stop. He put hand on Saliha's shoulder to stop her from coming towards Zoha.

"Since you couldn't do anything you caused the siblings to fight against each other and made them their enemy. And now my Manal is fighting the life and death in coma. Shame on you, Zoha, for lighting this fire in our house. What did you want out of all of this? Huh? What?"

Zoha's eyes teared. Saliha was shooting her bitter words at Zoha like bullets, injuring her from inside. She couldn't stand being stared by everyone in the face. It was the most humiliating moment for her. She looked at Saliha, pathetic and hurtfully, eyes glistening with water, but couldn't even come to utter a word in her own defense.

"Please, mummy, stop this," Shehryaar said. "Why are you blaming Zoha for something she hasn't done. For god's sake stop making this scene in the hospital."

"Shehryaar, you don't understand this. She has always been the enemy of our happiness." Saliha told on Zoha.

"Why are you keep bringing this happiness. What crime has she committed that you are after her in front of everyone. I will say it again, please. For god's sake." Shehryaar begged, joining hands. Everyone was looking at him.

"You don't see what condition your sister is in? You have no empathy for her? You are still supporting someone who is the cause of all this?" Saliha shifted her gaze at Shehryaar, piercing a look at him.

"When did I say that I don't have empathy for Manal? I just said to stop making a scene in the hospital. That's all."

Faiza was noticing the way Shehryaar was supportive of Zoha in front of everyone.

Zoha didn't stay one more minute there and left, greatly upset. She began to cry as soon as she came out of the hospital building.

How could Saliha blatantly offend her in front of everyone. Was this what she thought of Zoha all those times when Zoha was too small to understand the difference between love and hate. Did she ever saw Zoha as her daughter.

Zoha now wished she had never come to see Manal. She sobbed, standing in the parking lot.