dialing number on the phone when Zoha came out of the study room. Looking at the serious look on her face, Zoha swallowed a lump in her throat.

What happened to Bari ammi? She thought.

Pretending not to know about anything, Zoha walked past Saliha to the kitchen. She pulled out a glass from the cabinet and poured cold water in it. While drinking, she heard Saliha's voice from the living room. Placing the glass down on the counter, she quietly listened. It sounded like Saliha was talking to Rubab- the way she mentioned her by saying kaisi ho? Zoha's heart fluttered like a feather in the wind.

Did Bari ammi called to talk about the proposal? she thought. What will she say?

Her hands became fidgety and sweaty. She kept her ear open to absorb the talk on the phone.

"How are you?" Saliha said. Her tone of the voice was rather calm as if she wasn't worried at all.

"It's been a while since we last spoke so I thought to call. How's everything?"

Zoha was nervous. She finished drinking water and put away the glass. Then stood there by the sink.

"Haan, Manal is better. Her therapy is going fine," Saliha responded.

Probably she is not going to talk about it today, Zoha assumed. She bit on her nail and thought. I shouldn't have to do anything with it. Nobody has involved me, then what am I afraid of?

"Zafar has come to Pakistan. Poor him, he has so much responsibility. It would have been if he had established his business here. But now what can be done. Manal is happy that he is here. They both spend good time together."

Zoha waited and listened if Saliha was going to touch upon the proposal's topic. She was sucked into the conversation. Her hand rested on the counter, eyes casted on the floor.

"I don't know what she is doing. Haven't checked on her." She was still talking about Manal.

"Want to talk to her?" There was a long pause after that. Zoha froze. She held her breath, anticipating. Then silence broke. "Wait let me see first."

Saliha got up and her footsteps followed Manal's room. "I am going there to see," she said on the way.

Zoha released her breath, gasping. Saliha wasn't going to talk about it. At least not today. But it would soon be. Zoha sighed. She turned around, washed her hand and dabbed it off the edge of dupatta.

A wind of surprise knocked the life out of her when suddenly Shehryaar came out of nowhere. Zoha's heart beat rapidly. Her eyes went wider. She didn't expect him to come like this and shock her- even though he didn't mean to. Her hand went over her chest.

"What happened?" he asked, surprised himself.

"No-nothing," Zoha stammered. "It was just you suddenly came."

When she looked, she found him staring at her, like he never saw her before.

Did he realize that I was eavesdropping on Bari ammi? Zoha thought.

"Di-did you want something?" she asked, nervous. His eyes were still planted on her. "Why are you looking at me like tha-" she trailed off.

"Did something happen? Like you were more than scared," he said, suspiciously.

"What happened?" Zoha said, pretending. "Kiya kuch hua hai?"

Shehryaar thought, as if the matter was serious, then withdrew his gaze. "Nothing," he dismissed off.

Zoha realized there was nothing to do in kitchen, so she started to leave.

"Can you do one thing for me?" Shehryaar said as she moved past her. "If you don't mind?" He sounded relaxed.

Zoha stopped and looked at him. Today he looks in a better mood, she thought. Is this niceness only with me or also-

"Do you mind?" he repeated, when there was no response from her.

"What is the favor?"

"I really liked the tea you made the other day. Can you make one cup for me. Please?"

Zoha considered it, then hesitantly went and pulled out a small pot from the bottom cabinet. Filled it with some water and placed it on the stove. While working, she glimpsed in the back. He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded. She flamed the burner, added tea and sugar in the water.

"Were you busy doing something?" Shehryaar said.

"Kuch khaas nahi," (nothing much important) Zoha said. She stood by the stove.

For a while there was no talking between them. Shehryaar was quietly watching. Zoha frequently looked and he always smiled at her.

"You know what I was thinking about?" he said. "The black color you are wearing suits you a lot. Actually not only black but all the dark colors look good on you."

Zoha looked at her clothes, as if she forgot what she was wearing today.

"It brings that charm," he added.

In return, Zoha stayed quiet. She didn't even thank him. He just looked at her and gave another smile. She turned around and faced the stove. The hot, blackish liquid in the pot simmered, tiny bubbles were popping. She increased the flame so it could cook faster.

Half of her mind was on the proposal and half on the tea. From days she was thinking about talking to Shehryaar and now that he was here, she was quiet and nervous. The anxiety boiled inside her.

Shehryaar came toward her and leaned by the countertop, in the same manner.

"Sorry I made you stay in the kitchen for longer," he said.

Zoha's eyes were on the tea pot. Her heart beat was getting tenser and tenser. She could feel her ears nearly block.

"Kiya hua?" (what happened) Shehryaar said.

Zoha ignored the distraction of his voice. Her eyes were rooted on the bubbling tea.

"Hello?" Shehryaar said. "Are you listening?" He chuckled. But Zoha didn't answer. "Zoha?" He noticed. "Are you-"

"Please don't tell anyone that you like me." Zoha blurted.

Shehryaar was puzzled in one shot.

"You were going to tell that to Bari ammi and baray abu, right?" she said.

"Zoha, when?" Shehryaar said. "I didn't say anything yet."

"Yet? So you were about to tell them anytime soon?"

"Tum Kiya chati ho?" (what do you want?)

Suddenly the tea started to overflow. Zoha lowered the flame and hurried to the fridge for the milk.

"Aapko bilkul zaroorat nahi hai Bari ammi aur baray Abu ko koi baat batanay ki." (there is no need of telling anything to baray Abu and Bari ammi)

"But why? Pasand karna gunna thori na hai." (It's not a sin to like someone)

"I don't want there to be any problem." Zoha poured the milk in the tea. The color turned lighter. "I know everyone is upset because you said that you don't like Faiza."

"Who told you that?"

"If someone tells me or not, I know it."

"Look at me. Here." Shehryaar held the sides of her shoulders. Zoha forced herself to look into his light brownish eyes. "Kiya tum mujhe pasand nahi karti?" (don't you like me?) he said.

"Mein nahi chati woh huay jo ho raha hai." (I just don't want what is happening)

"Mummy and daddy can handle it. Since mummy knows that I don't like Faiza, she won't let this happen."

"You really think so?"

"She is my mother. My happiness is her happiness."

Zoha couldn't easily believe it. Perhaps Shehryaar didn't know the other side of Saliha. Who she truly appeared to him, wasn't who she was.

"If Bari ammi loves you so much then why did she force you with Faiza?"

"Zoha, that was her mistake," Shehryaar said. "She never knew this. Try to understand." He sounded slightly irritated.

Zoha filled a cup of tea and put it on the counter for him.

"Hiding won't help. Let this be dealt for once. Mein promise karta hoon kay koi tumney kuch nahi kahay ga." (I promise that nobody will say anything to you)

Zoha minded the tone he spoke in earlier. It was as if he was blaming her somehow.

"Your tea." She gave it to him.

Shehryaar released her shoulders and took the cup. "Thank you."

Zoha refused to look at him. She was upset. Putting the pot in the sink for the wash, she abandoned the kitchen. Not once she turned around to look back.

Most of the afternoon, Zoha sat on the floor by the bed, closer to the window. She laid her head on her knees, fingers fumbling with the tail of the dupatta.

'Zoha, that was her mistake. She never knew this. Try to understand.'

Shehryaar's voice bounced around in her ear. For the first time ever that he spoke that way. She took his words to heart.

'Zoha, that was her mistake. She never knew this. Try to understand.'

She closed her eyes. When she opened them, a droplet of tear sparkled on her cheekbone.

He said it so irritatedly. Maybe he is tired of hiding things, she thought, mopping her tear. Then okay. Do what you want to do. I won't ever speak about it to you.

Disappointed, she got up from the floor. Her back ached from sitting against the solid tailboard of bed. She went to the bathroom, washed her face, then fixed her hair in front of the mirror. She noticed her black clothes, printed with purple and white floral pattern. It carried her mind to what Shehryaar said, it brings that charm. Did it really? She never felt she looked any different in this color. She was that same girl with simple, decent look. Nothing was charming about her. Nothing.

She ran the comb down the long, dark brown hair. Her eyes were on her reflection in the mirror. She looked at herself as if it was someone else looking back at her. No. This is Zoha, she said in her heart. I have always been the same, old, sad girl. There is nothing new, nothing charming about me.

She gathered her hair in a tier and placed back the comb on the dressing table. The wall clock above showed 5:20pm- the sun outside was still blazing bright in the horizon. She squirted some lotion in her palm and spread it all over her arm.

In the evening, Zoha thought to see Manal. It would make her happy. Now she was no more the same rude girl. Zoha liked her company.

When she went into Manal's room, she saw Manal sitting back in the bed, a book opened in front of her. Her focus slid from the words on the page to Zoha who closed the door after coming in.

"Zoha?" Manal was little surprised. She closed the book and put it aside. "Today you are in my room?"

"What were you doing?"

"I was... reading a book." Manal looked at her book. "Bas aise hi." (Just as)

"Never knew you liked reading."

"Not much."

Zoha went and sat on the bed near Manal's legs. "Did you get to go outside... like lawn?"

"No. Today Shehryaar bhai didn't come to meet otherwise he takes me out sometimes."

"Oh." Zoha thought. "Do you want to go? I can take you."

Manal looked at Zoha. "Really?"

"Yes. You might be bored sitting in the room."

"Can you help me?" Manal flipped aside the cover. "First bring the wheelchair. I can't balance much yet."

Zoha brought the wheelchair close to the bed and obliged Manal into it. It was kind of hard but slowly she managed it. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah.. yeah I am good." She assured, although there was a pinch of pain in the creases of her eyes.

"Sorry, Manal, if it caused-"

"No it's okay."

Zoha drove her outside to the lawn. It was nice and sunny. They sat there and talked.

"Is khulay aasman ko dekh kar yeh mehsoos hota hai Kay mein... jaisey pingray say nikal aye hoon. Ek naya sama dekhno ko milta hai," (looking at the wide open sky makes me think that I have stepped out of the cage. I get to see a new view) Manal said, noticing the sky and the yellowish and pinkish hues across it. Her eyes shone with genuine satisfaction. "Agar raat na hoti to mein hamesha yahein bheti rehty, khulay aasman ko dekhti rehty." (If night didn't exist I would have sat here forever under this open sky)

Zoha watched her, sitting on the lawn chair. She saw how beautiful and soothing Manal sounded when she spoke such way. Her words felt like warm coat around cold body.

"Ek sukooni hai is hawa mein jo mein nay aaj say pheley kabhi itnay kareeb say mehsoos nahi ki." (there is this peace in this breeze that I have never felt closely before) Manal said in placid tone. She seemed lost somewhere else, keep looking at the sky. "Shaam bohat pyari hoti hai." (Evening is lovely)

"Sahi khe rahi ho," Zoha said. (You are right)

Manal, then, looked at her. "Sometimes I used to go on a long drives with Faiza without telling mummy. I miss those moments. Everything used to be okay. But-" she stopped, as if someone intervened her thoughts.

Zoha waited for her to continue on.

"But I never did the right thing. Mummy kept telling me that I shouldn't do this, shouldn't do that. I never listened to her. I did what I wanted to do."

"Maybe you never understood your mummy the way you should have."

"I can't believe I never listened to her. She was after me all the time. Stopping me from doing the wrong things. But I didn't care." There was a sign of regret on her face, that kept deepening into her skin. "And now whatever has happened is because of me. It's no one's fault. I am the one who did this to herself."

Zoha quietly listened. There was a pause from Manal, pulled away by the string of thoughts.

"Perhaps this was to happen," Manal said.

"Often times until we don't feel it, we don't understand it. It's human nature," Zoha said.

"Mera paas sab kuch honay Kay bawajood kuch kami hai. (Despite having everything I am lacking something) I have legs but they are useless."

"Don't be hopeless. Have hope of a better future. Doctors have said that this won't be like this forever. Soon you will be able to stand on your feet. You have to believe in yourself even in hard times."

"I don't like this. I get really upset when I see everyone else standing on their feet and I can't walk. I feel like crying."

"Pray for yourself. I pray for you all the time. If Allah wants he can heal you faster than you think. Have you ever prayed?"

Manal casted her gaze downwards, then shook her head. "Only one or two times."

"Why one or two times? Why not every time?"

"It's not my habit."

"Then make it your habit."

"I have forgotten how to read it long time ago." Manal appeared ashamed. "Mummy doesn't read every day either."

"I know our adult often teach us right things. But sometimes you have to be smart enough to know what is truly a right thing for you. Dadi used to tell me all these things. Now I am fully assured that she was right."

"I wish I was raised by our dadi too."

"But would you have listened to her?" Zoha said.

"Maybe.... I don't know."

"You wouldn't have listened to her."

"You are right."

"It's still not too late. Pray Allah that he heals you faster."

"Will Allah listen to a sinner?"

"Why not? If a person admits his sins and intends to be a better person, then why will Allah not listen to his prayers?" Zoha said. "Ek dafa Allah ko dil say yaad karo. Zaroor sunnay ga woh." (Just remember Allah from deep heart and he will definitely listen to your prayers)

Manal looked at Zoha for the longest time, swept back in disbelief. She barely blinked away for even a second. It was as if she was frozen in her wheelchair.

Zoha snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Where are you lost?"

"Nowhere." She looked away from Zoha, sitting still in the wheelchair, expressionless. "I was just seeing...." She paused.

"What?"

"Probably I don't have words to say it."

Zoha got up from the chair, fixed her kameez from the back. "Do you want to go around in the lawn and talk?"

Manal was still thinking.

"It's better." Zoha went behind the wheelchair and began pushing slowly. "Zindagi mein alag alag waqt aatey hain. Sab sey bhetr yeh hota hai kay hum aagay bartay rahein. (In life there are all types of situations. The best is that we keep moving forward) You are a good person. Now you have to adapt good habits also."

"Will you help me?"

"Why not? I am here whenever you need me. I am not only your cousin, but also your friend."

"Sab sey achi dost. Jitna bhi dost banaiya hain ab tak, un mey sey koi bhi itna kareeb aur acha nahi hoga." (You are the best friend. Whatever friends I made so far, none of them are as good and close as you are)

Zoha put her hand Manal's shoulder. "I never thought we could ever be such good friends."

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