to his grand house to find the same chilly silence looming around. The silence is the silence filled with pain and sadness.

He never liked it.

After everything why is that he has to walk into this?.

The house remains dark as he takes steps towards his room which is the escape from this world and place for him. He enters inside shutting the door leaning on it praying for one miracle.

He did his ablution to pray his last prayer of the day and once he finished he stayed on the rug helplessly begging his Lord to send in a way for this circle of torture to end.

To his heart to find peace and for his house to fill with laughter.

******

Zariah looks at her next delivery order while placing the food in the trunk of her bike. She finds the address of the private property that she never delivered the food before.

Seems like a rich people land. She thought

"Keep moving, young lady". She heard the grandma yelling

She chuckles quickly hopping on her bike and with a roar she is off on the road fighting against the sharp winds that crash on her face which seems like nothing in front of her life anyway.

She shakes her head not wanting to think about her life like she always has.

No need to stress for things she can't control. She thoughts

She halts her bike getting down holding the bill and the order walking towards the big gates in front of her. Once the security checks her through she walks inside to knocking on the door.

She waited for a few minutes pressing the button again because the time she is supposed to deliver is running and it will come on her.

The door opens to a small girl looking at the verge of tears holding the money in her tiny hands as she passes it to her. She hands the food in her hands frowning when she heard the crying sound coming from behind her.

The child was about to close the door but then she places her foot in the door stopping it.

"Here". She said handing the kid her ID card, "You can call anyone you trust and send this picture to them when I walk inside".

"N-No, Baba said-". The child started

"My name is Zariah. What's your name?". She asked softly bending down

"I- I am Noor". She replied scared

"Noor, I know something is wrong maybe I can help. Just send this picture to your Baba and put him on call immediately so if I do something he knows who I am". Zariah suggested

The child ran inside bringing her phone doing what she said as she walks inside with her. She found a small girl sitting on the floor crying holding her hand which is bleeding.

Her eyes widen but she subsides her fear of walking calmly towards the child.

"She is Hooria". Noor said, "She is Zariah. She is here to help".

Noor sits beside Hooria nodding at her and Zariah looks amazed at how she is so mature.

"Beta (daughter), show me your hand". Zariah said softly

Hooria forwards her small hand towards her and she asks Noor to bring her the first aid kit for her. The cut seems from some sharp object which she later said is from the side of one of the cabinet in the house.

"What is it?". She heard a dark male voice booming through the house making her shiver

She looks at the phone in Noor hands which she moves towards her.

"It's a cut from the cabin. It's not that deep but she needs to put a bandage on it to stop the bleeding". She explained

"Fine". The man said sharply, "If you are done walk out of my house right now".

She smiles at the little girl looking at her with her two doe eyes watching her intently. Hooria is much calmer now after she did her bandage and her hiccups are the only thing she can hear now.

Zariah tries to leave her hand but just as she tries Hooria holds her hand shaking her head pouting ready to cry again.

She smiles softly sitting back down looking in her eyes, "You were so brave, Hooria and I know you are even braver. Aren't you?".

Hooria nodded wiping her tears as Zariah speaks again, "Why don't you play with your sister this time instead of running around or watch your favourite movie till your Baba come back home?".

Hooria nodded smiling a little looking at her sister walking away.

******

Zariah groans walking inside her school this is her last year which ends in a few months. She doesn't really have any friends here because she doesn't see a reason for it. Everyone she sees around is backbiting the other and she doesn't like sharing about herself.

She walks inside her class to find her seating partner enthusiastically waving at her which she gladly ignores sitting on her seat placing her head on the table.

Last time she overworks until around 2 she reached home which drained all her energy.

"How was your weekend, Zariah?". Hamza asked

She shrugged not wanting to speak to him. He never really gets the signal or her words.

She is not interested in him.

It's simple. She had told him that last year when they were junior and he insisted that she should think like she is going to waste her time on that.

Thinking is evil. For her, it's dangerous.

The teacher thankfully graces with her presence and Hamza went to focus on that.

The whole day went by fast and she spends her extra time on completing all her work because she needs to go direct to her shift from school. The last bell rings and she sprinted off her seat running outside towards her bike but as she exits the school gate before anyone she bumps into someone falling down.

"Are you blind?". The man said rudely

She looks up looking at the man in front of her wearing three-piece suit glaring at her.

She glares back standing on her feet with hands-on either of her waist.

"If I was blind you had two eyes why didn't you used them?". She asked raged

"You shouldn't be talking to elders that way". He said

"I respect the people who deserve it". She started holding her bag from the floor turning back to him, "You should use your manner of speaking softly to people and apologising for your mistakes".

She turns around running to her bike starting it taking the road.

*******

Yahya enters inside with his brother- Hamza hearing the small mutterings of his two daughters in the lounge. He actually wants them to play around the house like other kid with their laughter ringing through the house.

But, it never did.

He sighs walking inside to find Noor feeding Hooria who is smiling talking to her about her day in school. Hooria being 4 just recently joined school while Noor is 6 in grade 1. They both go to the same school but leave early than Hamza.

"There are my angels". Hamza said loudly making them squeal at the sound

Their eyes lit up as they run into Hamza's arms laughing when he squeezes them.

"How have you been?". Hamza asked making them sit on the couch either side of him

"We are good". Noor said smiling

"Do you want to go out with me?". Hamza asked

Noor and Hooria turn to look at him and he nodded.

"I want to go to the park". Hooria said grinning

Hamza took them with him to the park while the girls speak to him animated about anything and everything.

He wonders why don't they speak to him like that but he cannot blame the kids.

"You need to get married". He heard his mother yelling as she enters inside, "Everyone has been asking me when you will get married".

"Why do I have to get married because of people?". He asked indifferently

"You don't understand we will with people so we need to do things too". His mother said

"I don't want to get married". He stated firm

"Yahya, did I raised you for this?". His mother asked

"Ammi, you already did it once and look where I am I am not doing this again". He said angrily

"No, you will get married. If not for people than for me or your kids. Did you ever think of how they will grow without a mother?". His mother asked

He didn't speak.

His mother knows his weakest point.

*****

Yahya's mother sits with her other friends speaking about his son's marriage. The one possible candidate is Fozia which her son has rejected.

"You should marry him to someone younger". A lady spoke

"Why?". His mother asked confused

"Because if she is young you can mould her however you wish her to be". The lady explained

"Also someone poor". Another lady suggested

"Young and poor is the best combination". Another lady said laughing

"How is that?". His mother said confused

"Look if she is young that means she is naive and not known to the world. She can be the way you want her to be. She will do everything you ask of her and if she is poor that means she will be scared of you and bow down to you". The lady explained laughing at the end of her words

"Do you have someone in mind?". His mother asked

"I don't. But give me a few days and I will have a girl ready". The lady said

"What about her parents?". His mother asked

"Poor people always throw their kids in rich people house with pleasure. It's no big deal". The lady said confidently

*****

Zairah looks around the dark streets standing outside in the chilly cold weather waiting for the next order. No other restaurant is open at this time beside this one and she wonders if someone will even call.

And the phone rings.

She waited for the order to be ready and once it's done she loaded it taking the road. Her bike roar through the empty streets passing by many shops some open and some close. She looks ahead of her when she heard another roar of the bike behind her and she looks through the mirror to find two men on it.

They look drunk.

With their driving skill, she can comprehend that much. They whistle and say stuff which she paid no heed to make her bike go faster through the road.

Yahya stops at the signal looking to find no other car beside his own there. He had another late shift mostly so he doesn't have to go to the silent home but he had to at some point.

The night seems colder than before so he turns the heater on in his luxurious car.

No use.

His cold heart seems to provide no comfort whatsoever.

He sighs.

He heard the sound of tire screeching through the empty road. His head turns in front of him when he found a bike and a small figure laying on the ground and another bike with two men stopping near the figure.

He looks close to the figure standing back on her feet removing the helmet making her long hair sway with the wind.

Zariah looks at the two drunk men standing in front of her with their sickening smiles making her guts clench.

"You shouldn't have acted up". The man said laughing

"A girl on a bike?. Have you heard of it"? The second one says

"No. A woman belongs in the home especially in the kitchen, not on roads". The first man said

Her anger rises every ticking second.

"You should stay at home, pretty lady". The second one said stepping closer to her

Yahya stops at a little distance from them hearing their disturbing words making anger fill him.

"Now who is going to save you". The first man said, "No one".

She smirks at him, "I learned that when I was young, pig".

That insult did it and the man throws himself at her but she dodged him at the right time hitting him square on his stomach. He stumbles back and she takes the right moment to punch his face making him fall unconscious.

She turns to the other one who looks scared and runs off from there. She winces when she feels the pain in her hand. She removes her jacket to find a large cut from the fall bleeding. Even her body aches all over from the bad fall.

She groans looking at her bike knowing she is late to deliver the food which means salary deduction.

What's the use of overtime. She thought

She moves to stand her bike back but wince when she does it. Just as the bike was about to stand she wince again letting go but someone hold the bike for her and she went into her defensive position.

She stops when she finds the familiar face looks down at her.

"Rude man". She mutters holding her bike from his hand

"Is that the name you gave me?". He asked watching her intently

She just made a man unconscious by fighting him like that was the easiest thing to do.

"Isn't that what you are?". She said checking the box to see if the food is at least in good condition for her to eat but it's just a mess

She closes the lid back groaning.

"You should be more careful". He said softly watching the displeasure on her face

"If this is another episode about a woman should stay at home then please spare me I had enough of it for today". She said sitting on her bike

"No, I wouldn't say that". He said honestly, "All I am saying is you are young and it's dangerous for you to be-".

She chuckles sadistic, "Young?. The one who wants to do anything doesn't particularly care about age anymore. Age is just a number if they want to do something they will. Age doesn't affect anyone lust".

He stood there too shocked watching her.

She winces starting her bike when he speaks, "I can drop you".

"No. Thanks for nothing". She said roaring her bike away

He watches her hoping he can follow her to know she is safe this time.

*******

The next day her body protest with every fibre to not go to school but that is her only safe haven. She cannot stay back because that means even worse.

She enters inside in her daze self hoping the pain vanishes soon and she gets back to her original self. She sits in her first class with Hamza beside her annoying her to no end.

"Look, I told you a year before I am not interested in you and you said to think which I haven't, honestly because I don't care about this. Will, you just go find someone else?". She said gritting her teeth

Hamza looks at her sadly nodding moving to sit somewhere else.

God, finally. She thoughts

The day went by and she had her fair share of looks probably because she rejected the golden boy.

She can care less.

******

Yahya stands in front of the school with his two daughters beside him. To say his daughter was pleasantly surprised that he came to their class for the first time would not be a lie. The way their eyes lit up watching him and the way they proudly introduced him to their friend was amazing.

He experienced something new today.

His daughter stayed in the car while he stands outside waiting for the last bell to ring impatiently.

The bell rings.

His eyes remain trained on the door and just as they slide open there she was walking in her glory outside like the first time rushing towards her bike.

Only this time her walk is sloppy and weak.

She is only trying to look strong but he can see the variation in her steps. Her hair looks like a mess and her clothes look the same.

"I don't even know after the way she looks how can she possibly reject such an amazing offer?". He heard standing on a little distance say

He follows their eyes of vision that were on her.

"I know right. She looks hideous". The other girl said laughing

He sees her wince as she starts her bike going away from school premises.

"Look doesn't make a person". He said sharply to the girls making them squeal running away

He brushes his hair back watching his brother walking directly inside the car with a sad look on his face.

"What's with you?". He asked sitting inside the car passing a smile to his daughter

"Nothing". Hamza replied grumpily

*******

"I found the girl". His mother heard her friend speaks through the call

"What's her name?. What does she do?". His mother asked

"She is going to be 18 in a week. She is still in school which will be over in about 4 months. No parents and she lives with her aunt who is just a maid at home. She works in a restaurant for her expenses but nothing much. Her aunt wants to get rid of her so she said she will marry her off". The lady explained

"What's her name?". His mother asked again

"Zariah". The lady replied