“You’re not offended that she works?” A curious-firm voice of dad got in our ears. We were taken aback with the interruption before Faizal registered that the question was pointed towards him.

“Why would I?” He glanced at me in confusion while a smile was playing on his lips.

“In your culture, females aren’t allowed to walk out of their house.” He mumbled, “they even forced to hide their face in public.”

Faizal nodded, “it isn’t about we are against female working rather in Islam it considered that its responsibility of the male to provide for their family, look after their wife. There are some who doesn’t like the idea of female doing job just like people in any other caste.” He had a sweet-polite tone as he was trying to put his views forward, not getting offended with the views dad had about him. “But I am not one of them. I rather think being independent is much necessary in the world for female.” He paused for a second, “and yes… female isn’t forced to hide their face, most Islamic-family do provide them with a choice if they want to wear the hijab or not.”

Dad stared at him with a pleasing-look as if for a slightest minute he was impressed but he shook his head. “Glad to know that all aren’t filled with same mentality,” he grumbled as he glanced at me. “Do you have Premma Chechi number?” He inquired sounding stressful.

“Why?”

“Your mom isn’t receiving her calls,” he sounded worried. “Maybe I can contact Premma Chechi and inform her not to travel.”

“Maybe Shruti has her contact number…” before I could even complete dad rushed upstairs. I shook my head at dad’s overprotective nature, we were used to it. Mom would call him the second she glances at her cell. It wasn’t that big of a deal!

Premma Chechi was more like a mother figure to mom though she was her elder sister. During mom’s childhood, grandma had severe health-issues which made it impossible for her to look after her children. And grandma dead when mom was at very tender age. Mom doesn’t have any proper memory of her mother other than the imagine of her laying on the bed and maybe saying her goodbye. That was the reason that she was very close to her biggest sister.

“We already had glimpse at our kitchen, next is my room.” I mumbled, shaking the thought of Premma Chechi. I wasn’t fond of her! She had a very dominant aura surrounding her maybe it was because she had to grow-up and act mature at very early age but she had the thirst for dominance. It was as if everyone should walk on her terms and I wasn’t fond of humans who possessed such skills. They got on my nerves! So, I kept myself as away from her as I could.

“I can glance at your room some other time if you’re not in a mood,” Faizal suggested, staring at me with curiosity maybe attempting to find the reason behind my change in mood.

His phone rang grabbing his attention from me. A smile broke on his face as he glanced at the caller-Id. Who had the power to lift his mood with just a call? It would be lie if I said, I wasn’t curious. Deep-within I knew the answer.

“Ammi…” he sighed as if he was waiting to hear that voice. The love he had for his mother was priceless. I kept staring at him. Those black-bright orbs were sparkling in excitement as his slight-red lip was formed into a beautiful smile. “How are you?” There was worry hidden behind his question. He so wanted to be beside her; Mrs. Qureshi’s health was turning worse due to the stress shaping in her mind.

“I am fine, Ammi…” he breathed as if he was finding it hard to convince her. “You need to have your dinner and take those tablets,” he groaned in response. “None is harming me,” he grunted. “Zain, why even you allowed those…” he was scolding maybe they had heard that news. “Ammi, if you keep stressing up, you’re only going to affect your health.”

“Faiz…” I wasn’t sure what came upon me? I wasn’t a very consoling person. I never dragged myself in someone personal matter yet I felt the need to interrupt. He glanced at me, his brow raised in confusion. “Can you put it in speaker?” I asked for which he offered a slight nod before doing as I told.

“Aunty,” I called her out. “You don’t need to worry; the revolt is taking place in the market-area few kms away from us. Faizal at the moment is in our house,” I informed attempting to erase some of her worries. “I don’t think any problem will be caused in our locality.”

“Nivi?” Zain voice was inquiring but Mrs. Qureshi interrupted him.

“Glad to know that he has you in that unfamiliar city,” she paused for a moment. Her breath was getting heavy and I could understand why Faizal was so anxious. “Please take care of him,” she was requesting. “Don’t allow him to walk out…” a choke escaped from her throat. “They might harm him… They might kill him, the way they had…” she ended up into tears.

“Fufo…” Aahana’s voice was heard in a background, “calm down, you need to handle yourself…” she was trying to console Mrs. Qureshi.

“Bhai, don’t worry…” Zain was attempting to assure Faizal.

“Keep her away from television,” Faizal grunted as if he was attempting hard to control his outrage. And with that as a final statement he hanged the call though Zain was muttering something. “How can he be so irresponsible…” he was grumbling it more to himself.

His jaw was clenched, fist drawn into a ball. His orbs were staring straight, lip forced into a thin-line. It seemed as if he was trying very hard to keep his anger in check. My hands on their own account moved towards his shoulder. I attempted to squeeze it, in an attempt to calm him down.

“She is going to be fine…” I whispered, softly. His orb darted to me for a second, his orbs softening for a second.

“Was I selfish?” His brows frowned, a guilt shaping on his face. “I shouldn’t have taken that offer…” he was having the conversation much with himself.

“You’re overloading yourself with work just to pay those debts, Faizal.” I shook my head at him in disbelief. How could he call himself, selfish? He was far away from being selfish. He had always attempted to be as selfless as humanly possible. He was working over-time! “Faiz…” he was avoiding eye-contact, as I grabbed his wrist. “Faiz…” I was urging him to glance at me. “Look at me,” I was requesting at him.

His orbs darted to me, a guilt overpowering his spirit. “Stop being so hard on yourself.” I mumbled, “I understand that you’re worried about your mother.” I paused as he moved his gaze but I cupped his face forcing him to stare into my orbs. Tears had accumulated in his black orbs and I felt so helpless at that moment. I wish, I wish… I could wipe out some of his worries.

“I know that you want to offer only happiness to your family,” I passed a smile at him. “And you’re trying your best…” I whispered as I wiped the tear that trailed out of his orbs.

“But nothing is happening, Nivi…” he confessed as his voice had the exhaustion. “It seems as if I am not going anywhere,” he sighed. “They are still in distress, still buried in tension. I can’t even offer them peace in their old-age. What kind of son does that? I was just…”

“Shh…” I wrapped my arms around his waist. I wanted to offer him comfort. Maybe hug could erase some of his pain. I could hear his wild-beating heart. I hesitated the minute I realized my action. Maybe it was inappropriate, I was on the verge of backing off when I felt his warm-large arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close to his heart.

“I am tired…” he confessed in a small whisper. “Exhausted, I want some rest… some rest…” I could feel his voice getting heavy as if he was trying to hold his emotions at check.

•••

“You shouldn’t be hugging him,” Shruti pointed out as we were arranging the sheets on the bed. Shruti was going to accompanying me for the night as Faizal was going to accompanying Jiju on the upper-floor.

I stared at her in horror, she had glanced at us? “I…” I was still trying to register the news and my brain urging for time to come with a justification. “He just seemed as if he needed it,” I shrugged my shoulder. It was a gesture to provide him comfort, a friendly-hug.

“Still…” Shruti’s voice was stern, “it wouldn’t had been appreciated if someone else had glanced at it. They might had even made a fuss about it.” And she wasn’t wrong! Our family wasn’t that open-minded to allow me hugging strangers or male friends.

“I am sorry,” I apologized realizing my mistake. As I placed the pillow perfectly on the bed.

“I will just go and glance at dad,” Shruti informed.

“Why?” I asked getting worried.

“He was getting very stressful about mom not receiving his calls.”

“He didn’t call Premma Chechi?” I inquired; I had almost forgotten about it.

“Her cell is out of reach,” she sighed. “I don’t think dad can rest without hearing a from mom.” I nodded in agreement.

“But I don’t think Premma Chechi would allow mom to move out of the house.” She was as protective as dad. I felt it was next to impossible that she would allow her to depart when situation was turning so worse in her locality.

“Yet dad won’t calm down,” Shruti mumbled as she walked out of the room to glance at him before going to sleep.

I shook my head as I adjusted the pillow and laid on the bed. It wasn’t like I didn't care about my parents rather I would be calm until there was a need to panic. I was an overthinker! Yet dad was an expert in overthinking, he could think worse in any situation while I would more preferably attempt to find positive aspect in the situation.

I was glad that the dinner-night hadn't turned worse. I closed my orbs in relief still expecting things would turn to normal by the morning. The violence would subside and maybe my mom was safe behind walls in Premma Chechi's house.

•••

A knock on the door forced me to wake up. I glanced at the bed. Shruti hadn't returned! I walked towards the door. Maybe I had locked it, I shook my head at my careless behaviour. How could I forget that Shruti was going to joint me? Before I could grab the knob, my hands were jerked away by Shruti.

"What are you doing?" Her orbs were brimming in tears as she was pushing me away from the door. She was stammering in fear, "don't open it. They are here!" She whispered, softly. "They have come to harm us, kills us."

"Who have come to..."

"Those monsters! They are after our life, they are mad at us. Furious," she was muttering in between her sob. The darkness surrounding us wasn't allowing me to have a proper look at her but I felt a fluid in my arms as she dragged me away from the knocking door. "That we sheltered a Muslim..." She was crying out loud, her orbs widening in horror.

"Sheltered a Muslim?" My heart accelerated at the highest speed as those words registered in my brain. "Faizal," as those words rolled out of my tongue, his face flashed infront of me.

"Faizal," I pronounced. "How is he...?" Before I could even complete the statement, a lightening flashed on the door, giving a glimpse of Shruti's hand that was covered in red liquid.

"They..." She was speaking in between her sob, "they killed him."

I stared at in horror, my ears resisting to understand it. I shook my head. "Who killed whom?" I inquired, avoiding to gaze at her.

That can't be true! He can't! He can't! Without wasting a second I walked towards the door. "Nivi!" Shruti screamed, urging me to halt. "Don't go out! They... They are hungry of blood."

"I don't care!" I yelled in frustration as I jerked her hand away. "I can't allow him to die ... I simply can't..." I mumbled in tears.