Bright Moon was standing alone on the sky of Lahore which was illuminated with the lights, and hustle bustle was in the streets of it. Crowds were gathered in different spots of Lahore, showing that the city was fully awake. 

It was 9 pm when the PC Hotel was full of people. Soft lights were illuminating the area where people were sitting on tables and were gossiping to each other animatedly. Among those cheerful faces, one face was full of irritation and frustration. Her gaze was flickering between the watch and the entry door of the hotel from where her guests had to come. 

"Mam do you want something? " Waiter came near her and asked in a very polite way. 

"I'm waiting for my friends. When they arrive, We will order something. Till then, please don't disturb me" she said with a deep frown on her face.

Waiter nodded his head and left her alone. 

Clad in black two piece and blonde hair tied in a high ponytail with red lipstick, she was looking gorgeous yet elegant. Confidence and dominance was oozing from her demeanour. 

"Miss Farwa! Anchor of 'Pak TV'! Oh my God! I am a great fan of yours."

A twenty year old girl stopped near the table and squealed with excitement. Farwa forced a smile on her face. 

"What is your name, dear? " Farwa softly asked her. 

"Saliha….I am a great fan of yours. At sharp 8 pm, I sit in front of the television and see your show. You are indeed a great anchor." The girl was saying it with excitement. 

"Thank you so much" Farwa replied humbly with a smile adoring her face. 

"Can I have a picture with you?" That girl requested her while fishing out her mobile. 

"Yes, why not." Farwa stood from her place and took the mobile from Saliha. She clicked the mobile and took a selfie on Saliha's mobile. 

"Thank you," She said and went away with an excited smile on her face. 

Farwa sat back on her chair and started using her mobile with the same frustrating expressions. After two minutes, her eyes went toward the door of the hotel and she sighed in relief. A girl of her age was approaching her table. That girl was wearing a pink colour shirt and trouser with a pink dupatta around her neck. Her brown hair was open and lying on her back. She was wearing a light colour pink lipstick and a light make up on her face. Farwa smiled at her and stood from her chair. That girl came near her and they both hugged each other.

"Thank God, at least someone has come. Otherwise, I had been sitting here alone for twenty minutes." Farwa said this while rolling her eyes. 

"So sorry for getting late. I was actually stuck in traffic " That girl said this with a very polite smile and settled herself on the chairs. 

"So, how is your social work going on, Fatima? " Farwa asked that girl, Fatima. 

"Alhamdulillah. It is tiring but I find satisfaction in helping poor people. NGO has started some projects to help maximum poor people. Even though I have been in Lahore due to some project." Fatima told her with a content smile and shining eyes.

Fatima was working with an international NGO whose purpose was to support and help poor children. Her job was in Islamabad where she was living in an apartment. Her parents were in Lahore where she came just on holidays or due to some project work.

Farwa smiled at her friend and was going to comment on her when someone put hands on her eyes. She became startled at this sudden act and touched hands instinctively. In the other second, she became relaxed and a smile crept on her face. 

"Dr. Zonia," she said.

Hands were removed from her eyes and a face came in her sight. 

"Salam to everyone!" Dr. Zoniya said with a wide and playful smile.

Farwa stood from her place and hugged her. Zonia, after the hug, went toward Fatima for another hug. Farwa's eyes landed on Hooriya who was also standing with Zonia and she also had a smile on her face. Hooriya was wearing a blue trouser, shirt with a hijab around her head and her innocent face had the joyful expressions gazing at her friends. Zonia was wearing a plain white colour shirt with blue pants. Staller was around her neck and her hair was tied in a tight bun. There was no make up on her face. 

After hugging each other, they four took their seats. 

"You both were also late!"

Previous anger again surfaced on Farwa's face. 

"Dude, I came back from hospital at 8 pm. I rushed toward the washroom and just splashed water on my face. After it, I took the keys and went to pick Hooriya. And guess what! This princess was sitting on her bed with paper and pen in her hands. She had completely forgotten about this get-together. I reminded her and then she started getting ready. She made me late so asked her" Zoniya replied while rolling her arms around her chest. 

Farwa and Fatima's eyes widened at Hooriya who had an apologetic smile on her face. 

"Miss Writer, after publishing two novels, you have already started the third one?" Farwa asked her with wide startled eyes. 

"Yup friends, This storyline was in my mind from last week. Different scenes and ideas kept on popping in my mind. So today, I decided to start writing them. I had written a summary and some random scenes when Zonia came. This storyline was so interesting and mind consuming that I just forget about everything" Hooriya said this with an apologetic smile. 

"What is the storyline and name of your new novel? " Fatima asked her with her usual polite smile. 

"Name is 'Humanity in this world' and this novel is all about the incidents and the current situation of humanity in this world." 

As usual, Hooriya became excited for her novel and started telling them about the storyline. 

"One week later, I was scrolling social media on my phone when a video came in front of my eyes. That video was about the war going on in Syria. I was heartbroken at the information and oppression which is going on in this country. I dug deep into this issue and found out that many weak countries are currently in war situations and are having a very tough life. So, I have decided to write about this issue. I have decided to address the entire human world in this book."

Three of them were listening to her with full attention. 

"That's a great idea!" Zonia exclaimed.

"How will you manage this theme? What will be the plot? " Farwa asked with interest. 

"I have decided to write the story from Humanity's point of view. Humanity will be personified in this book. He will be roaming in the world and narrating his pain." Hooriya explained them. 

"Cool! We will read your book when you finish it" Fatima said with a genuine smile. 

Hooriya also smiled at her. 

Waiter came near them and they all put their order. 

"Zoniya you look worn out. What is the matter dear? " Hooriya gazed at her tired face and asked. 

"Don't ask this question." Zoniya said with a deep sad voice. "That old man takes a lot of work from me without any mercy. I cursed that time when I decided to do a job in his hospital. He is just a.... " Zoniya stopped her sentence in mid. Hooriya and Farwa were seeing her with a smile. 

"He is... No Zonia stop! Don't use any cuss words. Don't increase your sins. No! " Zonia said this with closed eyes and a finger pointing in her direction. Hooriya and Farwa laughed at her sentences and actions. 

"Stop over acting Zoniya!" Farwa said this while laughing. 

During their laughter, they realized Fatima hadn't joined them in laughter. 

They saw Fatima who was watching somewhere else. They three followed her gaze and found a ten year boy sitting on one of the tables. The boy looked like a domestic servant and was sitting alone. His master was on another table, enjoying and eating. But, the boy was all alone. He was staring at other people in the hotel with hollow eyes.

They felt the pang of sadness at this inhumanity but they can't do anything for the child. Waiter came near their table to serve the lavish dinner. 

"Start eating your dinner, friends. After this, we will go for ice cream" Farwa said this to lighten up the mood. 

They all nodded and started eating the food. Fatima, after taking two or three spoons, stopped and saw the lonely boy. Something flashed in her eyes and she stood from her place with the plate and stepped toward the boy's tae. Servant boy became confused and fearful when she approached him, but his hollow eyes were gazing at the plate with hope flickering in them. 

"I don't feel like eating this food. Will you finish this plate for me?Please." she said to the boy with her usual gentle smile. 

Servant boy eyed the plate and then the lady in front of him with confusion. He again saw the woman's face who now had an encouraging smile. Small smile crept on his face and he stared at the plate with eagerness. 

"Yes," he replied while taking a plate and digging into the food. 

Fatima smiled at him and went back to her table. 

"This action was fabulous!" Hooriya exclaimed with happiness. Sweet smile came on Fatima's face. 

"Share the food with me" Farwa whispered and pushed her plate in front of her. They both started eating the same food from the same plate. 

Farwa, Fatima, Zoniya and Hooriya had been friends since their childhood. They had attended the same school and had been together till their F.SC pre-medical. After F.SC, they all went into their respective fields. Their universities were different but they remained in contact. At this moment, they are in their practical life. 

           ...........................

Clock struck 12 am when Zoniya entered her house with a tired body and mind. There was darkness in the house as all members had gone to their rooms for sleep. Zoniya entered her room with sloping demeanour . And suddenly, she jumped and shrieked with happiness.

"O my sweet heart! I have missed you so much. Just wait for some seconds and we will be together. " She exclaimed while putting off her shoes. She put them aside and jumped onto her sweet heart, the bed. She started rolling on bed with happiness. 

"Thank God! " she exclaimed. After some seconds, her eyes started getting heavy with sleep. She was going to drift into her sweet dreams when her mobile rang.

"Uff! " she exclaimed with irritation. She picked up her phone and her eyes widened with horror at gazing at the screen. 

"No please, no bad news."She started mumbling prayers and picked up the call with throbbing heart

"Hello?" her voice was trembling. 

Her expressions cringe with pain at listening to the other person on call. 

"Ok. I'm coming" she said in a low and defeated voice and cut the call. 

One of the doctors took an urgent leave and Zonia had been appointed at his place. She had to do night duty which was an utter irritation for her. She left her bed slowly and put on her shoes, again. After five minutes, her car was moving toward the hospital. 

                    .........................

Clock struck 12 when Hooriya entered her room. She put off her sandals and stood in front of the mirror while unpinning her hijab. After some seconds, her long black hair could be seen. After this, she went into the washroom with a night dress in her hand. After it, She again stood near the dressing table and started brushing her long hair. Her fair complexion, in the black dress, was becoming more attractive and enchanting. She put back the brush and took her pen and paper. Some words were running in her mind and she decided to write them down. She would adjust these words in any scene during editing. She had to write these scenes from humanity's point of view. 

"There are different kinds of humans in the world. One type is weak, they are being oppressed by the superpowers of society. One type is barbaric or arrogant, they are oppressing and killing the weak one. Another type is ignorant humans, they don't know anything about the chaos of the human world. Their sole motto of life is to "eat, drink and be merry". They don't bother to know about the issues or problems of other people. They don't even realize how the chaos of society is affecting their lives. They even don't know that injustice, lack of love, wildness and proud of superpowers of society is creating a chaos in the human world"

She kept on writing until her eyes started getting heavy with sleep. So, she put away the paper and pen and slipped underneath the quilt. 

              ............................

Zonia was walking in the corridor of the famous and private hospital of the city. Her night duty was in I.C.U. She took a round of the unit and was satisfied with the condition of patients. After this, she decided to have a cup of tea. 

She entered the common room of doctors with a cup of tea in her hand. 

"Wow! Noble people have come for my visit. It is a great pleasure for Dr. Zohaib'' 

Zoniya turned toward the voice and found a man sitting on a couch with a wide smile. 

"Dr. Zohaib, I'm in no mood for fun. So please don't crack the jokes today." She said with a sour mood while sitting on one of the couches. 

"Ohh! But what is the reason?" he asked while leaning forward. 

"I have to do Ans's duty as he had to leave for his home" she replied with frustration evident in her tone. 

"Allah help you! My all blessings and prayers are with you girl" Zohaib said with a sympathetic tone but hint of mischievousness was also evident in his tone. Zonia stared at him with anger and started taking sips from her tea. 

          ...........................

Night melted into morning and birds started chirping. Blazing sun sets on Lahore's city causing the temperature of the city to rise to 40 degree Celsius. In such weather, half of the city was sitting under air coolers and the other half was working under blazing sun. 

It was the gypsies area which contained almost 100 different tents. People of this area were going to their work in the early hours of morning. In the blazing heat, they were walking or sitting under the sun. 

In the morning, a mobile stopped near this area. They all stop their activity and eyed the mobile with curiosity. All children of this area gathered around this mobile and staring at it with curiosity. 

Some people, clad in decent dressing, came out of the mobile. 

"Assalam o Alaikum children! How are you all? " A woman asked them and instead of replying to her, they stared at her with utter confusion. 

"Bring all your friends here. I have a very attractive thing for you." 

That woman said and gypsy children became excited. They all ran to call their friends. 

Resource persons of the Child Protection Unit started taking out things from the mobile. After some minutes, many children of gypsies gathered around the mobile. In these children, there were many who were wearing torn out dresses. All of their bodies and clothes were dirty. Different scars and dirt were present on the children's faces, but innocence was the same on every child's face. 

Resource person, Miss Sadia, was looking at every children's curious face with a gentle smile. 

"Children, we are going to have some literary activities. Do all of you want to be a successful person in your life?"

Miss Sadia said in an excited tone, which spread excitement among children. They all nodded their heads. This thing was new to them, so they all wanted to taste this new experience. Parents of the children were also standing near them and seeing this all scenario with confused expressions. Some have anger on their face. Miss Sadia was seeing their expressions and was getting anxious

In a few minutes, a car stopped near the area and Fatima came out of it. She was wearing a printed shirt with white trouser. Her hair was tied in a bun and sunglasses were on her eyes. 

"Miss Sadia, what is the progress?" Fatima asked while glancing at the area. 

"Children seem excited and are cooperating, but their parents seem angry or confused" Sadia gave her report.

"Let me talk to them," Fatima said and turned toward the parents. 

"Assalam o Alaikum! I'm a social worker, Fatima. I want to talk to all of you. Please can we find a place to sit." Fatima said to the crowd of parents.

Parents were still confused but they all went toward a tent to sit in it. 

When they all got settled in the tent, Fatima continued. 

"Our unit wanted to help your children. We wanted them to gain education so that they can become successful and respectable citizens of society. You should help us in this mission. This will finish poverty from your generations, and it will help you in improving your standards of life."

Some parents nodded their heads. Happiness and hope was on their face. 

"But at this hour, our children went to work. They have to earn money. We can't survive without it." One man said from the crowd. 

"Yes, this work is also important," another woman said. 

And then, many of the parents started saying this. 

Fatima took a deep sigh and contemplated this issue. She knew that money is important for these poor people

"Ok, ok! " she said and silenced them. 

"Tell me when your children came back from work? " she asked. 

Everyone has different answers but almost everyone got free in the evening. 

"Your children get free till 5.30pm. So, the unit will come at that time." Fatima sorted out the problem. 

Parents became satisfied with this.

It was decided that children will work during the day and will read in the evening. They will be going to have a tough routine but it is okay if it can help in increasing their standards. 

Fatima came to the site where the children were sitting. Different charts and papers were in their hands and they were staring at these things with excitement. 

"Hello my childs. Are you enjoying it?" she asked them. 

They all nodded their heads with happiness dancing on their faces. 

"From now on, this unit will come into this area at 5.30pm. They will teach you and in the end of the session, you all will get gifts" Fatima said this with excitement and this excitement flooded among the children. Smiles came on their face. Fatima knew that these gifts will keep them committed to their studies. 

           .......................

"During our governance, Country has progressed a lot. We have completed those projects which the previous government never dreamed of finishing. This all corruption and issues is just because of the faults of the previous government. We are trying to clean their mess".  

MPA was saying this in "Farwa's talk show" with enthusiasm and determined tone. Farwa was listening these all piles of lies with expressionless face. 

"Ok, I admit that the previous government was not efficient. But what does your government is doing? Poverty ratio is the same, the unemployment rate is the same, people are still suffering and you are saying that your government is doing good." Farwa argued. 

"Farwa, the previous government has... "

MPA again tried to point out the inefficiency of the previous government, but Farwa cut her sentence off. 

"Previous government has not been an efficient government, but your government is also not an ideal one. Your policies and your projects are only giving benefits to rich people only. Rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer in our country."

Farwa said this in a calm tone, but her blood was boiling with anger. 

In the response, MPA started praising her government's projects.

As usual in the whole show, she kept on drinking her anger and tried to maintain a professional smile on face. 

                  ..............................       

Hooriya and her parents were sitting on the dining table and were having breakfast in complete silence. This silence was broken by Mrs. Hassan, Hooriya's mother. 

"In the evening, there is a tea party at Mrs. Aslam's house. And Hooriya you are going with me at this party" she said sternly to her introvert daughter. 

Hooriya gasped at this news. She didn't like such parties, nor found any productiveness in such activities. 

"Mom, I have to start my novel now. And what will I do at this party? " Hooriya asked with helplessness. 

Mrs. Hassan glared at her. Mr. Hassan was listening to this entire conversation in complete silence. 

"You are now twenty-six Hooriya. Girls of your age get married but you are not even engaged at this age. And this all is because of your anti-social attitude. You have to meet different families, different people so they can know that you are ready for marriage, and you can be a perfect wife and daughter-in-law for them. Only by this way, people will ask for the marriage". Mrs. Hassan tones started rising with each word and her nostrils started flaring with anger. 

Hooriya remained silent at these words. She knew that her mother was not in the mood to listen to anything. 

                     ..........................

Zonia was completing the last hour of her duty. She was tired and sleepless but she had to tolerate one more hour. 

She came out of the restroom and took her way to the ICU. She was going when she saw that person whom she hated the most; Dr. Shahid, CEO of the hospital. He had grey hair and an intimidating personality. He was fifty years old, but an active and fit man. His face always contained a professional smile.

"Assalam o Alaikum sir" Zonia greeted when he came near her. 

"Walaikum Assalam Zonia" he replied and went towards his office. 

Zonia gave an angry glare toward his direction and turned her hands in fists as this man was the reason for her sleepless night. But, she could only take a deep sigh to control her nerves and turned toward the ICU. 

       ............................

Farwa was ascending the stairs of the building. Tiredness and irritation was prominent on her face but her gait and demeanour still had an elegance. She stopped near a door and fished out keys from her bag, and opened the door of her apartment. The Lavish setting of the apartment came into view when she opened the door. And with it, Loneliness and silence also hit us. She took shower and then went into the kitchen to make coffee for herself. 

After some minutes, she came into the lounge and sat on one of the couches. She switched on the LCD hanging in front of her and took a sip of coffee. Recitation of the Quran echoed in the apartment as soon as the LCD opened. Farwa put aside the remote and closed her eyes to feel the essence of Quran. Beautiful recitation of the Quran with explanation was going on and it was filling the apartment with voice, vanishing the gloomy silence. 

"Allah is sufficient as a friend and Allah is sufficient as a helper"

Verse of Surah Nisa was going on and it was like soothing water on Farwa's tired nerves. In her lonely life, recitation of the Quran soothed and helped her heart. 

..........................

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