With the pantry left with no baking powder, I was now left with no work at all. The maids cook the food,thankfully. We only bake. With no baking left for the day I was led my senses to the garden to find peace there.

"What are doing Aabish?" I asked as he sat in one corner scribbling something in a book.

"I'm sketching" he answered with eyes not attending me.

My views about him have changed so much since we met the first time,he in psst years have never visited much,his stays were short term and he seldom mixed with any kid till now. He yet seeks solitary over company and garden over the hall. His voice is husky so often when he calls my name I'm a bit baffled by a man's voice calling me but he's Aabish,my temporary best friend.

"Can I see?" I touch he book,he snaps my finger with his pencil. "Ouch!" I cried. "Beware, next time I'll stab you!"
He warned.

Tufayl has found company with a group of boys who play football a few miles away, the few left men are indoors,they have brought all manual work from the office they can complete here. My maternal family men are all in the family business so nothing harms their work life if they stay longer here. As for my brother he leaves and returns in short intervals but it tires him. Aabish is the only man to be seen around the garden often "Artist or Designer?" I asked.

"Stereotype or stereotype?" He asked.

"What's your problem,you attract anger at the tip of a talk"
I said punching his arm.

"I hate judgmental sociopaths as for the answer I'm becoming a doctor,pediatrician to be specific" he answered in a loud voice.

"Woah, why pediatrician?"

"Because they cannot judge me like you just did,innocent angelic souls I would only deal with"

"That's why you're always around kids"

"I'm around kids because I like them but why are you around Burhan? You like him"

It snapped me,I was suddenly cold. Why am I scared?

"Huh? I don't understand Aabish? What nonsense!"
I rushed to answer to fill that silence that was piercing in me.

"Relax,I was just fooling around with you. What's the matter with Marwa though,she seems to be smiling all day"
He said pinitng towards Marwa who was strolling and smiling on her own that made me laugh. It looked a little funny.

"Why do you hate her so much!" I laughed

"No! No no,god no! I don't hate her,I don't hate her at all! In fact I would cry oceans on her death! Mahnoor! I don't hate her!" He cried. I laughed to tears,he went on with his empty pointless talks to see me break down at one point.

I left feeling exhausted,he makes me a nuisance.

=.=.=.=.=.\

At about midnight,all the girls were in our room,by this time I've taken my place with Marwa,Mehreen with Masirah.
We have been talking for hours now and the intensity of topics have grown more thick now.

Except for Zara,all the women are here. She is outside all alone. Midnight here is considered too late to be awake,as the deserted mansion gets haunting to assume safe.

I left to the bathroom when I rejoined the topic had changed.
They were talking about Zara,I knew nothing about Zara's life until now. Her life they said was the saddest and most painful.

When I informed them that I knew nothing they trusted me with her story.

Zara was married to the son, an acquaintance of her Father.
Where she first had a blissful and happy year of life. Neither her family nor was she aware that the man she married had without any consent of her has married another woman. She has now no choice but to accept her they said.

"Accept her! She should divorce him!"
I uttered in furious words.

"But that is the grave problem here,is is too deeply in love with him to separate from him" Mehreen said sadly.

"Crap! No woman should ever accept this kind of fidelity. Has she no self respect whatsoever? She should command him to leave her to least divorce him"
I agitated.

"She's in vain,she demands to be loved instead in this grief,she is begging her man to love her,pity!" Mehreen develops tears and holds her sentiments for her.

"No woman should beg a man to love her,Mehreen you shouldn't console her but we should all support her to strengthen herself to leave the man who cannot leave another woman for her! Another as she is!" I cried in rage,why are my sisters pitying her,she should be pushed to be stronger not be but let down in self sacrifices and this awful state.

I looked at the side now I understand the reason why she's always sad. But this is unacceptable.

"She isn't another woman Mahnoor,she is his wife now" I heard Zara's voice and discovered her standing at the door.

"His second wife? You were his first wife Zara, without your consent this marriage is illegitimate!" I urged her show some hope.

"It doesn't matter the sun has gone down and he has married her anyways,what's a second wife? She is his only wife now when I'm gone. While I can bear be his something I wouldn't bear be his nothing" she ever so sadly I've heard anyone spoke.

I hate whoever she is! His second wife is a villian! He is a villian,poor Zara!

What right has he destroy her to pieces like that!

I was uncomfortable that she has settled down to this life and everybody else is accepting her defeat than fighting with her?! How shameful!

The following day,
I discussed this with Ameena who was as moved with anger as I was with comforted me in some way.

The whole day I talked to none. I have this bad habit of being upset over things and shutting myself.
I ate desert and realized change is not only for better. The last time I was here all was so different and happy.
Zara,my sister,Basheera and us,we all played in the open garden,laughed our hearts out and they always use to gossip and giggle in corners where we four younger girls weren't included.

Childhood was so valuable I never till this youth have opened it's dark secrets,what if I get stuck with a man like that?
I would indefinitely do something hazard.

I have this habit of shutting myself from everyone when I'm upset,so the following day I was all dull and zoning out in conversations.

I read a few pages of book and then slept the whole afternoon. Nothing better than sleep.

We were serving food at the table when I heard Marwa's dad would be visiting the next day. She looked happy but Aabish didn't. So I saved a large portion of desert from my plate and passed it to him. He smiled. Temporary best friends.

And by night he returned the favor by seeking me a large unit of old DVDs from his brother.

"Thank you, ooh classics,I love you Aabish"
I was so excited.

"You gave me your desert Noor so...I'm a good best friend okay"

He is. But I kept them at the shelf and planned watching them later.

I was unable to sleep,so restless. Maybe I shouldn't have slept in the afternoon.

I need coffee. I went to the kitchen and sorted a cup of coffee for me. I ditched my room and instead sat on the balcony.

I sighed,sipped. The fresh air and hot coffee clarified my vision and I could spot a man in the garden in sujood.
A smile flourished on my lips,Burhan.

I supported myself on the wall and admired him,how wonderful and serene is this man. A man in sujood at midnight is a gem to be treasured. I want to marry him.

I want this gem. I looked closely and smiled over and over, the moonlight was dim and therefore I couldn't see his face but his phone's light at one point illuminated over his visage.

Burhan?

His face was drained,his nose red,his eyes swollen. His tears were sparkling on his jaw.
He is crying.
Why?

I tormented myself with questions still I couldn't gather myself to see him downstairs.

A part of me resisted my walk in a chance that I would spoil his precious moment with Allah! After all these moments are so valuable.

But what if he isn't crying in sujood but after worldly desire,should I ask him?

Why is he crying? What is he crying for? Who is making him cry?

I waited in the cloud of these thoughts till he left form the garden. I couldn't sleep the whole night thinking of the possibilities. All this mystery.... Why Burhan? Why?