" What exactly makes you search for a job when you could easily relax, exempted from every daily expenses because of some fortune telling bullshit? "

The principal of Allah Meherbaan Public School had the most amicable face on earth, but Shaahid could easily mentally remove his mask and uncover the cunning hideous face behind. The man weighed more than 150 kilos, did not fit into any regular chair, so a special chair was created for him. And he forever had problems with any handsome man who had reputations in the society.
Shaahid did not take more than ten seconds to make out all of these.

" I'm glad you know so much about me. "
Shaahid grinned.

" People know Hitler, Osama, Godse. Quite a lot about them. Though I don't think they should be glad to be known that way. " , he twisted his lips.

" You mean, you know me for all the wrong reasons? That I'm not famous but infamous? " , Shaahid grinned wider.

" And shameless too. " , frustration clearly oozed from his fat red face which he wiped off in the form of sweat.

" Which again means, I'm in no position to get a job, at least in Fareedpur, because I'm infamous out here to the heads of the society. " , Shaahid now gave in, making a sad face.

And that completely satisfied his ego.
The evil glitter in his eyes returned, he shoved on his chair making the poor woods cry in pain.
" Unless someone is too generous. And I like being generous. You are hired as the music teacher. But for a temporary tenure. Prove yourself so that you can stay. "

" Oh.... I didn't believe you could be so generous.

But what exactly do I have to prove? "

" That you are capable. Also if I see or hear you starting your Astrology bullshit here, I'll fire you in no time. "

" You are the first person who could so correctly judge them to be a fucking bullshit. Laymen believe me so much that I'm embarrassed.

So, I'll join from tomorrow morning.

By the way, your youngest daughter at home will soon undergo an accident. Very soon. If you wanna prevent that, call home and ask others to sit surrounding her and not let her move. "

The fat man horrifyingly stared at Shaahid.
" What the hell!!! I asked you not to, and you began fooling me instantly! Get lost now, and don't even come tomorrow! "

Shaahid did not say a word more, and began to go.

He however turned one last time, and found the man frantically dial someone on phone.

Poor soul. Shaahid walked out of the gate. He knew he would be called back, by evening.

____

Sakina stood in the middle of the garden staring at the sky, when Shaahid walked in and caught a glimpse of her.
He moved towards her.

" Good afternoon Sakina ma'am! How was your test? "

Sakina threw a glance at him, deeply disturbed, as her chain of thoughts broke.

" Why the hell am I answerable to you? "

Shaahid smiled wide.
" Often such answers come as excuses, when you do bad in tests. Don't worry, you'll do better next time! "

" Oh please!
I'm an extremely good student.
The test got cancelled. I received a call from them in the morning. It's postponed till tomorrow. "

" I see. Which means you'll have to prepare tonight again. " , he scratched his chin.

" Of course. To do well, one has to work hard.
What do you do? " , Sakina asked suddenly.

" Nothing. Just make a fool out of myself, and the most out of life. " , he shrugged.

Sakina examined him properly.
" But you look more of the fooling others kind. Also you are bhai's friend, so there's no doubt about that. "

" You seem to be very disappointed with your bhai. Why so? "

" And why the hell am I answerable to you? "
Sakina placed her arms on her waist, making a grumpy face.

" You're nowhere answerable. But it's terrible when you live in a society and with every general question asked you come out with a sword called 'why am I answerable to you!' " , Shaahid smirked.

Sakina tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, releasing her waist, and stared elsewhere.

" My bhai behaves weird with me. Why am I supposed to be normal regarding him? " , she said after sometime.

" Weird with you? How weird? "

" A lot weird. As if I don't exist, or as if I am....

Yesterday, did you find him introduce you to me for once? No. He won't. I don't matter at all. As if I'm invisible! "

" But you were busy with test preps. Also you don't like bhai's aquiantances, maybe he thought...it would disturb you. "

" I don't like anything related to him, because of his behavior itself. Otherwise why won't I? " , Sakina rolled one end of her dupatta around her finger.

" Do you have friends? " , Shaahid asked.

" And why do you ask that now? " , she squeezed her brows.

" No, just, wanted to know if you don't get along with your brother, whom do you share things with. " , he shrugged.

" I have got people close to my heart. I don't need those who don't value me, to share my things. "

With this Sakina walked inside the house without turning back for once.

As if she had finished talking, meant everyone else had stopped existing.

Shaahid kept staring, scratching his chin in the process.

___

The AC cubicle in Saajid bhai's jewellery shop vibed that they indeed had money, but were misers probably.

Saajid bhai sat doing some calculations, his lower jaw dropped in a way that it might soon drool saliva.

Shaahid looked away, he hated gross scenes as such.

He was summoned by Saajid bhai, maybe to provide information regarding his sister.

" Sorry to keep you waiting Shaahid bhai. Here we go. " , he kept aside the calculator, wiping his lips. Which meant he had really drooled when Shaahid wasn't watching.

" Let me come straight to the point.

Actually my sister..... I mean...she is a very introverted soul. She doesn't have friends much. At 33, when she should have been happily married, she likes to spend most of her time with books, songs and paintings.

Our parents expired long back. I have seen her grow before my eyes. She was a normal human, just a bit to herself. She talked within, monologued, played with herself, and I was okay with that. Many don't like mingling with others quite much. She was that way.

She finished graduations and stopped studying, but was never detached from books. I thought I would get her married off, and she would be happy as well.

But she terribly protested. She did not wish to leave this house, her comfort zone. I was worried, but then gave up. If she did not like, I had no desire to force situations on her. I could easily bear her expenses because I too wished to remain unmarried.

Years passed, we were doing quite well in life.

Then suddenly, a person appeared, when she was twenty nine.

A German Language teacher.

Just as I said, she was never detached from books, and always wished to study new things. She suddenly had this craving for learning a new language. And she invited this person home after gathering informations regarding him.

He was a well built macho gentleman in his early thirties, talked well, smiled well, trimmed his beard well, taught in a nearby school, overall an impressive personality.

Days passed, he came and taught, and as a brother, I could well gather that they were growing close.

I too happily began saving money for her impending marriage.

And then, hell broke loose eight months back. "

Shaahid was listening carefully. He nodded for the first time..

" The German teacher died in a car crash. Right? "

Saajid stared amazed for sometime. Then the glow faded away.

" Yes.

But, Sakina could never accept that. She went into severe depression.

And her brain washed away every memory of his death. Not only that, it began hallucinating his presence.

She still believes he's very much present, alive, around her, and that, they'll soon get married.

She keeps talking to his invisible soul, prepares for tests to be organised in some nearby centre, goes out with him, invites him home, has her classes, takes him to the rooftop for tea, to the streetcorners for street foods.

But to us, it's she alone. "

Saajid stopped. Shaahid had never seen a sadder face.
He took sometime to reply back.

" As far as I can gather, it's a medical condition where clinical depression is leading to hallucinations. She needs professional help. "

" She thinks I'm her enemy when I try to tell her that. I have no hope left. I can never take her to a psychiatrist.

But I know, you have your own ways to make things right.

Please, please heal my sister. Please bring her back to the real world. I cannot see her this way. "

Shaahid sat, twisting his lips.

___

As he lit a cigarette, standing before Khudaa Baksh jewellery shop and reflecting deeply, his phone began ringing.

" Hello! "

" Hmph. Am I talking to Shaahid Hussain? "

" You are. "

" I'm Adnan Sami. Principal of Allah Meherbaan Public School.

Hope you remember you have been appointed. "

" But you said I should not come tomorrow. "

" Forgive my harsh words. You are very much welcome. "

" Is your daughter fine? "

Silence for sometime. Then a sobbing voice was heard,
" Seconds after you left, I called home. My little girl had that very moment jumped on a bowl of boiling water kept to cool down in the verandah. She's now lying with burns throughout her body, and my wife applying ice packs and lotions. "

Shaahid let out a huge sigh.

" I'm sorry to misjudge your abilities. Please, don't mind my words. "

Shaahid dropped the call, unable to decide if he really liked the fear in their voice regarding his stand in their lives.