"Oh Lord! Keep me alive, till there is goodness in life for me...and give me death, when there is goodness in death for me...."
That's what Muskan kept praying in her ever Salah, and everytime she felt her world crumbling and the burning urge to end her life, to end her miserable existence overpowered her.

After her parents' death, her Khala(maternal aunt) took her in along with the huge house she lived in after. Even though the house belonged to her late parents and now her, still she was ostracized and scorned on by the people she considered her family.

After the tragedy, she was the only survivor but now, had lost her eyesight marrying the unending darkness forever and her delicate arms and legs engraved with deep ugly scares to accompany her till death.
Her Khala and her older cousin sister and brother never really paid attention to her. They treated her as a burden, scorned at her, hit the little girl, gave her leftover cold food and made her grow up in the same place where her parents were brutally murdered in front of her innocent eyes. She was secluded in the dirty burned section of the huge manor. She couldn't see and yet, had to learn to do everything by herself as such a tender age... without any guidance. Right from using the toilet to washing her own clothes. Sleeping on the floor. All the while bumping into walls, tumbling down the stairs, getting hurt. But no obey came to her aid.

The little girl yearned for some affection and love, for a gentle touch and words. Tears were her only companion for a year until, her Nani (maternal grandmother) came to live with them. The little girl found her lost smile and voice back and she received every bit of love and affection she craved for.

Her Nani loved her precious niece with all her being. Even more than the other children. When her own daughter and the children gave Muskan a hard time, she would pull the little angel into her arms and make her forget about everything. Her Nani sent her to a special school and cooked and cleaned for her. She even taught her to do the same, and to be brave and strong. The others hated it and burned with jealousy whenever they saw her loving Muskan more because they were afraid, that whatever property and money the old woman owned she would give it to the blind girl.

After school life ended Muskan was confined to the 4 walls of the house. Not allowed to go out or meet anyone. Because as the little girl grew up, she graced with her mother's beauty and her father's kind nature. Her emerald eyes could steal hearts and her kind smile could enslave anyone.

Her Khala and sister were especially jealous of her. They did everything in thier power to crush her confidence by calling her ugly and treating her like a slave, making her do most of the household chores. And as she couldn't see, she believed thier every word Even though she was blind, she had a very good memory. She could cook, clean even maintain the garden which was her father's pride.

Each day, she spent smiling through her hardships and each night crying herself to sleep. She prayed for her parents...her grandparents and her Khalo who mostly stayed abroad due to work. She even prayed for the Khala, sister and brother who abused and hated her. She always wanted the best for everyone.
Lastly, she prayed....to be set free.

The little love and support she had in her life was also about to be taken from her as her Nani fell gravely ill. Her own daughter didn't bother to take care of her dying mother much, but this gentle blind niece of her's stayed with her day and night taking care of her sick Nani, as the old woman showered her with blessings with her evey breath.

"Someday, you will find a man who will take you away from this misery and give you all the happiness in the world like you deserve my bachi." That's what her Nani always told her.

"A man! Huh! Who would marry this blind, ugly girl. She's just damaged goods that has no value. Look at the scars on her body....no good man would even spit on it. She'd always be a burden on our heads till death. Atleast she does some of the household chores...but is that even enough?" Her Khala and sister used to scorn the poor child.

Finally, a day came when the gentle hand of her Nani slipped away from her head as she passed away leaving Muskan all alone. Her world came crumbling around her as Muskan spent her years alone and miserable.

2 years passed and her brother who went to Dubai with Khalo for job, came back and was smitten by Muskan as soon as he set his eyes on her. She loved and respected him like an older brother but for him she was just an object of his lust. He touched and misbehaved with her whenever he got her alone, watching her with lustful eyes. Innocent and naive Muskan didn't understand her brother's heinous intentions. Yet she felt uncomfortable and anxious around him. She could feel his ugly gaze on her all the time. The girl was even afraid to take a bath or change her clothes in private fearing his eyes on her....as if her life wasn't hellish enough, he was just the fuel to the fire. And guess what....no one cared.

There were many times when she thought of slitting her wrist or stabbing herself with the same knife she cut the vegetables in the kitchen or jump of the terrace where she went to dry off her family's laundry. But how could she commit such a huge sin....so she prayed and prayed and waited.... for a miracle...

Until that day....

∆∆∆
"Are you... alright?" She heard his voice speaking to her and her already pounding heart, tried to thump out of her chest. She managed a slight nod.

"Rehan bhai, where is that douche bag. Please tell me you killed him!" Khushi asked heatedly.

Before Rehan could answer...

"No! No please.... don't k...kill him.... don't hurt Shahvez bhaijaan!" The young girl's desperate cry echoed throughout the room. Everyone looked at her shocked.

"You're kidding right?! That asshole tried to....rape you and you're trying to save him?" Khushi asked flabbergasted.

Muskan hugged her knees shaking.
"H... he's my...f.... family."

"So?! Does that give him the right to do anything with you and get away with it?!" Khushi raged making her shudder.

"Calm down Khushi!" Rehan said sternly seeing the young girl shake in fear.

Muskan lifted her arms moving them around like a stringed puppet and felt for Khushi's arm making her heart clench again at the young girl's condition.
"P... please... I beg of you... Didi...p... please..." She sobbed and Khushi's heart melted being called Didi like that.

"Fine!" She said sighing in defeat and hugged the crying girl.

Rehan's kept a hand over his heart at the unusual ache. He didn't understand why he was feeling soo restless, sad and angry seeing this unknown girl. Why so much concern? He wanted to run away from her for causing him such strange feelings but at the same time, stay beside her....closer to her to drown into those feelings even more.

Finally, he decided to give up and with lot of effort tore his eyes away from her beautiful face and gestured Yasir to follow him outside.

Muskan heard the footsteps getting distant and disappearing and her heart sank. She shut her eyes tight. Why was she feeling soo sad that he left? A strange man who didn't feel like a stranger to her? Why was that?

Her anxiousness dialled down a little whenever he was around. It was as if no harm could touch her if he was there. However, it was no use having such vague feelings. He would eventually end up hating her pathetic, ugly, handicap self too...just like her family....just like the world.

∆∆∆
Rehan leaned on his study chair folding his arms deep in thoughts. He couldn't just stop thinking about the girl even for a second. Those emerald eyes, her porcelain skin, her honey dripping voice....and that innocence in her every being! Gentle like a butterfly. He couldn't believe a girl was distracting him to such an extent.

"Get me everything you can on that girl" he said with authority.

"Ok....looks like you're quite interested in that little sparrow." Yasir smirked.

Rehan frowned in response hearing Yasir call her such names.
"Just do as I tell you!" He said sternly.

"Yes boss. Sure!" Yasir said raising his hand up surrendering as he chortled.

"What's soo funny?" Rehan challenged him

"Nothing bro! Nothing at all." Yasir said slipping his hands in his pockets leaving the room.

∆∆∆
"Eat this, bacchi." Zarina placed a food tray on Muskan's lap.

Muskan's mouth watered by just the smell but she felt flustered and hesitant. Zarina took her hands and guided her fingers to the food explaining the dishes.

Muskan shyly put a piece of chapati dipped in hot dal in her mouth and her eyes teared up.

"It's...so warm and delicious." She smiled.

Zarina and Khushi smiled too seeing her innocent cute smile. Zarina moved her hand through her hair.
"Finish it all. Ok?"
She said lovingly and Muskan proceeded to eat. It had been soo long since she had such warm good food to eat or since anyone cooked for her.

"How old are you cutie?" Khushi asked.

"I... I'm 20"

"Wow! Really?! But you look soo young. I thought you would be like 16 or something." Khushi said blinking.

Well, it wasn't her fault though. Muskan was kinda short and very thin with an innocent baby face. Anyone would be mistaken like that.

"Why don't you stay for the night here bacchi? You'll be safe here." Zarina suggested.

Muskan shook her head vigorously. She had never been out of her own home in 6 years and to stay the night in a stranger's home.....was unacceptable! Not to forget her Khala would kill her.

"It's ok cutie. That bast... I mean you're bhaijaan, he's already been sent back. So it's better you spend the night here. We'll drop you home safely tomorrow." Khushi said and took her hand in her's.
"You can sleep with your Khushi Didi in the guest room. Ok?" She smiled.

"But... I... I don't want to be a bother any longer." Muskan said putting her head down. She has always been a bother to everyone and these people that she met just a couple hours ago were soo nice to her, she couldn't bear to know they hate her too. She just wanted to save this momentary happy memory into her heart.

"Oh come on!" Khushi smacked her shoulder to which Muskan almost lost her balance thanks to her weak frame.

"Woops! Sorry cutie. What I meant was, your not a bother honey, infact, you're just soo adorable like a little puppy and soo innocent and cute that I want to keep you with me forever! So stay the night please...we can be friends and even after tonight you can visit us anytime you want." Khushi said giving her a squeezy hug from the side.

Muskan's heart warmed out bringing a smile on her face.

"F... friends?" She had never had a friend before and what Khushi said was like a dream come true.

Muskan thought for a while... of course it was wrong but for the first time in her life she wanted to be selfish....

"Ok... Khushi didi." She said shyly.

But she didn't knew, her innocent selfishness..... would cost her soo much.....