'If you can't operate it, why would you buy it?!'

Nur flinches as Cora scolds her. 'I am trying. Let me google it.'

Cora scoffs. 'You wasted my money.' Nur's lips draw in a tight line but she decides not to reply. Surely, it would only lead to another argument.

Nur works on the second-hand laptop deliberately that she bought an hour ago along with the internet for the sake of social advertisement using her, and Cora's money. But now does she understands how hectic it is to create accounts.

Nur stretches her body as she is done with her accounts along with posting the images of their diner. For thirty minutes, she keeps staring at the screen, refreshing her feed to know if anyone liked the post but there was nothing.

After helping Cora with her ingredients, cutting of vegetables and preparing the spices, Nur picks up and bag and dashes to collect the pamphlets she asked a photocopier to copy three hours ago.

She goes through each paper that are of so cheap quality that by only holding, wrinkles frame the fingers. But Nur only nods in thanks and gives the photocopier the money of her own.

The pamphlet is black and white that reads:

RELISH
An Indian/Pakistani Cuisines Diner

With limited prices and great taste.
365 Thorn Rose Street
Timings: 9am to 9pm

Nur tugs the pamphlets in her bag and walks into a small bookshop. Buying a city map from it, she sits on a table in a public garden. Fishing her pen out of her bag, she marks the streets she has to give pamphlets to.

When she is done, she takes a bus and goes to her marked location. She jumps down the bus and adjusting her strap, feels the pages in between her fingers, recites a prayer and places the pamphlets in the mailboxes. Those of the houses which do not have a mailbox, she inserts it through the letter boxes.

She keeps on doing it, until the sun is down and her wrist hurts along with her feet.

She rotates her shoulders when she sits in the bus and goes back to the diner. By the time Nur is back, Cora is serving a drunk customer with water. 'What happened?'

'Nothing,' Nur goes in the kitchen and pours herself a glass of water. 'I distributed the pamphlets.'

'How many?'

'257.' Nur answers as she chugs down the water. 'I still have so many left. I wanted to distribute at least 300.'

'Don't jump where you have to walk,' Cora says. 'Take things easy.'

'Yeah but the more people would know,' Nur drinks another glass of water, 'the better.'

Cora looks at her but says nothing. Nur's legs burn and she somewhat doubts if she'll be able to pull enough productivity tomorrow. But she has to do it. She will not back down.

After refreshing her feed one more time and seeing no response, Nur shuts down the laptop and hands it to Cora. Without a goodbye, they both part ways and leave for their homes.

As Nur reaches her home, she drapes down on her couch—utterly exhausted.

She does walk, a lot but this much walk? Nope, she never did it.

From her kitchen, Nur spreads jam over a bread and eats it for her dinner. She recites the Quran, offers her prayer and lays down on the bed ending her day. After a whole day of tiredness, loneliness takes her sleep away. She lays awake, with throbbing legs, burning calves, back pain and a hurting heart. For once, she wishes her mother could be here to help her with the start of her journey.

A drop of tear rolls down her cheek as she remembers her mother and closes her eyes, imagining her mother's hand running through her hair, soothing her worries away.

Finally, sleep arrives, taking her to the bliss of illusions.

***

Thud!

Thud!

Nur jerks awake with a ragged breath. Her eyes immediately bolt to her main door that is shaking. Fear claws her insides.

She runs her hand through her hair as she looks for her phone. She looks over the nightstand, under it, in the drawer, under the covers, under the bed but she does not find it.

Panic cuffs her feet as her wooden door bears the sharp raps. Nur composes herself and walks to the door. Her door has no peep hole but there is a little crack. She closes her one eyes and looks through the hole.

She takes a sharp intake of breath as she finds two men standing outside, in the dead of night. And it takes no time for Nur to recognise the same man who followed her the night Nur met an accident. And seeing the drunk state of the men and them holding a knife, a unsettling feeling sets in her stomach. 'Open it, sweetheart,' someone calls from outside. 'We know you are inside.'

Nur backs away from the door that is about to break. With shaky hands, Nur drags a couch in front of the door to support the door but it is useless as she notices the hinges of the door getting loose. 'We won't hurt ya. Just a little work and I promise, it won't take even twenty minutes. Come on sweetie, open it. No one would know and I am sure you'll like it too.'

Tears glisten her eyes and a big lump forms her forehead. What should I do? She looks for her mobile once again. In the living room. Under the carpet but her visions is all blurred with tears of fear. Where is it? Where did I put it?

'Come on, open it. Don't make us wait.' Her heart beats in her throat when she does not find her phone. Where is it? WHERE IS IT?!

Her hair drape down her shoulders and over her face when she bends down to look for her phone under the table. Someone raps again.

Nur looks in the showcase.

The door vibrates.

Her eyes flickers to her bag hanging at the back of the main door. Damn it!

The couch slides slightly away. It is the only thing that is holding the door close.

Nur stretches her hand for the strap of her bag but the couch slides away and, the door opens.

_______
What do think will happen next?