"I wonder where life would take me" I slowly whispered.

"It is unexpected,that causes thrill Miss Naaz. Can you imagine the state of boredom of something that goes on predictions"

"I feel too old for taking on thrills"

"You're younger than I"

"Yet I feel old"

"Perhaps you're reading the wrong things" he laughed at me.

"I read Shakespeare "

"Shakespeare?  You're favorite sonnet? " he questioned.

I smiled but soon was overwhelmed with the lines as I recited.

"That time of year thou may'st in me behold 
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, 
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. 
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day, 
As after sunset fadeth in the west, 
Which by-and-by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest. 
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire 
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, 
As the death-bed whereon it must expire 
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by. 
   This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,
   To love that well which thou must leave ere long" I breathed long and heavy with feelings flowing in me.

"Excellent choice Miss Naaz" he said.

"Summer Street and Love. Sometimes little things are expensive to afford"

"It was pleasure meeting you Miss Naaz" he stated.

"The pleasure was entirely mine. Do not worry my heart doesn't go out of my hands"

"Mine bears no garuntee" he fixed his sight on my heavy lashes.

"Everyone is entitled to their own baggage "

He sighed. I sighed. What if I wasn't the stronger one here. What if he wasn't the weaker one today? What if we both lose ourselves in this night?What if we run away?

A loud noise pushed us.

We turned and found the breeze had broken the vase in the passage.

What was I thinking, I rechecked my senses.

"I must leave Al-Wais " I said.

"Goodnight Miss Naaz" he said

"Goodnight "

I turned and walked out, he followed me.

I looked over my shoulder, his eyes watching me,carefully.

Perhaps I respect him so much that we wouldn't ever be able to be lovers.

"I missed you Miss Naaz" he said.

"but I haven't ---" before my words would travel out I understood. I hadn't been anywhere, I was always here. He missed me while I wasn't here, for all these years in Dar-Al-Maqamah. I thought it to be the most beautiful thing ever said to me.

"I missed you too Al-Wais " I said, for the all the years gone by, that were spent without him.

I smiled.
Who said you have to be lovers to love anyways ?

I settled in my room, it was three past twenty. I wondered if I had ever been this strong. Ever so effortlessly let go.

I slept peacefully.
The soft tickles of breeze, the sweet sound of birds. The colours of foxgloves and all the whiteness of lilies were at sight in the morning.

I placed the tea cups and sat with Al-Wildan.

"How are the stage shows in The City? " he asked.

"extremely talented and remarkable " I answered.

"It must be well equipped "

"yes they are"

"Have you ever been a part of them? " Al-Shizad asked.

"well no but they are great" I insisted.

"What have you done then in twenty seven years Miss Falaq-Naaz! " he grunts.

I've cried, I've cried and regretted all these twenty-six years.

An Al-Souffian with Al-Wais can always be seen. In the mornings I do not know this Man but he is called Al-Wais.

"How are you doing today Falaq-Naaz ?" Al-Souffian asked.

"I am good. Hopefully you are in a good mood"

He cross smiled.

I was returning from the chamber when I saw Miss Scarlett Rosalind escaping from Al-Hassan's room.

I was about to catch her but I saw Al-Hassan leaving, him following her. I was confused. Why was Miss Scarlett in Al-Hassan's room and why were they leaving so suspiciously.

Ar-Danish somehow saw the scenario from the floor above.

"are you surprised? " he asked me. "well that happens almost occasionally, told you didn't I? They ain't as good as you think of them"

I walked away but I felt some Sentiment in me was hurt. It wasn't good for Al-Hassan to let a woman enter his room and to leave with her from the back door so in a suspicious way.

At the lunch table surprisingly my father and Mr Elahim were present.

"when did you come Dad? " I asked.

He did not answer.

"He came early morning " Fateh said to me.

I sat stubbornly watching my dad eat. Can he just get over what happened after all in the most part I was the victim.

Mr Elahim looked rather pleased.  He smiled for the entire time. As my pity for him has increased,I did not mind him, in fact I was at ease to see him happy.

When the lunch ended. He did not say dismissed. The tables were cleaned. The reflection of myself and Al-Wais in the opposite direction caught my eye. When he coughed. I came out of the thought pool.

"I was wondering you haven't been anywhere in a long time now. Here" Mr Elahim handed a file to Al-Wais.

"You will go to the city and get this work done and you can spend a day and a night there and return by tomorrow morning" he added.

I smiled. Al-Wais and his travel stories need an extension. He is trapped here and the feeling of seeing his face being lit by the prospect of traveling, I felt happiness inside.

"Do you want to go with your Brother? " Mr Elahim asked Al-Wildan.

He shook his head in a No.

But everybody laughed slightly because wasn't his little nod an obvious Yes.

Mr Elahim looked at my Father and said "Arrange a trip for Al-Wais and Al-Wildan and make sure they deal no problem. And also make arrangements that they return back on time for breakfast tomorrow"

"Al-Shizad do you want to go as well"He asked Al-Shizad.

"No. I am not interested in cities " he puts away the question.

The dismiss was announced and everybody left. I removed a small muffler I bought from town for Fateh. I went to Al-Wais first.

His eyes sparkling with the adventure in his eyes, a trapped passion spreading Wild Wings and he was set to fly. Stuffing around his bag with clothes and his diary. His favorite Foxglove lying behind the bed. And he was genuinely happy.

"Looks like someone is very Excited "
I said.

"oh Miss Naaz. I've been not out for nearly a decade now"

I felt sad for him. I looked at him completely engrossed in packing. I felt sad for he was going away and though I knew he would return,I was use to always having him by my side.

Al-Wildan had already packed his bag and sat on the bed. I laughed seeing the boys so excited for such a gloomy city. Al-Shizad has also come with his bag. And I laughed harder.

"it's just for a day! " I laughed.

The twins were offended as their elder also laughed with me.

"I would see if we can attend a fair after the meeting" Al-Wais said. "are you coming along Al-Shizad ?"

"Yes. I mean Al-Wildan cannot sleep without me"

At which Al-Wildan did not protest, he did not want to shame his brother. I laughed tearing out. They looked so innocent but far much farcical! 

The cutest,Elahim Brothers.

I put the muffler around Al-Wildan.

"Take care " I said to him. I did not turn my back to Al-Wais but left the same words for him.

He looked over his shoulder at me, I looked my shoulder to him.

I waved them a goodbye.

The vacant large hall looked rather dull. I missed Al-Shizad more than I expected. I turned the pages to several books and finally ended in the kitchen.

I took Mrs Kasheefa's laptop and typed dear Fathimah a mail. I was specific of what I had to say and what to keep away. In general there is far more poise in the hidden secrets.

I typed on.