"Master Al-Wais calls for you," a skinny male helper of the house said to me the very first thing in the morning.

I walked into the room followed by a sleepy Fateh.

When we entered I found all of them. Why are they always together?

"Good morning Falaq-Naaz" Wais greeted in an unlikely soft tone.

"Good morning" I replied.

He offered me a seat.

"I talked to your Father last night, he was worried. My father has stated for you to be kept in Dar-Al-Maqamah till he returns, which would be longer than a month I reckon. For you to kept as you please, for every mistake for yours to be rather ignored. You shall have what you want here, you are our guest" He spoke intensely.

I lightly sighed.

"Thank you" I replied.

"You have any plans to run away please execute them after my Father returns" Souffian mumbled.

I pierced my eyes through him, how does he know?

"She is not going anywhere, she goes nowhere without me" Fateh stated confidently.

Oh, Fateh you bind me.

So it was then decided, I wasn't leaving at least not this month.

Also, I was spared a room beside the hallway, where I and grandma with Fateh spend their time. To be real with my words, it wasn't as bad I imagined life to be inside the house. It was smooth and peaceful.

One day I was crossing the backyard when Wildan and Shizad blocked me with a question "Are you from the city? " they asked.

"Yes," I replied to which Shizad made a face and Wildan smiled.

After that instance, Wildan developed a curiosity in me.

But since I've been here right from the start the hunger is growling inside for junk food. They don't snack, extremely weird is the fact that somebody does not snack?

Even Fateh and grandma missed dear Pizza and Fries but it was enough missing a day. I marched to the kitchen in the chamber. It was a good smell, the fact I discovered after I started living inside the house is that these men don't eat as healthy in the night. They have a hearty dinner. Yet half in the taste that can please my buds.

I found Mrs. Salma brewing some coffee.

I urge her to let me cook myself something after hundreds of verbal requests and fighting her hands I made myself Pizza and fries.

She said she had already cooked something special. The special was baked chicken with asparagus.

I was about to devour the food entirely without sharing, the embarrassment for being such a hungry animal made me pale.

I heard Hassan outside the door. Hassan has a very crisp voice.

Mrs. Salman and he had a long conversation and I saw Hassan smile. Oh, he smiles...I saw his teeth, it was a wide smile and then he kissed Mrs. Salma's hands.

"What is she doing inside?" He caught me peeking.

I hit my head with the spoon.

"I'm sorry I was hungry " I spoke coming out.

"But it's not even time for dinner yet? Did you not eat your lunch?"

"I did. I'm just hungry..." Call the shame.

"Why?"

"What? I don't know. I have a habit of snacking in between my meals" I knocked down the plate. "That's an absurd habit. No wonder you have taught the same to your brother, he keeps saying the same words"

I shouldn't have but I laughed.
I was red with embarrassment.

"Would you like some?" I offered him a piece.
Wildan too joined.Both of them looked at each other but did not move their hands.

"It is called Pizza, " I said.

They both rolled their eyes and uttered "of course we know"

"Where is the fork though?" Wildan said.

Good gracious, forks into Pizza.

They took the whole plate and went away. Wildan returned from halfway and took the second plate and then he lifted the third plate too. "Can you get the fries?" he asked me.

I nodded. Little angry about these 'what's a snack people ' stealing my snack I mean who was that 'snack is unhealthy ' I twitched my mouth.

When I followed them to the living room which of course all of them were present in. When they placed the food on the table all together their eyes shot towards the clock.

So in sync.

"What? " Souffian Asked.

I saw Wildan whispering something in Shizad's ear and he came first.

One after the other they ate. They did not like the pizza very much, they muttered the 'shortcomings' between each bite as they ate the whole snack.
They ate fries and pizza with a fork and knives and Hassan fed Wais with his own hands as he was injured.

I flared my nostrils and glared at them but they did not take notice. Fateh ate happily with them. Fateh is more like them today than like me.

When I turned to walk away Shizad said "nisa' take away a little for Mrs. Ibrahim"

A slice alone with three fries.

"Grandma doesn't eat fries or Pizza " Fateh stated before I could save it for myself. I was angry but then after completing their meal and they had a request to 'not make anything special or heavy' as they had eaten.

Brats.

I was fading into the circumference of the horizon. The depression that turned me numb now sank somewhere in the depth of my afternoon sleep. After ages, I felt peace. The nonexistence of sadness made me almost happy.

Maybe we all just need a distraction, as it has proved as the remedy for my sadness.

I rolled the doormat and cleaned the floor. I spent time with Mrs. Kasheefa and Mrs. Salma. Now the ever curious Wildan had asked me to accompany him to the backyard where they have this small artificial pound and carnations exploding from all sides.

There was a wooden bench at one side, a little further was a dome-shaped gazebo supported by white floral craved pillars where the rest of the brothers were having their tea. Fateh played near the pond as I adored the fragrant morning and dew.

Wildan smiled over and over. Is something in the way he is made, he is blessed with a kind character.

"You have wonderful Home," I said to him.

"Home? Dar-Al-Maqamah please" he corrects.

"Why are you all so obsessed with names?" I asked.

"Nay, not obsessed we prefer perfection in speech" he replied without losing his radiant smile.

"Why Dar-Al-Maqamah? What does it mean?" I enquire.

"You did not seem so ignorant. You do not know?" He spoke with a slight creak.

Now Souffian has walked near us. Time to be insulted. Wildan continued with the answer "It is named after Jannah, Dar-Al-Maqamah is one Paradise of the Lord. There are ten names mention into the Qur'an according to one source. Dar-al-Salaam, Dar-al-Akhirah and Firdous being amongst them"

Oh, I did not know that.

"Busy chasing Firdaws ?" Souffian smiled slightly.

I laughed with my head down as it was true.

"Dar-Al-Maqamah meaning Home" Wildan added.

"It is so interesting that everything is given so much attention" I spoke with awe.

"You haven't even seen the drop of the ocean of reason my father has liberated this house with" Souffian arrogantly stated.

Perhaps.....

Grandma has recovered so much here. She has started to speak at a little faster pace than before. "Keep here" she points for her beads to be kept near her. We don't talk much. I am paying for the sin I did not commit.

I miss mum. I miss my home. I miss Fatimah. I want to write a letter to her but I'm stuck with the civility to being robot-like here.

I washed the clothes and hung them for drying. Time goes slowly here. In my past time which is plenty, I adore the Elahim brothers, their strict mannerisms. I have collected a lot of it in my memory and wish to write it somehow. I will never forget these men.

I went in the chambers.

"Mrs Kasheefa, who's laptop is this!" I uttered in uncontrollable excitement.

"Mine. I bought this from room, the connection is weak there and my daughter is calling" she said.

"Can I use it to send a mail?" I impatiently requested.

She offered me the laptop and I carried it to one corner of the kitchen. My heart was beating fast. Oh Fatihma I miss you.

I began typing.