Mansha’s POV:
“Ready to go?” I nod, not looking away from the mirror. “You want me to tie your hair up?” Sana continues.
She’s the one who helped me function the entire week. Eating, changing, bathing and even standing up. Anything that involves even slightly stretching or moving my back is forbidden. At first it was hard and embarrassing, but then me and her fell into a monotonous rhythm. It’s still embarrassing though.
“No.” I shake my head. I can at least move that without flinching now.
“You’ll have difficulty walking then. It’ll get in the way.” She says worriedly.
I know. But my face can be easily hidden behind a curtain of hair. Tying it up means giving everyone a clear view of it.
“I’ll tie it up for her if she changes her mind later.” I turn at the sound of Khizer’s voice, and hold back my flinch at the sudden movement. He’s leaning on the doorframe, his legs crossed at the ankles.
I frown. “Who said you could have your hands in my hair?”
“It’s better to tie them up.” Sana repeats.
I shoot her a look. “Can we stop talking about my hair? We have more pressing matters at hand.”
Khizer shrugs and Sana nods understandingly. She helps me get up, and we walk out of the house, with me leaning on Sana’s arm.
“Good luck.” She says when we stop besides the car. “I hope you get well soon, and-” She smiles. “Stay safe.”
I nod, and muster up a small smile myself. “Thank you so much Sana. For everything.” My heart swells with greatfulness at the thought of everything she’s done for me over the span of one week.
I truly couldn’t have survived without her. “Really.” I don’t know what else to say. Words are never enough to thank a person. “Maybe, after I heal, we can meet for lunch? That’s the least I could do for you in return.”
Sana’s eyes get teary, and she nods enthusiastically. “Of course! Take care of yourself till then.” She moves forward and wraps me up in a soft hug.
It’s awkward, because I can’t really move my arms and have to just stand there.
Over her shoulder, I see Khizer’s eyes light up with amusement. He wipes a fake tear from his eye.
“Fuck you.” I mouth.
Moments later, we split up. Sana gets into a car with the guy named Ahsan, and Khizer helps me get in the back seat of his, then walks to the other side and gets in as well.
Saleem, his driver, pulls out of the driveway, and I notice how deserted the surroundings of the house are. Not a soul or vehicle, just houses and buildings as old and abandoned as Khizer’s.
“What place is this?” I ask Khizer.
He looks up from his phone. “It’s a small suburb, away from the highway.”
“How far is it from my home?”
“An hour and half.” I look out the window, the trees flitting past us half dead. I imagine Khizer bringing my half dead self all the way here, then push the thought away with a grimace. There are enough things stressing me out already, I’d rather dwelling on the past not be added to the list.
Instead, I focus on the gust of wind slapping against my face as the car speeds ahead. It’s a nice change from the closed up air space I’d tolerated in the house, and I plan to enjoy it as long as I can.
Hesitantly, I carefully begin to lift my arm. Halfway up and my wound begins to burn. Biting my tongue, I raise it even more slowly, angling my hand outside the open window. The rush of air that pulses between my fingers feels amazing. My wound stings, but it’s not that bad.
I’m just noticing my chipped fingernails when Khizer’s arm extends in front of me, his shoulder brushing mine, and his hand grabs mine outside the window.
“Put it back in, your wound will start bleeding.” He murmurs, pulling my hand in and returning it to my lap.
I turn to look at him just when he glances at me.
My eyes immediately lock with his grey ones. They’re like grey marbles, from the color to the glassy texture. But even more beautiful. So much that I don’t wanna look at them. But I won’t look away first either.
“Has anyone ever told you that your eyes resemble a pandas?” I say softly.
He raises an eyebrow. “Panda?”
“Yeah. With all these dark circles, you’d make a panda jealous.”
He grins. “For now, you’re making me jealous with yours.”
This man should stop smiling at every little thing. It makes his eyes sparkle and brings out the dimples on the side of his lips, which is very frustrating.
“That’s understandable. I have none.”
Unable to tolerate it any longer, I draw back, my eyes instead landing on our entwined hands in my lap. His gaze follows mine.
We both let go at the same time.
-××××××-
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“?????”
“???’?? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ????.”
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? ???’? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ????????, ??? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????.
“????, ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????????.”
“???? ????. ????? ? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ?????????? ” ?? ????? ? ????.”??? ??? ????? ”
“????. ???’? ?? ????. ”
Maha opens the door for us. Her first reaction is coming to hug me, but Khizer comes in between before she can.
We walk in, me being extra careful so I don’t flinch in front of them.
Mom and Father were standing there, looking every inch angry and thankful. Pressing down the guilt I felt, I give them a weak smile.
“Hey mom, father.”
Moms angry eyes go from me to Khizer, and her lips twist up into a smile.
“Khizer dear! What a surprise to see you here.”
That rhymes.
“??? ??????? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ???’? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???. ????’?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?? ? ????’? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ????.” ? ??? ??? ? ????. “??? ???????? ?? ????? ? ?e?.”
“?? ?? ????? ???? ???????. ” ? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??????.
“Come in! It’s so good to see you here.” She gestures towards the sitting room.
“Yes! Do come in Khizer.” I say cheerfully.
“Mansha.” Father doesn’t look away from me.
“Yes father?” I pass him a smile.
“I want to have a word with you.” He eyes Khizer. “Alone.”
“Oohhh. Apa is in trouble.” Maha says smirking.
“?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????, ???’? ??. ???? ????’? even ??? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?????.”
“??? ? ????.” ? ???? ?? ????. “?’? ??? ???? ??????. ”
I look at Khizer. Mom’s eyes travel between us.
“It’s only morning Khizer. You will not leave this house without having breakfast with us.”
“Ofcourse! I like your cooking too much to refuse. Come on Mansha.” Khizer extends his hand out to me.
I give father an apologetic look. “Can we talk later? I have to give Khizer company.”
Father scowls. “It’s urgent. You have to-”
“Haseeb! I’m sure whatever it is can be talked about later.” Mom gives father a huge grin. “Khizer has come by after so long, he’ll probably want to sit and talk to you, right dear?” She looks at Khizer with the same smile.
Khizer nods in agreement. “I’m sure you missed your daughter a lot, but what about us Mr. Haseeb?”
Father obliges, and we all go into the sitting room, except Maha, who mom sends off to make tea.
“So, Khizer, did you and Mansha meet on your way up?” It’s as if that smile has been plastered to mom’s face.
“Yes I didn’t realize you were coming home early from work Mansha.” Father adds.
Are they going to pretend I didn’t disappear in front of Khizer? I should’ve expected them to do that. Because if he finds out I randomly disappeared for a week, he wouldn’t want to marry me. Because girls who disappear and don’t come home for the night aren’t virgins, and girls who aren’t virgins are ineligible for marriage.
“Me and Khizer actually came back together.” Both my parents stare at me in shock.
Mom fidgets in her seat. “Did you now?”
I nod. “Yeah. What happened was-”
“Let me tell you what happened. Mansha is NOT a good storyteller.” Khizer says playfully. I resist the urge to glare at him, instead keeping a straight face.
“?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ? ?????? ??? ??? me ???? ???? ???? ????????. ”
? ?????. “?’? ??? ??? ??? ???????????. ??? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ”
“??????? ?? ??? ???? ??, ????’?? ??? ????????? ???? ???’? ??? ?? ? ???? ??. ”
? ???? ? ????. “???? ??? ??? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????. ”
“????’?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????. “?? ???? ???? ? ???? ????.
“???’? ??? ??? ?????.” ? ????.
And so Khizer begins his unnecessarily detailed story about how his ‘granny’ fell down the stairs when the electricity went out suddenly a week ago, and fractured her leg. There was no one to take care of her while Khizer went to work, so I stepped up and took care of his grandma all week, because,
“What else is family for right?” Khizer passes me a grateful smile. “That’s what she said.”
I was so invested in taking care of his granny because she was in such a bad condition, and so didn’t get enough time to call and explain to my parents what was up.
“Plus I felt embarrassed.” I let my eyes fall to the carpeted floor. “Like you guys would laugh at me for doing so much for a guy’s grandma.” I bite my bottom lip. “And tease me for having changed and doing something the old Mansha wouldn’t have done.”
And that line, for some stupid reason, made my parents forget all my sins. They asked after Khizer’s grandma’s health and told me they were proud of me.
“Family comes first. And Khizer is about to be your new one.” Mom says smiling. I smile back.
“Thank you. I was scared you wouldn’t understand.” I first give father a beseeching look, then mom.
“You guys must know,” Khizer adds, “that she was there because of me. I asked her for the favor. If there’s anyone who is to blame, it’s me.”
“Oh of course not Khizer!” Mom says with a disapproving huff.
“Don’t even think that son.” Father adds.
“You both are about to be family. It is Mansha’s duty to take care of yours. We’ll make sure we send her to your house, ???????????, soon,” Mom says suggestively, “so that you don’t have to trouble yourself with all these explanations. Even today you had to come all the way here because of her, it must’ve been such a bother.”
What a bother indeed.
“Why would it be a bother?” Khizer gazes over at me. “Every second spent with her is an honor I grant myself.”
Ah. Is this the part where I’m supposed to blush and look away?
“I’m touched. Now can we go have breakfast? I’m starving.”
Khizer raises a skeptical eyebrow. We actually had breakfast before we came here, but what law says you can’t have two?
“Yes yes of course.” She turns to Khizer. “Come on Khizer dear, you must be starving as well.”
“Oh no, I’m good.” Khizer says. “I’m actually a bit late for work so I’ll-”
“Nonsense. Staying back for fifteen minutes won’t hurt, come on!” Father speaks over him.
When Khizer still doesn’t agree and my parents keep insisting, I finally snap.
“Eating a little more then an ant won’t hurt you you know.”
He glares at me. “Unlike some people I like to keep my appetite in control.”
“You literally only drank coffee!”
“I also ate one of your sandwiches!” He says defensively.
“Two bites. Just come and eat will you?” I say sharply.
One of his two guys, I think it was Ahsan, also told me he rarely eats and has been getting these migraines. Who’s stupid enough to get migraines due to malnutrition and still doesn’t eat?
“Also mom, do we have some fruits? Khizer loves fruits.” Ignoring the men in question’s glare, I get up carefully and walk out of the room, uttering a silent prayer of thanks for having gotten over with this mess.