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"Zara!" Imran cried enthusiastically and laid his arms around me.

Manar lost her balance and fell to the ground.

I let out a deep sigh and helped them both inside.

After closing the door, I saw them stumble into the living room.

I ran my hands over my face and felt frustration build up.

"Zara!" I suddenly heard Imran scream as he looked around with panic. "Zara!"

I continued my steps and grabbed Imran's arm when I almost saw him fall. "I'm here, Imran," I muttered back irritated.

He held my face and looked at me lovingly. "There you are." A broad smile appeared on his face.

I looked up when I heard Manar gagging.

F*ck, the carpet.

I muttered some curse word when I thought of cleaning it.

With difficulty I lowered Imran onto the couch and squatted down in front of him. "I'm going to help Manar first and then I'll take you to the bathroom, okay?"

Imran leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "Y-you a-always help others first and then me."

I let Imran speak and turned my attention to Manar lying on the floor. I took a cloth from the kitchen and cleaned her mouth.

"That day- when Faid had b-beaten me up," Imran gulped drunkenly. "You helped him f-first." His lips shivered. "Do you have any idea h-how much that h-hurt?"

Amazed, I remained frozen in place. I didn't know he felt that way about it.

"And- and then I came to see you." Tears built up in his eyes. "And you left me for Faid again."

A loud sigh left my mouth as I pulled Manar into the kitchen. I washed her face there and she let out a relieved sigh. "Better?" I asked her and she nodded slightly. I filled a glass with water and held it to her lips.

"Zara?" I heard Imran calling from the living room.

I ignored his call and waited patiently for Manar to finish drinking.

"Zara!" His voice grew louder.

Manar pulled her mouth away from the glass, signaling she was done, and I placed the glass in the sink.

With an arm around her shoulders, I guided her up the stairs, towards one of the rooms available for visitors.

She shook her head halfway. "I want to sleep on the couch, Zara." Her voice was soft and almost inaudible.

I nodded in surprise and helped her onto an empty couch.

Imran waved his arms in the air. "Zara?"

I fished out a warm blanket for the winter from the closet and threw it over her cold body. She let out a grateful sigh and closed her eyes.

"Zaraaaa," Imran slurped and I closed my eyes in frustration.

I stood in front of Imran and pulled on his arm. He blinked several times. "Zara?"

"Yes, Imran. It's me." I put his arm around my shoulders and helped him to his feet. "Come."

He leaned against my body for support and I helped him up the stairs.

"You know Faid is my brother, Imran," I indicated as soon as we got to the top. I pulled him to the bathroom and turned on the light. "He means a lot to me. He raised me in the absence of my parents and risked everything for my safety."

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