"I wonder, whether the stars have ever told you that I talk to them about you!"
Mifa watched the wall clock, impatiently. It was half past one in afternoon now, half an hour since she was inside the room.
She could hear voice of everyone talking from outside and felt left out and restless, like a fish, out of water. She wanted someone to call her now and she was ready to come out immediately, in a breath. Did they totally forget her?
She punched the pillow in frustration, which would have shouted in pain and gathered everyone's attention, if only it was a living creature. Poor thing, it had no option other than suffering the torture.
"Mifa.... " Afeera started saying something but was cut off with an immediate reply.
"Yes Mamma, coming!" Mifa adjusted her dress and came out of room soon after, making Afeera surprised with such quick response which was rare for Mifa.
"What happened?" She asked her mother, not raising her eyes to anywhere else, ignoring the whole world around her.
"Let's Arrange the dishes on table. He has to go soon." Her mother said while taking back the previously kept trays from the dining table and walking to kitchen.
Mifa followed her inside but very cleverly looked back from kitchen window. She found Afham sitting and chatting with her father and brothers.
"Where's Utkarsh?" She asked her mother while converting Paneer from cooker to casserole.
"He went. We asked him to stay but, he said, he didn't want to trouble us more."
Mifa hummed and did other preparations, wondering how Afham; the ever silent guy could have such an outspoken friend.
Both ladies together arranged the dishes while her both brothers kept them on the table.
Everyone washed their hands and sat back on chairs. Mifa's mother made Afham sit beside her, on Shoaib's chair, so she could serve him dishes, to her hearts content.
When Mifa came back with jug of water, she found all the chairs full except her own, where Afham was sitting previously, which was beside the chair where Afham was sitting currently. Shoaib took the seat on which Utkarsh was sitting before and her father and Zohaib were still on their seats. Zohaib now sitting in front of Afham.
She didn't know whether she should be happy or anxious. Sitting beside him was fine, but will she be able to concentrate on eating, on that seat? Obviously not.
She wanted to ask her brother to change her seat but she knew what reply she'd get, "It's the same chair where you sit everyday, so what's the problem now?", He would say, so asking him was as if giving him opportunity to make her embarrassed in front of all.
She silently sat beside him and thought to concentrate on her food only, no matter what.
She served herself very less, so the food would be over soon. All started having their meals.
Only two minutes had passed and she felt someone bumping her right foot with their foot.
Was Afham doing that!? She widened her eyes and gasped inaudibly. The morsel got stuck in her throat and she coughed.
"What happened, Mifa?.... Be careful" Her father passed her a glass of water.
She sipped a bit and coughed, still in shock.
"Look up at the bird, Aapi!" Zohaib showed her the imaginary bird, just like how their parents used to tell them whenever something like this happens.
But her mind was not upwards, but downwards. Under the table.
"Look up, na!" He bumped her feet with his, finding her still coughing and gave her another shock.
