Ittefaq Say (MeeraSim FF)

19 - Kashish

I love this picture. It's giving sweet primary school teacher, no?

'Challein?' Meerab asked, standing at the front door of the house, with her hand on the handle, a neatly folded chador on the other arm. (Shall we go?)

'Challo,' he instructed, hopping down the stairs. Murtasim had a breif case in one hand, and the other was reaching into his pocket to retrieve his car keys. (Let's go.)

But before he could reach the bottom of the stairs, Maa Saab tutted, watching the two trying to hurry out.

'Kaam ka pehla din, duain beghair juagey?' Maa Saab asked, without a care for her son already causing them to be late. (Will you leave for your first day of work without my prayers?)

'Waapis aah key duaein lay le ge,' he attempted to dismiss, but this did absolutely nothing to deter his mother and she gently placed her hand on Meerab head. (You can bless her when she comes home later.)

The act of kindness caused Meerab's heart to swell and she replied, 'Shukria.' (Thankyou.)

'Ab tou tum humari amanat hou. Khair say jau bete,' Maa Saab said whilst unfolding the new chador and placing it over Meerab's shoulders. It was white, with white embroidered flowers along the perimeter- delicate, unlike the black that Murtasim had gifted in the train. (You are our's for safe-keeping. Keep safe.)

Murtasim came to stand infront of his mother, and wiggled his eyebrows.

Maa Saab's gaze followed him, asked in a slightly less affcetionate tone, 'Tummein kya chahiye?' (What do you want?)

'Dua dey de...' he suggested in a cheeky lilt, as if it was his first day too. (A blessing for me too...)

Unimpressed, she tutted. 'Larki kaam kay liye late ho rahe hai... bura lagey ga. Jaldi jau,' she responded whilst ushering them outside. That boy had recieved enough duas for a lifetime, but to her... Meerab was an orphan, entrusted to her. (The girl is getting late for her first day st work. It'll look bad. Go quickly.)

This incited a giggle from Meerab as they made their way out to car and she pulled the chador up over her head- covering her as it draped forwards loosely so it concealed her identity as she was still on edge- it had only been 3 days since running away.

'School tou kareeb he hai,' Murtasim explained, continuing to narrate the roads to the small school in which she would be employed. Its was perhaps a 10 minute drive out into a residential area with more reasonably sized homes. (The school is quite near actually.)

They drove until they reached a metal gated area with 'Shah Nawaz Primary School,' etched into stone. The guard opened the full gate to allow Murtasim's car to drive in, and he parked next to a couple others. But beyond that, there was a long row of smaller bicycles owing to the students, and a couple motor bikes.

Meerab lowered her heavy chador and affixed her sheer dupatta. The weather was moderate, and the threat of being identified was non-exsistant inside the school.

It was a double story builing, splayed out in a L-shape, with a large playground towards a centre and a grassy area to the side.

As they exited the vehicle, Murtasim showed her the way to the entrance, taking long strides over the tiled flooring. His speed forced her to skip slightly in his trail.

It seemed that all the school children were already in their respective classes, and it was otherwise quiet as they walked through the internal corridor. As they passed and peeked in though the open windows, the children and teachers nodded in a respectful silent salute- as though they were all aware of the benefactor.