The Grey Point of View

Meethi Chai

The only voice that could be heard was the clicking keys on the computer. Daneen was so indulged in typing she didn't notice Ataullah entering her room. He was trying to read the book he just picked from her collection. He tried to read a page then turned a couple of pages more, then looked at the back of the book. He was irritated. Reading books was not his thing. He wouldn't have been able to touch it if Daneen knew of his presence.

"Ye kya padhti rehti ho tum?, Allah Allah itni moti kitaben"

Daneen was startled.

"Tum! Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho aur meri book, hath kaise lagaya tumne"

Daneen almost jumped on him.

"Achha achha! Lo bhai bahot koi atom bomb ka nuskha hai na isme"

"Maut ka nuskha rakh kar maine kya karna hai, wo to aik din ani hi hai, isme to zindagi ka nuskha hai"

Daneen said proudly.

"Ye kya bhari bharkam baatein karti ho tum yaar, insan bano"

"Tum ho na insan, kaafi hai"

"Waise kin chakkaron me ho tum ajkal, jab deko pc par lagi rehti ho"

"Aap ki ittela ke liye arz hai ki apki behen me aapke nikammepane ke genes ki shadeed kami hai aur isiliye wo aj ek kamyaab writer bhi hain. Itna to pata hoga na ke writers ka kaam bina pc ke nahi hota"

Ataullah was furious.

"Tumhe to bhai dekhenge"

But Daneen was already back on the computer. Fingers ran smoothly on the keyboard and the clicking sound was back on track. She was smiling. Whosoever was she chatting with, she was certainly enjoying it.

*****************************

A gust of laughter filled across the room and joy was in the air. Malik Shah and Momina Khatoon were visibly overjoyed seeing their nephew Ayaan after so long. It was when Zahra entered the room with a tray of tea in her hand. She was wearing a grass green loosely fitted shirt and the same colored plazo with a yellow dupatta that she carried over one side of her shoulders. She had applied a subtle tint on her lips and cheeks. She was in her usual decent yet beautiful attire.
The only addition was the beige hijab that she draped finely over her head and neck revealing no strand of hair. The reason for that was obviously the presence of Ayaan, a non-mahram. Who knows how long.
She would not look at him. She decided when she was entering the room to serve them tea. She would have surely asked Hiba for this task had she been present here. As she kept the tray on the table, they stopped whatever they were talking about before waiting for her to serve tea.

She could feel his gaze on her but she wouldn't look, she reminded herself. She handed Malik Shah and Momina Khatoon tea and now extended the cup towards him. He took the cup carefully making sure not to touch her fingers.

"Kaisi hain Zahra! ", he asked.

Ohh! How could she think she could avoid him. This time she looked up. His face. Ohh his face! She never feels any kind of guilt or hesitation while ignoring or rejecting any guy who had shown interest in her. She never even thinks the guy could get hurt but him. His face, she could only find pure admiration and respect on his face for her. Despite her continuous ignorance, never at once did he force himself on her, never expected anything, and that makes Zahra uneasy.
She does not deserve him.

"Alhamdulillah, achhi hoon"

She gets up to leave but