Retrouvailles

In Between 2

Dakota City 0130 hours

Karachi 4:30 PM

"Fakhir, It is still hard for me to believe your project was that good." Annie balanced the dress hangers of Faiza in her free hand and waited for Faiza to hand her the suitcase.

Fakhir's project with Brenda had been chosen to be sent as his college's entry to an interstate seminar and that spoke volumes of the hard work he was trying to do to do well in the new atmosphere.

"waah bhai waah, Annie at least now you guys need to understand my worth." Fakhir teased her while sipping the special tea his roommate had received from his home city along with pujo special sweets and mixtures. He didn't find anything different than the tea he was habitual of back home other than how it spoke volumes of his roommate sharing a bond with him.

"Ahaan... Your Highness, then when are you supposed to leave for the seminar ?" She played along walking to the store where she kept the empty suitcase on the racks.

"On Sunday evening, so that we reach the venue by 10 the next day," Fakhir told her looking at the sketch of a lush fall morning sitting tall on one of the tables they had. Shobhit was not only good with sketches but his work came alive with the colors.

"We?" Annie could not control the suspicion seeping into her voice.

"Yeah, Brenda will also be coming with me." Fakhir said and it took him no time to sense the change in the airs. "it was also her project Annie."

"Yeah, I know." Annie agreed in a small voice remembering all the time Fakhir told her about this project, the way he sometimes asked for her help so that Bree didn't feel he was even dumber than Annie had an idea, the way Miss- I - know -everything changed into Brenda and then to Bree... She knew Fakhir had already sensed her discomfort whenever he discussed her and that was the reason for him calling her by her full name otherwise Bree was turning out to be another good friend just like AMNA.

Annie shook her head when Amna's name touched her thoughts, she had misunderstood him once and she could not do that to him again... Perhaps this was the reason Fakhir grew irritated when they were together. She need not behave like that again.

"I am sorry, it's just... I don't know... how to explain." Annie apologized.

"No need to say anything Annie, I understand... just remember one thing I promised loyalty to you till the time we are together." He could not stop feeling guilty about their situation but he knew loyalty was the easiest thing, it sorted all other things for a person.

"till the time we are together..." This stung, his words were like a cold splash of reality in this lazy autumn afternoon, and on her own, her eyes wandered towards the living room calendar and a quick calculation told her she had three weeks before they were officially divorced and all of a sudden she felt she didn't want to do anything.

She had promised Faiza she would help her set up their old room they shared together for Faiza and Aymen now since both girls needed a private space to better focus on their studies and their personal growth but now she had lost any zeal she felt earlier.

"Annie, you there..." Fakhir enquired when she didn't say anything for some time.

"Yeah... what were you saying." she left the chair she didn't remember sitting down and moved into Faiza's room to be in someone's company and not alone.

Fakhir was about to say he said nothing but changed his mind, " I was planning to buy a few shirts but I don't know what to choose, this is going to be the first time I am presenting something."

If Fakhir was being considerate of her torn feelings here she was grateful for the change of topic and this also gave her a chance to redeem her earlier mistake of suspecting him.