Retrouvailles

In Between 4

Karachi 6:30 PM

"Finally," Aymen looked at the beeping dots and then started. "Fakhir is asleep after a very early breakfast and some much-needed coffee, they have put his phone on charge as well...the roommate guy is also cutting short his trip and he'll be back in a few hours," Aymen announced reading the message and all three of them took a breath.

The last few hours had been a living havoc for them, especially for Annie who though tried not to see anything but the terror was visible in her eyes.

"then I am going to brew us some coffee, Aymen, samose?" Faiza said getting up from her bed.

"Haan bilkul... also, do sprinkle some chocolate powder as well," Aymen suggested with a knowing look.

"of course." Faiza laughed and they recalled how Phoopho used to sprinkle the coffee powder on top of the froth and kept insisting cafes did the same.

"Arey bhai, kya baat hai, I heard you guys didn't leave this room even for lunch." Samina had arrived back from the factory and she smiled entering the room. In her heart, she felt happy to see all three of them mingling well and starting to behave like the sisters she had imagined them to be.

"Asalaamwalekum Badi Ammi, Mami." they collectively greeted her rather surprised since they didn't hear her coming too busy in their thoughts.

"Walekum asalam...

"Da...Du." Anaya who was till now not in Samina's sight ran towards her from her playing mat just behind the door.

"Oh ho...to ye bat hai, All are having a girls' evening...aisha hai kya Anaya, Aisha hai kya." Samina cooed to the little girl and the big girls who had felt their breaths in their mouth sighed thanking Anaya inwardly for changing the topic.

"Badi Ammi, aap coffee lengi." Faiza pushed her glasses up her nose and Annie too tried to make her sullen face relaxed.

"Nahi Bhai, maine to chai peeni hai...varna phir mujhe neend nahi aayegi, Faiza get me a hot cup of tea before I pray, don't know why I felt strange all day as if something was not good," Samina said in a tired tone and Annie lowered her head knowing Samina could perceive her eyes. Faiza and Aymen shared a look.

"i felt as if...as if...how to explain, nevertheless I think I'll just go and pray..." Samina smiled at them letting Anaya walk back to her playing mat.

"Hmmm." Annie nodded and tried to smile.

"did you talk with Fakhir...I could not talk with him because of my work and his schedules." Samina asked as she collected her bag and shawl she had kept on Aymen's bed.

"Ummm," Annie felt her hands going numb along with her throat and the look on her face was about to give away the secret when Faiza barged in.

"Amma...what is this?"

"what ...what happened?" all turned to Faiza who was standing at the door and looking at something in front of her.

"Arey ladki, tumne to hame dara hi diya...this bag was about to slip from my hands.' Ayesha's voice came in next.

"You told us you would be back in an hour and you came after like three hours...Badi Amma is also here, wow what is there in those bags." Faiza tried to animate the scene as much as possible.

"Bhabhi is here...thank God, I don't have to run the stairs...Bhabhi, dekhen na..." Ayesha entered calling Fehmi to join them as well and the young girls took no time to understand this was their cue to leave the room before their secret was out.

"Annie, bhai tumne to aaj sabko marwana tha..." Aymen commented as they entered the kitchen to grab plates and cups for the tea and coffee and the snacks Ayesha had got from the market.