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Liar!

Jehangir walked home quickly,"Abba,"He said as soon as he entered,"Should we tell Noor?"

"What? Come here Jehangir,"He patted the spot next to him,"Do you think she's old enough? Do you think her little heart will be able to take it."

"Abba,the sooner done,the better,don't you think?"He paused,"Abba,she asked me about her again today,she's asked me about her almost everyday,do we not owe Noor this?"

"Beta,we do,but should we not wait for her to get a little older,maybe 10?"His father knew Jehangir ached not having shared with his daughter,something that was so completely life-altering,but Noor was just a child,there was no way of affirming how she'd take it,how heart-broken she would be.

"Think about it Jehangir."

"Yes,Abba."He nodded and got up.

"Jehangir,I know you're hurting,my son,but it will all be okay,"

"Yeah,"Jehangir said with downcast eyes,"I'm going to the clinic now,Allah Hafiz."He turned and walked out the door.

»«§»«

"Salam Noor."Haroon snickered as Noor entered the classroom,ignoring him,Noor walked to her seat.

"You should return the greeting,Noor."She heard his voice right behind her.

Turning around,she matched his stance,"Peace be upon you too,Haroon."That said,she walked towards her seat once again.

"What's wrong with you Noor,mourning...."He was cut off by the English teacher's entrance,and everyone scrambled to their seats.

"We'll read today class."And with those words,all of Haroon's taunts were forgotten and Noor emersed herself in the land of books.

»«§»«

"Oh Nooorrr."Haroon sang when the bell rang signaling the end of the school day.

Ignoring him,Noor pulled up her bag and headed for the door.Everyone else had already filed out of the room

"What's wrong Noor?"Haroon sneered from his seat at the front of the class.He jumped and stood infront of Noor.

"Move aside Haroon."Noor narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why? Are you going to tell your mommy? Oh wait,you don't have one."He said and his friend's laughter died down.

"That wasn't cool Haroon."They whispered.

"What do you mean? I too have a mommy."Noor stared at him,appaled.

"No you don't,she passed away 3 years ago."Haroon now spoke in a queiter,more concerned voice.

"You're lying,I have a mama,you're a liar!"Noor cried.

"Noor..."Haroon began.

"No,you're lying!"Her voice getting higher.

"You are so stupid Haroon!" Moazzam said from behind him.

"How was I supposed to know she...."He started but Moazzam cut him off,"You're never supposed to say stuff like this in a fun way,Ya Allah,you dense idiot!"Moazzam shouted at him,reaching around him to take Noor's elbow,"Come on,Noor."He said to her.

She let herself be led away as Haroon stood looking dejected."Moazzam..."She began.

"Yes?"He turned to look at her,stopping in the middle of the hallway,"Haroon was lying wasn't he?"She said,barely audible.

"I...Noor,you should ask your baba."He said to her,averting his gaze.

"No but he was lying right?"Noor pestered.

"Noor..."He trailed off as a look of sadness crossed her face,"Okay Moazzam,Allah Hafiz."She turned and walked to the school gate where she knew her father would be waiting.

Moazzam hing his head,"Allah Hafiz Noor."

»«§»«

"How was school,Noori?"Jehangir asked as they walked home.

"Good."Noor said,not looking at him.

"Great."He smiled,looking down at her but she just continued to stare at the ground.

"Do you want ice cream?"Ice cream always cheered her up,Jehangir thought she would perk up at the mention but she just shook her head,"No thank you baba ji."

Refusing ice cream?! Something was very wrong,"Jaan,are you okay?"

"Yes baba."Noor said softly.

»«§»«

As soon as they reached home,Noor let go of Jehangir's hand and ran to the room,softly shutting the door behind her.

"Noo...what's happened?"Mariyam had appeared at the door of the kitchen but Noor had just rushed past her so she turned to Jehangir.

"I don't know,she's been this way since I picked her up."Jehangir told her,brows furrowed in concern.

"I'll check."Mariyam left him and walked to his room.

"Noor?"Noor heard her phupo enter the room and shut her eyes,"Noor?"Mariyam came to where she lay,"Oh,you're sleeping,school must have tired you out."Mariyam kissed her forehead and left,closing the door behind her.

Noor bit the inside of her cheek as the tears started to flow,she lay on her front,head turned to the right as they gathered o to make a wet spot under her left eye.She sobbed,what Haroon had said must have been true because Moazzam wasn't denying it,so why hadn't her baba told her.

She wept for goodness knows how long,the wet spot being fed very quickly,and soon dozed off.

»«§»«

"Salam Jehangir bhai."Saleem,his wife Bakhtawar and Moazzam entered the house.

"Salam Saleem bhai,bhabi,"Jehangir stood up to greet them,"It has been a long time."

"Yes,it has,"Saleem gulped,"Jehangir,there is something we need to tell you,please call Chachi and Rizwan chach too please."

Jehangir's eyebrow's furrowed,"Yes yes,um please sit down."

"Chacha,where is Noor?"Moazzam asked.

"Noor is sleeping,went to sleep as soon as we got home,why Moazzam?"Jehangir asked him,turning away from the door.

Moazzam nodded at his parents and they asked Jehangir to call his parents once again.

"Amma,Abba...Mariyam,Saleem and his wife are here,they want to talk to us."Jehangir hurried through his words,entering his parents room.

All of them noticed his hurry and quickly followed him to the living room.

"Salam."Moazzam's family stood up and shook hands with the newly entering group.

"Is there a problem Saleem?"Jehangir's father asked him as soon as they had settled down.

"Yes,chacha,there is,Moazzam,you should explain."Saleem said in a grim tone.

"Uncle,you didnot tell Noor of Hafsa khala's passing,did you?"Moazzam asked Jehangir.

The mere mention of her name and Jehangir's throat closed up,the air in the room suddenly felt depleting,Jehangir took in a deep breathe.

His father answered,"No son,we didnot."

"Well Chacha,she knows now."Moazzam spoke softly.

»«§»«

A/N

I am sooo slow on updates for this story! I'm sorry but well....I got no excuses.
Thank you guys for the patience.
Don't forget to VOTE,COMMENT and SHARE.

xxAreej