Sacred Heart

1.

In the realm of reality, people often forget themselves. For greed, for wealth or in their wishes, they forget that their life does not just revolve around the materialistic rewards that we regard so highly and mighty now. Faith, belief and honesty remained just highly appreciated words, used by many but practiced by one a few counted.

We all are hypocrites, all are narcissistic. Everyone's greedy, busy fulfilling their never-ending desire.

She is also like the rest. Greedy and hypocrite. Want more than she got, desire more than she will ever get.

"What I don't understand is why involve them when our members will get the majority?" Her elder cousin, Asher, questions, "we have good polls over the whole state. Joining those losers will only get our name tainted." He shrugs his shoulders as he casually drops the file on the table.

Mannat eyed him, studying him for a moment. Red eyes, dark bags under his eyes, crinkled shirt , droopy shoulders and tiredness clearly visible. He is overworked, overloaded with the work pressure dumped upon him and sleep deprived. The three coffee mugs lying on the table is a clear indication of how much he is struggling to keep himself steady and present worthy at the moment. He dares not to miss the meeting called by their grandfather. No one dares to.

Ahad gave a look at his younger brother for his comment.

"Obviously it's needed, Asher," he says. Asher  says nothing about it, just nods. If his brother says that it's needed then there must be something behind it. Ahad Raza Mir knows better how to play the game of politics than him.

"If you say so."

Mannat looks away from their discussion. Her eyes take the strong, wrathful and piercingly lit clear sky. The big peepal tree in their garden acts as a boulder between her and the rays. Providing her with necessary warmth and shielding from the excess wrath.

A sigh escapes her lips and she continues to focus on the scattering of the leaves due to the wind.

Someone clicks his fingers and her attention snaps back to her current surroundings. Ahad and Asher looking at her, a look of impatience dawned upon the latter one's face.

She frowns, "yes?"

Ahad narrows his eyes, before shaking his head and disappointment clear in his expression. "You didn't hear anything we said." He states with conviction. No room for doubts in his words and tone.

Mannat opens her mouth but nothing comes. It's true that she didn't hear a word they uttered or doesn't have any idea of it.

She shrugs, "Will it matter?" She whispers.

Ahad and Asher stills for a moment as they take a look at her. Her question is devoid of any emotion or accusations. Something that they often look for in her eyes, but never found any. She knows how to handle things well. Something that they believe, unlike the elders of their family.

Ahad looks in her eyes, "to us, yes," he nods with so much confidence and conviction that it made Mannat smile. A real one. Not like the controlled and trained display of acts reserved for others.

"Tell me." She focuses back on them. Ahad takes the iPad from Asher and slides it to her. A spreadsheet of numbers with detailed information displayed on the screen. Her fingers slide on the screen and she reads the words carefully.

Her eyes concentrate on the screen  as she looks at the reports. She looks back at Asher, "you are taking over this? It's great," she summarised, nodding in appreciation.

It would have been, but it's not. He sighs in dejection, "no, we are not," he speaks, "and by the turn of events I don't think we can get a hold of it ever." His tone conveys his dismay and frustration.