Unwanted Relations

Chapter 12

She folded the prayer mat, she went towards the dressing table and brushed her hair. Her hair coming down till her upper back, she gave herself a haircut once, it was uneven but as they grow it got getter. Noor loved her hair especially since she knew they were like her mother's. Wearing them in a loose ponytail and then wearing a duppatta on her head, covering her hair. She went downstairs, it was quiet in the haveli. Everyone was sleeping, as the sky clears and turns a slight shade of blue.

She entered the kitchen, and opened the windows to let the air in. The floor was cold, she was wearing a pair of flip flops. Noor opened the kitchen lights.

She prepared khawa in a cup. And then Served it on a small tray. It was almost an hour after fajr now. Noor gave the cup of Khava to a servant telling her to give it to grandmother.

Noor never herself go to her room, not even to give anything. She always ask a servant for that. It was her top most effort to not go in front of grandmother.

She knew after a hour or two, everyone will wake up, and in everyone she was thinking only about one person. She was afraid. Afraid to face him.

Noor wanted to pause time or something, but life has a habit of not fulfilling our wishes. Time went fast, more faster than usual. It seemed like it was only fast for Noor.

She was busy, cleaning, cooking. At the age of 15 she used to done work like an adult and she never minded it.

It was almost 8'o clock. She served the breakfast, everyone was awake. She could hear the chatter from the dining hall. She could feel the liveliness in the haveli although the dread was filling her up.

Noor knew she can never hide, she can never choose to run away. She made her way to the dining hall, her hands clutching the tray of food. She was taking small steps. Her head lowered, as she entered she could feel the eyes on her. Noor sat the tray on the table.

" asalam alaikum dadi." She said politely. She knew she had to go first, like always. In response to her greeting she hummed only. These people didn't even liked to gave answer of her salaam.

" Asalam alaikum. How are you phoppo, Erum?" She asked politely.

" we are fine. What about you?" Erum said to her, but her question was more like a formality, a mere formality. Noor smiled in response to her.

" so you have at last bothered to meet us. We were thinking we wouldn't even be blessed to see your face." Yumna said, her voice full of sarcasm. A sarcasm that was not friendly or kind but instead insulting.

" That's not it Phoppo. I wasn't well, that's why I didn't came to meet you." Noor explained. She hated the guilt in her voice.

" yeah of course. Girl have some shame your dramas don't work on me." Her tone changed, from insulting to rude. Erum's lips curled into a pleasing smile.

Noor stayed quiet. She choosed to stay quiet. It was all she could do.

" hello Noor."

Noor freezed for a second hearing the voice behind her. She knew this voice very well. Her fists clenched and unclenched. She looked around the table, every one was there. Noor had to turn around.

Her eyes on the person in front of her. He was smiling at her. His hands in the pocket's of his pants. He didn't changed. Standing in front of her, Noor felt small because of his height, but there was a fear which she never felt standing in front of Umer. Yes, Umer, he was taller than Hamza but there wasn't any fear in his presence.

" how are you Noor? We didn't met yesterday. Didn't you liked us coming here?" He asked her, almost in a friendly way.

Noor felt a wave of anger and fear at his question. Her expression changed now that only he was able to see her. Hamza's smile widen at her change of expression.