QAIS

Chapter 43: Collateral Damage

♛

Aarzu kept staring at the letter she had received that morning. She knew it was from Qais because of the writing even if she couldn't read it. Nobody on the street woke before noon so she had to wait for it to be read to her. For now all she could do was retrace the ink scribbled by those familiar fingers, a bittersweet feeling invading her heart.

The door knocked loudly and Aarzu opened it to reveal Farah, one of the girls living down her block.

"I've come to return the money I borrowed." Farah held forth an envelope with a grateful smile.

"I told you I don't need it back– what's going on, why's everyone outside?"

Aarzu was surprised to see the street behind bustling with gossip. Everyone had come out of their houses in their sleep dresses. It was very unlikely for them to be awake this time of the day after their busy nights.

"What do you mean why? The cheque is worth my six month pay—when I tell you the girls are fucking ecstatic—!"

"What cheques?" Aarzu shook her head, puzzled.

The other's smile however seem to fall dull a little. "What? Have you not received it Aarzu? Someone dropped it in everyone's mail—haven't you check yours?"

"Its alright, I don't need it anyway— wait why is everyone so excited," Aarzu was at a loss. "Come on, it must be a scam. You can't possibly fall for it!"

"That's what we thought but Firozay ran to the bank first thing and she's been screaming ever since!" Farah laughed.

Though still unconvinced Aarzu partook in her friend's momentary happiness. Unlike them Aarzu had stopped taking clients ever since Qais had returned, she no longer had the need to. He provided for her more than enough. But it broke her each time that she couldn't do anything for the rest of them except help a little in time of need.

"Is Amina awake?" Aarzu asked eagerly remembering her letter.

"Awake? The girl's been making lists of schools to get into, as if money is all it requires." She flipped her hair going on a habitual rant, "I must say she is pretty stupid for a smart person."

Aarzu didn't stop to hear further as she ran inside to get the letter before running back out. "Please lock the door for me, Farah."

Amina was the only one she trusted with her letter. Even as she ran past the street she could hear everyone's excited chatter. Aarzu felt happy not just for them but for herself as well. The letter in her hand was worth more to her than all their alms combined.

Sure enough Amina was sitting in her cramped room next to her pile of secondhand books perusing through applications that had long passed their due dates. Even Farah could read it to her but Aarzu wanted the most educated of them to do it because Qais was plenty educated and she feared Farah might miss something. Aarzu could not afford a single syllable slipped.

She pushed the letter in front of the spectacled girl. "Read!!"

Amina scrunched her brows through her glasses. "You could say please at least."

"Please, read!" Aarzu sat beside her breathless in impatience.

"Who is it from?" She hummed at the blank envelope.

Aarzu's eyes lit up excitedly.

"Him!?" Amina's eyes widened. Most of the girls were aware of Aarzu's "childhood friend" the reason she was so rich among them.

"Dear Aarzu," She cleared her voice, and Aarzu already swooned over at the first two words, "If I could tear this happiness in two and give it to someone it would be you. I'm writing to you because I cannot meet you. I know how you must've felt when I walked away, and I can not put you through that again. If the same were to happen to me, I fear I would stop breathing."