Light

A Turn Of Events.

A knock sounded on the door as soon as Noor walked into the verandah,"I'll go see who it is." She said and walked straight to the door peeking through the crack to see a couple of uniformed men.

"Yes?" She said softly.

"Jehangir bhai's daughter returned home late yesterday and we were unable to get a statement. We are here for that." The mustached man at the front spoke up, his nose twitching.

Noor fixed the scarf on her head and opened the door, motioning for the inspector to enter. She was closing the door behind them when a voice called out ,"Wait wait!" And Moazzam too stepped through the door behind the policemen.

"Assalam o Alaikum." He nodded at the policmen and then turned to greet the unknown figure holding the door open. "Oh...Noor." He said and the small smile on his face vanished.

Noor nodded and motioned for the 3 to follow her as she led them to the living room. As she turned to leave Moazzam stood up and walked after her, the both of them heading towards the verandah.

"Noor wait." Moazzam said softly but to no avail as Noot hurried forth, "Please just listen to me!"

Noor turned to face him abruptly and he halted to a close stop, "What, Moazzam?" She sounded tired.

"I...I um..." Moazzam stuttered, flustered at the sudden change.

Noor nodded, her face stoney, Noor knew she had to keep tha faćade of being okay, up , and walked to the verandah ,"Baba ji, some policemen are here, they want a statement from me?" She said and Moazzam appeared behind her.

"Salam everyone." He smiled and nodded respectfully.

"Arey my Moazzam beta, come have some paratha with us." Dadi the ever-grateful exclaimed at sight.

"I just had my breakfast too khala, thank you." Moazzam declined.

"Well lets go see those officers then, shall we son?" Jehangir patted his arm and turned to Noor,"Come on jaan." He smiled and the 3 of them walked away.

"Salam Qudoos bhai." Jehangir greeted the mustached policeman.

Returning the greeting, he asked if Noor was ready to tell them her account of events.

"Yes yes, she is ready. Right Noor?" Jehangir looked to the girl sitting next to him.

"Yes but Baba... I don't think it will be much of a help. I didn't see where I was, I didn't see the men who took me or heard them speak either, so how will the perpetrators be caught?" Noor breathed out, scared from lying.

"No no my dear child, tell us and we may find a loop to the criminals." The mustached policeman motioned to the other one to begin writing.

"Um well I was coming back after buying the gulab jamuns dadi jaan had asked me to get, and i was crossing the main intersection when suddenly a horse carriage came and grabbed me, someone hit me on the head and I blacked out. I woke up and everything was dark. The next thing I remember, sir, is running and being very tired, before I saw the light to Mr.Gupta's house, the man who helped me get home. That is all I remember." Noor had never before lied in her life, and it was astounding to hear herself say falsities without stuttering.

"That is all? What about the colour of the horse, the carriage, anything at all?" The policeman asked.

"No sir, that is all I can remember." Noor nodded.

"Are you sure Noor?" Moazzam spoke from where he sat on the opposite sofa.

"Yes, Moazzam, I am very sure." She glared at him.