Aida packed an overnight suitcase for their trip to Lahore in the morning. She was being apprehensive and doubtful about the alacrity of going with Haashir on a weekend trip. She had her reservations about the trip but then thought better than her discomfit. She knew the effect Haashir had on her and although she wanted to avoid him forever, she wanted to know about her father’s reality all the more. She wanted to grant justice to her death father and for that, she could go to any lengths to fulfil that. Therefore, like the good daughter that she was, she packed her overnight case and went to bed. Without Rameen, the room felt empty and cold. Her warmth and cheerful laughter was suddenly missing from there and Aida felt homesick. First her father left her, with whom she was so close and then her mother but now Rameen, slowly it felt like that she was left all alone. She wanted a shoulder to cry on, to share her feelings and even thoughts with but her family, those who were close to her heart were miles away from her.
She looked at the plastic alarm clock on her bedside table which showed bright green spiky digits of two o clock. Her mother was thirteen hours behind her, which meant that it was day time in Texas. She picked up her phone and dialled her number.
“Assalam-u-Alaikum, Aunt.” Her mother’s sister attended the phone.
“Walaikum Salam. How are you, Aida?” She was greeted by her happy aunt.
“I am well. How are you feeling now?” Aida asked.
“I’m quite fine now and the doctors tell me, I’m out of danger.”
“That is good news aunt. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, child. Oh! Here comes your mother, You two talk, I have some errands to run. Take care of yourself, child, Allah Hafiz.”
“You too, take care of yourself aunt. Allah Hafiz.” Aida then greeted her mother as she took over the phone for her sister.
“Rameen left around midnight and I have emailed you her flight itinerary. Please be there on time to pick her up from the airport, mother. She is young and innocent, I don’t want her to get lost in all the rush.”
“Don’t worry; I will be there before her plane lands. Now, tell me, are you alright?”
“Yes, mother, I am fine.” Aida said.
“I don’t know your reason for sending Rameen over here but I do know that once the time is right, you will tell me everything because for now, I have a question to ask you Aida but first you have to promise me that you will tell me the truth and won’t lie.”
“I promise, mother. I have never lied to you about anything.”
“That is what makes me proud, my child. Now, I want to know that do you like Haashir?” The question caught her off-guard and shocked her into silence.
“What do you mean, mother?”
“I mean that you both have been friends since childhood, you’ve done everything together and while we thought that a distance may have come between both of you when he left, I can see that isn’t the case. He is a nice boy and I like him but I want to know whether you also like him or not?”
“Mother, he is my childhood friend and that’s all. Don’t over-imagine things please.”
“But Aida, it is high time you start to let someone enter your life and take care of you. How long will you live the way you are living right now, looking for retribution for people who don’t exist. I want my daughter to be healthy and believe me, even if I am far away from you, I have seen the smile and happiness on your face that wasn’t there before and I know the reason for that as well. I am your mother but your friend as well and I want you to consider Haashir.”
