Philophobia

SIXTEEN

Her arm rested on her warm forehead and a tear rolled down through the side of her eyes absorbing into the pillow under the head. The eyes were constantly fixed on the clock whose needles were slow in moving. The needles did not know that seven hundred and forty four hours were meant to be spent in the same manner; with her heart counting every second to assure that he would come soon.

"Irtiza." A sob escaped through her lips and she broke all the dams hindering the wear and tear that was destined to continue.

"I am not fine, Irtiza. I am not comfortable. I am not. I am not. I am not." She hiccuped and on the very next moment the door of her room opened.

She sustained her same posture staring at some arbitrary point on the ceiling.

The entrant was not amazed. The person already knew what was happening with her. The windows were open and the chill winds were filling the room. The shivering curtains were enchanting as they replenished the beautiful sight of dark lawn with the tall trees dancing.

"Sataish, it would not help you." Rizwana Auntie said in the lowest tone.

"He is travelling, above many feet from earth. Pray that he reaches safely."

"Rizwana Auntie, am I exaggerating? Am I overreacting? I swear that I am not." Sitting up straight she said and rested her head on the bed crown.

The old woman had no answer. She had a heart too. She had seen his son-like man going. She knew that the corners of the eyes of his wife were not dry since the last seven hours.

"You are at wrong place, Sataish." Her voice pierced the silence finally.

Sataish turned reluctantly to Rizwana and her eyes questioned the stern woman.

"Go. His room is waiting for you."

She, who had closed her eyes earlier, opened them frantically as if she had finally approached what that was lead by dark, meandering tunnels.

"That door never opened for me. I cannot disobey him." Burying her chin in the crook of her neck she nodded in disapproval.

"The door is open. Go." Wiping her tears Rizwana said and patted her back. Falling in her arms Sataish never knew that someone intentionally left the door open.

"Baby, I cannot see you crying like this. I will stay tonight. You should make your first step in the room that belongs to you as equally as it does to Irtiza. Let's go now." Cupping her wet face in her wrinkled palms Rizwana said and gestured her to come.

Taking feeble steps she crossed the three rooms.

The three hindrances.

The three obstacles.

The three barriers.

Little did she know that the barriers were still there.

...

"Click the handle, Sataish." And she looked in those green eyes.

The door was not locked. Rizwana was right. He was right too.

"Stay here, live here. This is yours, my daughter. I will sleep in living room." Kissing her warm cheek Rizwana turned and disappeared after few heartwarming seconds.

The curtains of her mind painted his tilted head whenever he opened the door of his room and her free strand moved in the same direction. Her hair touched the lock of the chain in her neck and she pushed the door with thumping heart.