Serenity

Beauty

Zalmai almost dropped his jaam ( bowl) of shumleh in surprise as the little boy hurried in. He walked straight to the owner of the dairy and asked for firni. The owner Hakeem was a good friend of Zalmai's and he waved away the coin the little boy offered him

'Tell me Aabid since when did you have a liking for firni?' Zalmai questioned his nephew

'I don't want it! The pretty lady wanted it'

'Which pretty lady?'

The boy grew frustrated 'you know the one who wasn't there before but now she is there?'

Sakina. That is why she had asked him about the dairy.

'I like her she gave me a whole coin' he took out the silver coin and polished it, the glee evident in his wide eyes

The giant patted the boys head collected the clay pot of firni, reached into his pocket and placed the amount in Hakeem's hand much to the protest of his friend.

'Come on Aabid Sakina Bibi must be waiting'

And indeed she was, the impatience growing every second. It seemed an eternity before Aabid and the giant stepped into her chamber. The little boy carried the clay utensil and offered it to her with a toothless smile.

Zalmai raised the shumleh to his mouth only to have it snatched by the girl and downed in one go. She made a face

'That was cold'

He watched her as she carefully ate the firni, she ate the sweet with relish and did not seem to notice him. The girl liked exotic jewelry and the best of delicacies he observed. She had strength and a beauty women did not have and for that she would be scorned.

                            *******

Shaista liked to think she was the daughter of Asfandyaar Jalazai. To her this claim was reasonable, it was true that she was not his biological daughter. He had found her deserted by her parents in a wilderness and he had brought her home. She was his foster daughter, he had been a kind man and she had never been made to feel as though she was a stranger, she inherited the lineage and tribe status of the Zadran Khail and called herself by that. She knew she did not look anything like them, they were known for their flame hair, pleasing complexion and height. Just as the Danaii were known for their pale colour and ink hair, their sharp features. In Pakhtunkhwa resemblance was associated with the tribes. She knew it all and this made her despise them even more. It was not fair that she was not like them, that people pointed out to her again and again that it was the kindness of Asfandyaar that her brought her here and nothing else. She wished everyone were like her father and her tribe who had accepted her without prejudice.

As she stared at the girl besides her brother she was awe struck. The girl was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. The dress she wore enhanced her beauty and femininity. Flowing behind her like a sea of gold and highlighting her doe eyes. Her face was round and plump, her cheeks tinged red, the dark hair a contrast to her pale complexion. Her features were worth admiring but it was the way she carried herself with power and grace that set alight the fire in Shaista's heart. Every eye in the room was on Sakina Danaii, no one spared Shaista a glance, even her own brother had forgotten about her, he stared at the Danaii girl as though he was in a trance...