Caged Crown

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Staying quiet is better than screeding. Sometimes, staying quiet is like protecting ourselves from all the scoffs. I wonder did the globe stop its rotation or is it me who stopped growing. Lunah used to always tell me when I was a kid, “The journey of life isn't easy. This life is temporary, its pain and feelings are temporary either. It's our duty to have patience and have faith in our prayers.” Her words echoed inside. They were enough to puff some motives inside me.

I've been doing the same things for ages. Kink into my past and complain myself to retrieve and revert into the present. I gave lame excuses to my knapped heart and believed that I'm the best self motivator and a weak battling queen against my heart.

“Laiha, what are you doing here? My mother and sister wish to see you.” Aunt Juvairya, my supposed to be mom said. This was my third day living here with my new family and I already started missing  my orphan mates. I met many friends there, who don't have a family like me. So, we all had our own life where we stand high with untold emotions. I really cherish my days in orphanage. Initially, I was delighted when Sauda didi informed me about this adopting thing. My friends of orphanage admired me and  in high spirits they said they would have been on cloud nine if they were in my place and I was so lucky. This luck as they call it, overturned. My expectations and dreams had fallen after meeting the so -called family. Nobody here liked my presence except uncle Haris, my dad.

All I heard was scoldings when I first stepped into this place. I heard of my two brothers Jabir Haris and Junaid Haris, but I haven't seen them yet.

I stepped into the living room and found two new faces. I smiled and expected them to smile in return, but their tight  pursed lips didn't move an inch. “This is my mom and this, my sister.” Aunt Juvairya said pointing her fingers to them. My eyes flit from that young lady, who was dressed up fashionably to an old lady who was in her mid sixties. Although she looked slightly aged, her body was strong enough. “Assalamualaikum, I'm Laiha.” I introduced, smiling.

“How old are you?” I turned to look at the sharp voice and found a young girl seated on the couch. I heard no reply to my salam and I was quite offended hearing her cold tone. “I'm seventeen.” I said politely and the girl rolled up her eyes.

“Seventeen?!” Asked the two ladies in unison. “You look like a kid. By the way, do you know to cook?” That elderly lady asked. What did she want?  They looked at me like a new maid who just joined there recently.

“Jessina, test if she could cook good like you.” Oh! So that young girl who looked around my age was Jessina. “Okay granny.” She said and she could be my another cousin. I ambled to the kitchen and she walked behind me cross folding her arms.

“Show me your talents.” She ordered, whilst I let out a humourless chuckle. “Who are you, my coach?” I said.

“You really knows to get into my nerves, don't you?” She glared. “I know to make all the Indian dishes but you don't, silly girl.”

“Oh, Mashallah. May Allah bless you to learn all other country dishes too.”I winked and the next thing what she did surprised me. She was about to hit me but thank god I was saved. I slowly lifted up my head to see a hand that was sent down from the heavens. Who was that, an angel? My eyes followed the directions from the hand to the red eyes. The green veins on his arms were about to spurt out of rage.

“Jabir bro, I-” Jessina was cut off by this handsome man who she mentioned was Jabir and then it dawned to me that he was my elder brother. “No explanations. I understand.” He said.

Jessina's face puffed up in red. ““It hurts, let go of my hand.” She winced.

“Promise me you wouldn't consider doing this again.”