Heartworm.

Quatre.

Adronitis - frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone.

- 04 -

She was standing in front of the dressing table combing her long waist length chestnut hair. Finally, the party had come to an end without any further drama. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red from crying. She kept the hair brush back on the table and turned around to look at the beautiful painting given to her by her baba as a birthday gift. She instantly fell in love with the painting because she knew who the artist was. It was none other than her own mother.

She could find her mother's paintings anywhere. She approached the painting and turned it around to see her mother's initials behind it.
'A.G.' it said. Abiha Gul. A wonderful single mother. She was her only best friend. After her Ahmer became her one and only friend. Her mother had painted the landscape beautifully. She kept on staring at the painting and reminisced the events of last night.

×-----------×

(After the party)

Abal was sitting alone on the table at the far corner under a tree. She was staring at the chocolate pudding in front of her. It looked delicious but she had no appetite to eat it. Her thoughts again drifted back to what Huzaifa had done. This was the second time he had held her so close. First being their wedding photo session.

'Abal stop thinking about it. It meant nothing to him he was just doing it to please his parents. But he had no right to play with my feelings like this. Oh God, why is everything so messed up?'

She felt like crying. But she couldn't cry here. What if one of Jawahira's acquaintances saw Abal crying and tell her about it. God knows how Jawahira'd take it. Her daughter-in-law isn't supposed to cry in a party which is specifically held for her son. Abal sighed and turned a little on her chair to see her in laws seeing off the guests. Finally! She thought.
She was about to get up and leave the backyard when Hania approached her. She was looking beautiful in her black evening dress. Hania looked younger than 18. She was xerox copy of her mother, but was nothing like Jawahira when it came to actions.

Abal had never had a proper conversation with her except a few greetings here and there.

"Hania, how can I help you?", she questioned.

"Baba told me to inform you that he wants to see you in the study in a while.", she answered.

"Okay. I'll be there. Thank you!"