Benevolent and the Miscreant

{3}

It's an usual morning at Khan House. Warina is still sleeping like a bear in hibernation even after Mrs. Khan has been trying to wake her up since an hour. Her alarm has given up long ago.

"Warina!" Mrs Khan calls, "It's almost 8 o'clock! Wake up now!" Her hands are tied jerking her sleepy poster.

"Five minutes more, please Ammi." She whines, turning side and snuggling to her side pillow

"What shall I do with this sleepy head!" She slams her forehead.

Having no choice she decides to use the ultimate weapon.

Ice cubes!

Taking some cubes from the fridge she comes upstairs in her room and secretly rubs it on back of her neck.

"Ammi!" She exclaims, jolting up sleep. "Did you really have to do that?" She wipes the cold water with her dry hand from her neck. Few drops run down her spine giving her chills. She jumps feeling electric shock in her nerves.

Mrs. Khan chuckles. "Stop being a baby and come down within fifteen minutes." Handing her a towel, she leaves.

She stays idly on her bed, lazily yawning and stretching like a kitten. She takes more five minutes to get rid of her remaining sleep and stroll inside the washroom.

Taking a quick shower, she comes out and dresses up fast. Pinning her scarf in place, she hurries for the breakfast table.

"Ammi pack some parathas for Liza as well please." She requests her mother while munching on spoonful of cornflakes messily. "Why she left so early?"

"Eat slowly Wari!" She scolds while packing her bag, "She said she needs to finish a case that she is working. That reminds me, here you may take the keys, she has left it for you."

"Then how did she go?"

"Oliver picked her on the way."

"So early in the morning?" She raises her eye-brows, doubting something fishy.

"That's so generous of that boy, isn't it?"

Mrs. Khan has always admired Oliver Henderson as her own son. It's been almost two years they have been acquainted and he has been blessed to have adults' shadows over him; something he had yearned for years.

"Okay, I'm done. I'd leave now." She stands up, taking her bag and umbrella. "Already late by an hour." She mumbles to herself.

Her aunt comes out of her room and seeing Warina hasn't left yet pleases her. This is an excellent opportunity – she thoughts.

"You're leaving, dear?" She smiles creepily.

"Just going. Bye Ammi. Assalamu Alaikum." Kissing her cheeks, she tries to escape as fast as she could. That smile of her aunt isn't the best thing that could happen in the morning. She turns the knob, taking a foot out when she speaks again.

"Oh wait! Karim will drive you and a woman shouldn't drive anyway. It's highly inappropriate."

Discrimination in gender is her favorite and typical time pass. Sometimes it leaves Warina pondering how being a woman herself, she can talk such nonsense. Getting into no further argument Warina flatly replies, "Thank you but I'll manage." And walks outside.

Flaring her nose, she says, "You saw that Momina? I'm telling you keep your daughter at arm's length from that ill-mannered girl or else she'll slip away from hand."

Her vexation is evident. If she was in an animation, her ears and nose would bleed hot steams. Mrs. Khan nods slightly while flashing a small smile and goes inside the kitchen.