Noor sat on the front veranda with a cup of her favorite black tea. She stared at the two squirrels running up and down the mango tree. The occasional drizzle disrupts the squirrels. The front yard is occupied by the fallen mango leaves. Uma chechi walked in through the gate.
"How are you, mole?"
Noor smiled at Uma chechi. She walked past Noor and went to the kitchen area. Minutes later, she came back with a broomstick and started to clean the front-yard. Noor watched her cleaning the leaves, leaving patterns on the soil on the surface. She collected all the fallen leaves in a basket and dumped it into the orchard beneath a short wall. Noor stood up and walked into the house. She heard her mom and Sara Aunty talking in the kitchen. She placed the cup on the dining table and climbed the stairs to the first floor.
Noor pulled open the door. She peeped her head into the room and walked into it. The yellow rays of sun swept into the room through the open windows. A cricket bat laid down at one corner of the room with a ball on its side. A huge poster of Sachin Tendulkar decorated the wall above. Fahad's favourite. Near to the poster was another one, smaller poster of Dravid, my favourite. On the adjacent wall, a white karate suit and a blue belt was found hanging. The books were still dispersed on the table. Noor walked towards the table. Beneath the mess, Noor found a photo frame. Young Noor and Fahad hugging each other smiled back at Noor. Tears fell on the photo frame. Noor wiped it off using her top and kept it back on the table properly. She decked the books properly on the desk. Noor found a small yellow writing pad lying down on the table.
It read: Things to do:
1. Go to karate class
2. Complete the science project
3. Call Noor.
Her hands shivered with pain. She looked at Fahad's photo. Noor held the writing pad close to her heart. She couldn't control her tears. Noor looked at it once again and pulled it into her pocket. She cleaned the rest of the mess on the table. She moved to the bed and tucked in the bed sheets properly. She noticed the tape recorder on a small table at the other end of the room. She walked towards it. There laid the tape recorder and a deck of cassettes. She picked the one on the top. "Millenium".
"My leg is still bleeding, Fahad", Noor whimpered. Fahad revolved around Noor dancing.
"Fahad", Noor screamed her heart out.
"Noor, why the hell are you shouting. It is a minor wound. Leave it. Come, I got a song for you. I will show you."
Noor's face turned red and her eyes filled with tears. Fahad went to the tape recorder and pressed the play button.
"Show me the meaning of being lonely....", the tape recorder unleashed the song in its full volume. Fahad danced around the room, mimicking the song. Noor felt so angry. She went to the tape recorder and pushed the stop button.
"You are really bad. You pulled me down and I am hurt now. You don't even listen to me. Now, I will get all the scoldings from Mamma." Noor bursted out.
"Noor, push the play button."
"I won't." Noor pulled up the chair and sat on it.
Fahad ran from the other corner to the tape recorder.
"Noor, I will kill you. You dint click stop. You clicked the record button. You destroyed my cassette."
Fahad turned back to look at Noor and saw her running down. Fahad ran behind Noor to catch her.
"Noor, what are you doing here?" Noor looked back to find Mamma and Sara aunty by the door side. Noor kept back the cassette and ran over to them. She hugged Sara aunty. She raised her head to look at her. Sara caressed through Noor's hair. She looked at her mamma.
"Come Noor, let us sit here". Mamma walked into the room and sat on the bed. Noor and Sara followed her. Sara looked at Noor.
"Noor, will you listen to me?"
"Yes", Sara nodded.
"You should go back to school". Noor felt disappointed. Sara held Noor's face in her hand and pulled her closer. "Noor, you can't miss any more classes. Listen to me. Be a good girl." Noor turned towards her Mamma. She nodded at Noor.
"Okay. I will go." Noor held her head down in disappointment. She clutched the writing pad in her pockets.
"I miss you Fahad". Noor whispered.
(Mole- A word used to denote a girl child in Malayalam language)
