Yawar once told Shahina that Moosa and Natasha only pity her, they don't love her and he was the one who was loved and cared for. If she wants to live in the house, she better not go against him because they won't believe her as they love more him and kick her out of the house. His small joke stuck in the deepest layer of her mind and she failed to come out of it. Therefore, even after being harassed by Yawar for several years, Shahina never opened her mouth or complained to Moosa or Natasha about him.
Besides, in all these years, Shahina learns to endure Yawar's torture. Sometimes, when she can't control her anger, she takes small revenges which Yawar could hardly notice. Like putting his one shoe out of his room, as he has a habit of throwing his shoes after getting into the house and later taking them to his room, which he usually forgets. Sometimes she puts his favourite washed shirts into the laundry again, so he can't wear them. But as she grew up, her endurance grew as well and slowly her revenge also died down. Living a whole year without Yawar's presence near him changed her personality a lot. She learned to smile and she finally managed to make a friend. With the affection of Moosa, Natasha and Amma-Bi, her life was happy and her heart was content. She was living a peaceful life, unaware of the storm coming ahead.
~*~
It was just another peaceful day at the Main house in Shareefabad, Moosa and Owais went out to work, Amma-Bi was supervising maids in house cleaning and Shahina was busy staring at Moosa's piano. She has fallen in love with this instrument since she heard him playing it and from that moment she wanted to learn it but never had the courage to ask Moosa to teach him like he taught Yawar. Therefore, she secretly started watching piano tutorials on the internet and practising it whenever Moosa and Owais were not in the house and soon she mastered many techniques on her own.
Shahina's final school exams ended two weeks ago and it has become her daily routine to borrow Amma-Bi's phone and watch the piano tutorials of some famous classical pieces. Now, she was preparing herself to try what she had learned from those tutorials. Taking a deep breath, she settled on the seat and adjusted the phone near her. After several failed trials, she was finally able to play smoothly and by the time she ended the practice, a big smile was playing on her face. Satisfied with the result of her efforts, she stood up and turned back to leave, but froze the next moment when she saw an unknown boy standing in the room.
Wearing ripped blue jeans and a grey t-shirt with chappals he was staring at her with excitement. Shahina's face paled when she saw him smiling at her and quickly covered her head with the dupatta.
The boy chuckled at her startled state and said, "I am sorry about my bad manners. I knocked on the door but I guess you didn't hear it, so I let myself in thinking that it must have been Moosa Bhai."
Shahina didn't say anything, nor even bother to look up at him. The boy waited for a few moments then continued when she remains silent, "You are Moosa Bhai's sister right?"
Again Shahina remained silent.
"At least nod your head if you don't want to speak." At this, Shahina nodded in the affirmative.
"Means, your name is Shahina. Right?"
"How do you know?" Knowing her name shocked her and she couldn't stop herself from asking.
"Finally you spoke." He smiled and continued, "I hope you know about Sarmad, I am his youngest brother, Muntaha. Sarmad Bhai asked me to give these papers to Moosa Bhai." He held out a folder to her, which she didn't take.
"Okay...I am putting this folder on the table beside the door." His smile widened as he said.
"Can you give this to Moosa Bhai?" He asked Shahina and she nodded.
"Good and thank you. I will be going now, it was nice meeting you." With that Muntaha left the room and Shahina released a breath of relief.
