"Nats Api, didn't you guys miss me while I was away?"
Yawar threw a question at Natasha lying down on the sofa of her apartment.
"What made you think that? Of course, we did." Natasha raised her head from the phone to answer him.
"It doesn't seem like to me."
Natasha put her phone on the side and came to the sofa next to Yawar, "What happened?"
"I was expecting some sort of special treatment from everyone." He whined like a kid. A side he only shows to Natasha or sometimes to Moosa.
"Aren't you getting it already?"
"What? A boring dinner hosted by Ahad Bhai in my own house?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Hmmm. Right. But what about all the dishes Amma-Bi is making on your request?"
"Yeah, that too." He nodded in acknowledgement.
"And a whole week's rest from the training you got?"
"Exclude it Api, I was exhausted because of exams. These holidays were my right."
"Hmm... you have a point." Natasha continued after a pause, "So what do you want?"
"Someone to talk or something to do. I am bored of being alone in the Main House."
"Why don't you help out Moosa? He might need your hand."
"That's also a part of the work Nats Api." Yawar said with a straight face.
"Then tell me exactly how I can help you?"
"Forget it." Yawar put his arm on his face.
Natasha chuckled at his childish behaviour but instead of getting annoyed, she starts combing Yawar's hairs.
"Don't do it Nats Api, I will fall asleep." Yawar said without moving an inch.
"Then go to sleep." Natasha smiled.
A few minutes passed in complete silence before Yawar spoke again, "I don't understand."
"Understand what?"
"Why did MB allow that chipkali (lizard) to train for self-defence, we already have enough guards to protect her."
Natasha's eyes darted towards Yawar's face but she was unable to read it since it was still covered by his arm.
"She is growing up and needs privacy just like anyone else."
"What does it have to do with training?" He suddenly got up.
"It will help her to increase self-confidence."
"She will be studying in a girls college, not a co-ed so why is it necessary?"
"It is yet to be decided."
"Decide what?" Yawar gave her a confused look.
"That's what she wants to study. If her subjects required her to study in co-ed than she will study there. We will not force her for anything."
"Even for her own safety?"
"Yawar, she will be in college not a battle zone and stop behaving like Moosa. She is not a caged bird, let her live her own life." Natasha said in a strict tone, means this topic is closed for further discussion.
Natasha's scolding increased Yawar's agitation, he has been noticing the change in Shahina and it was making him restless. After coming back he was overwhelmed by an unknown fear, a fear of losing his important belonging.
However, the reason for this doesn't have a single moment to pay attention to him and whenever he tries to confront her, she successfully dodges it.
The caged bird he left a year ago has now spread her wing and is ready to fly. Fly high, away from him, out of his grasp, the thought was making him anxious.
~*~
Finally, the day came when Shahina's result came and a wave of excitement and happiness engulfed the Main House. Natasha came running as soon as she got the news with a huge bouquet of flowers and a box of Shahina's favourite mithai (traditional sweets).
Amma-Bi prepared special food for her just as she did for Yawar. Ahad called her to congratulate, even Owais greeted her but Yawar, he was silently watching everything and observing the flushed face of the girl he used to call Chuhiya (mice) and Chipkali (lizard). He recently realized that she was nowhere near the names he gave her, yet calling her by her name wasn't something Yawar learned to do.
In the evening Moosa called Shahina into his study after reaching home. Sniffing the atmosphere Yawar went to Moosa's study before her and Shahina's excitement died the instant she spotted Yawar in the room yet she remained silent.
"So, are you planning to study engineering like Yawar?" Moosa asked Shahina after congratulating her.
Shahina's body stiffened for a nanosecond on mentioning Yawar's name and only nodded in response. She hates when people take the impression that she wants to follow Yawar's footsteps. It wasn't the fact.
Shahina was trying hard to find her own way of living but whenever she looked up, she found Yawar there before her.
"Good, you have our full support." Moosa leaned back on the armchair with a satisfied smile on his face.
"Thank you, Bhai." A small smile appeared on her lips as well.
"So, what do you want for a gift?"
"Gift?" She gave him a dumbfounded look.
"For passing your exams."
"A ... laptop," She said reluctantly, and continued in a low voice, "If I am not asking much."
"That's it?" Moosa raised his brows and she nodded again.
"Oh, I was thinking of giving you something else. But if you want a laptop, then you will have it."
"You can give her what you have planned, MB. I will give her a laptop when I go to buy a new one for myself." Yawar spoke for the first time since he came in. His eyes darted from Moosa to Shahina as he said it and his lips twitched when he saw Shahina changing her position uncomfortably.
Yawar knew very well that she would not like the idea of taking something from him but who said that she has a choice.
