Chapter 2: Flashbacks of past

Our story begins in a house in Lahore.

If you looked through the front door, you would see a spacious garage, with lawns surrounding it. Entering through the outer gate, there was a drawing room, and beyond it a TV lounge.

A girl could be seen walking there. She was dressed in a baby-pink outfit with a matching trouser and dupatta draped over her shoulders. Her hair was tied in a loose bun, with one strand falling over her face and another resting on her neck. She seemed lost in deep thought when a woman's voice came from behind:

“Zahra! You're still awake?”

Startled, she replied:

“No, Mom. I'm just about to sleep. I couldn't fall asleep.”

The woman spoke again:

“Pray before sleeping, and wake Kashaf up as well.”

"Okay, Mom," Zahra replied as she walked away.

Afternoon

Mrs. Ayan: “Kashaf, set the table. Zahra will be here soon.”

Kashaf: “Okay, Mom.”

A little while later, Zahra entered through the door. She was wearing a black abaya, a black dupatta styled as a hijab, and a black niqab that revealed only her eyes.

"Assalamu Alaikum," she greeted loudly as she entered the TV lounge.

Mrs. Ayan: “Wa Alaikum Assalam. How was your day?”

Zahra: “It was fine, Mom. I'm tired. I'm going to lie down. Please wake me up at seven o'clock; I have something important to do.”

Mrs. Ayan: “Alright, go and rest.”

Zahra walked upstairs to her room and lay down on her bed. Closing her eyes, she became lost in thought.

A Few Hours Earlier

Zahra was sitting in class at the university with her friend Fajr.

Zahra: “Fajr, tell me, what should I do?”

Fajr: “If he's bothering you, file a complaint against him.”

Zahra: “You know he's my senior, and his father is friends with the principal. What good will a complaint do? I've blocked him so many times, but he still doesn't understand. Every week he messages me from a new number.”

Fajr: “Who knows? A few days ago, you embarrassed a boy pretty badly.”

Zahra: “He was trying to teach me how to do my own work, and I didn't like that. He thought I'd melt the way other girls do when they look at him. But he doesn't know that Zahra Ayan Ahmad isn't impressed by anyone.”

Fajr: “Alright, Miss Zahra Ayan Ahmad, may we leave now? Forget Jafar.”

Present Time

Zahra: “To hell with that useless man. He's not important enough for me to ruin my mood over him.”

A Few Hours Later

Mrs. Ayan: “Zahra, wake up! You're getting late. You told me to wake you at seven.”

Zahra: “Just two more minutes, Mom. Let me sleep.”

Mrs. Ayan: “Zahra, wake up. It's already seven-thirty.”

Zahra jumped out of bed and hurried toward the washroom.

Mrs. Ayan: “Relax. It's only six-thirty.”

Zahra: “Mom! One day you'll give me a heart attack. Wake me up at seven.”

Mrs. Ayan: “Should I throw a shoe at you, or are you getting up on your own?”

Zahra: “Tell me honestly, Mom. Am I your stepdaughter? Where did you even find me?”

Mrs. Ayan: “Who told you that?”

Pouting, Zahra replied:

“I'm going to get ready.”

One Year Later

Zahra sat on her prayer mat in her room, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes and nose were red from crying. Wearing her hijab, she spoke to herself—or rather, it seemed as if she were speaking to her closest friend, asking for help.

Zahra: “Allah, why does this always happen to me? Why does everyone I love go away? When I was little, I loved Baba the most, and then he had an accident. I know I didn't lose him completely, but I still felt that pain.”

Fifteen Years Earlier

A little girl sat in her room playing a game on her phone.

Zahra: “Mom, someone's calling.”

Mrs. Ayan: “Give it to me.”

She answered the phone. As she listened, the phone slipped from her hand. Tears began flowing from her eyes.

With difficulty, she said:

“Zahra, wake Hadi up. Your father has had an accident. He's in the ICU.”

Then she changed her mind.

“No, leave it. I'll wake him myself.”

She hurried to Hadi.

“Hadi, wake up. Your father has been in an accident.”

Meanwhile, Kashaf came to Zahra crying.

“Zahra, pray that Dad gets better. Children's prayers are accepted.”

Zahra replied innocently:

“Nothing will happen to Baba. He promised he would bring me chocolates tonight.”

That night was not easy for either of the two sisters.

A Few Weeks Later

Kashaf: “Mom, please take Zahra to see Dad. She's insisting a lot. She barely eats anymore, and it's been days since Dad came out of the coma.”

Mrs. Ayan: “Kashaf, Zahra is still very young. She'll never forget the sight of seeing her strong father lying helpless in a hospital bed.”

Kashaf: “Mom, I'll take care of her. Just let her meet him.”

As they headed to the hospital, little Zahra carried a small basket in her hands. A bright smile rested on her face because she was finally going to see her father. She had no idea that her mother's fears would prove true.

The moment she saw her father, she was stunned.

Her strong, confident father was wrapped in bandages and lying motionless on a hospital bed. His eyes were closed, his face was pale, dark circles surrounded his eyes, and his body looked weak and frail. His weight had dropped noticeably.

Zahra could not remember where her basket had gone, what anyone had said to her, or even how she returned home. Only one image remained fixed in her mind: the sight of her strong father reduced to such a condition.

Present Time

Zahra remembered everything clearly.

She remembered how her father, who had once seemed invincible, had suddenly needed twenty-four-hour care. Later, when she grew closer to her mother, her grandmother passed away, and her mother became quiet and withdrawn.

Zahra had wanted her mother to talk, to laugh again, but she remained silent.

Now Hadi was insisting on moving abroad.

“Then I'll be left all alone again...”

Crying, Zahra eventually fell asleep on her prayer mat without realizing it.

The Next Morning

Zahra had a day off from university.

She woke up late and noticed a blanket covering her. Beneath her head was a pillow, and Kashaf was lying on the bed nearby.

Zahra immediately knew that Kashaf would question her.

A little later, after washing up, she came out of the bathroom and found Kashaf sitting in the middle of the bed.

Kashaf was ten years older than Zahra. She had beautiful features, brown hair tied into a loose ponytail, and sleepy brown eyes. She wore a white shirt with blue trousers and a blue dupatta.

Her engagement had already taken place. Her fiancé lived in London, and after marriage she would move there as well.

Kashaf: “Come here. Tell me what's wrong.”

Zahra: “You already know.”

Kashaf: “I want to hear it from you.”

Zahra: “After marriage you'll leave too. Hadi is determined to go abroad. Then I'll be all alone.”

Hadi was six years older than Zahra. He worked with their father in the family business, but recently he had become determined to settle abroad.

Kashaf: “Honestly, I'm not happy about Hadi's decision either. But if it makes him happy, then we should support him.”

Zahra: “Why does everyone leave? Why am I always the one left behind?”

Kashaf: “Zahra, that's life. These things happen. Focus on yourself. Build your own life. And whenever you want, you can call us.”

Then she smiled and added:

“Now stop being dramatic and make breakfast.”

Zahra: “Seriously? I finally have a holiday and you're making me work?”

Kashaf: “There she is—the real Zahra! Fine, let's make it together. We'll ask Hadi too, and then we'll all have a little skincare day.”

Zahra laughed despite herself.

For a moment, the sadness in her heart eased. The fear of losing people was still there, but being with her siblings made the burden feel lighter.

After Breakfast

The two sisters sat together wearing beauty masks. White face masks covered their faces, cucumber slices rested over their eyes, and protein treatments had been applied to their hair.

Just then, Hadi entered the room.

He was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. Fair-complexioned, with a light beard, dark eyes, a tall stature, and attractive features, Hadi Ayan Ahmad was a handsome young man.

The moment he stepped into the room, he burst out laughing.

Hadi: “Where did these two Egyptian mummies come from?”

Kashaf immediately replied:

“The same place this monkey came from!”

Zahra: “Kashaf, stop! And Hadi, don't laugh. Should I put a mask on you too?”

Hadi: “Fear God! Do I look like the kind of person who does these girly things?”

Zahra began explaining the benefits of the face mask. A little while later, the same young man was sitting with a face mask on and cucumber slices covering his eyes.

The three siblings laughed and joked together, celebrating something they couldn't even name—perhaps simply being together.

Zahra: “Hadi, you're such a good brother. Now buy us something to eat.”

Hadi: “Look at this glutton! Fine, tell me what you want.”

The three of them removed the cucumber slices and began discussing food options.

Few Months Later

The atmosphere in the house had changed.

Kashaf's wedding was near, and because of the wedding preparations, Hadi's plan to move abroad had been delayed.

Zahra felt both happiness and sadness.

She was happy because her sister was beginning a new chapter of life, yet sad because she knew her brother would eventually leave too.

At night she often sat on her prayer mat, wondering how quickly time was changing.

Just yesterday, the three siblings had been laughing and playing together. Now each of them seemed to be moving toward a different destination.

One question kept returning to her mind:

“Does everyone always leave? Am I the only one left behind?”

For the first time, Zahra realized she would have to decide what kind of life she wanted.

Would she simply drift along with other people's decisions, or would she build a path of her own?