Contacts OF Hearts

Ali Sees Dua For The Second Time

The next morning, everyone was seated at the breakfast table, eating. But Annie wasn’t there.

Zain was always late anyway he had a habit of waking up late. But Annie... Annie had never done this before. No one knew why she was late.

At the head of the table, where Sang harsh usually sat, were Mr. Ajmal and his wife, and Mr. Ahmed with his wife. The rest of the children were seated on the other chairs.

Just then Ali said, “Mama, Annie hasn’t come today.”

“I don’t know, son. I’m thinking the same. She should’ve come by now,” her mother replied.

“I’ll go call her,” someone offered.

“No, let your brother”Minkii said quickly. “I’ll go call her.”

“No, no. You sit. I’ll go. You all eat. Why are you all waiting?” Minkii got up and went to call Annie.

Everyone grew worried. But only Anus knew the real reason. He knew she hadn’t come because of his behavior.

Completely un bothered, he was enjoying his breakfast. The memory of the night before when he had come close to Annie and given her such a beautiful feeling was replaying in his mind. He was savoring that feeling while he ate.

Minkii knocked on the door once, twice.

Annie was awake, but she deliberately didn’t go downstairs. She couldn’t face Anus. She felt ashamed. No one had ever done something like that with her before. She was such an innocent, naive girl. And today, for the first time, someone had... She couldn’t believe it. She just wanted to avoid his eyes. She didn’t want to sit at the dining table.

“Annie, open the door,” Minkii called.

“Yes... I’m coming,” came the reply. The door opened. Minkii and Annie were face to face.

“What happened, Annie? Why are your eyes so puffy?”

“Nothing... actually I was studying late last night. That’s probably why,”

“Oh. Why didn’t you come for breakfast then? Are you alright?” Minkii asked worriedly, placing a hand on Annie’s head. Minkii loved Annie a lot. She always thought of her like a younger sister, so she was genuinely concerned.

“No, no, nothing happened. I really was studying late. That’s why I couldn’t wake up. I only got up when you knocked,”

“Okay, come on. Let’s go have breakfast. Everyone’s waiting.”

“I’m not in the mood to eat.”

“How can you not eat? Come on, come on, hurry. We’re almost done. You come quickly. In fact, I’ll come with you.”

“No, you go. I’ll come.”

And Minkii went ahead.

......

Minkii descended the stairs, while behind her Annie stood lost in thought, wondering how she was supposed to go down. No one understood her. The Anus children would already be seated at the table, and then they would stare at her, again and again. She couldn’t. Ugh, what was she to do? She couldn’t think of anything.

No, no, she had to go. Otherwise everyone would be upset that they had called her and she hadn’t come, and they would worry too. She was already fresh. She adjusted her hair and went downstairs for breakfast. Everyone was waiting for her. The moment she entered, they all began questioning her at once.

“What happened? You were perfectly fine, weren’t you? Why did it take you so long?”

Ali said, “What is it, child? Come here to me. Tell your brother. Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes, brother, I’m fine,” Annie replied. She went to him and stood behind his chair, slipping both arms around him from behind. “I’m fine. Please don’t worry. Have your breakfast now.”

And then it happened again. Minkii went and sat on the right side of the table. On the left, only one chair remained, the one beside Anus. When Annie looked for her seat, her mood sank further, because the only chair left was next to Anus, and she did not want to sit there at all. But she had no choice. She was forced to sit there. She took her seat, while Anus kept watching her out of the corner of his eye.

Annie found this absolutely unbearable. She felt confused and nervous. She picked up a piece of toast. The moment she reached for the spoon, Anus deliberately kicked her foot from under the chair to tease her, and the spoon slipped from her hand.

“What happened? Are you alright?” Ali asked at once, alarmed.

“Yes, actually, I don’t know.

You really don’t look well to me.”

“No, no, brother, I’m fine,” she said. “Actually, I stayed up late reading last night. I didn’t get much sleep, that’s probably why. This has never happened before. But I’m fine now. Please don’t worry.”

And she began to eat. Everyone was having breakfast, but throughout the meal Anus kept bothering her. In the end, he went too far. He reached his hand under the table and seized Annie’s hand tightly. Annie tried desperately to pull away, but he would not let go. He was gripping it so hard that Annie felt the bones in her hand might break.

She was helpless and could do nothing. At last breakfast came to an end. She offered a silent prayer of thanks in her heart that she was finally free, and rose from her seat at once.

"Brother, I’m going to my room to get ready for university. You should get ready too. Please drop me at the university."

"Yes, yes, child. Take your time getting ready. I will be ready as well."

And with that she hurried toward her room.

From behind, Ali said, " I think she isn’t well today."

Mrs. Ajmal added, "Yes, I was thinking the same."

Mrs. Ahmed said, "That’s why she came so late for breakfast. She’s only a child. She must have been studying all night."

Mr. Ahmed replied dismissively, "That must be why she’s exhausted. She doesn’t study anyway. If she’s suddenly taken to reading, then this is bound to happen. And children do get anxious about tests as well wondering how it will be, whether it will go well or not. So none of you should make a fuss about it."

"Absolutely right," they all agreed.

......

Dua is preparing breakfast with her mom.

"Mama, should I make an omelette for you too?"

"No, my child, I don’t feel like it. It’s so hot, I can’t eat eggs. But if you want, you can make one for yourself."

"No, Mama, I’m not in the mood for an omelette either today. If there’s any leftover curry from last night, I’ll just have that."

"Yes, dear, there’s some in the fridge. You can heat it up."

"Alright."

Both of them worked together, talking softly as they cooked.

"Beta, how is university going? Are you settling in alright?"

"Yes, Mama, I am. And I’ve made a really good friend too. Her name is Annie. She’s so lively and a little mischievous, but also very innocent. We’ve become very close. I actually had to tell you something."

Nazima turned toward her. "Yes, dear, tell me."

"Mama, Annie dropped me home yesterday."

"What? I told you not to go or come back with anyone."

"I said no to her, Mama, but she wouldn’t listen. But their family is very nice. They’re not like that at all. I always remember what you tell me. Don’t you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, Dua. Who else do I have to trust in this world?"

"Okay then, enough talking now. Finish your breakfast. You’ll be late for university."

"Okay, Mama."

After breakfast, Dua got ready for university. She always helped her mother with the housework. Nazima spent most of her day sewing clothes. At night Dua cooked dinner, and in the mornings they made breakfast together. Nazima prepared lunch in the mornings as well. On the days Dua didn’t have university, she would wash clothes too. She was a very responsible and understanding girl.

Later, standing in her room, Dua murmured to herself, "Hmm, what should I wear, what should I wear?" Then she nodded. "Yes, this will do." And she picked out a black dress.

She takes out a black dress.

She pulls out a simple black dress and slips into it. The color suits her fair colour that she looks absolutely beautiful. She pins her hair lightly at the back with a catcher, brushes a little mascara on her eyes, adds a touch of gloss, and is ready for university.

"Okay Mama, I’m ready."

"How do you look? As beautiful as always, just like before."

Nazima kisses her on the forehead and sends her off, then shuts the door behind her.

Dua reaches the bus stop and stands there waiting. Just then Annie and Ali’s car drives past. Annie isn’t feeling well today, so she’s sitting quietly, looking out of the window, when her eyes fall on Dua.

"Brother, stop, stop, stop!"

Ali jerks in surprise. "What happened, Annie?"

"That’s my friend Dua. She’s standing there. Can’t we take her with us?"

The moment he hears Dua’s name, it’s like Ali has spotted the Eid moon. "Where?"

"Right there at the stop. She must be waiting for the bus. If you don’t mind, let’s offer her a ride to university."

"Why would I mind? But see if she agrees. I’m sure I can convince her. She never says no to me."

Ali reverses the car to the stop and rolls down the window. Dua and Ali come face to face. From the backseat Annie waves. "Hi, hi Dua!"

"What are you doing here?"

"We were just passing by and saw you, so we thought we’d take you along."

"No, Annie, you go. My bus will be here. I’ll go on the bus."

"No, come on."

"I can’t go without you," Annie insists.

"I’m telling you, go," Dua replies.

Knowing Dua won’t agree easily, Annie gets out of the car and grabs both her hands. "Please, please," she pleads like a child.

"Annie, please understand. Mama was upset yesterday too. You go with them."

Ali then speaks up. "You can come with us. We’re heading that way anyway. We’ll drop you. Don’t worry about it."

Dua hesitates for a second, wondering if she should go. But she knows Annie won’t drop it. "Okay, fine." And she gets into the car.

And just like that, Ali and Dua meet for the second time. Yesterday too he did the same thing at home. Now he adjusts the front mirror toward himself and drives, stealing secret glances at Dua in the reflection.

..,......

Nazima: "Have my clothes been stitched?"

Sanam: "Yes, yes, Sanam, your clothes have been stitched."

Sanam: "Oh, good. And the lace you had to put on the dupatta, did you put that on too?"

Nazima: "Yes, that lace was a bit difficult to put on, but I tried very hard and managed to attach it with the iron. And tell me, how is everyone at home?"

Sanam: "I’m fine. You tell me. Nazima, where is Dua?"

Nazima: "At university."

Sanam: "Oh, I forgot. She goes to university. She is such a good, lovely girl. How is her education going?"

Nazima: "It’s going well. She is hardworking, my child. I just pray that her destiny is good."

Sanam: "Yes, that’s what we all pray for that Allah blesses every girl with a good fate. Listen to me, Nazima. I probably shouldn’t be saying this, and I don’t really have the right, but I still want to talk to you about it."

Nazima: "Sanam is saying this. Nazima wonders what she is going to say, but it turned out to be exactly what was on her mind."

Sanam: "Yes, go on."

Sanam: " Your daughter has grown up now. You should tell her the whole truth.