Fariya’s footsteps echoed softly as she moved around the kitchen, tidying up after the evening’s snacks. The house was quiet, the only sounds being the occasional hum of the refrigerator and the distant chirping of night insects. Haya was asleep in their shared room, and the rest of the house was also silent, as everyone else had long gone to bed.
Fariya was lost in her thoughts, her mind still replaying the day’s events. The awkward tension from earlier lingered, casting a shadow over the otherwise peaceful night. She was drying a dish when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Startled, she looked up to find Dayyan standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable in the dim light.
“Fariya,” he said, his voice low and deliberate, “thoda waqt mil sakta hai? ek baat kerni hai” (
