Kissa

A Knock in the Dark

KISSA

*Chapter 23: "A Knock in the Dark"*

I did not sleep that night.

The ceiling was still there.

Neon kept painting my wall red and blue.

Ali’s name kept echoing in my head.

My eyes were heavy.

Coffee tasted like water.

I still went to college anyway.

Khushi spoke first. "You look dead."

I said. "Thanks."

Khushi said. "Bad night?"

I said. "Something like that."

Lubna gave me fries.

Lubna said. "Eat."

Lubna said. "We will talk later."

I nodded.

I tried to laugh.

It did not work.

The first period dragged.

The second dragged more.

My phone was on silent.

No calls.

No messages.

Only that dot from two days ago.

Between periods, Sana pulled me aside.

Sana said. "Are you okay?"

I said. "Yes."

Sana said. "You are lying."

I said. "Everyone lies sometimes."

She did not push.

She just squeezed my hand.

It gave me some peace.

Lunch was in the canteen again.

The same table.

The same fries.

Different silence.

Khushi said. "Rooftop cafe tonight?"

I said. "I can’t."

Khushi said. "Why not?"

I said. "Headache."

Khushi said. "Take medicine."

I said. "I did."

Khushi said. "Then come."

I said. "I said no."

Everyone went quiet.

I said. "Sorry guys."

College was over. "I said go. I am fine."

They left at three.

I stayed for ten more minutes.

Then I drove home.

Traffic was slow.

Mom was not home.

Dad was on a video call.

The house felt empty.

I went to my room.

I lay down and just stared at the chat.

The phone rang once.

Unknown number.

I did not pick up.

Then it rang again. The same number.

I let it ring.

My heart was racing.

It rang a third time.

Then a message came. "Do not ignore me."

My blood went cold.

No name.

No saved contact.

But I knew. It was Ali.

I typed.

Deleted.

Typed again.

My hands were shaking.

I sent. "What do you want?"

No reply for a minute.

Then the screen lit up.

It was Ali’s message. "Can we talk?"

Straight words.

No dot.

No games.

I put the phone face down.

I went to the window.

Karachi was loud again.

Horns. Music. Life.

I picked up the phone.

I said. "About what?"

Ali said. "About us."

I said. "There is nothing between us."

Ali said. "There was a wall."

"There was sweat."

"There was a question."

"You never answered."

I closed my eyes.

I thought. He was right.

I ran.

I hid.

I said. "I cannot talk right now."

Ali said. "Then when?"

I said. "I do not know."

Ali said. "Make time."

I said. "Stop."

Ali said. "Why?"

I said. "Because you are trouble."

I said. "And I am even more difficult and tangled than you."

The line went blank.

No typing.

No dot.

I took a deep breath.

Ten minutes passed.

Another message came from Ali.

Ali wrote. "I want to come to Karachi."

My phone slipped from my hand.

I bent down quickly.

I picked up the phone.

The screen was fine.

My hands were not.

I typed. "When and why."

Ali replied. "You said it yourself."

I said. "What?"

Ali said. "If you help four people in the village, you can help four thousand innocent people in the city."

I stood up slowly.

I walked to the window.

I looked out. Karachi was making noise.

And there was noise inside me too.

I did not reply.

I went silent.

The phone rang. The same unknown number.

I stared at it.

Ring. Ring.

I answered.

First, silence.

Then Ali’s voice came.

Ali said in a low voice. "Kissa."

I did not speak.

Ali said. "I am coming."

I said. "I have already lost my friend."

I cannot give you any advice. "This new relationship is just a stranger to me."

Ali said. "I do not need an answer, Kissa. Time will decide now."

The call ended.

My hands went cold again.

I sat on the bed.

I could not breathe.

There was a knock on the door.

First soft.

Then harder.

I opened the door.

Mom was there with coffee in her hand.

She looked at me closely.

Then she asked in a weak voice.

Mom said. "Kissa, what happened to you?

Tell me?"

I smiled.

I said. "Mom, nothing happened. You know me.

I am not that weak."

Mom put her hand on my shoulder.

Mom said. "That is why I am worried.

Your eyes were red."

Mom said. "Even strong walls break from a hard hit."

I said nothing. I stayed silent.

I thought. What do I tell Mom now, that my childhood friendship is demanding its price?

I said. "No, Mom, do not worry. It is nothing like that."

I said. "If anything happens, I will tell you first."

Mom ran her hand through my hair, kissed me, and left.

I was caught between two versions of one person.

My best friend, and now this love. Where did it come from?

I could not even think about it.

The room was silent like ashes.

Then the phone rang again.

The name lit up on the screen. "Khushi."

I took a deep breath and picked up.

Khushi said at once. "Kissa, where are you?"

I said. "Home."

Khushi said. "I could not ask in front of everyone at college."

Khushi said. "Now tell the truth. You are shaken to your soul."

I said. "Khushi, I am fine."

Khushi said. "Stop the nonsense. I am not blind."

Khushi’s voice got hard.

I went quiet.

Khushi said. "Look Kissa. I know you very well."

"When you go silent, it means a storm has hit."

I closed my eyes.

I said. "Fine. Then listen."

Khushi said. "Speak."

I said. "Someone is from the village. Who is coming here."

Khushi said. "Say the name."

I stayed silent.

Khushi said. "Ali?"

I did not answer.

Khushi said. "Silence is also a yes, Kissa."

Khushi said. "Why is he coming here?"

I said. "Because I ran away."

Khushi said. "And now he is coming to test you."

I lowered my head.

Khushi said. "Listen to me."

I said. "What?"

Khushi said. "Running is weakness. Facing is courage."

"And you are Kissa. You are not weak."

I said. "I am scared, Khushi."

Khushi said. "Only those who accept defeat feel fear." "You will not accept defeat. I know you."

I said. "The fear is not of him. It is of myself." "We will talk about the rest at college tomorrow."

Khushi said. "Face to face. No phone drama."

I said. "Okay."

Khushi said. "And Kissa?"

I said. "Yes?"

Khushi said. "Even if the world falls apart. I am with you."

I ended the call.

I put the phone aside.

I looked out the window.

Karachi’s lights had gotten brighter.

But the darkness inside me had grown deeper.

Because now it was not just Ali.

Years of friendship were also on the line.

To be continued....