Between Laughter and Silence : Chapter 4
398 Words
As soon as the break ended, all the students returned to their classes.
Rooh and Laiba also walked slowly back. On the way, Laiba said:
“Rooh, talking to you gives me such strange peace… you’re so different from everyone else.”
Rooh smiled and said, “Maybe because I speak less.”
Both of them laughed and went to their separate classes.
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In the evening, when Rooh came home and put her bag aside, she saw Murad pacing angrily in the courtyard.
He was holding his school bag and kept muttering:
“Those goats on the street always block the way. Today I was almost late. I wish they would all just die!”
Rooh was startled hearing this. She gently said:
“Murad, don’t say such things. They are also Allah’s creation.”
Murad snapped, “But they keep troubling us, making life hard for humans.”
Rooh calmly replied,
“The real trouble lies in our impatience, not in their existence.”
Murad made a face and walked toward his room.
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That night, Rooh was sitting in her room with a book open when her phone rang.
Zayan’s name appeared on the screen.
Rooh put the phone to her ear.
“Took you long enough to pick up,” Zayan complained.
Rooh smiled faintly, “I was just reading.”
Zayan said, “That’s exactly what bothers me the most… how was your day? What happened with you? You never tell me anything.”
Rooh sighed softly, “The day went fine… just ordinary.”
Zayan fell silent for a moment, then said,
“You know, to me your day isn’t ordinary at all. Everything about you feels special.”
Rooh lowered her gaze, “I can’t talk much… sometimes it feels like words fall short.”
Zayan spoke gently,
“You don’t even need to speak… your silence still reaches my heart. But sometimes I just wish you would let me in on the thoughts you keep inside.”
Rooh stayed quiet for a moment.
Then she whispered, “Maybe someday… when I feel like someone can truly listen to me.”
Zayan immediately replied, “I’m here, Rooh… I’ll always listen.”
A faint smile appeared on Rooh’s lips, but deep inside, one question still echoed—
“Will there really ever be someone who can completely understand my silence?”
- Writer
