I kept running down the long, rocky, bumpy road. My feet were bruised and I could feel my feet sticking to blood within my shoes. I stood still to catch my breath and I noticed this beautiful sunset rising above the grassy fields of my city in Pakistan, and my family all around me, playing and smiling. I could see my parents calling me to eat lunch by the same tree we would always eat at, and my siblings swirling around me and laughing playfully and for once in a long time I had felt happiness. For once in a long time I smiled a true smile and not for anyone else's sake but for my own. The last thing I remember was falling down and passing out. It was all a dream. 

I woke up in a dark room. I sat upright from the bed covered in purple stain sheets with quilted embroidery. I quietly crept out of bed and walked towards the door, I reached out for the handle and before I could open it, a man dressed in a satin, black glossy suit with blonde hair covering his face held the door open. Without realizing, I started to whimper, shuffling backwards slowly, I backed myself into the corner of the room and sliding down to the floor and began to cry. My eyes were working by themselves, my persona of a tough Pakistani girl has been broken, I've never cried in front of a stranger before. My pride would not allow it. 

As I sat there sobbing, the figure standing in the doorway slowly approached me and knelt down and took out a satin handkerchief.

This guy loves satin I thought to myself but Instead of saying it I took the handkerchief and wiped my tears.

The stranger stood upright and said "Don’t be afraid."

Surprisingly I stopped crying and looked up to see his face. I couldn't see it because his blonde hair was everywhere but the voice, the voice was so familiar but I couldn't think whose it was. I kept trying to figure out who he was, breaking the peaceful silence the stranger spoke softly "Don’t you remember me?" I was astounded, he did look familiar but who was he? Then it clicked, I slowly stuttered

 "B-b-b-b-b . . . Blacksmith?" he smiled underneath his blonde locks.

 "Indeed” he brought out his hand to help me up, I took it and he held my hand. His touch felt so warm and made me feel all fuzzy. I realized this was all Haram; I jerked my hand away from his and stood back. Blacksmith turned around and chuckled slightly "I'm not going to kill you, I'm taking you downstairs, you're safe with me don't worry." I felt reassured and followed him down a long hallway with old paintings of his family and flowers. His rug was antique, red and old looking.

 "Whose house is this?” I intrigued. He chucked again, "My country house, I come here often to think about things; it used to be my grandmother’s.”

Cheekily I said "I can tell."

Blacksmith chuckled again "She gave it to me before she died.” A pain of guilt and remorse rushed through me.

"Sorry I didn't kn . . . ,"

"It’s fine, I'm cool with it, it was ages ago.” Blacksmith interrupted. He walked me down to the kitchen and gestured me to take a seat at the dining table. Doing as I was told I shakily sat down.

"Don’t be afraid, I wouldn't hurt you in any way" Blacksmith spoke softly. He was cooking eggs, beans and toasts—an average British English breakfast. "My grandmother was born in England, she would always make me this every time I saw her, it was our favorite meal. I'd only eat this food with her, after she died I never ate it again, but until now I feel like eating it again.”

This caught me off guard and I started to blush and I bowed my head so he wouldn't see. Blacksmith brought over the food and gave me one plate of eggs, beans and toast and one for himself. 

"Why am I here?" I had to ask. "Blacksmith? " I asked again. Blacksmith looked up and parted his lips slowly like he was thinking of something, or thinking of what to say. “I was on my way to my grandmother’s house when I saw you on the edge of the road, I parked the car and walked up to you, you were passed out, you were tired, bloodied up and you were shaking . No one was with you so I assumed you came yourself to the area and I brought you home to rest" I was quite astounded that he would actually help me to safety.”

"Thank . . . You." I said. "It was no problem at all". This was not like Blacksmith at all, he wasn't acting like himself for a few days, I haven't seen him since the motorcycle ride home but he seemed out of it. "Was he your boyfriend then?" Blacksmith said breaking me out my thoughts.

"Sorry?" I felt I was getting quite hot and sweaty. "The guy that was there when I dropped you home that night, was he your boyfriend?” Blacksmith looked up from his food and looked me in the eye, the one thing he hasn't done all day. The question caught me off guard.

 "No, he's my cousin" I smiled. A flash of relief went through Blacksmith’s face and he smiled back. 

"Why have you changed?” I spoke aloud, regretting the moment I did. I looked up to see Blacksmith’s confused face.

"I used to think the world was to be popular, have loads of girls, and use them to my advantage. I met a girl who actually tried to put me on track, I liked her for it, however she wasn't in it all for love, she wanted the fame and she was doused in lust of my looks rather than love which drove her insane. I then mistakenly bumped into another girl who has actually tried to put me on track and not asked for anything in return, she just wanted me safe and that was all that mattered." I was taken aback, the Blacksmith I know wasn’t at all like this, this Blacksmith has a heart and the other one is vile.

"Why did you do all the bad stuff anyways?" I asked intriguingly. "To please my dad; My dad loved my older two brothers cause they were everything he wanted them to be, but me, I was nowhere near like them." Blacksmith bowed his head down in shame.

"I became the top In class and became the president to show him I am capable, and that I am as good as my brothers, but he didn't pay attention to me at all." I felt really sorry for him; his mean facade was only to ask for love from his father whom he never received so he relied on a girl to give him that love and happiness.  Without thinking I placed my hand on top of his and smiled at him. Realizing what I had done I slowly took it off again and asked if he could take me home. Blacksmith frowned slightly.

"Yeah, sure" he got up, grabbed his keys and gestured to the front door.

He opened the passenger door for me. Blushing I sat inside. What is wrong with me I thought, I have a husband.

The journey home wasn’t a quiet and awkward one. Blacksmith spoke most of the time while I responded. We were laughing, talking to each other like we knew each other for a long time. I actually felt at peace, I felt free, calm and happy. I was looking at the countryside when Blacksmith brought me out of thoughts.

"I'm a Muslim too you know." My jaw almost dropped, I slowly turned towards him and looked at him like he was insane. He chuckled. "My mother was a Muslim when she married my Dad; I was the only child who followed in my mother's footsteps after she died. I turned to Islam for peace that is why my father did not show me love. So I tried to prove I was like him in other ways but it did not work, I even kept the name the same just to make him happy." he sighed heavily,  I was shocked and happy in this moment in time. I put my hand on his arm and patted it.

"Everything will be fine, believe in God, it will all be fine" Blacksmith chuckled again, "That's what I love about you, you’re the only one after my mum, who talks about my God so lovingly." I blushed and turned to look out the window. 

"Were here" I smiled as I was back outside the apartments building, Blacksmith got out and opened the door for me, I smiled. I was about to say goodbye when someone interrupted me. The tall dark figure walked closer holding onto a bottle of alcohol.

 "So you ran off to spend the day with your boyfriend? I knew you were cheating!” The figure angrily spoke.

"Shehzad! I swear he just came to help me, I was passed out!” I pleaded.

"Shut up, cheating b****h " Shehzad shouted. Blacksmith held my hand firmly and stood in front of me protecting me,

"Leave her alone, what she is saying is the truth!" Blacksmith protested. "Shehzad limped towards Blacksmith.

 "You liar! I heard about you; sleeping with different girls every night, don't act like this one is any different!” Blacksmith’s face went dark and angry, he grabbed Shehzad by the throat and pushed him against the wall.

"Blacksmith!” I screamed.

"Stop!" Blacksmith let go, leaving Shehzad to crash to the ground. He turned around and held my face in his hands.

"I love you Khadijah, I've loved you since you tried to help me, you tried to save me, you remind me of my lost ones, and you don't deserve this guy, Khadijah. I'll do anything for you, I love you.” Those last three words echoed in my head. 

Another figure stepped into the darkness.

"I knew this day would come” he looked at me, then Blacksmith then disapprovingly at Shehzad who was half drunk and clinging onto his bottle. “All of you come back with me, we need to talk.”

I bowed my head in shame once I realized the chairman was the shadowy figure who played the hero. We all stepped into his car and made way towards his house. Once we arrived we all walked into his private study and we all sat down. The chairman broke the 5 minute silence.

“I knew this day would come, I have been keeping tags on you Shehzad, I've known about your affair for months and I saw how you treated Khadijah and how you acted in front of her. It was all a terrible act to achieve the top status of the company.”

I froze, the chairman knew?!

I was horrified but I dared not to speak. Shehzad hung his head low and chuckled to himself. "What is funny Shehzad?" the chairman asked.

 "You act like you know everything old man but you don't!" he then took a gulp of his drink and gave a devilish grin. The chairman spoke softly "Khadijah, I will not allow you to be hurt any longer,  I thought he would change but he has hurt you in ways you wouldn’t have realized. You may think you love him, but from what I see, your happiness lies with another. I’ve noticed a smile,  a smile from you which I haven't seen since the dinner meeting with your parents Years ago. Tomorrow we will finalize the divorce and nothing shall be said against this afterwards . Khadijah have you anything to say?"

I was in deep of thought; I loved Shehzad I cannot bear to let him go! All the happiness we've shared together, I cannot let this go! Then it clicked, Shehzad was right, he didn't believe in my love for him, he didn't say he loved the way I spoke about God like Blacksmith did. He did not make me feel comfortable in car rides and he was not at all like Blacksmith,  Blacksmith was not afraid to show me off, whereas Shehzad didn’t love me at all and I shouldn't fall for his tricks again.

 I spoke "No." and that was the last words of the broken relationship which wasn't even built up in the first place. I tried so hard to change him, but it wouldn't work. Blacksmith smiled down at me and held my hand tightly; I felt a warm, fuzzy love. This love was the true love I saw in my parents eyes. This love is the love I deserve.

 I realized another shade of white; the last shade of empty and hollow love. There are no more shades of white. I can now live in the different shades of the rainbow just like it used to be when my parents were alive.

This is true color.