"You dance so well!"

Man's voice shrank her heart. She was pushing the door with her milky hands...face had expressions like famished black panther is just after her, unleashed.

"Like a mermaid plays with the waves," he was taking slow steps in her direction, "gloriously nubile!" Man's voice was heavy with excessive amount of liquor intake.

A tear trickled the length of her face; crushing her lips badly, she gave a hard blow on the door, "auntie sheema, don't do this to me! Please open the door." She was begging, "for God's sake, open the door!"

"And interesting part, Sheema bitch was barking - hiding you from me.!" He laughed amusingly and Raniya quickened her blows.

"But anything impossible, is just possible for me; as soon as I thrust fat bone in her face, she pacified." A twinge of fear wound through her gut when she heard him just right behind her.

Strengthening her heart, she turned around to meet the man.
He neither young nor old, maybe seen nearly forty years, but stocky and powerfully built with prominent jawline and chin. His black hair had some hints of gray; thick moustache shading his upper lip. He's too alcoholic and nicotinic; the purplish shade of his bottom lip testifying that.

"Look, stay in your limits!" Pointing her index finger at him, "Sheema mislead you, I'm not that type of girl you are seeking for." She spoke in firm voice but never had a courage to meet that man's eyes.

"What type of girl you are then?" Slight ring of mockery in his tone. "I only dance here.... the thing I disgust so much..., but somehow I'm stuck in this profession.....please be kind to me ....leave the room this instant."
Raniya's voice shook and eyes glittered with heavy tears sailing inside.

He was beguiled by her beautiful form while seeing her dancing in party. She was complete package; pure elegance and womanly charms. Her every move accentuated her curves; with elasticity like rubber bands, she was good at stretching her limbs. Deep neck wasn't revealing the cleavage but the marvelous beauty came visible when he tapped on his imaginary button. 'Such ample pleasure, I would love personally discover.' He had signed there a secret resolution to himself.

"Impressive," His smile, managing to get through his thick moustache this time, broadened as though he was enjoying poor lass very much. Raniya more shrivelled against the door; her eyes widened, when he trapped her by placing his both hands on her either sides, "do you think, I'm such a noble person to leave you?" He whispered as he leaned over her.
Foul smell intruded in her system, and she pushed him back with her full force, "I said leave at once!" Screaming, she flew out of the cage of his arms.

"I think enough show of my soft side." He took long strides in her direction. She was backing away as he advanced. "No!" She yelled, "don't come near me." She looked around frantically anything for her defense. Heavy salt lamp on nightstand - a glass jewelry box on dressing table. But in her instant reach, there was a brass floor vase which she grabbed at desperately. "Freeze there! She shrieked, "I will kill you otherwise."

Man was suicidal, his features deformed by repugnant smile on her warning. "You've already killed me sweetly - now come and satisfy me wildly."

His steps thundered one after one, "I said stop," Raniya hoisted the vase as high as she could. He sneered, "look, I'm scared my mermaid!"

Raniya had no option left but attack, screaming, she threw that heavy vase at him. He was ready - just a flick move of a dodge and vase fell on floor with huge clattering sound.

"Bad aim!" He smirked as he took couple of steps in her direction. Raniya ran blindly across the room, like a little bird tries to escape the powerful snapping claws of an Eagle.

Raniya vaguely prayed in heart, her eyes shedding tears uncontrollably, 'Allah save me.' She was determined to save her virtue at any price -"

"The effortless hunt is tasteless," excitement suffused his features. Eyes had a predatory gleam as he advanced again in her direction. Fear etched in her face, screaming, she ran across to maximize the distance, and his wish to minimize up to his desire. Room turned upside down from their altercation with all of her running, his chasing.

Suddenly, she stumbled through something in her way; and then a chance he found, "time's up!" His arms wrapped firmly around her, lifting her up off her feet.

"No!" She was wriggling yet screaming, as he took her to the bed....

"It's enough bitch!" He tossed her onto the bed....and whipped her face with choleric slap.

She fell heavily on the bed, on account of the force he used.
The other moment he leapt on.
Raniya choking at small squeak rapidly scooted to the headrest.

Death was inches away.

He was on his hands and knees, crawling towards her, like giant mud crab on the white sandy beach. His awfully deep gaze boring her trembling form. "My hobby is to blemish mirrors!" He whispered darkly and in agile move he was on top of her....his hands pinning her arms on bed.

"Please let me go!" Raniya bursting into tears, begged.
He looked down at her; at her wobbling busted lip. She lay trapped and helpless in his arms. His eyes glittered with dangerous, unreadable emotions. "Shhhh...." He shushed making Raniya held her breath. She saw his blurred face hung very close, "do... cooperate, if.... don't... want to....get hurt!" He shook his head and slurred.
Countless screams from the the girl as an answer.
He bent more..... His arms trembling to lift his weight, he shook his head once again and then like poles, his arms being dropped in on each side of her, suddenly crushed her in bed.

Her disheveled state was breathless, and dismayed. His weight squeezing her between the bed and him. She tried to push him away but in vain. Her face was merely free as his burly frame was crushing her to the bones. "Argh! Stay away!" She tried hard to squirm but his weight wasn't allowing her to move an inch. He was heavy like a corpse.

She screamed madly....and then a series of screams.

________________________

Counting the myriad of the stars in stark dark sky, she leveled herself on balcony ledge. Right above her head, she was scruitinizing the spoon sketched out of stars.
Soon she heard footsteps. Someone she knew, was coming her way.
"Nuhiah! Have your milk kid." Grandma's love oozing voice appeared right behind. Girl turned before making pout at the glass, then retook her stance. "Honey, don't wanna grow up?" Grandma asked with a smile. "No!" Answered little girl Nuhiah. "Why kid!?" Grandmother got confused. "Because if I grow up, you'll grow old!" She replied only to see grandmother smiling. "Honey why you show daily tantrums over milk?" Grandmother was stern in this matter. "Because I don't like the taste, change the milkman! He mixes urea, detergent and blah blah in this milk. My teacher told us in the class." She explained with enthusiasm.

"My child! milkman is our old fellow, he is from very faithfull milk company, they give us fresh milk without adulteration; and as far as taste is concern, I can add chocolate flavor if you want me to."
"Yes Dado, please! if milk comes to me with chocolate, I will drink happily."

"Very good, now drink this milk. It's waiting to be drunk. Don't make it cry, now go." She handed the glass to little girl who was smiling at her grandmother's old habit. As she finished the milk, grandmother smiled widely, "that's like a good girl! Now milk is dancing happily in your tummy." "Oh! Dado, I'm 10 now, this milk dancing story is suitable for infants." Girl said like Einstein is her great grandpa. Grandmother found her statement rather funny as she chuckled and kissed her head. "Naughty!"
They both were under mighty sky, after some silent moments girl asked, "Dado what's that?" She was pointing above head.
"Honey, it's Galaxy!" Told grandmother as she toured the sky after adjusting her specs. The sky was unusually darkest today making star visible.
"But its looking like a spoon to me."
Grandma laughed and said. "So true, when I was at the same age as you are now, I used to call it frying pan."

Both grandmother and grandgirlchild giggled but soon little girl noticed there is sudden halt in her grandmother's stance. Pulling away she saw her grandmother's sad face, "what happened Dado?" She asked innocently. "Nothing kid!" Grandmother smiled at her eyes that showed real concern. "You are crying and saying that nothing happened!" Girl hugged Grandma at once affectionately. "When I see you ...your eyes, I..I so terribly miss her." She tried to compose herself as not to fiddle with little girl's damaged heart. She also has loved ones to be missed. "Dado, I'm sure she is alive and well, she may be unable to reach us." Little girl snuggled more as she felt tremors in her grandmother's fragile body. "I hope one day she will be back." Little girl comforted her Dado like some grown up person. "InshaAllah!" She sighed with burdened heart and removed specs to wipe her tear stained face. "Dado if you won't be sad can I share a secret with you?" Girl rasped in her Grandma's embrace. "Say it kid!" She felt like little girl is strong enough as compare to her.
"I daily cry...," Little girl burst into tears, "i daily cry... Dado I daily promise to myself that from now onwards I will not cry but I can't keep it, I break my promise daily." Grandma's heart construct for a brief moment. She felt great pain for little girl, how she was battling with her own emotions as once Grandma asked her not to cry only to make her departed parents happy in Heaven. "My child!" She wailed, their cries mingled and no one was there to sooth them. She was not able to comfort her as she herself was in low spirit.

She won't forget the day which snatched her everything. For her, this little girl was the only reason to live. Both were shattered unrepairable but still they were hope for each other.

"Let's get inside, it's time to bed." Grandmother escorted her inside.
"Nuhi! Good smile comes from healthy teeth."
Grandma reminded the girl only to make her turned towards the washroom
As little girl came out side of the washroom, grandmother, who was reciting some Ayah made her lay down on the bed and blew on her head as she leveled the covers over her. "Now give me a big smile." Grandmother demanded after blowing and pecked on little girl's forehead.

Nuhiah smiled, "Dado, can you tell me a story please!?"

"My shweetie baby wantsh to listen a shtory!?" Dado wheedled and girl nodded with wide grin, "hmm, ok, once upon a time, there was a King who had seven daughters, all were gorgeous----"
After few minutes, Grandma noticed the girl just drifted off to deep slumber. She stroked her hair softly for few moments then taking deep sigh, she stood up.
Closing the door behind noiselessly, she crept into darkened lounge.
Kitchen was on ground floor. As she turned on the light for staircase, her eyes caught the sight of photo frames, those were artistically hanged on the wall against the staircase.

She stood there for several minutes staring at the happy faces.

Her husband, daughter, son, daughter in law, all were once alive and gleefully nurtured.

Life was floral bed to them.

Her daughter was apple of everyone's eyes. She was obedient daughter, dearest sister, amazing sister in law and devoted Phupo (aunt) of Nuhiah.

She had an aura of gay mirthfulness around her. Worry is what, she had no knowledge. Her chuckles were echoed across the Eden Villa all the time.

Her son and daughter in law both were specialized surgeons in their respective fields.
A very happy, energetic bond between them.
She wasn't a stereotypical mother in law.... like you watch in tv serial. One snake and other is mongoose.

The memories her mind reeling remained her calm and somewhat relaxed.

"Zara beta come sit, let me massage your head, your hair looking so dry," she used to insist on her. "Awww, mummy, let me think something very important," Zara used to act like she's in deep thought. "I know what are you thinking; a patient's case history or what!" she had a good smile on her face, "wrong, I'm thinking about my any good deed, I had done in my life that God has blessed me a Mother in-law like you!" She used to hug her and kissed on her cheek. "Ahm..ahm no maska!" She faked a glare.
"No maska...no chaska!" Zara earned a giggle partner.

"your patients don't need a lot of medical treatment, just make them listen your giggles, and done... "
Junaid entered making Zara blush. "My intelligent son, you have your separate room, why romancing with your wife in front of your mother?" Mom falsely snubbed him. "not my fault, I'm just like my father," Junaid declared himself Innocent then watched his mother's face with satisfied sigh, "ahh what a scene. Saas Bahu both are blushing!"

She felt heavy tears streaming down her face... Lifting tearful eyes to the picture, in which an angelic beauty was smiling with her arms encircled her father's neck. Her heart squeezed in, "My doll...." She wailed, her legs refused then to work....she deadly sat there, with infinite amount of grief..... it's like her heart will explode..,..

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