Things changed significantly around the village, but her mother didn't want Seher to take her father’s position.

"I don't want you to become power hungry like your father."

She wanted peace as well...

So, instead of ruling, she started serving them. Around the tree where many lost their life, they built a memoir.

Close knit, community homes, and school construction began.

"I was telling Riyaz that we will have college here, he doesn't have to leave."

Seher looked at the young boy, "Do you want to leave the village?"

"Yes, Yasir died here... I can't live here anymore."

"I will talk to your father."

She said, going over to the old man, "Your son wants to live his life... take him to the town, he will get better opportunities and make a future for himself."

"Hmm... beta I will think about it. Thank you, for helping me with the land."

"It's nothing..."

Seher and Saahil both were working together everyday, to rebuild the village.

"Why are we painting the walls?"

"Because I don't like blue."

"Why don't you like blue?"

Seher turned to look at him, "Saahil, are you tired?"

"No... are you?"

She passed him the box, "Nah, I feel energetic."

Seher wanted to change the village so she could move on a little, she wanted all the old things to be replaced by new and colourful things.

External changes first.

"You are tiring yourself."

Seher softly painted the edge, "I am not."

"You are trying to distract yourself."

She looked at Saahil, "What if.. I am?"

"You should face it."

"Face that man? Isn't it bad enough that I have to see him at court every month?"

"You’re strong, Seher.."

“You don’t understand. Every corner of this village reminds me of him, of everything he did to me, to others. Painting over it... it’s like I can breathe a little.”

He picked up the paint box, "Let's give the paint box to the kids. They might surprise us with their art", Seher smiled, going to the little kids who were playing, handing them small brushes to paint their art on the walls. Things were changing, the dynamics, there were little girls playing with the young boys, Seher felt immense satisfaction as she saw the kids acting like actual kids.

A young girl walked to Seher, holding her hand, "I don't know how to hold the brush".

She put her thumb and index finger together, "Aise", then arranged the little girls fingers in that way.

When she was about to walk away, the young girl stopped her, "What should I draw?"

"Draw anything you like about the village..."

The young girl excitedly smiled and took the tiny paint can.

Sahil and Seher walked a mile to the burnt haveli. They sat on the swing that was built outside.

"Why are you keeping this building?"

"To remember him, I grew up here, I would look through the windows and see young boys swinging in our garden. I was jealous that they could enjoy by themselves as I remained in my room."

Saahil stood up from his swing, "Kaise jhulte they woh?"

"Extremely fast, their legs would sometimes touch the first floor roof".

Saahil started pushing her swing, "Hold tight," Seher felt the wind as she raised her legs, excitement in her eyes as she felt the force.

Her eyes were on the window, looking at her past self, the young Seher was smiling back at her. Happy for her.

Her legs touched the roof and she squealed with joy like a child carefree.

"Slow down, I am gonna jump of the swing", Seher screamed, as Saahil pulled at the chain, and she landed on her knees in the mud.

When they returned after an hour they saw such beautiful arts on the wall, there were ghosts on one side, "Who are they?"

Saahil asked, the kid replied, "I heard scary noises near the tree, they are the ghosts. Mummy says if I don't sleep on time, they will take me away."

Seher patted his back, "Wow, kitna accha draw kiya hai."

They moved onto the next, there was a duck wearing sunglasses and carrying a gun. Another with sun, mountain, and a house.

At last, they came to the little girl, she was drawing a stick woman, "What are you drawing?"

"This is you. You told me to draw the thing you liked the most about the village, I like you.  Because of you, I can have friends, and draw on the walls."

Seher hugged the young girl, kissing her head, "what’s your name?"

"Khaddo"

"Khaddo?"

"Khadijah, mama calls me Khaddo."

Seher laughed softly, "Khaddo is such a cute name. I’ll call you that too." She smoothed Khaddo’s hair and sat down beside her, watching her finish the stick figure drawing.

The setting sun cast a warm glow over the wall, where vibrant colors now danced in the fading light. Children ran around, laughing and chasing each other, while parents began calling them home for the evening. The sight filled Seher’s heart with a bittersweet ache—joy for the hope they were building, and sorrow for the darkness they had endured.

Saahil tapped her shoulder, breaking her reverie. "We should head back too. The haveli looks even more eerie at night."

Seher smirked. "Scared of ghosts, Saahil?"

"Not ghosts, just you..."

"Am I scary?"

"Yes very!"

Seher rolled her eyes playfully, hitting him on the arm.

This place had scars for everyone. She stood up, brushing the dirt off her clothes. "Let’s go. We’ll finish the rest tomorrow."

As they walked back toward the village, the air grew cooler, and the stars began to pierce the sky.

"Seher," Saahil said after a while, his voice serious.

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow is court's hearing..."

"I have to face him as the person I was before I met him... but I don't remember how I used to be"

Her own words pressed down on her as she looked at the sky, "And I am not sure I will ever remember," the scared stubborn girl, "I pity the old me, I wish I could help her."

Saahil was lost in his thoughts when Seher interrupted him, "I am sorry, I bored you again."

"No..," he glanced at the walls and at the stick man one kid drew, "You reminded me of my younger self."

He smiled, offering her his hand, "C'mon it's late."

They walked towards Seher's new home, it was a beautiful cottage located near the forest.

"Seher, you don't have to be who you used to be. Maybe you can decide who you want to be now," he gave her the leaf, "Take this and keep it until you decide."

"There is one thing I don't regret about my past."

"And what's that?" Saahil asked.

She held the leaf, putting it in her pocket, "Meeting you."

__