None of us is free from arguments. No human is independent of meeting people who are different from them, who think different, who talk different and who act different. At some or the other point we all cross paths with someone who ignites our mind with such high voltage electricity that we find it difficult to not explode in flames.

Haajar had a lot of work on Friday which kept her awake until three in the morning which kept her asleep until eleven in the morning. She wished to sleep for some more time, ten minutes at least but she knew if her mother entered the room, she would have to cultivate an answer that in no way would save her. That was too much work for her tired mind so she woke up. She took her phone, to wake her mind, but soon got lost in the enchanting world of happy smiles. When She left the bed it was eleven-thirty. She brushed her teeth and then sat in the kitchen wondering what she should eat. Salt may be sugar or was water enough? Maybe a shower would work, she had no idea what the answer was. She closed her eyes and was ready to fall asleep when a footstep announced an arrival.

"Oh. Hello. I am glad to find someone here. Can you tell me where I can get a decent haircut? I do not want to go to a local shop. Somewhere that is good. An experienced Barber is a must. A hygienic place too. Do you know a place that knows how to work?"

"I don't know. I never thought so much about a haircut. Maybe, uncle knows a good place. You can go with him. He knows all the good places. I am no help here."

"That is okay. I wasn't expecting much. Just tell me, who is uncle?"

"Your Mamu, "Haajar motioned towards the ceiling as she said.

"Oh. You call him uncle? I thought you call him Abba, papa or maybe Dad, like you always wanted to. I did not think you would say that. Does he not have a problem with it? I am sure he has. Why are you doing it to him?"

"I am not doing anything. I have always called him that and I think he is fine. Or maybe he is not. We will find out sooner or later."

"You are just as your father says, cold and distant."

"Rahemat uncle thinks that of me?" Haajar was frowning as she bowed her head.

"No, no. Mamujaan is very sweet, he always has been. I was talking about your father. Mr Cader." Just as the words reached her ears Haajar became numb and her thoughts ceased to function. It took her a few seconds and some breathing to look at her companion. "We work together. He is a client. He is a great businessman, a great human too. Unfortunately, Mamujaan is not a big fan. I can understand why. I have been in that position."

"Why did he talk to you, about me? Why did you talk to him about his family?"

"We meet out of work, we talk. All humans do. He asks me about you, he wants to know how you are but you never reply. You should not be like that. Do you think you are better than him now that you are in America? What is so great about it? We Indians are just as great. Better actually. You must think so good about yourself. How wrong you are. Your father has a right to know about you, he has a right to talk to you. Your father is the,"

"Enough. Enough." Haajar stood up from the chair and dashed to her room whose door she slammed with all her might. "What does he think of himself! Ah!" She closed her eyes tight.

The morning was not as she anticipated which kept Haajar in her room all day. She didn't have her lunch, skipped the dinner as well and the breakfast was never in the question. She remained locked, drew excuses and tried not to shed a tear. She was angry at her father for talking about her, she was angry at Sufiyan for talking about him and she was angry at herself for a million things but mostly for thinking about her father, who she did not wish to honour in her thoughts.

Later that day, after the sky had darkened Haajar left her room, only when she was certain there was no one on her way out. Haajar had various thoughts that day, more than she had in years. She thought of her childhood and the sadness that surrounded it. She thought of her father and the fear that he brought. She thought of her stepmother and her grandmother. She thought of her cousins and her aunts, she thought of her kind uncle and her vicious maid. She thought of how she met her mother, how she ran to her and how she escaped with her. She thought of her early days in America, She thought of her new family, she thought of her thoughts, she thought of her guilt and she thought of her fears. She thought of her life.

Haajar was jumbled in a ball of threads from where only sudden tripping got her out. She has not noticed the stone that was on the street which took her feet by surprise. She survived the fall because of her quick balance. She looked at the stone and then at her feet, wondering how she missed the sight. Then as she looked up she saw an unknown house which made her see around, making her frown deep. She looked ahead and then behind her but the frown remained.

"Is everything alright?" Raiyan asked as he came closer to her. "Why do you seem puzzled. Did you lose anything? You seem to be looking for something?"

"Yeah. Memory." She was still frowning as she looked up at him. Then as he tiled his head she took a breath and collected herself. "I do not know where I am. Where is this place? I remember I took a right turn when I was supposed to take a left but I thought it would eventually take me to my destination. I think I am wrong. The roads are not that easy."

Raiyan gave a nod to his head before saying, "I have little or no idea of what you are speaking. Can I help you in any way? Do you need to reach somewhere? Do you have an address? Maybe I can direct you to the house."

"No, I am going home. I was walking and I think I lost my way. I have never been to this neighbourhood. Where is this place? Do you live here?"

"No. My aunt lives here. We are visiting them. Your house, Okay I will direct you." Raiyan turned to his left and saw a lightless route. He looked at Haajar and asked," The route has been dark for a few weeks now. If you don't mind, can I accompany you? It is dark and you do not know the way."

Haajar bite her lips and looked at the dark road. She did not like the idea of him escorting her home but she was not sure of the way either. She checked the time and it was close to ten, she had to be home as soon as she could. She was confused, she wished to say no but she also did not know if that would be wise, but No was to be the answer. She cannot go with him. "I am going that way as well. I need to buy some ice cream for my cranky cousin. Why don't we just walk together?" Haajar raised her eyebrows waiting to find an appropriate answer. "Let's go. You are getting late." That she was, so she quickly started to walk with Raiyan by her side. It was quiet, they both were not certain of what to say. Maybe silence was better, they thought but it was still a little uncomfortable.

"Thank you," Haajar said after some time had passed. "I have lived here for a very long time but I still don't know the area well. I barely leave my house. I can tell the route to my college and then to work. Nothing more." She said with an awkward smile.

"It is okay. This anyway is not your area. Your neighbourhood must be four or five kilometres away from here."

"What do you mean? Four or five Kilometres? Is it really that far? Are you sure?"

"Roughly. I guess. I once came here from Sufyaan sir's house. You live in the same neighbourhood so it's more or less that much. How long had you been walking for? That would help us determine."

"Ah. I think, ha I left around eight forty or maybe thirty-five. I was waiting for our guest to leave."

"Guests often keep us tied to our house even when we want to leave. I can relate to it a lot these days. Only after they leave we find a way to do what we wish for."

"True. My guest is here to stay. Allah knows when he will leave. He has been difficult." Raiyan gave a nod to his head and tucked his hands in his pockets. Haajar frowned softly as she wished she had not opened her mouth. They walked in silence, their thoughts talked to them and that was enough of an entertainment for them. They were walking past an ice cream parlour when they saw a little kid standing with her parents. She abruptly smiled at them and waved goodbye. They both immediately smiled and waved back at her. There were a few seconds where they smiled wide then again the walk gained silence. It was claiming, it was light and it started to make them feel at ease, which was something they rarely felt.

"I have a question to ask, if you don't mind answering," Raiyan said, gaining her attention. She gave a nod of approval which made him continue, "Why is there a party at your house? Is it a special occasion or is it just a family gathering?"

"It is just a family gathering. Uncle always likes to do things to increase the spirits of everyone, so he thought of a gathering. He likes to meet and greet. He is a very social person."

"That is visible. He always talks to everyone. He talks to me every time we meet. I rarely come but he still remembers me. I last attended a party with everyone more than a year ago but then at that brunch, he recognised me and remembered my name. I thought no one would remember me."

"He never forgets anything. Dates, occasions, events everything stays in his mind. Birthdays and anniversaries are okay and normal. But he will also remember when a teacher said something good about you. The date, the day and the words, everything. It is not that he has a great memory. Last night we searched for his glasses for an hour but he remembers good things. Every good thing."

"Maybe he remembers what matters. I feel he values humans. That is a great quality to have. You are very lucky to have him in your life. Often people don't care about others. Value is nothing but Zero. So to have a person who cares and values you is very fortunate. You are very lucky."

"I agree. I am lucky. I just wish, there was someone else like him. Maybe I am being ungrateful but I really wish. Sometimes." Her head was bowing down, trying to reach the ground.

Raiyan shook his head as he said, "I can relate. If people around us had been nice we wouldn't have thought of it. But maybe, we are asking too much or maybe they don't do much. Who is to decide?"

"Sometimes we can decide, " Haajar said after some time, "when we are angry but then at times we must just let it be. It is easy. It feels better. If we keep that thought and if we keep asking why this person did something then we won't be able to find an answer or peace. But there is one thought that makes one feel at peace and that is something that always helps me."

"Do tell me the thought so that I can find peace too. Tell me what is it that can help us forgive and maybe forget."

"They didn't do it because of who you are, they did it because of who they are. It wasn't personal. They weren't bad because of us, they would have been bad to anyone and everyone. I do not know if that helps to forgive or forget but it helped me take a deep breath of relief. If there was someone else, they would have behaved the same way. So do not think they did something to you. They did something to a human, they didn't see a name or a face. They didn't even think of you. They just thought of themselves and their thoughts and their feelings. The other person never mattered. Maybe it makes them sound selfish but it made me feel good. He didn't hate me. He is just a negative person and that was enough for me. I hope that is enough for you too. I hope this revelation makes you feel at ease. I hope you find peace."