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~Elif Hoorain!
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The sunshine of a clear November morning pours itself on my face as I look outside the open window of the Uber.

'Today I will step on the first stair of our dreams Dad. I wish you were here with me and support me. I am nervous Dad, I.... I miss you awfully.' My trance of deep thoughts is broken when a tear slips down my cheek and lands on the back side of my hand.

“ Arzu, are you okay?” Madam Arfa puts a hand on my shoulder.

“ Yes, I am okay. Just a little nervous.” I tell her meekly.

“ Don't worry, have confidence in your skills. You have been working on this short story for three weeks. All you have to do is give your best and leave the rest in the hands of Allah.” She pats me over my shoulder and I give her thankful smile.

“ Madam. Here is your destination.” the driver stops the car near the building of Alhamra Art Center. After handing him the fair we get out of the car and begin to walk on the pavement.

The loud noise of the horns of traffic strikes with the drum like beating of my heart and nervousness envelops me again as I look at the colossal building of Alhumra.

“ Let's go inside.” I follow her inside the main entrance of the building.

We enter a big hall full of contestants and professors from several famous colleges and universities of Lahore.

After half an hour all contestants are ordered to sit in their seats and professors are told to wait outside.

When my eyes make a contact with the blank pages, I forget all that is around me and dive into the world created in my mind.

“ Time is up. Now all of you must hand over your stories to the assistants. Thank you and wait for the results.”
An announcement is heard after three and a half hour and I hand over my story to the assistant standing in front of my seat to take the sheets.

“ How did it go?” She asks desperately and I smile at her.

“ I gave my best just as you advised me to.”

“ You will win. I know.” She gives me a warm smile. “ You must be hungry and I am too. Let's go to the café in front of the building, on the road.”

“ Sure.... " I pause searching for something in my bag.

“ Is everything OK?” She asks me noticing my worried expressions.

“ I can not find my clutch...... I...... I think I left it in the hall on my seat.” I step back.

“ I will go inside and look for it. I will be back soon.”

I enter the hall in hurry and go straight at the seat where I was sitting earlier. I search the seat and bend down to look under it but find nothing there.

“ Oh no. How can I lose it?” I put the hand on my forget when I feel it getting hot with worry.

“ Excuse me Miss, what happened?” A young contestant in his 20s two years probably older than me asks me politely.

“ I lost my clutch here. It was of a skin lather material. “

He shakes his head, showing that he has not seen it.

“ It's fine. Thank you.”

I come out of the hall in disappointment and start to turn left in the corridor when I catch the sight of my clutch. Someone in his grey pants and coat is holding it in his hands and examining it.

“ Hello, Mister.” I yell out. He turns around to see who yelled just now and I wave my hand to him. He stands still looking at me from a short distance.

I hurriedly walk and stand in front of him. My eyelids immediately drop to look at the clutch in his hands.

“ This clutch is mine.” I tell him and look up to face him. His big round eyes of dark brown colour stare scan me from toe to head and finally fix on my face. His action irritates me and I furrow my eyebrows.

“ I said, this clutch is mine.” I point at the clutch with my fingers and give him a still glare.

" Are you sure? It is your property?” He turns the clutch upside down in his hand.

“ It is mine. I forgot it in my seat in the hall.”

He nodes at me and motions his hand forward. I hesitate for a moment and then almost snatch it from his hand and turn away.

“Oh, such careless and rude person you are.”
I hear from behind and turn to face him again.

“ Excuse me?”

“ So you are deaf also.” He gives out a sigh.

“ What do you mean? Listen Mister. I don't like to get frank with strangers.” I glare at him.

“ Who asked for frankness Miss....? “

“ My name is none of your business.”

“ OK!” He gives me a mused smile.

“ I didn't ask for any frankness. I am talking about manners Miss without a name.”
He folds his arms in front of his chest.

“ Manners? You are talking about manners? First you took my clutch and then stared at me in a very ungentlemanly manner.” I grind my teeth to suppress my anger.

“ You snatched the clutch from my hands like a wild cat and was leaving without a thank you.” He takes out the phone from the pocket of his grey coat and typed something over it then put it back.

I open up my mouth to say something fierce but close it again realizing my mistake.

“ Well. I am sorry about that, I was in extreme hurry and thank you.”  I say without taking a breath and put my hand over the black shawl above my shoulder, saving it from slipping down.

“And I am sorry too for staring at you. Ungentlemanly.” He sounds amused  and looks at me with thin lips stretched in a humble smile.

“ I will go now.” I take a step away.

“ Alright! By the way I am Sameer. Sameer Ahmed. “

I glance quickly at his face and then look down. I know he is waiting to know my name but I without saying anything move away.
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“ Arzu, what took you so long?” Madam Afra looks anxious plus angry.

“ Sorry for keeping you wait. It took me so long to find it.” I show her my clutch.

“ It's fine.” She sighs a relief.

“ They said that results will be announced after fifteen minutes now. So I bought two burgers for us. We have to wait here, can't go to café.” She gives me a chicken burger and I bite into it.

“ All the professors and contestants are told to come in the hall and listen to the results' announcement.” After fifteen minutes a heavy male voice echoes through the corridors of the building, and we both along the other contestants and professors enter the hall.

“ The second position goes to.......... "

I hear the announcer's voice and my heart feels to be jumped up into the throat.
A round of an applause and cheers are heard when a young boy goes to the stage through the crowd to receive his prize.

“ Third position goes to......”
At this point I close my eyes in desperation. And again applause and cheers make the hall noisy. I open my eyes and see a young fair complexioned boy receiving the third prize.

“ Now the most critical moment arrives.......and the first prize winner of this story writing competition, who won the hearts of the judges with splendid skills is.........” The announcer pauses. And I feel my world spin. There is a drop dead silence in the hall and irregular breathing of everyone including me is showing desperation.

“ The First position holder, who will get a chance to represent our Country in U. S. A is...........” The more he creates the suspense the more it becomes hard to breathe for me.

“ And the contestant who won the first prize from a Government Post Graduate College is, Azru Shahid.” The hall echoes with loud applause and cheers.
Suddenly I am taken aback when Miss Arfa embraces me in a bone crushing cheerful hug. For a few seconds I remain in trance and when it's broken I look at her beaming face.

“ You did it Arzu. I knew you can do it.” She hugs me again and then frees me.

“ We did it, Madam. You gave me all the confidence.” I smiled at her smiling face.

“ Arzu Shahid, please come on the stage and receive your prize.”

I go to the stage and hold the trophy and fifty thousands cash prize in my hands.
I hear the cheerful applause and whisper to myself.

' We did it Dad.' I kiss the trophy with a beaming smile.

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TO BE CONTINUED.......
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