Hania 's POV:

Me and my freind Arooj were returning from the canteen when we saw one of our class fellows sitting all alone. We decided to join her. We sat and talked randomly about our lives. She told us that she had no father, no brother as well. But yes a step brother who didn't really care. I felt so guilty and ashamed for not knowing something so important about a friend of mine. I even cried when she told me the whole story :
"My father was a rich businessman, with his first wife he was blessed with three sons, my three step brothers. But she got cancer, which was detected in the last stages. My father travelled around and tried his best to get her treated at any cost. He suffered a serious downfall in business but eventually she died. Then after a year or so he married my mother. Me and my little sister were born. Our favourite brother joined the army but was martyred. Second ran off to marry his cousin and then lived there. Third died of a serious disease too. My father couldn't bear it. He felt sick for a year, then died. " she had suffered so much, I hugged her tight and said "you are one brave soul Salwa. And you have my all respect. I couldn't have born it. Ever! "
"well... It isn't about it. In the end, we all still live and still bear it, no matter what we say right now . " She was sadly right.

When I got home that day I prayed nawafil to thank Allah for blessing me even though I hardly said my prayers . We all together watched a Pakistani movie And Laughed while we made fun of each other's child hood pictures. That day, I realised how blessed I truly was.
Dua threw a pillow at me yelling, "aapi(term used for elder sis) is out! " .
I was stuck for a moment ,"Wait.. When did it even start? I didn't know"
Dua smirked instead, "haha..Not my concern "
"just wait you little " I then threw 2 pillows together at her and ran away with her chasing me all around the house.

Later that night, I woke due to some noise outside. I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock, it was 2:10am . But it felt like morning already. It was really strange because I was a really deep sleeper, among all in my family, so why did I wake just by some noise? But I then checked the smart phone under my pillow to make sure, it had the same time . I heard more steps. Who in the world could it be? And that too at this hour? I got off my bed and slipped into my slippers. I formally opened up the door expecting baba to be outside to go to the toilet as he usually did . But it was a strange man. What the hell?! I instantly closed the door and locked it. I clearly saw a gun in his hand. He had seen me close the door. He rushed towards our room's door but I had locked it. My heartbeat raced as I woke up dua in the bed next to mine. The man was trying really hard to open the door now. Normally thieves would run to prevent being caught but he wasn't. I picked up the phone and called my chahu who lived next doors. The man outside was now blabbing about some thing in whispers ,probably some threats. I hugged the crying dua and prayed for everyone's safety. Soon, I could hear a lot of noise outside. My chachu was out there with some other men. I even heard baba and mama now. Shouts had taken over the silent night. I closed my eyes but then I heard a loud gun shot... Dua in my arms, screamed and fell down almost unconscious.

Ibrahim 's POV:

"Ummm....I'm sorry, ok? " I had finally mustered up some courage to say that to the poor guy for his bleeding nose. He instead started laughing,
"hahaha... It's ok brother. You did the right thing. I deserved it. "
Then I told him, "I know that you are good at heart. And that you have been suffering. But the path you chose was wrong ". He smirked,  then looked at the sky with a painful look "You know brother, I... I never chose this path. I.... I wonder who did " ..... I knew what he meant, it hurt me.

"We are almost here. ", I said while pointing at a shop. "ugh... At last. My feet are hurting from all that walking. " I greeted my baba in the shop and the boy mustafa followed in. Baba embraced me tight like always ,he  then looked at mustafa with a questioning look. "baba!This is Mustafa, my friend....'and he's having a hard time. I'll tell you the rest later. Please keep him along you in the shop,till I find another job for him. ' " (whisper)
"oh beta(son) ! You are Ibrahim's friend? Assalam o Alaikum. Masha Allah, Masha Allah. Such a cute boy. A pathan(a race ) , right? Ahh... I can tell. But did something happen ? you are hurt". Mustafa hardly caught his breath back after a tight embrace from my father. I giggled at baba's enthusiasm. "umm... Walaikum us Salam uncle! A pleasure to meet you. Yes, a right guess , I AM a pathan. And umm I fell off the suzuki on theway here, so...I got a little hurt " . He averted his eyes trying to hide the embarasment but I continued the talk,
"and baba please give him some rashan(grocery ) too for a few weeks, take it out of my next month's pocket money. I had to return him some money. ", I lied avoiding baba's eyes. "oh come on! You cannot hide it from me. " he then turned to Mustafa and said "beta, take a seat for a while, ok? I'll pack up everything for you. You can join from tomorrow from morning 7 to evening 7. Although there aren't any holidays but Friday's a half day. You can take leave in case of urgency too." then baba left us and moved inside the little general store .

Mustafa looked down for a few moments then finally said still avoiding my eyes,
"bhai, there's no need for all this. It's not your responsibility. You all must have been having hard times yourself in such a pandemic. I know how shopkeepers are suffering. You don't have to do this. "

"You forgot? I made a promise that I'll take care of you and not let you do what you did. So stay quiet. Now, tell me. Have you been to school? And your siblings? "
"well.. I went till tenth grade but then left two years ago. I have two younger sisters,they go to a government school. "

"Hmm... I see. Listen, You have to come to study from me after you are done with the shop at 7. Till 8. I have got the books so, no worries, I'll make you pass out college privately! And you have to tutor your sisters too "
I then looked at Mustafa for a reaction, but he was blank, just staring at my face, I shoved him by the shoulders. Then seconds later, his eyes filled up, he hugged me tightly and wouldn't even let go.
Ahh... He had a very strong grip." I... I have no words brother. I'll be forever thankful. I pray to Allah to make you a successful man so you would help many others as well. "
"Ameen, Ameen! And same dua for you too brother ....ok now, clean off your face already.  Come on man. You are a pathan man. How can you cry like that?"
He cleaned off his face saying, " You have no idea Ibrahim bhai, but we cry more than other men ." I nodded and laughed beacuse I kind of agreed.

We bidded Allah hafiz to baba then I started to set him off to his home, I was not willing to leave him like that, but he insisted on going back on his own. When I wasn't agreeing, he showed a money note telling that he can get a ride back home. So, I finally agreed. As, I reached home, mama kissed my head, blessing me. She asked about my day. It was pretty late, she should have asked me why I was late , but she didn't, because she trusted me, she trusted her son. Soon , baba came too. We sat down on the floor for dinner, meanwhile I told them about what happened "you did the right thing son! " my mama told me. My father proudly patted my shoulders.

" Are you sure, he won't steal from uncle's shop ? " this was my cousin Ali's compliment. I turned back to see him standing by the door. Mama smiled at him, "come in beta, have dinner. "
"no aunty I'm fine... Bhaia(Big brother ) ! You didn't reply ".
After a moment of silence, I replied,
"I would have never brought him here, if I didn't trust him. Now go sit outside, and revise yesterday's topics instead of eavesdropping. I'm coming in five minutes. " he left with an irritated "ok".

Hania 's POV :

My hands trembled horribly as I tried to reach out to the doors handle. I slowly opened up the lock and the first  thing I saw was blood . Dua was now stuck on to me from behind. My hanging scarf was now wet from her tears. I slowly opened up the door. There was a lot of noise outside. The thief was being kicked and beaten up. He didn't look like he was bleeding. He started staring me hard for some reason as if he wanted to kill me more than anything.

From a corner, I saw a little crowd gathered together ,it was yelling and crying horribly. I gained some courage and prayed, I kept praying so hard. As, I finally saw blood trail end, so did I see mama. She was collapsed with pool of blood around. I ran up to her, my hands and lips started to tremble, I patted continuously on her cheeks to wake her up. I holded her hand and rubbed it. Tears were flowing down like a river. I was crying hard as my voice hiccuped now. I got a little near which made all my dress soak in blood. I placed my fingers under her nose to feel her breathing . I even felt my heart beat in the process. But... But... There's wasn't any sound from mama. I still had hope. I saw her wound on the left side in the abdomen. I put pressure on it with my scarf. My chachi and dado continuously told me to stop. But how could I? She was my mother! my everything! I tried to hear her heart beat. Yet nothing. Her body was loosing warmth.

I looked back and saw dua on her knees crying out loud. Her whole face was in tears as she kept saying "mama". Luckily Ahmad was at nano's. And usman was crying next to baba.I looked at baba. He was too helplessly nodding a ' no' at me. He was crying too. I yelled,"Baba! Call the ambulance! " but he kept crying.
"Baba! Hurry up! ". My chachi shook me hard "Come back to senses hania! She's gone! She's... Gone " she started crying harder .
" No! You are all wrong! She can't! She can't leave her children like that! A mother never does that! I know it! She... She....H...How can she be gone? " I could now hardly see anything in the blur caused by my tears. I put my head on her chest and started crying out loud. Now the sound of my cries was dominant over others'. Others tried getting me off her but I just wouldn't let her go. Some of the neighbours had arrived too. They too were crying. My nano along with Ahmad had come too as they lived nearby.

I heard the thunder among all the cries. Soon the sky broke as well, it cried along us all. I ran up to the roof to fetch down the washed clothes that mama had washed that evening. I hugged them tight as I took them off the stand one by one. I kept wiping my tears with my scarf to prevent the tidy clothes from getting wet. Mama had predicted this rain by the look of the sky but I denied and left the clothes on the roof. If only I too had Predicted her departure from her sadness the previous day. If only... If only... I would have been a boy to have what it takes to kill that man the moment I saw him. If only... This was all a dream... If only....
I crashed, I had lost consciousness.