I set there thinking how to reveal my past to her....

I sighed.

"Kaif?'' she called out to me

I faced her and she gave me a small smile.

"When I was small-" I said taking huge gulps in between.

''Kaif, if you don't want to, then its o-" she said and I cut her off

"No wait- i think.... I don't know, I mean after hearing my past, gou would probaly hate me and my family-" I said sighing.

It was true.... My past was that dark...

"Kaif, there is nothing in this world that can make me hate you or yoir family" she whispered.

An unfamiliar emotion errupted in my chest, an emotion that indicated she had an effect on me.

"You really wanna hear it?" I asked her

"Yes... " she replied

I inhaled a deep breath and faced ahead.

"I grew up in Luknow India..." i said

"You saod you were from Lahore!" said Hasti

'Just listen and you will know" I told her

"I grew up there, with Zaki and-" Tears welled up in my eyes "Uzaira. I was the eldest, Zaki was 2 years younger and Uzaira was the youngest, 2 years younger than Zaki and 4 years from me. My ammi and abba never got along. Ever since i could see things and what so ever, ammi was always beated up by abba. The whips-" I sighed and held my tears back.

I looked up to the stars.

"He often would whip me but when Zaki was born, I had to do something. Even thiugh I was just 2 years old that time, I was always alone. Ammi had to be with abba and i was with Zaki. I saw my mother cry, nights after nights-" I said as silent tears ran down my face.

"Kaif I-" she said and I continued my story

"That hapliness I felt when I got to know I would be an elder brother of a lovely sister. When abba tried to hit Zaki, I would protect him in years to come I became a shield to my siblings. Scars after scars-" I explained as pain washed over me.

"I still remember that night- I was 10 that time and Uzaira was 6 when abba came home, drunk. My ammi was a practicing muslim and molded her kids to be that way. We were praying when abba came." I explained.

Flashback.

"Rollliiii" my father slurred. I had just finished my dua and was sitting there reciting Ayatul Kursi, a powerful suppilication from the Quraan.

"Rooolllliiii" he slurred loudly. He used to call ammi, Rolli.

I got up and walked out to the small corridor of the house. The house was small, with only 2 small bedrooms and a kitchen with a fireplace where ammi set and cooked food.

"Abba-" I said as I walked out of the house. There were lanterns lit as my house did not have electricity and my abba was not a rich man. Infact if it had not been for my ammi, we would have starved to death!

She would sew clothes and do extra work for us.

"ABBBAA!!" squealed little Uxaira as she leapt towards dad.

Abba caught her by her arm and smacked her across her face.

I ran and hugged my baby sister.

'Abba she did-" I said but I got a slap too. This time I had enough. My siblings and ammi cannot suffer anymore.

"Abba?" said Zaki coming in the view.

I tried to stop him but abba was ther first and he spanked Zaki with a wood stick.

Before he could do the second blow I grabbed the stick and stood shielding my siblings.

"Abba aap usse maar nahi sakte!"i said to abba and he growled. (Father, you can't hit him)

He pulled the stick out if my hand and spanked my on my shoulders.

I winced but did not move. Ammi had come to my rescue but this time abba had hit her on the head.

Blood ozed out of my ammis head and Uzaira and Zaki started crying.

I ran to my ammi but abba kicked my stomach and i fell backwards.

He licked my ammi up and carried her out to the huge stage.

I grabbed abbas legs and begged him to let my ammi go but he marely kicked me and left me there.

Abba put ammi on the stage and yelled for people.

"Yeh- Khairan Shahaan, aaj iss khote par naache gi!" he yelled. (This Khairan Shahaan, will dance here on this stage!)

I put Uzaira and Zaki to a safe place, my neighbours house and ran to my ammi's rescue. I could not fight back as i was thin and weak but for my ammi, I will fight.

I ran up to abba and pushed him to the ground.

I cannot stand anyone insulting my ammi.

My abba laughed and soon we launched into a fight. My ammi was too tired and wounded to help me so I fought alone. All too soon we heard gun shots.

Everyone and everything stoppped.

I turned around and saw people with guns and masks.

Abba grinned at them and they hugged abba.

Who were they!?!!

Ammi pulled me with her towards our house.

''Ammi who are they?" I asked her in hindi.

"Shhh... You listen here, take Uzaira and Zaki with you and stay out of sight of yiur abba!" she said

"Ammi I will not go-" I sid but she hugged me

"You want your siblings to be safe?" she asked and i nodded.

"Then go!" she said

I nodded and ran to the neighbours house.

"Zakaryahhh" I called out to my little brother. He ran out crying from the dark hallways

How did he get there!?!

"Zaki, Uzaira kaha hai?" I asked him and he cried even louder. (Zaki where is Uzaira?)

I ran my hand in my hair as I ran arround looking for my little angel.

"UZAAIIIRRRAAA!!!!" i yelled on top of my voice.

"Bhaiiyyyaa" she yelled from the dark hallway.

I turned to see my little light standing in the dark hallway.

She ran towards me and i smiled.

Then terror striked.

There was a loud sound, fire and flames.

"UZAIIIRRAAA!'" i yelled as I ran towards the flames.

My sister! Ya Allah let her be safe...

Ammi lauched towards the flames and people stopped her, us!

I struggled to get out of their grip to save my angel but they would not let go.

There were similar balsts in the village and people blamed my family for it.

I set there with ammi and zaki crying for my sister as her memories flashed infront of my eyes.

"bhaijaan!" she said happily as she showed off her new doll.

Then she ran into my arms and I twuled her sround.

'Bhaijaan, mein hamesha aap ki choti paari rahoogi nah?" she had said and i had nodded laughing.

When she got angry Zaki and i used to sing the song we made together and she would laugh.

"Ek naani si paari," zaki said
"Hai hamari di" I said
'Mile hai hum" zaki said
"Saath ek ek doosre ke dam!" I said
"Pyari hai hammare liye" said Zaki
"KOI NAH JUDA KAR PAYE HUMME!!!!" she would squeal.

Translated:
As a little angel
Is out sister
We have met
Together we are one
Cute she is to us
No one can seperate us!

Tears fell as I remembered her thoughts.

Days passed and ammi was still that way. Griefing for the loss of my sister.

29th Feb, 2005= death of Uzaira Zayka Shahaan.

End of Flashback

Tears fell down my cheeks like a waterfall.

"Then what happened?" she asked me

"Ammi and I decided to move to another place with Zaki. Abba had fled soon after that leaving ammi and me along with Zaki to die alone. No one would give ammi a job and soon we were out of food and other neccessities. The landlord had enough of peoples taunting and threw us out of the house. We traveled all around tge place looking for jobs and since Zaki was small, food for him. I still remember ammi crying at night, us letting Zaki eat food and starving ourselves!" I said

Hasti sniffed and I wiped all tears out.

'I was working as a shoe boy wjen a rich man, Jones came and asked me for my name. He was like an angel. He gave me a job and from there i worked hard to educate Zaki and give ammi a good future. We paid all abba debt and then when I was 13, Jones called me to England. I told him that i can't as I had my family to look after so he let me a deal. I work for him and he provides me and my family citizenship of England. I agreed. Since then we have been here..... Here yet our memories remain with Luknow!" I said

"Uzaira was you little sister?" she asked and I nodded.

She sighed and knelt infront of me.

"I do not hate you Kaif" she said

I looked away.

I had killed my sister. If i had no fought with abba, she would have been alive. Her grey eyes and dimpled smiles. A laughter that brings out the best of people

"Kaif, look at me" she said and i did not look up.

She got up and faced me.

"Kaif you are not weak.... You are strong and Uzaira was very lucky to have you! You have Zaki and ammi to look out for.... Chill out! And don't take those pills! Allah forbid if something ahppens to you what will they do? What will i do?" she said

I shook my head and wiped all tears

I gave her a small smile and she grinned as people yelled MERRY CHRISTMAS

The snow started falling on us and i laughed as hasti played with them, trying to catch them.....

Was she the one?

*****
PAST REVEALED! BUT WAIT- THERE IS MORE!

WHY IS MY CAPS ON? long story!

Sooooooo there!

Comment and votee!!!

-al