Contrast to the whole week, Thursday was a sunny day and Friday was brighter. It was warm and dry, what people desired. Rains had punished everyone's nerves, making everyone sigh. Sunshine was a blessing to their souls. It made no one vex except for Anya, who was hoping for rain. No one wished for sunshine more than Anya did but when it became an excuse to stay at home, the rain was her only wish. But rain cheated her. For the hate she showed them, this was what she deserved. She hoped for kindness but what she received was a picnic she did not want to go to. When she said yes, she was convinced the plan was bound to fail, not for all but for her. She had managed to get out of all the situations like that before. She was certain this would be the case again. It was not until she got ready that morning when the realisation came to her, she was going to a place filled with humans in daylight. Getting in the car she felt helpless but she smiled which lasted only till the music started playing.

"Why is your husband not coming?" Anya asked, exhausted by their chat and enthusiasm.

"He had a reunion party with his school friends. We didn't force him either."

"Papa will come in the evening, right?" Asked her son.

"No. We will go home alone."

"I have never been to Imagica, " said the founder of Anya's distress. Dia turned to her and asked. "Never? Isn't it a hot spot for schools?"

"It is. But I never got a chance to go. Bhai promised he would take me but even that didn't happen."

"Ali doesn't remember anything other than his books," Anya said with an eye roll.

"And food." Himani completed the sentence making everyone laugh. The journey was filled with laughter and excitement more from the girls than the kids with them. Soon the excitement captured Anya who started to feel enthusiastic but refrained from showing it. They reached there by ten in the morning, a little late for their schedule. Anya entertained Himani's daughter whole she parked the car. When she returned they processed to their destination. They had to wait for some time before they could buy their tickets and enter the amusement park. Anya hid her smile when the excitement of the young girls made her happy. She started to feel positive and energetic.

"Where should we start?" Khadijah asked looking around.

"Nitro," Dia said.

"That should be the last ride," Her cousin interrupted.

"Because you die after that?" Himani teased Anya.

"Wait, I will inform Bhai that we reached and then we will start our adventure. You all decide where to go."

While Khadijah was talking to her brother the girls talked about where to start from. Himani was doing the talking while the cousins listened. When Khadijah was done she guided them to their first ride. Due to the enormity of the park, they were lost for some time but soon found their way. There awaited the brain behind the day who no one was aware of. Anya could not stop herself from raising her eyebrows and part her lips. Himani laughed and Dia smiled while Khadijah grinned seeing her brother and his two friends.

"What the hell is happening?" Anya asked to no one in particular.

"It was not my plan," Khadijah said immediately.

"Ali it was your idea, right? You should have told us," Himani said with a smile.

"Ma, who are they?" Asked her daughter, Leena.

"I work with them."

"It was his plan," Ali said motioning towards Kabir.

Anya raised her eyebrows before removing her eyes from Kabir which landed on his older brother. He smiled to which she replied with narrowed eyes. "Stop talking. Before the line gets bigger, let's go!" Khadijah pulled everyone with her and soon they were standing in a line for their first ride.

"What happens in this one?" Khadijah asked eagerly.

"It's called D2. It goes up slowly before shooting up and then drops suddenly and then up faster and a drop again. I don't remember how many times it goes up and down," Anya said.

Khadijah smiled with delight while Dia bit her lips. She looked down nervously after she checked the line behind her. She was one of the first ones in her group. There was no way to get out.

"Scared?" Asked Samar when he saw her moving constantly. She nodded her head without looking up. "But you were very excited to be here."

"I remembered the fun part of my last visit. I forgot it was an amusement park."

"This one is not that scary." Just as he said they heard people screaming loudly. She closed her eyes, hoping to get out of there. But she could not. Soon the girls took the seat and left the ground, it was about time to drop from the sky. The cousins sat in the middle with their friends on the side. They both were terrified while their friends were thrilled. As they were lifted up, Anya smiled not due to excitement but due to fear. She smiled every time she was nervous and she had not been more nervous before. Dia in her niqab could hide how she felt. She wanted to scream and get down immediately but no one knew. She was scolding herself for putting her in that situation. Suddenly, they were lifted higher with a great force making everyone scream in fear or in pleasure. But the worse part was they then dropped down. Anya thought she would not survive it while her cousin wanted to scream 'stop' but embarrassment stopped her. Himani was laughing and screaming whole Khadijah did the same enjoying the ride to the fullest. They did not wish for it to stop while their friends were begging God to stop it. A minute later when they walked out, Himani and Khadijah were telling each other how much they enjoyed, Anya was laughing because of her nervousness and Dia's eyes were wide open while her legs felt weak. Samar was the first one to talk to Dia after the ride. "How was it?"

"Scary. Very scary. But fun." She smiled. "I want to laugh but I am still shocked."

"Why don't you go and do it again."

"Why?"

"You were scared the first time maybe you will enjoy the second time. Who is coming again with us?" He asked the girls

"I will!" Khadijah said instantly. 

"I would love to but I will stay with my kids this time."

"I will stay with them. You go," Anya said.

"No, no I will stay, you go."

Anya took Leena from her hand and said, "Go. We will wait for you."

"Sure?"

"Yes."

As they all processed forward Samar leaned towards her and said, "scaredy-cat." Anya rolled her eyes and she walked away with a smile. She enjoyed seeing them with laughter. For two hours they did not stop and enjoyed to the fullest. They all forgot their worries and felt relaxed. It was a fun morning turning into a fun afternoon. Around twelve-thirty Anya was standing alone while the girls went to the bathroom. After disconnecting her brother's call she was going through the messages she had received. She was replying her aunt when Kabir approached her. She had forgotten everything except that she was cross with Kabir. She was ignoring him and he did not disturb her. But there was something he wanted to tell her and finding her alone he could not think of a better opportunity.

"Hi, " he said softly, "How are you?"

"Fine," She replied roughly.

"I am sorry."

She looked at him for a moment before saying, "I am not going to forget."

"I know. Your memory is very bad but when it comes to insults, you are taking them to your grave." She did not reply giving him an opportunity to speak further. "I am sorry. I know I was irrational." She looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "I was a jerk?" She looked away giving her approval. "I am sorry. I should have not said that."

"I don't know about that. I don't know about anything but I am very angry."

"You should be. I did it. Don't forget, don't forgive but talk to me. Please."

"Why did you make us come here and why did you hide it was your plan?"

"You would have come if I had made a plan?" She raised her eyebrows. "Enjoy, it will make me feel better. I just wanted to make you feel good."

"I would have felt better if you had paid for me."

"I thought of that but just paying for you seemed uncivil. On the other hand, there were many of us and I am not Lord Falkland." Anya looked away preventing herself from smiling. They talked for some time, unaware they had an observer who smiled at their encounter. Their argument had disturbed their common confidant more than they could think of. Samar was not at ease thinking of unrest between them. Seeing them talking was a breath of fresh air. The rift between them did not disappear but it stopped punching, causing less irritation. Their enjoyment was not disturbed for another half an hour before an unexpected Anya spotted her cousin.

"Rara!" She exclaimed cheerfully.

He looked at her and closed his eyes before walking towards her."At least in public be nice to me. I have a name!"

Not deliberately listening to him she turned to her only companion, Samar and said, "He is Dia's brother."

"Oh. I have heard a lot about you. These girls hold you in very high esteem."

Rara smiled and then looked at his cousin, whispering if he was the psychologist who helped his sister. When Anya said yes he took a few steps forward, "Thank you so much. We will always be grateful to you."

"You don't have to say that. I was just doing my job."

He smiled and thanked again before looking at Anya, "I found out something. The reason Aman is all crazy is after she went missing he lost a very big case, he had to give up on another one and he also had to stop his practice for a while all because of his father. His father is using him for something and he is frustrated to no end. The way to release his frustration earlier was my sister. Now he has nothing and he is crazy."

"That makes sense," said Samar," He is an adult and his father still controls him. These days kids cannot be controlled, he is almost thirty I guess. He is going to get frustrated."

"His father is doing a lot more. He thinks of him as a puppet and not as a son. I have been spending a lot of time with him just to make sure I know where he is all the time and I have seen his father mistreat him. Call me crazy but his actions now justify. Not justify but it has a reason. I get frustrated and angry whenever his father does something, I cannot even imagine what he feels."

"That does not mean he mistreats his wife." Anya objected his support.

"True. But di you should see what happens. The behind story is not so glorious as we thought. That man lives a terrible life. I used to envy him for his money and success but I am glad I am not him. I am happy my father is poor."

"Don't say good things about him."

"Anya, even he has a story. No one is a monster without a reason," Samar said, "You don't have to like him but don't overlook his struggles."

"I don't think of him as a great man, " said Rare, "but I am sympathetic. I still hate him for what he did to my sister. But. I don't know how to explain. I won't let him come near my family but I won't be evil to him either."

"I can understand," Samar consoled "You feel sympathetic towards him. Though you don't support him. But as a human, you feel for him."

"Right. His father crossed the limit yesterday. He is so annoying! Anyway, I still don't trust him so to keep an eye on him I make him tag along everywhere. I brought him here too with my friends just to make sure he does not go to your house again."

"He is here!?" The other two asked together.

"Yeah?" It came out as a question.

"Dia is here too!" Anya answered while Samar quickly checked where she was.

"What!? Why didn't you tell me your plan."

"You didn't tell us either! Now, take him and leave."

"He will get suspicious. You two leave. He is hard to move."

"Dia is having fun. She is not going anywhere!"

"It is not the time to discuss that!" Samar said. "You go and check where Aman is. Anya go and check where Dia is. Once you find them call each other and stay far from each other! Both try to make them leave, the first one to leave lets the other one know. Keep tracking each others location all the time. Now, run!" The cousins ran for their respective targets while Samar stood in the same place to watch the piece unfold. He was eager to see what the characters do in the end.

Anya managed to keep Dia and the girls in a gift shop. She then went back to where she was earlier as she had forgotten her phone which was with Samar. Informing Khadijah about the situation she could leave without worrying. But before Anya could find Samar she was found by Aman.

"Anya!" Anya groaned internally and asking the Almighty why he was always harsh on her. She stood in her position with her arms crossed, waiting for him to come. Rara was following Aman while Samar was not standing far from her. He walked towards her when Aman got closer. "I want to apologise. I have been very rude to you." A sudden change in behaviour made Anya's mind roll. She starred him as she was trying to find the reason for the act. "I will not disturb you. Sorry for the inconvenience caused." Him being nice was not what she was prepared for. She was distressed as he did not follow his original script. She wanted to scream at him for being nice. Her cousin, rara, motioned her to be nice and let them go quietly. Not admiring the idea much she knew it was the best way to deal with him. She constructed an answer benefiting both of them.

"If you don't trouble me, then fine. But, do you know your father-in-law threatened your father."

"My father?"

"Yes. Just like he threatened you. Your father must be very angry. His ego was definitely hurt. Do you think he sat quietly? He has been delaying finding her, right?" Samar raised his eyebrows as he was impressed by her while her cousin raised his eyebrows as he was confused.  "He is calm. He is quite. Why? You know very well how your father is. Why don't you ask him where she is? Maybe you will get an answer." His mind started to compute what she said and what knowledge he had. A link started to form leading to an answer. His facial expression changed and his mind could not stop. "You are right. My father!"

Anya was successful in misleading him, in turning him against his own father. Something that would keep him away from them and also what would give them time to think and act. It was a successful move, she was getting closer to checkmate, but the storm was assigned to come without delay.  She was yet to celebrate her victory when her month's efforts and the struggle went in vain.

"Aman!" A woman wearing Burkha and Niqab was walking toward him. He didn't know who was walking towards him but the rest knew. Anya ran to her, to stop her but Dia was determined to remove the mask. "I am here. Trouble her no more."