I woke up to the ear-piercing sound blasting from Ash's radio. I shut my ears against the blaring noise, fearing it would damage my eardrums.

With eyes wide open like a saucer and breathing heavily as if I had just climbed the whole Burj Khalifa, I frantically looked around me. My hair was probably sticking out wildly like a crow's nest.

Ash was busy cooking something in the kitchen. "I'll break that radio of yours!", I yelled at her, pressing my palms to my ears, the throbbing headache was not helping either.

Along with that blasting music, I could also hear my uneven heartbeats increasing as if I had just seen a deadly, huge python coming my way.

"Good afternoon to you too," she said, coming out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the apron she was wearing and turned off the radio kept on the small triangular wooden table placed near the bedroom door.

"How's your headache?" came her concerned voice. Making me nod my head.

"Much better now. What's the time?" I asked her rubbing my eyes and letting out a yawn that smelled like dead fish. Ew.

"It's two in the afternoon. Go-" she stopped mid-sentence accessing the shocked look on my face. Now that explains the reason behind my bad morning breath turning poisonous. I needed an hour to brush.

"Wha- oh, it's fine," she said waving her hand as if it was normal to wake up at two in the afternoon."It's probably because of that pill you took last night. now go freshen up. Meanwhile, I'll set the table."

I nodded at her, slowly getting down of the bed as my whole body was aching due to sleeping more than usual and made my way towards the attached bathroom.

Ash's 'home sweet home' was a small flat consisting of a bedroom with an attached bathroom, a kitchen and a small living room where there was space only for the sofa, table and the television.

The walls of the apartment were painted white, filled with quirky and absurd paintings done by Ash: the artist herself and a number of dream catchers dangling from the ceiling - Some big, some small and some with no feathers.

When I returned from the bathroom, it was almost 3 in the afternoon. I had taken more time than usual.

After drying my face and brushing my crow's nest, I went and stood behind Ash. This girl was so lazy. She was still in the kitchen, cooking.

She was busy cutting onions. My eyes trailed to her face as I heard her sniffing. Her eyes and cheeks a beautiful shade of red. The look on her face made me laugh.

"What's so funny?", she glared at me through her red, watery eyes.

"Your face," I said laughing.

"Very funny" She mimicked my tone and proceeded with cutting the coriander. And I was still laughing at her.

A few minutes later, she gave in and we both stood there in the kitchen laughing. Looking at each other, we burst into soft laughs. After our laughing session, I helped her in the kitchen. Though much of the work was already done.

***

The day passed by in a blur as we spoke about anything and everything to each other.

After dinner, we were sitting in the balcony gazing at the beautiful star-lit sky. Making me marvel its beauty. A small smile made its way to my lips as my eyes witnessed the magnificent change of colours in the sky.

"Your smile makes my heart warm" Ash broke the silence, bringing me back to the present. She placed her warm hand on top of my cold one as she spoke.

My smile instantly dropped hearing Ash's words.

The scenes from a particular night started playing in my head like a broken record set on repeat and the cracks on it making it sound horrible.

Dark grey eyes
Handsome face
Dishevelled hair
Ironed white shirt
Delicious smelling cologne

'Rey'
'Rey'
"Earth to Rey", Ash shook me out of my reverie. I closed my eyes and heaved a deep sigh. Opening my eyes, I looked at the beautiful woman beside me.

"What are you thinking?" she asked. Knowing all too well what I was thinking. She turned towards the night sky. Her passionate hazel eyes mirroring the stars as her auburn hair swayed with the chilly air. Making her all the more beautiful than she already was.

This woman sitting next to me was so beautiful inside out. I couldn't be more grateful for having her in my life. Especially when my whole life was in havoc.

"I spoke to Ryan yesterday." I said hugging myself and ignoring her question.

"oh- okay" she replied in a small voice. "umm..did you speak to him..um..about..-".

"About you" I completed for her. I placed my hand on her cold hand and she sighed.

She slowly removed her hand from beneath mine. "It's all over now," she said with her head hung low.

"Because of you", I glared at her. Seeing the woman's head snap towards me.

"Rey please, I think we are done with it" her expression mirrored mine.

"But Ash, I know you love him"

"No, I don't" she denied, shaking her head.

"Don't lie to me, Ash and stop blaming him for someone else's actions. He is not the one at fault."

"I'm not blaming him, okay"

"Then why did you break up with him?" I questioned, sadness lacing my voice.

"Rey, please" she sighed, not wanting to talk about it.

"But Ash, please. He had called to ask about you and me. He didn't even tell me where he is right now." I said feeling hurt. I missed my best friend.

"Hmm" she slowly nodded her head staring into the space between us.

"Ash speak to him once," I urged her.

"Rey please stop," She said clearly agitated.

"But Ash-"

"Did you speak to sister Jenny?" she cut me off, changing the topic.

I gave a sheepish look and shook my head in denial. Ash sighed in disapproval and muttered something about how careless I am.

A comfortable silence fell on us and a moment later I rose from my seat and Ash did the same. I gave her a sideways hug.

"Okay then, I'll take my leave. Meet you tomorrow at Happy Smiles." I said, reaching for my hijab kept at the table before us.

"Rey, think about it." she said while walking me to the door. I tied my hijab and didn't reply.

I nodded, giving her a knowing look and left after saying my goodbye.

***

Standing halfway down the street, I looked around, the lights, brightness spreading all around, a contrast to the darkness in my life.

A single tear escaped my eye, making me want to cry, to scream and destroy the whole world, for there remained nothing to call mine, except My best friends.

Best friends. Those who knew about my dark past and were beside me through thick and thin.

Smiling bitterly on my condition I walked through the streets that lead to my house.

The same house that had been a witness to the destruction.

***

Darkness. Utter darkness surrounded me. Every corner. I could see only darkness. I could hear a few familiar voices. Calling me. Wanting to reach out for me, yet couldn't.

I closed my eyes and ears tightly, blocking away the voices. Yet they neared, closing in on me, making it hard for me to breathe. Suffocating me. 

I started yelling,
'No'
'No'
"NO!"

My eyes jerked open. My throat felt dry. I wiped the beads of sweat formed on my forehead. Palms sweaty. Breathing ragged. My head felt like it would burst any second now.

The ringing of my phone brought me back to the present. I reached for it and swiped to answer.

"Rey, where are you?"

silence.

"Jesus, don't tell me you were sleeping"

silence.

"Rey?"

silence.

"REY!"  Ash shouted at the other end, making me groan.

"What is it, Ash?" I asked massaging my forehead. 

"Oh my god! Rey, it's 9:10, where are you ?" I glanced at the clock on the wall in front of me. My eyes widened in horror and I detached the duvet which was hugging me and providing comfort.

"oh, shit! I overslept. Will be there in 15 minutes." with that I disconnected the call and ran towards the bathroom.

After a quick shower, I dried my hair, tied my hijab, grabbed my keys and strode out of the house in less than 10 minutes.

***

15 minutes later, I was standing at the gates of Happy smiles, an orphanage where I teach the wonderful souls. Who had no one in their lives except this orphanage. The building was huge, painted with beautiful shades of pink, yellow and blue. It had 4 floors with a basketball ground at the right and a kids' playground at the left and a small garden in the centre with all kinds of flowers and a statue of five kids playing merry-go-round in the centre of it. It was a beautiful place for the children. I felt so proud. I breathed in and greeted the guards with a smile who opened the huge iron gates for me.

As soon as I entered, someone ran into me.

"Woah! Evan!" I screamed trying to gain my balance. For a millisecond, the whole world swirled in front of my eyes. I could see weird figures floating in the air. I quickly gained composure.

"Oops! sorry, Rey!" he apologised. A sheepish grin plastered on his sweetheart shaped face.

"Come here, little man" I ushered him.

He ran towards me and stopped right in front of me. "Good morning, Rey!" He beamed at me with a toothy grin, making me smile at him.

"You should be in the class right now," I said raising my eyebrows at him. He pursed his lips and gave me a sheepish look. 

"I was going to the bathroom to pee," He said and I managed to suppress my laugh.

"Okay, and how many times to tell you not to call me Rey? huh?" I asked ruffling his dark hair. His green eyes sparkling with mischief and tiny specs of blues of laughter sparkling in his big eyes.

"Oh sorry, Rey, next time for sure" with that he ran off.

Smiling I stood up. As soon as I turned to leave, I bumped into someone. Great. Is it 'World Bump-Into-People Day' somehow?

Sister Jenny. Oops!

"Good morning, sister Jenny. sorry I didn't see you coming and I'm sorry, I'm late. I won't-" sister Jenny raised her palm and I stopped mid-sentence and gave her a please-dont-kill-me smile.

"A very good morning to you too" she said with a warm smile on her oval face. She had fair skin and warmness in her brown eyes. She was in her early sixties, a nun, working at Happy Smiles from last two decades. After my baba, she is the kindest person I've known.

"Don't worry, child. Ashley informed me. Now go to your class. Your children are waiting." She said placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Thank you, sister Jenny," I said and gave her a quick hug, hearing her chuckle. I turned in the direction of my class and sped off.

As I entered the class, a paper ball hit my face. Ugh! not again.

I clenched my fists and walked to my table. I stood there, glaring at the little troublemakers. Who stood with their heads hung low. Not like they were guilty. sigh.

I was the class mentor of grade 7, I taught English literature and Personality Development. I had students of ages about 12-13 and all of them were very dear to them. They give me a reason to look forward to tomorrow. 

"What's going on?" I asked, feigning anger.

No response.

"I asked something." I said with my arms crossed over my chest and leaned my back on the table.

Again no response.

"oh, Good morning sister Margaret." as soon as the words left my mouth, the whole class started picking up the papers and stuffed them in their bags. They immediately sat in their respective places, panicking.

I burst out laughing, seeing their shocked faces breaking into huge wide grins. All the children started laughing, making my cold heart warm at the sight.

"Okay now, back to the class. So have all of you done your homework?" I asked the most dreadful question to the students seeing a few faces hold a horrified expression, while a few nodded with big smiles. This being the everyday thing.

"Fine, I give you one more day. Tomorrow first thing in the morning, I want all the books on my table." I said, seeing their faces lit up and shouting a big 'Thank you, Miss. Rey. We love you'.

*******
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