Zafar, Saliha and Shehryaar were already at the dinner table. Saliha sent Rumina to inform the girls to come over.

"Let's go, I already took so long," Manal said, smoothing away the frizzy hair.

Zoha went behind the wheelchair and started pushing. She turned off the lights at the door and left the room.

Zafar looked as both of them came.

"Look who is here. My both daughters," he said, with a big smile on his face. "Seriously I am so hungry. I can't wait anymore."

"Sorry for taking time," Manal said.

"No no I was just kidding. No problem," Zafar jollied.

Shehryaar pulled out the chair and Zoha drove the wheelchair in the place of it. Saliha started taking the biryani since everyone was here. Zoha went and took a seat next to her aunt.

"Now it looks complete," Zafar said, looking at his family. "Let's do bismillah." He extended his arm over to the biryani platter and took some in his plate.

"Smells really good," Shehryaar complimented. He took some after his dad and passed around to Manal and Zoha.

Saliha's eyes were in her plate the whole time. She was mysteriously quiet, wearing a stern look. Zoha got up with the platter to go get some more rice. But in the way she bumped into Rumina and Rumina said that she could bring it over, instead Zoha getting up in the middle of the meal.

At the table, Zafar was the only one talking. He appeared to be in a good mood today.

"You know what I was thinking? We should make a plan to go out somewhere. It's been so long since you guys went out anywhere," Zafar said.

"You are right. I didn't get to go anywhere with you all either," Shehryaar said.

"Tomorrow Rubab is coming over," Saliha said with a serious tone. The silence swept across the table.

Shehryaar looked at his mother before taking his bite.

"You spoke to her and didn't even tell me?" Zafar was surprised. "When was it?"

"In the day."

Manal was unconcerned. But Zoha caught the tension. She was getting the negative vibe out of how Saliha brought Rubab into the conversation.

"You invited them?" Zafar inquired.

"No. She said to come over. For Manal."

Manal looked when her name was mentioned.

"Oh," Zafar said as he understood the motive. "When is she coming.... like in the evening or?"

"Probably in the evening."

Manal frowned.

Zoha are hesitantly. She doubted if Rubab was only coming to see Manal. The fear lurked in her chest. But she told herself that she wouldn't say anything or bother to show concern. This was the matter of adults. Zoha wasn't mentioned in any of this.

Zafar continued with his food. But it seemed like he wanted to say something. He looked at Shehryaar for a tiny bit.

"So should we make any plans?" Shehryaar said. "Before daddy leaves?"

"Daddy, when are you leaving?" Manal asked, spoon tilted in her plate.

"I was intending to go this weekend. But delayed my tickets for another week and a half. I know you will miss me," Zafar said. "I am helpless."

"Why not for a month?" Manal whined. "I would never let you go."

"I know, sweetheart."

"Let's make these days exciting. Think of a good place to go," Shehryaar said. "Didn't you want to go to Islamabad and Murree?"

"Yeah. But it's too far, isn't it?"

"We can travel by air. It takes you faster. Driving is out of option for me."

Saliha quietly listened, dealing with something in her mind.

"Zoha, is their any place you want to go?" Zafar invited her in the planning.

Zoha got little conscious. She hadn't been anywhere in years. She always wanted to travel to different places and explore. It was her dream.

"I don't have much idea," she said. "But Islamabad and Murre are great places. If you make plan to go there, then I would love to come along."

"How about a resort in Karachi?" Manal threw the idea. "My college friends told me a lot about them."

"The plans you guys are coming up with will take days," Saliha interjected. "You have to prepare ahead of time to do all of this."

"Your mummy is right," Zafar said. "For now keep your plans in Karachi. Probably next time."

Shehryaar's excitement faded.

"That means my idea of resort was good," Manal perked up.

"We are not the exactly sure," Shehryaar said.

"Daddy, what do you think?" Manal said.

Zafar was about to speak that Saliha said, "tomorrow Khala is coming, so prepare for that."

"What's the big deal? Khala always comes over," Manal said.

"But she hadn't visit you in days."

Manal made a face at her mother, while she was looking away.

"Khala will come in the evening and leave. Then after that we have days to go somewhere," Shehryaar said.

Saliha eyed at Shehryaar and then dropped her gaze to her plate.

"Then we should do this," Zafar swallowed his bite. "This coming weekend we can plan to go on a resort. Since Zoha goes to college she will be able to come with us."

Shehryaar and Manal threw a glance at Zoha.

"How does that sound?"

"That's good. Love you daddy," Manal said. "I will begin preparing today. It's so exciting."

Saliha gave a look to Zafar and noisily dropped her spoon in the plate. Everyone's attention leapt to her.

"Knowingly you are doing all of this," Saliha maddened. "You are pretending like you don't know what's going on." She got up, nose flaring with anger, and left the table.

Zafar was surprised. He began looking at everyone else.

"Daddy, why did mummy react that way?" Shehryaar asked, stunned.

"I don't know what to do. Who to listen to," Zafar said, pushing the plate lightly.

Manal and Zoha were watching.

"What was she talking about?"

"The same thing that you don't agree with."

Shehryaar seemed to understand it then. "I didn't know it was that of a big deal."

"Can we talk about this somewhere else?" Zafar said in low voice.

Shehryaar glimpsed at Zoha across the table. He finished eating his food and got up.

************

The next evening, Zoha stood by the window and watched the outside of the house. Rubab was coming over. It was past five thirty. She would be here any minute.

Zoha faced away from the window, heart thudding in her chest, clock ticking on the wall.

I shouldn't be nervous, she said to herself. Everything is going to be alright. Baray Abu is there to take care of it. He will not let anything bad happen.

It gave her hope. She took a deep breath and calmed down.

*************

Saliha welcomed Rubab in the house. Faiza was along with her.

"Aslam-e-laikum," Rubab said, smiling. She seemed happy. "How are you?"

"I am good." Saliha forced a smile. "Come in."

Faiza followed after her mother. They went in the living area.

"Visiting after many days," Saliha settled on the sofa across Rubab and Faiza. "How are you, Faiza beta?"

"I am fine," she said, wandering her gaze around the place as if looking for someone.

"You didn't come. Were you really busy?"

"Yeah."

Saliha noticed how Faiza didn't look much at her while she spoke. Her mind was somewhere else.

"If you are looking for Manal, so she is in the room," Saliha said.

"No... I mean yeah. Okay."

"What is she doing?" Rubab said.

"Actually she fell asleep." Saliha felt embarrassed. She told Manal to stay up because her Khala was coming. But when she went back to her room, Manal was drift alseep. Then Saliha didn't want to bother her. She thought probably she would wake up before Rubab would come, but she didn't.

"We especially came to meet her," Rubab said.

"I know." Saliha dropped her gaze. "So sorry. I will go and check if she wakes up now." She got up.

"No no it's okay. Let her rest," Rubab said.

"She has been sleeping for an hour now. It won't be bad."

"Okay."

As Saliha was going to Manal's room, Zafar bumped on the way. He was heading for the living area.

"Rubab is here?" he asked.

"Yeah she is. But please don't talk about it until I come back," Saliha said.

"Where are you going?"

"To wake Manal. She fell asleep."

"What time is this to sleep? She knew her Khala was coming."

"You go, I will be back."

Saliha turned on the lights of the room and flipped aside Manal's comforter. The air conditioner was on and it brought chills on her arms.

"Manal, beta wake up," she said softly. "Look who is here."

Manal didn't move a bit in her bed. She was deep in sleep.

"Beta, please wake up. Don't bother me." She shook Manal.

Then she moaned. "What is it?"

"I told you this is not the right time to sleep. Your poor Khala is here to meet you." Saliha loomed on her head.

"I don't want to meet anyone. I am tired. Go away." Manal pulled the comforter over her face.

Saliha pulled away the comforter again. "Stop acting childish. Get up right this instant. Come on. Don't make me say it again and again."

"Who else came?" Manal's eyes were barely open. She squinted in the room's bright light.

"Faiza."

"Why did she come?"

"To meet you, for what else."

"No. I don't want to go." Manal frowned. "I don't want to see her face. I hate her."

"Manal?" Saliha was astonished. "What is wrong with you?"

"Go tell them not to wait for me. I won't come."

"Behave yourself, Manal. Get up right now."

Manal appeared really annoyed.

"Come on don't bother me. I am waiting till you come with me."

Manal rubbed her eyes, mad, and sat up on bed. She kept looking at Saliha with exasperation.

"It's not even that important," she said under her breath.

Saliha brought the wheelchair closer and assisted Manal into it.

"Good girl," she said.

"You don't care about me anymore," Manal complained like a kid.

"I wouldn't have bothered you. But imagine how rude it would be to not go. She informed us yesterday."

Later, Saliha brought Manal to the living area. Rubab and Faiza looked as she came.

"Manal? How are you, beta?" Rubab got up and went to her. She was happy.

"Fine."

"You look much better than before. Sorry your Khala couldn't come." She looked at Manal with flush of excitement.

Faiza was sitting on the sofa. She didn't ask once about Manal.

"How is your physical therapy going?" Rubab asked.

"It's good," Manal replied, sounding bland. She showed least of interest to her aunt.

Saliha sat next to Zafar. She fumbled with her fingers in her lap.

"That's great." Rubab patted her head. "So when are you coming to our house?"

"Inshallah, she will walk to your house," Saliha said, giving a smile and sat back on the sofa.

"And Faiza, beta, how is your college going? Did professors asked about Manal? She hasn't been going," Saliha said, pressing the edginess.

"They did," Faiza said. "I told them about the accident. They were wondering when she would be able to come back." She glanced at Manal who didn't look back at her.

"I told Shehryaar to send the note about the excuse, so college doesn't think that she dropped out or something like that."

"By the way where is Shehryaar? Don't see him," Rubab said.

Saliha breathed and looked at Zafar.

"He is busy," she said.

"Oh I see."

"I will be back," Saliha got up.

"Where are you going?" Rubab asked.

"Kitchen. It won't take long. Just one second," she excused off.

"She doesn't have to treat us like guests," Rubab said, looking at Zafar.

Manal sighed irritatedly. She avoided Faiza the entire time.

"No no. It's nothing much. Just tea time."

"Okay okay." She laughed.

Faiza leaned into her mother and whispered something in her ear. Manal suspiciously gazed at her. Rubab nodded when Faiza was done saying.

"When are you planning to go back to California?" Rubab asked, clearing her throat.

"In about a week and a half," Zafar said. "Otherwise it was this weekend."

"Oh."

"Without me, my co-manager gets burdened with extra responsibilities. I get calls all the time. It's not easy to leave behind the business and come over every time like this."

"You are right. Not an easy job," Rubab added. "Have you come up with any plans for this visit?"

"Regarding?"

"Wedding. Getting Faiza and Shehryaar's nikah done."

Saliha came back from the kitchen and joined them. "Just instructed Rumina about somethings," she said.

"Doesn't mean Faiza is going to be your daughter-in-law, so you treat us like guests." Rubab laughed.

Saliha got little uncomfortable at the mentioning. "Oh no."

"I was just asking Zafar bhai about Faiza and Shehryaar's nikah. What are your plans?"

"Nikah? I mean-"

"It would be easier for him if we get nikah done and when he comes back we will get ruksati and walima done then. What do you think?"

"Umm-" Saliha searched for the right words. She was tempted to say what she already had in her mind.

"Actually Shehryaar...." Zafar started. "He doesn't doesn't want to marry."

"Doesn't want to marry?" Rubab was poked with astonishment.

"The thing is, when Saliha asked Faiza's hand in marriage, she didn't ask for Shehryaar's opinion." He took a pause. Rubab was carefully and consciously listening. Faiza's eyes were wide with shock. "The fact is that he never agreed to this proposal. And now-"

Rubab cut him off. "He is refusing?"

"Rubab, I never meant for this to happen," Saliha said. Her heart was sharply beating. "I thought he is my son so he wouldn't do anything like this."

"Saliha, how could you do this? You didn't ask him once and let this happen on the basis of one sided opinion? And what is this suppose to mean now?" Rubab raised her voice in shock.

"We can talk out calmly," Zafar said.

"Bhai sahab, what is there to talk about? How can Shehryaar refuse to marry? They are engaged now."

"Rubab." Saliha got up to handle this. "Please. Believe me I never meant for this to happen. I tried to tell him, but he won't listen."

Faiza got up too. "Khala, your son broke my heart," she said. Tears built up in her eyes. "I was so happy for this marriage. I told all of my friends about the engagement and when they find out what happened-" She covered her mouth, deeply disappointed. "All my dreams are crushed."

Manal looked at Faiza, and not a bit of concern licked her eyes, as if she already knew this was to happen.

"Faiza, my child." Saliha went over to her and held the sides of her shoulders. "I love you so much. No on can take your spot. No one."

"Khala, why did he do this to me?" she cried.

"Saliha, you shouldn't have started this relationship like this. Now my daughter has to go through it."

"I am really really sorry, beta." Saliha kissed her head. "I love you so much that I didn't care about anyone else's opinion. I just wanted you to be my daughter-in-law and no one else."

"Does Shehryaar like someone else?"

"I don't know. He never told me about anything like that." Saliha fell thinking about it.

"I didn't know my daughter's engagement would break," Rubab despaired. "I already started preparing for the nikah. Was so happy about everything. Now there is nothing left. It's over in one second."

"Whatever happened to you, I am upset about it too," Saliha said. "But because of this I don't want our sisters' relationship to fall weak. Please, Rubab? I did my best to keep the bond. You know kids these days. Whatever is in their mind they do that. Faiza had always been my ideal. I wish I had asked him before bringing over the proposal. Now I feel guilty for what happened."

Rubab didn't meet her eyes with her.

"Look at me, Rubab. I know I have hurt you so much. If you don't want to talk to me, don't. But please don't let it affect our relationship."

"Along with my daughter, my heart is broken too." She picked her purse. "I thought Shehryaar was respectful of every relationship. I didn't expect him to kick Faiza out of his life like this."

Saliha was extremely humiliated. She was degraded in the sight of her sister.

"What was my daughter lacking? Every boy dreams to have a wife like her. This shows how ungrateful he is." Rubab grabbed Faiza's hand. "I am leaving now. If it's possible don't call me." She headed to the door.

"Rubab," Saliha went after her. "Listen to me. Please don't do this. Please."

"This was the worst day of my life," Rubab spat.

"I am extremely sorry," Saliha deplored.

But Rubab didn't stop. She sat in the car and left, without looking in the back a single time.

Saliha was abandoned at the doorstep, hurt, ashamed and hopeless.

"Its because of you Shehryaar. You broke my sister's heart," she said under her breath. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Why did you do this? Why? What made you do this?"

******************