My life was never easy, at the age of 7, I lost my father. He had committed suicide but no one never really knew. When you lose someone you love dearly, you either shut everything down or cover your grief with a fake pretence of happiness and that is what I did, pretended and I still am.

My amma had moved on in her life. She remarried and had a son. I never got along with my stepfather. He was not a very pleasant person but I had to put up with his antics for the sake of my mother. He'd always find ways to humiliate me or get me scolded. Thus, I never really liked him.

"Noushi wake up! It's 8 already" Amma yelled as always. "Amma! Soney dey na, it's Sunday" I buried my head underneath the pillow so that I couldn't hear her. "Noushi, it's 10 in the morning, wake up already"

I dragged myself out of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. I glanced at the mirror and heaved a sigh.

Fixing my hair, I sat on the dining table. I never liked to have food with my stepfather's family, they'd always exclude me and act as if I didn't exist.

I set my plates on the countertop and washed my hands. "Aapi" I heard Mustafa, my stepbrother say. "What do you want, Moosie?" I rolled my eyes. "There is a kite competition held today" he replied.

"Really? where?" I jumped as I heard him. I had always loved flying kites, my father had taught me how to. "In the haunted building by the hospital" he chewed on his lower lip. "Moosie, my brother, meri jaan, won't you help you akloti sister to sneak out?" I pouted.

Amma never liked me going to kite competitions, she expected me to stay home and assist her. However, I never gave in.

"Fine" Mustafa mumbled. "But only in one condition, we will split the money you win" I clasped my waist, clenching my jaw, "And why should I give you my hard earned money?" "Because I notified you and will help you sneak out" he pursed his lips into a sarcastic smile. "Idiot" I cursed under my breath.

"Is it a yes or no?" Mustafa raised his eyebrow. "Fine, it's a yes" I said smacking his head lightly. "Then get ready, 'cause you have only two hours" he said as he took a bite of the green apple from the basket lying on the table. "May I know who's hosting the competition?" I asked nonchalantly.

A lump formed his throat and he gulped, "Actually.." he trailed off "Hashir bhai is hosting it.." "What?!" I spat.

Hashir was my worst enemy, we both had bad blood since the day I moved in with my stepfather, who also happened to be his Mamu (mother's brother).

"I won't participate in this competition" I crossed my arms. "Please aapi, please, I promised that you'd win, I put money on it" Mustafa pleaded, wobbling my arm. "Mustafa! Are you gambling? You're only 11 years you idiot!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "Please aapi, I had to boast in front of my group, please aapi, mere khatir" he gave me those puppy eyes I could not refuse to.

"Okay fine, I'll go get ready" I said before exiting the kitchen. I opened my wardrobe and clad myself in a white and white kameez with a multicoloured dupatta.

"Let's go, Mustafa" I called, before turning on my heels and leaving. We both snuck out through the kitchen window, it was wide enough for us to sneak out. Thankfully, Haleema Bibi wasn't present there in the kitchen.

The haunted building, wasn't very far from our house. Mustafa and I call it the 'haunted building' because it was abandoned in the middle of its construction and has a hospital right next to it.

We walked out of our society, in a way that the watchman didn't notice us. Mustafa huffed, "Aapi, I'm tired" "Motay..all you do is eat and sleep, when it comes to actual work, you get tired. I'll ask amma to reduce the amount of food" I pulled his cheeks, causing him to groan.

Once we reached the building, I saw Hashir at the gate. "Ready to lose Noushi?"

I grimaced, "Losing isn't in my dictionary, you better get that, Hashir Rauf" I glanced at Mustafa who now had his arms folded and beaming with pride.

"Let's get started then" a boy from Hashir's group announced.

"You and me" Hashir pointed both of his fingers into my eyes. "I think you are intoxicated, Hashir, I think you forgot the countless matches you've lost. I appreciate your bravery honestly" I scoffed. His smile turned into a frown.

"Let the game begin!" the referee declared. The first few moments were intense. Truthfully, he was quite good at first but then as usual, I cut his kite.

"YES!" I cheered. "As I said Hashir, losing is not in my dictionary" I restated. "Go find the kite!" Hashir ordered his mates, not paying any attention to my words.

"Hey motay, go find the kite" I nudged my brother.

We all started looking around when I heard Mustafa calling me. "What's wrong, Moosie?" I asked him. At this point, everyone had surrounded him. "Aapi look" he pointed towards the hospital balcony situated right next to our building. The kite was lying there.

"Uh oh, we better go, the game is a tie and don't worry we'll split the money" Hashir frowned. "No, It won't be a tie, you know the rules, either one of us gets the kite. If you get the kite, we resume the game, if I get it, I win" I said. "Excuse me, I'm not so stupid that I'll jump over to the balcony" he rolled his eyes.

"I will" I shrugged. Everyone looked at me blatantly. I tied my dupatta in a knot and jumped into the balcony.