Chapter 4_Ordinary Days

The night was darker than black. The wind howled with eerie sounds, reminiscent of a horror movie. The silhouettes of swaying trees resembled massive monsters in search of prey. An owl hooted, sending shivers down their spines.

The unsettling sound of footsteps echoed in the distance ... enough to make anyone’s hair stand on end. Two shadows approached a four-foot-tall figure. Finally, one of them whispered,

"Bano! Only you can save us. Please, quickly eat this pumpkin curry so Amma can be assured that we've eaten it. No matter how perfectly we hide it, she’ll still find it in the end," Zarmeena pleaded.

She and Ahmed had tried everything but couldn’t eat the burnt meal. Their last hope was the cow.

They placed the curry before the animal, hoping to avoid their mother’s wrath. But Bano turned her head, unimpressed.

"Sister, please. After God, you are our mighty savior. Don’t mind the little burn ... just manage it, I know you can," Ahmed begged softly, half-joking as he tried to persuade the poor animal.

Suddenly, the sound of human footsteps behind them made them freeze.

"Who’s there in the dark?"

Startled, they spun around. Ahmed, panicked at the thought of being caught by Amma, spun too fast ... spilling the curry all over Zarmeena’s dress.

Zarmeena furrowed her brows and rolled her eyes, trying to control her rising temper.

"Zaro, pinch me and wake me up from this dreadful dream," Ahmed whispered.

"Ahmed, it’s not a dream. We’re caught again..." she stammered, as they exchanged horrified glances.

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Nazli, exhausted, crashed onto the settee, her gym bag at her side. She had just returned from the gym and stopped by her mother's house.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" she asked the maid, lifting her head slightly.

"Ma’am is out for dinner, and Sir is out of town for a meeting," the maid replied.

"Okay, bring me a glass of lime water," Nazli sighed, resting her head again.

"My lovely daughter has come to see her mother," Mrs. Saleema Qureshi said with a smile.

Nazli forced herself up and hugged her mother.

"Where is Mosa? You should’ve brought him too," her mother said, sounding slightly sulky.

"I'm here after gym, Mom, and he’s with the tutor," Nazli replied casually, eyes closed as she sipped from the glass.

"Is Leena still in France?" she asked, sitting up straighter.

"Yes, she’s still on tour with friends," Mrs. Qureshi replied casually.

"Is she aware Salaar is back?" Nazli leaned closer and whispered, her tone sharpening.

"No. And don’t tell her. You know how she is ... she would go to any extent for Salaar," her mother said anxiously, remembering how cruelly Salaar and his mother had rejected Leena’s proposal.

"I will never let them be at peace for turning her down," Nazli muttered, her voice low and cold.

Leena, her younger sister, had been obsessed with Salaar. When Nazli found out, she tried to arrange a proposal, but Warda, Salaar's mother, refused outright. She didn’t want another Nazli in the house.

That rejection shattered their relationship. Leena tried to pursue Salaar afterward, but he remained cold and distant ... never encouraging her affection.

The next morning, Zarmeena dressed in her light brown qameez with a collared neck and matching frilled shalwar. Running late for campus, she strapped on her helmet and called out,

"Amma! Please tell him to come out. I'm getting late!"

"Dadi! I'm going to campus. Pray for me ... today’s my first assessment test," she added, bowing her head before her grandmother.

"May God help you pass every exam of life," Dadi blessed her, placing a trembling hand on her head.

"Don’t waste all the blessings on her; save some for me!" Ahmed chimed in, before hopping onto Rajah, their trusted old bike.

"God bless my children," Dadi said, lifting both hands with a fond, wrinkled smile.

After dropping Ahmed off at college and delivering vegetables to nearby retailers, Zarmeena finally arrived at the campus. As she made her way in, her sports teacher caught her.

"Zarmeena! I’ve been looking for you all over. Where were you?"

"Sir, I was..."

"Never mind. Make a list of students for sports. Distribute these forms. Three max per student, different for each sport. Understood?" he rattled off and walked away before she could explain.

Typical Sports Baqir. Quick orders, no time to listen. She sighed, knowing her assessment would have to wait.

Salaar, meanwhile, was lost in thought as he drove to campus. Nearly a week had passed since he last saw her. He had tried distancing himself, but her image kept creeping in.

Even in the classroom, his mind wandered. Jawad arrived, squatting beside him.

"Salaar! I've been calling you from the hallway. You didn’t even hear me. You okay?"

"Oh... sorry. Just distracted," Salaar replied, visibly stressed.

"Well, I was just saying ... Zarmeena from the math faculty is taking names for sports registrations."

At the sound of her name, Salaar’s body tensed. He followed Jawad and saw her ... cap on head, ponytail sticking out, commanding a circle of students like a general at war.

He walked up without thinking.

"I want to join too," he said, his voice oddly dreamy.

"Okay, which sport?" she asked without looking.

"Swimming and rugby."

Zarmeena looked up, stunned.

"What?!"

"Swimming and rugby," he repeated sheepishly.

She was still in disbelief. "Man, you're really out to make this poor, sweet girl's life difficult," she muttered, the irony not lost on those around them who knew her tough persona. He heard chuckles at Zarmeena's words, 'sweet and innocent.'

"This isn’t Cambridge,  We don’t even dream of those here," she scoffed. Then, without much sympathy, she handed him a stack of forms. "Pick three from this. It’s all we offer."

Salaar took the forms, but his eyes followed her as she walked away, shouting instructions.

"Sajid, Sajid, Sajid..." she waved to someone enthusiastically.

Salaar’s mood soured. He stomped to the parking lot and kicked a rock. Getting into his car, he saw Sajid strolling with Sajida. He hit the gas ... spraying them with a splash of muddy water.

Sajid shouted in shock. Sajida caught Salaar's smirk in the rearview mirror.

"Salaar, stop this. It’s enough," he scolded himself. "She doesn’t even care. You’re Salaar Malik! You don’t fall for ordinary girls."

But deep down, he knew ... she wasn’t ordinary at all.

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Back at home, Warda looked up from her magazine.

"Nazli, where are you going?"

"To my parents’ house," she replied without a glance.

"These frequent visits aren’t good. Focus on your child and home," Warda snapped.

Nazli said nothing, but her clenched jaw and stiff walk spoke volumes. She left silently, sunglasses perched on her head, pink frock brushing the floor.

Zarmeena sat in the canteen, head buried in her books ... trying a new corner for focus. But Sajida found her anyway.

"Zaro, you've wasted yourself and bored me to death," she complained, flopping beside her.

"And what should I do to make my life wonderful?" Zarmeena said dryly.

"Just look around! The campus is full of handsome guys. Have you seen Salaar from business? My God..."

"Yes, I know. Last time, you were obsessed with Fahad from Economics. And before him, Zavyar from Physics, and before him...."

"Okay, okay!" Sajida cut her off, embarrassed.

"None of them will ever come near me because you won't let me!" Sajida huffed.

"I'm leaving," Zarmeena said, slamming her book shut.

"Wait! Everyone here has a boyfriend except us. Do you know people are starting to pair us together?"

Zarmeena froze. Her expression sharpened.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Am I wrong? Look at you! Tomboyish, strict, scary. People think you're keeping me away out of jealousy."

That did it.

"One more word and I’ll shut you up with my fists!" Zarmeena warned, rolling up her sleeves.

"Okay, okay! I don’t like guys!" S

ajida surrendered. "Let’s go eat?"

"Sorry, sister. I’ve got class," Zarmeena said, hoisting her backpack and marching off ... still fuming, but hiding a grin.