"How long does it take to change your clothes Haseena Khasim?" Salaar asked bored and frustrated.
"Give me a minute," Haseena shouted from the bedroom.
"Been hearing that for...." Salaar stopped when he heard the door unlock. "Finally," he signed and turned back and the moment he saw her, all his frustration evaporated into thin air.
Haseena was wearing a shiny black saree with her hair open.
"Don't say a word," Haseena said while Salaar started at her in admiration, "I know it's too glittery...I know I look like a kid's science project and...."
"Are you kidding me?" Salaar said still mesmerized, "You look so gorgeous that my eyes refuse to look in any other direction."
"What?" Haseena asked in a low voice genuinely surprised.
"I mean...uh...the glitter...it's reflecting in...all directions" Salaar said awkwardly, "We are getting late..."
"Yeah...yeah..." Haseena said, "We should leave..."
*************************
"Can I sit here," Amira asked Sebastian while he was having lunch.
"Sure," said Sebastian and moved a little.
"I...uh...I am sorry," said Amira after a while, "You were right....I shouldn't be complaining when there are people who had it worse."
"No," Sebastian shook his head, "Actually....I am sorry....whether you are 10 feet deep or 100 feet, you are still drowning and I shouldn't have been jealous of you and you have every right to feel sad about your life."
"That's very nice of you to say," smiled Amira.
"I..uh...gotta head back to work," said Sebastian, "but I am curious....so in one sentence, what's bothering you?"
Amira signed.
"I feel betrayed by everyone," she said, "I had a wonderful life and all of a sudden realized it's all a lie."
"If it's a beautiful lie, I think you will be happier if you continue to believe that it's the truth," said Sebastian.
"But my reality is totally different," said Amira.
"You can't say that when you are amongst people who think that some random girl is going to come save them," said Sebastian, "while the truth is no one fucking cares."
Amira fell silent, slightly guilty that she's let down everyone.
"Some lies give hope and are just worth holding onto," Sebastian smiled and left while Amira continued to think. Is the lie of her being the savior worth holding onto?
**************
"Is this how you are planning to kill me?" Salaar said holdnig his head outside the car.
"I need a moment to adjust my saree," said Haseena from inside.
"Your saree is fine," said Salaar frustrated, "It needs no adjustments."
"Of course you would know that," said Haseena, "You are the expert!"
"My mother used to wear sarees and she literally gets ready in 5 minutes," countered Salaar.
"Maybe it's because she has a very annoying child who wouldn't give her a moment of peace," said Haseena as she stepped out of the car.
"And you look exactly the way looked before you stepped in," Salaar smiled sarcastically when he saw Haseena. Haseena rolled her eyes and they both entered the house.
"I didn't know you were this rich?" Salaar whispered to Haseena as they entered the house.
"When you work with Rocky, you tend to get a lot of illegal money," Haseena whispered back.
"Rocky bhai," corrected Salaar.
Meanwhile Nehmat, Haseena's aunt walked towards them.
"Salamun Alaykum chachi," Haseena and Salaar greeted at the same time.
"Wa-Alaikum-Salaam," Nehmat replied back. "You caught upto our customs real quick, beta," she praised Rudra. Rudra smiled.
"You are all grown up, my child," she said as he admiringly looked at Haseena with tears in her eyes, "We missed you and Amira a lot!"
"So did we, chachi," said Haseena.
"Why didn't you bring her with you?" Nehmat asked.
"Next time for sure," said Haseena. Meanwhile Bashir, Haseena' uncle walked in and everyone fell silent. Salaar could feel the tension raising in the room and Haseena adjusted her saree once again.
"Hindu huh?" he said looking at Rudra with hostility. Haseena fell silent.
"Atleast he has a good job," said Bashir, "I always thought you'd end up with some street goon."
"And I thought she'd end up with someone who's way better than me," joked Rudra, "I am lucky she settled for me instead."
Haseena was silently impressed at Salaar supporting her while Bashir has no more words to say and simply chose to walk inside followed by Nehmat and Raheem.
"I don't think there is any man who is better than you," Haseena whispered to Salaar as they followed Haseena's family, "Not everyone has the confidence or heart to put themselves down to lift others up."
"Wow, did you just praise me," said Salaar surprised, "I am loving this version of you!"
Meanwhile Raheem invited them into the hall and Nehmat bought them some tea.
"Sit down," said Bashir as he sat down on one end of the sofa. Haseena had a chance to sit beside him but chose moved Salaar to the middle and sat at the other corner.
"How's Amira?" asked Bashir.
"She's fine," answered Haseena without looking at him.
"How long are you planning to keep her away from us?" Bashir asked angrily, "If not for you, that kid would've grown up with a family. I don't know what sort of values you are teaching her given that you yourself have eloped with..."
"Married," Salaar interrupted raising his voice enough to intimidate. "She didn't elope with me uncle. She married me," he said in calmer tone, "And as for values, I assure you, Amira grew up to be the daughter every parent would hope they had."
Bashir fell silent.
"I..can I see...my old room?" Haseena asked to break the tension.
"Of course appi," said Raheem, "Come with me."
"Beta chai..." Nehmat said hesitantly offering Salaar a cup.
"Thanks chachi," said Salaar and took the cup.
"...Chai..." Nehmat offered Bashir but he angrily left the room.
"I am sorry for what he did, beta," apologized Nehmat, "He is still bitter about Haseena and Amira running out of the house and she came back after all these years....married....and didn't even bring Amira...so....that just angered him a lot...."
"We don't have any girls of our own," Nehmat continued, "and Amira was like an year old when we came here after jijaji's death....so Bashir treated her like his own daughter and then for them to run away....just because Haseena wanted a little freedom....didn't sit right with him...."
"I understand chachi," said Salaar putting his cup down, "and now that I think about it, maybe I've been a little rude too. I think I should apologize."
Nehmat smiled. His room is to the left, she said.
"Thank you," said Salaar and went into Bashir's room while Nehmat went upstairs.
"You are not welcome here," said Bashir rudely but Salaar was too angry to hear any of it. He immediately closed the door and lifted Bashir by his neck and pushed him to the wall choking him.
"You are a monster who doesn't deserve to live," he said angry and full of vengence.