■■■ her hollow eyes looked at the face that was being reflected in the mirror, where she couldn't find herself. Neither could she understand how this happened to be.
All she knew was to be greatful for the fact that she was free , finally getting freedom but at what cost , not dreading on the thought for long .
She heard her phone ring , it was the saved as mamma referring to her mother , a concept that felt foreign to the young lady .
She picks up the call ," hello" in a feeble voice she answers still staring at herself in the mirror. The person on the phone replies in a worried tone ," Hello, assalamu alaikum, Hayaat, How are you doing ? I called you yesterday, I knew you were tired so I did not call again, I couldn't come to your graduation there was an important offer from a client, so i-", waits for a reply ,find something amiss ," Hayaat, is everything okay you are awfully quite , are you still tired from yesterday program.
■■■ was trying to making heads and tails of the situation. She responds in an agreeing tone" Yes , I am mamma" ,hoping luck was on her side . As the mother's suspicions gradually reduced, "okay ;we'll meet this friday insha allah, if nothing goes wrong ."
She sighs heavily then continues, " I am a little busy , so take care of your self , after you are done resting make sure to plan what you are going to do next okay , don't waste your time. Okay? " waiting for a reply. She cajoled her gently, wrapping expectation in affection.
■■■ agreed not knowing why she was feeling a slight pain in her chest , as if the words spoken by her mom were a needles piercing her heart.
The memories of the previous owner were flooding her brain , slowly but steadily. She sat clutching her head in her hands the splitting pain causes a stream of tears to flow down her cheeks . The pain was so agonising that she wanted to end it . The pain gradually reduced and she collapsed on the bed breathing heavily, gasping for air .
Hayaat's phone started ringing, it was her childhood friend Shifa . She did not pick up the call , it ringed again ,unwilling she picked it up " hello , assalamu alaikum " thinking back on the words said to her by the previous caller .
Shifa
Shifa replied , in a cheery tone , " walaikum assalamu wa rah ma tullahi wa barakatu " . Kaifa halal ya habibti , Kullu bin khair.
Akhi , I am in bangalore, so.. you know what I am hyped , let's go to snow city first ."
The excitement made ■■■ feel a mix of emotions on one hand she was happy to finally enjoy herself but at the same time she did not want to . She said meekly ," okay but I am not feeling well." " Why habibti, what happened; forget about it , let's bring you back on your feet , with me to nurse you , you will be in your best in no time" , Shifa declared herself.
The declaration made ■■■ live as hayaat forever, if she could live as anyone but herself, the old way was not something she wanted to go back to .
Shifa knocks on the door and akhi opened the door . It had been a week since graduation and 2 days since Akriti left for Kormangala
■■■ while staggering opens the door , almost in a collapsing state stumbles onto the bed .
"Ya akhi .. lie down , take rest , you better be eating properly , Cautions seriously. I go prepare something easy to digest, you better eat that . "
Enter the kitchen checking for ingredients, starts preparing , something appetizing yet easy on the stomach , the aroma filling the room which would make anyone drool .
Brings in a bowl of freshly prepared steaming hot chicken soup. She serves it , by placing a table on the bed and placing the flavourful bowl on the table. She helps Hayaat now as ■■■ to sit properly and have the soup .
Hayaat takes a sip, the spices enhancing in every sip she take , hightning her senses , bringing a sense of nostalgia. It made her feel way better than she expected.As the pain washed away ,the exhausted hit her because she let her guard down .
Shifa starts reminiscing about the past , " hey , remember how we would play together in the past when our moms would go to work , you ,me and my brother." Notices hayaat dozed off.She starts clearing the table, preparing to take a nap herself.
It was magrib, the time to pray for Muslims, the time begins after sunset. It was something that is taught to do since childhood.:
But ■■■ had no idea of it . She had the muscle memory, yet did not know she had to pray . When confronted about it , Shifa was sceptical of her . " Hayaat , habibti we have to pray ." The look of confusion on Hayaat's face , made her uncomfortable. "Ya Akhi, Salah , namaz", she started alternating words ,there was no way she forgot to pray . What was she amnesiac.
Looking directly in her eyes , seeing her still dazed she asked :
"WHO ARE YOU !?! "