The Sunday which was supposed to be a very busy and anticipated day of her life, Saira found herself roaming an unknown place in horror. What the hell even happened? She had no answer to it. She stood shivering with fear and cold at the huge glass doors of the mall. The towel had a new purpose now, it was being used as a showl. It was raining elephants.
Just some moments ago, she asked a number of rickshaws and taxis to take her home. But they all said the given address didn't exist. Some called her crazy. Some cussed. Some spent sometime trying to learn where this new address was but all told her it didn't exist. What Karachi? What Gulshan-e-Iqbal? What street? What apartment?
She was lost.
"Where am I..?" She said in horror.
Saira doesn't really remember for how long she stood there. She saw the day turning into night. Every surface was wet, she couldn't even sit somewhere. Standing there barefoot, she could only look for possibilities. What could have happened.
She was right there in her home. She brushed her teeth. Washed her face. She had even thought of the stoler she'd wear with the dress. Oh, the dress. Yes, she was wearing a dress. Where did the PJ came from?
They were her's for sure, but she definitely was wearing a dress. The remembrance of last night brought her headache so she skipped that part.
"All in all, where am I..? Where is this North Mall and Celbi.. Celbu road? Am I dreaming or I got sucked up into some other world or I'm dead!" She exclaimed.
She crouched down, her legs gave away.
"Where do I even go now.." she muttered holding her head in her hands.
"Miss, do you need some help?" Many people asked her.
But what could she say? What could she tell them.. that she dropped from sky?
A car stopped in front of her suddenly.
"Hey!" The girl inside called for her attention. "It's me!" Sana said motioning towards the dupatta she lent her.
"Oh.. yes?"
"We can drop you home if you want. This is my brother, don't worry. It's gonna rain whole night, did you not see the news? Come on in." Sana said.
"I.. I don't have any place to go to. You go I'm good here." Saira replied.
They were both shouting their throats out in the loud rain.
"Miss, if you don't mind you can come with us. We are a big family, parents, siblings, their spouse and children. You'll be safer than here." Azlaan offered her with reassurance.
'For sure..' Saira thought. 'No matter where, thiefs and rapists are still everywhere.
"I.." she wanted to decline.
"Here." Azlaan got down from vehicle and opened the door for her.
Not knowing a dime, she got in.
It was kuwan ya khai (well or cliff) anyways.
As always, she fell asleep once the car started. That's the kimd if person she has always been, people who sleep better in cars and sofas.
Sana and Azlaan were whispering about what to tell everyone at home.
"I have an idea." Sana said. "We can dress her better and introduce her everyone as my friend who has came back from abroad after many years and doesn't have any place to stay."
"Where is her luggage? Who are her parents? When did you two became friends? Sana what if she is a scammer?"
"Then why did she keep refusing us?"
"To gain trust! I don't even know what I'm doing taking her home with us."
"And what if she really needs help? Bhai will you leave me in PJs barefoot to roam the city at night?"
"Sana!"
"Bhai what if her family left her there cause she wasn't of sound mind?"
"And now we are takimg her home."
Gurrur~ gurrururr~ Saira's stomach growled loudly in her sleep.
"She must be very hungry." Sana said in a pitiful voice.
Azlaan rolled his eyes.
They stopped by a restaurant.
Here was the plan: this lady in back seat was Sana's childhood friend who went to US when they were very young amd now she has returned home after a tragic death of her parents. She was the only child, so now no one is left in her family and nor does she has a place to stay here in Buddul (country where Bayg family lives). So Sana offered her to stay with them for time being. The reason to stop by the restaurant first was to het her dressed. And run the plan with her first before getting home.
Sana woke her up and told her their plan. Saira was so skocked and embarrassed.
"No, this isn't necessary. Please. How about you just buy me something to eat, something very small. And like we both can go our own ways.."
"Of course not!" Sana exclaimed. "All this time you kept claiming you don't have anyone to go to or call. And now you wanna be somwwhere. Well you tell me..
"Don't worry about me, I'm an architect. I have lots of experience with people. I'll be fine."
The siblings were a bit visibly shocked. The three had dinner together at the restaurant. No one spoke a word. After dinner they remain seated to discuss the plan further.
"Miss, you care about introductions?" Sana asked.
"I don't have my card on me, sorry. I'm Saira Anees, just turned 30, and I'm an architect. I've won many awards when I was working with MRK Architectures. Now I have started my own architect firm. I'm not from here. Can you tell me about yourselves and this place..?"
"I'm Sana Bayg, final year MBBS student. This is my brother, Azlaan, he is also a doctor. I'm the youngest, we are 5 sibling and we are all doctors. My eldest sister is getting a PhD so she's also a doctor, she is a psychologist by the way, so cool!!"
Azlaan cleared his throat to stop the drooling Sana. Sana just has this strong fascination with psychology. But she didn't want to be a psychiatrist though.
"Where are you from? Why were you... um.. alone panicing.. asking where you were?" Azlaan asked.
After a nap and dinner, Saira sure had calmed down alot. She was in her usual cool now.
"I'm from Karachi. I don't think this is Karachi. I observed things whole day. People, surroundings, environment.. this is not my city. I don't remember how I came here. I was at my home, and next thing I remember I was barefoot in my PJs in a mall. I don't have any IDs or my cell with me to proof my identity."
"Do you think you should see a doctor?" Sana asked in a small voice.
Rolling his eyes at Sana, Azlaan spoke, replying to Saira's hunch. "This isn't Karachi. This is Gorpew. A city in northern Buddul."
No word came out of Saira's mouth. How should she react? This was a god knows what place with god knows what going on. If she persists on her truth she could see herdelf ending up locked in an asylum. But she also doesn't have anyone to contact or any place to go to. 2 back to back plans quickly formed in her head.
"Oh.. I see." She responded.
With'you see what?' Writen all over her face, Sana asked Saira. "Where is this Karaki?"
"Karachi. Oh it's a small town in suburbs. Can I use your cell Sana to call my brother. If he had any humanity left he'll pick it up." Saira asked with a very sad face.
"Uhm. Sure." Sana once again offeredSaira Azlaan's cellphone.
Saira dailed the number with shaking fingers. It wasn't an act. This was her one amd only resort.
Beep beep beep...
"The number you dail does not exist. Please recheck the number and dail again." The automated lady on the other site said.
She dailed multiple times before coming to a realization that it was impossible to call anyone in her world from where she was.
"I'm sorry. It seems only streets can accommodate me now." Saira gave the cell back with same sadness.
She had a story in mind.
"If you don't mind Baji (older sister), can I ask your story?"
'of course...'
"I have lived abroad since I was young. You can hear my english. It's very strong. That's the only proof I can offer right now. My paremts got divorced when I was young and now both are dead.." memories after memories of her family flashed in front of her eyes. For a moment she almost chocked on them. Good. Bad. All. After all every aspect of her family was part of the family.
"It's ok if it's hard to say.." Sana said with puppy eyes.
Saira shook her head lowering it to avoid eye contact. She had a weird smile on her face. None of the three could decipher it.
"I have a brother who lives here. But he won't see me. We used to be best buddies but now he hates me.. I still love him.. but he doesn't want me as his family anymore.." a warm tear rolled down as the memory of slap freshened up in her head. She quickly whipped it. "Sorry. Uh.. uh.. I'm all alone now. I had to leave everything good to be here and now that here I am no one wants me. And I have no way back. No place. No contact. No person.. that's all. Maybe you guys can leave me at some hostel or something..?
They both were too stunned to say a word.
'Coincidence?' Was the first word that came in Azlaan's mind. While Sana almost cried thinking; 'ohh poor soul..'
'Her story is almost ditto to our plan. How is that possible..? Or maybe it is.. she definitely can't fake those expressions and tears.. maybe I'm being paranoid..?' Azlaan thought to himself, perplexed by everything.
He observe every minute detail of Saira. Either she is a psychotic person or an abandoned one. But either way she needed help and he knew that. But bring her home.. a difficult desicion to make.
"Mom will definitely kill me.." he muttered, sighing.
"I'll resurrect you!" Sana whispered back.
He glared at his dear sister for a long moment before turning to Saira, "I need to talk to her in private, please excuse us. Meanwhile, you can enjoy some deserts. They bake one of the best in town."
"Sure." Saira smiled.
Sitting there alone, Saira couldn't help but think of all possibilities of her circumstances. All details mattered. She couldn't quite remember anything exactly. Things happened. Alot and alot of things. She remembered the night. The despair. She remember the emptiness. But not the whole night of course. She fell asleep and didn't remember what happened after that. Then woke up next morning late and was in a hurry to leave for the firm.
She took a deep sigh. Why worry, it's not like anyone is gonna miss or even notice her gone. Perhaps the contractors and guests at inauguration and workers. But they won't be worried sick to find out what happened to her.
She always knew how lonely she was but for the first time it hit her with a bulldozer's weight. Why go back. Why worry..
Perhaps it's a lucky coincidence in her unlucky life. She was so desperate to start a new life and then she is here into an unknown place. Perhaps it's all for the good. Let's start anew. But what anew with no IDs no money no qualifications?
How to even secure yourself in a place you have nothing, own nothing, know nothing..?