Scarred

Chapter 22

"The moment where you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever being able to do it."

-J.M. Barrie

Silence, her surrounding was drowned in silence as she poured the dark color steaming liquid in the mug, moving back she opened the cabinet to take out sugar when she heard the front door unlocking creating disruption in calmness which had been enveloping the entire place from hours, through the darkness and when the sun came out.

"Dadi where are we?" a melodic and excited voice echoed across the house making Daniyah curious as she left the kitchen.

"Guriya (doll) don't run!" an all too familiar voice also rang as Daniyah silently made her way to greet the arrivals.

In a matter of seconds, Daniyah came across a little girl dressed in cotton frock reaching below her knees and sleeves covering her arms, matching cotton leggings and shoes. Curious honey brown eyes were staring back at her and Daniyah softly smiled looking at the little girl. With hair tied up in two ponytails, the presence of the little girl brought unknown warmth with her.

"Asalam O Alikum, beti," Daniyah looked up and gave bibi a small smile as the girl ran back and hid behind her grandmother.

"Walikum As Salam," Daniyah's reply came in a whisper as her eyes kept looking at the little girl who was casually peeking at her and tugging on Nausheen bibi's long dupatta.

"Aray! Look now she is hiding behind me, come in front and say your salam, Fatima! Aray come on!" Bibi called out to the little girl as she pulled her arms.

Getting on her knees Daniyah came to the girl's level and stopped bibi from scolding her, extending her hand towards the girl she gave an encouraging soft smile.

"Asalam O Alikum, I am Daniyah," she spoke softly as she saw a girl looking from her back to her grandmother who was encouraging her to move forward.

"Her mother was taking her younger sister to the doctor and she was being cranky so I brought her here, I hope—"

"Bibi I am glad that you brought her. I am alone anyways." Daniyah replied in a whisper as she turned back to the girl.

And it didn't take much time that the huge mansion resonated with the chirp of the little bird came that morning, Fatima with her small frame, chubby cheeks and hair drawn in two twisted ponies ran through every corner of the house giggling and playing hide and seek with Daniyah, on being tired she would demand to go on the roof and drink lemonade. The sour and sweet drink was dripping at the side of her mouth as she hungrily poured it down her throat, Daniyah couldn't help but look at her.

For the first time in her life, she had spent time with a child outside of her family and that too from a servant's family. But Fatima, she didn't look like one, definitely, bibi's family focused all their attention on the kids. Her dress which Daniyah knew was second hand didn't look like one; it was ironed and clean when the girl came but after her activities, it had got dirty, her mother wouldn't be happy, Daniyah thought and smiled. What seemed like an eternity today Daniyah was feeling warmth again, Fatima unknowingly brought much-needed peace with her.

"Daniyah appi!" Fatima excitedly spoke again getting Daniyah's full attention.

"Jee?" Daniyah softly smiled as she took the glass from the girl and pushed the hair dancing on her face back.

"Do you want to be a bird?" Fatima's eyes were focused on Daniyah, her big round eyes waiting for an answer.

"Bird?" Daniyah's eyes turned to look at the sky as she pondered over the question, the entire day Fatima had asked the same kind of question telling her to wish to be one thing or another.