SHARED WALLS.

PART 4.

The apartment was still cold from the argument. The air still felt weird.

Haider sat on the edge of his bed, eager to take revenge, but he didn't know how. He heard noises coming from the kitchen. Within five minutes, he got ready for university and left the room.

Maisha was preparing breakfast while texting her parents. She kept the phone down to pour out some tea thats when Haider thought, "Ahannn, that's the moment I was waiting for". He quietly crawled towards the phone. He took out his phone and captured the number saved as "Baba💌". Upon hearing the sound of the picture clicking Maisha turned back, but Haider had already done what he wanted to and had already kept the phone back but his hands were still on the phone. Maisha gave a strange look to Haider. Haider confused, what to say, "Wo mujhe laga mera phone hai." But Maisha thought something was definitely weird.

Upon reaching university, Maisha immediately rushed to Hania, Haya, Zaroon and Zavian was obviously there. "Zaroon something's weird". Zaroon, "Calm down!! Hua kiya sahi se araam se batao". Maisha told what happened in the morning. At the same exact moment, Haider entered the scene. Zaroon, "kuch mat bolna ab, mai samajhgaya I'm gonna take care of that."
The final bell rang and all came back to the parking lot. Zaroon to Zavian, "Zavain take everyone to Greek Bistro(a restaurant), mai aur Haider aate hain zara". Haider, "Kiya matlab bhai?" Zaroon, "Baat karni hai zaruri".

Haya sat at the passenger seat while Maisha and Hania were at the back. Hania teasing Haya, "Ahann, Maisha you seeing this right?". Maisha, " Ahann, yea yea". Haya and Zavian were awkwardly blushing.
On the other side heated argument started between Haider and Zaroon. Zaroon, "Maisha ko kuch mat bolna lekin jo subha you did usne mujhe bataya". Haider, "Ahh, batadia usne". Zaroon, "Han batadia, lekin ab mai bataraha hun ke kuch mat karna warna acha nahi hoga". Haider, "Kia karega?". Zaroon, "Mazak apni jagah hai lekin agar kuch character pe kiya to yaad rakhna kabhi dubara shakal nahi dekhunga". Haider, "Ek random larki ke liye?". Zaroon, "Baat larki ki nahi, kisi ki izzat ki hai twin, be careful". Zaroon reached the Greek Bistro, while Haider went to his fav secret spot, yeah a hidden place at the top of a building.

Haider took out his phone. Saved the number of Maisha's father. Sent a picture of Maisha randomly sitting in a cafe with her classfellow, danish. "Sir, I believe you should be aware of how your daughter spends her evenings here in Santorini". Delivered. Then seen 45 mins ago..

Maisha's phone buzzed. Her father, "beta ye Kiya hai kon hai ye? You jus sitting with a guy isn't weird but who is this sending this picture specifically and why? And with this text!?!?". Maisha, "Baba I do have some enemies here, mai pata karti hun kon hai". Her father, "Okay beta, be careful from creeps". Maisha, "Zaroon ya Zavain mujhe Haider ka number do".  Zavian, "Lelo, lekin hua kiya?". Maisha told everything, "Ab isse mai khud limtungi".
Maisha texted Haider, "Kahan ho tum?". Haider, "Arey apke message ka hi intezaar tha, ghar pe, aajao😙" while smirking. Maisha without even saying a word stood up and rushed to the apartment. Everyone hurried up and went to the apartment too. Maisha when entered the apartment, saw Haider lying on the couch in the living room. Maisha threw her bag at Haider, "Kiya masla hai tumhe? You're a freaking attention seeker". Haider, "Madam araam se thora". Maisha, "Why would you do something like that?". Haider, "Wo I thought tum aur Danish sirf dost hai to paigham to pohchaana tha na tumhare baba ko". Maisha, "tum kon hote ho jo tumhe explanation dun ke danish aur mai kia hain? And for your kind information mere baba mamma ko mujhpe bohot trust hai unhe koi farq nahi parha us picture se aur text se". Haider, "bechaare samajhte hain beti parh rahi hai... par beti to ehm". Maisha, "Tumhari tarbiyat dikh rahi hai, parentless behavior". A strange pause.
Haider looks down. Then slowly looks up, his jaw clenched, his breath shaky but controlled.
Haider, "I promise ainda kabhi tumhe tang nahi karunga, baap ka pata nahi lekin ainda kabhi maa pe kuch nahi kehna". He grabbed his jacket from the chair beside them and headed towards the door. SILENCE. Everyone entered the apartment. Maisha told everyone what happened. Zaroon and Zavian looked not so happy after hearing what happened. Maisha, "Usko kia hua? Wo to aese chup hone wala nahi hai, wo aese kyun chalegaya?". Zavian, "He was seven when his mother passed away, abbu ne dusri shaadi ki aur bilkul mun phherlia Haider se, aur uski step mother, ne usko kaise kaise torture nahi kia".
The state in which Maisha was, was unexplainable. "Guys! I need some time alone". And went to her room. Maisha texted Haider, multiple times. Where are you? I'm sorry. I didn't know about this. I feel guilty. I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like this. Please text back.
But Haider just sat there helplessly, eyes red and speechless. Haider in heart, "O mamma u left too early, leaving me all behind, the world is very cruel, I wish you were here with me".  His phone buzzed again, and Maisha's name popped up again, lighting up the screen. He stares. Doesn't open it.
Maisha's phone rests beside her. Messages delivered for hours. And now Maisha sat there... all alone, with nothing but silence and the weight of her guilt.