Ayesha

2 years ago

twerping

@twerping

Helplessness, she knew well. It had been her chief enemy since childhood. After her father had left them, the moment she had walked into the house clutching onto her elder sister's hand while her younger sister babbled in her mother's arms, she had felt it for the first time in her life. There was nothing more to be done, the doctor had whispered to her weeping mother in that hospital corridor smelling thickly of bleaching powder. Nothing more to be done to bring that man back into this house that now rang out with his absence. She had stifled her bitter hot tears in the pillow that night, the first of many such nights. 

Despite this, she had dared to cherish a dream of studying ahead, making herself into someone who could take on the reigns of the household from her elder sister's hands, a sister who had done the task on her own for far too long. But once again, life had brought her face to face with her nemesis. She had stood helpless as her dreams turned to ashes before the quotidian struggles of a house that threatened to turn on itself. It was time her sister lived her dreams and so she decided to put an end to hers. After all, there were always new dreams that could be dreamt.

And she did. Once again, despite her enemy standing behind her shoulders every step of the way. All it took was getting a job and a dream flickered to life as she saw herself progressing down this path she had now chosen willingly, that could yet make her into the support for her family she wanted to be. She felt perhaps now her old enemy would leave her be.

Her brief illusion was fast proven just that...a bubble of soap that vanished to nothing under sunlight. The sacrifice of her dreams was in vain. She watched her sister crash and burn, betrayed both by her love and her family. And her enemy was still not done.

Had she known the moment she had walked into his office, what helplessness he would bring in her life, would she not have run? But he had helped her at her hour of need. Without a second's thought or question. Was it not her turn to pay the debt? And the dreams that had taken shape in her heart since he had offered her a position in his company would still be alive, she had thought. It had not taken long for that illusion to shatter. And once more, she found that her nemesis had further plans for her. Helplessness would not let her go so easily. But like always, the more her enemy poured poison into her life, she grew stronger and more determined in fighting that poison. 

The Fates watched her. Would she fight or fall in despair? Did naïve Ayesha Basit even know her enemies from her friends?