Chapter 4

She turned back, and was sensible enough to hide the burning anger beneath a smile. She took a look at his face, and knew that any reaction would only inflate his ego, and not serve the purpose of making him sorry for calling her a coward. There were very few things that made her angry, and a stab on her pride was number one on the list.

She displayed her innocent smile, titled her head slightly to show off her sculpted cheek bones, and then to his utter surprise said,

"Yes that is exactly what I was doing. I was so scared of your aura, of your charm and your magnetic appeal that I had to sit with a person between us."

She said it all with a straight face, and as he narrowed his eyes at the mocking glint in hers, she flipped her head around with style and walked away, leaving him standing there, at a complete loss of words.

She had to control the urge to laugh out loud which would have ruined her serious dialogue with Mr. Rude Stare, but she couldn't help smiling as she remembered the look of utter confusion on his face as she had openly admitted to things he had only hinted at, and had only told him indirectly how she really felt. I have impressed myself, she thought as she opened the door of the car, reversed and took off to battle the traffic of Lahore.

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Sara entered the house, and was comforted by the familiar smells of spices and disinfectant as it was "dengue season" in Lahore. She heard the songs that Ayesha was listening to while taking a shower and smiled to herself, Ayesha was the eternal baby of the family. Although she was eighteen years old, she still skipped around the house like a little girl, laughing like a loon and made Sara laugh with her antics. Two sisters sharing the same blood, but so different, Sara thought with a shake of her head, and went to change clothes.

She thought about him as she went upstairs, she certainly didn't want to, but there was something about his arrogant stance and quiet manner that had got to her. Despite herself, she had to admit that no shy and innocent looking guy would have impressed her this much. She had always liked "bad boys" even in movies and TV shows. His hairs were in need of a trim, and his stride had pride written all over it, but still he stayed in his mind. How can I be so sure of his personality? She thought as she flung her purse on the bed, and went to the wardrobe to take out her sleeping suit.

After taking a quick shower, and changing into sleeping suit, she went downstairs to have dinner with her everyone. It was one of the rare nights when her father would be home from the hospital in time for dinner, and they would all be able to eat as a family. Her father Dr. Saleem Farooqi was a renowned surgeon, but unlike most of the doctors in Pakistan, he worked for the people as well. He readily waived his fees if a needy person came to him, desperately asking him to operate on a malignant tumor, or infected lungs. It was a constant torture for him that even after waiving off the fees, most of the people who came for him were unable to pay for the heavy hospital and operation theatre fees of the hospitals. Sara loved him dearly, even though he had been absent from most of the important occasions of her life, she knew that he was an honorable man, who wanted to make a difference, and most importantly she had never doubted that he loved her.

"Daddy!" She shouted like a little girl as she came downstairs and saw him sitting on his favorite rocking chair in the lounge.

"Mera bacha*" he smiled back at her and opened his arms. His tall and broad frame had no trouble enveloping the slight Sara. He was over six feet tall and sturdily built with boundless energy.

She inhaled the scent of cigarette which he had no doubt sneaked without the watchful eye of her mother. His salt and pepper hair were still thick and full, and added character to his already distinguished frame.

"So, how are your studies going?" he asked as they stood up to have dinner.

"Good, I am actually learning some pretty cool new things" she replied enthusiastically and then hastily stepped aside as Ayesha came running downstairs and launched herself in her father's arms.

"Daddy! I haven't seen you since this morning! I missed you." She pouted like a little girl.

"Oh my jan*! You missed me?" Dr. Farooqi asked while hugging his younger daughter.

"Off course! Mom scolds me all the time!" Ayesha said with a wink for Sara, who averted her face, smiling at Ayesha's obvious ploy for entertainment.

"Really?" Zakia Farooqi said as she came in, with a maid carrying salad, curry and rotis.

"Really!" Ayesha replied vehemently and then spoiled the moment by laughing out loud at the bland stare of her mother.

Laughter and merriness was in the air as the Farooqi family sat down for dinner.

*My child

*Life