Chapter 11

The sky seemed to darken. But not because it was night time. But because it was gonna cry out the tears awakening the emotions inside. Giving the chance to the new ones to grow and the old ones to heal. And under that sky they were walking on the melting ice, camouflaged in blue. Ally was in her arms and she was talking to her in a way a mother would to her child. She was tickling her. Throwing her up in the air and catching her in her arms. She was a playful dog. And she was a joyful girl. Even though Ally was sick, she was playing like someone who could laugh out all the ecstasies they had in them. Ally would have been a wonderful dog when healthy.

Her face was colored in the colors of bliss. Her big brown eyes wrinkled with delight. Her bun now loosened and falling on her neck. Minha was indeed the most beautiful person Taimur had seen. The way she talked and explained things to Ally filled him with pleasure he thought he would never feel again. For a moment, he forgot Ally was going to die.

"If you would have not known she would die, you would have been treating her as if she was healthy." She was saying and he was listening.

"But you would have lost your multiple tears after burying her suddenly." She made a face and Ally tried to do the same. She smiled.

"And you would have wished you knew she was going to die so that you could spend days of happiness with her." She continued saying. Now she was roaring and Ally barked following her lead.

"But now, that you know what's going to happen," She bought Ally near herself and hugged her, she paused and looked at Taimur who's hands were in his pockets and his sleeves were still rolled up and his hair were still on his forehead and his upper buttons were still unbuttoned… but he looked satisfied and happier now. "You want to waste these days crying and mourning about what caused the future?" She was looking into his eyes. Her brown eyes which looked golden in light. She had a calm face but serious eyes. "People who live mourning the past and blaming themselves, lose the control of their future. If you handed the control of your past to your dad, future is still yours. Trust me, spending time with someone you are going to lose is worth than looking at their dead face." Her heavenly lips deepened and tried to reach her eyes. A lot of stories teethed but she jagged them away. "After all, a manager should know how to manage!" She winked and ran ahead to the popcorn stall.

And he stood there, observing her footsteps. The rain started pouring down and in no time he was wet. Munich was showering and inside the city walls, Taimur Ibrahim stood there with his hands still in his pockets wondering how someone could be so excessively overwhelming to be able to make someone thankful for things he was ungrateful just a moment ago.

"Mr. Taimur!" She was calling out his name. Ally was barking. He looked around and found the girl in blonde hair standing near the popcorn stall under the shade but still wet. Her blue shirt was clasped against her body making it visible. He ran towards them and sensed her uncomfortable.

"You guys go home, I'll go now." She said and handed Ally to him.

"Do you have a cab or a car?" He asked. She was trying to not get her body displayed, her lips pursed and her bright eyes worried. "No, I am fine. You should go with Ally. She should not stay in cold." She started walking away but her body kept getting showered and sticking to her body. Her blonde bun was now open and her hair fell on her shoulders and against her face. She was worried her brown hair might as well display.

"Where do you live?" He asked.

"In heaven!" She called out and he walked to her. "Don't joke. Where do you live?" He asked again covering Ally.

"Why? Do you want to kidnap me, manager?" She was amazed by her introversive personality which was publicized by now. Maybe she wasn't a hidden person since forever. When he didn't go, she gave up. "By the bakery of Munich." She said.

"An almost 2 hour drive from here. Let's go." He caught her hand and led her to the black Mercedes-AMG parked at the end of the street. "No, I can go home by myself." She jerked away his hand. She was starting to feel scared. "Please, Minha." He said and even though she wanted to resist, she knew she didn't have an option. An auto or a cab in rain would never show up. People around here were strange. She couldn't trust anyone. Not even Taimur. But, she didn't have an option. A broken person would not be able to harm her. And, she had her pocket knife and perfume with her. She wrapped her stole over her chest. "Okay." She shoved herself to the front seat with Ally in her lap and Taimur driving.

They didn't talk. Taimur's home was 20 minute far. Minha kept thinking of huge bungalow. With large and beautiful green and wet gardens, lanterns in the hallways and Chinese fanoos hanging from the walls. Huge tables for meals. And delicately dressed rooms like a new brides.

But the one he stopped in front his car was as simple as it could be. It was brown and pale beige. The door unlocked itself to a small porch with a lot of greenery everywhere and pebbles leading to a hut-shaped roof house. He inserted the key and let Minha and Ally enter. The house was warm. He turned on the dim light. There was a small lounge on the left side and a kitchen in front. Two rooms on the right side and a small hut inside the house between the rooms and the kitchen for Ally. Ally jumped out of Minha's lap and crawled inside the hut. Taimur stepped forward and fired the hearth. Then he went into the kitchen and brought some food for Ally while she was still standing there wet holding her leather bag. Water dripping down one by one. He looked at her and came across the room towards her.

"Come with me." She followed him. He led her to the last room. "This is my sister's room." He said. He walked to the closet and turned to face her, "You can chose any of the dress here. Feel at home." He strolled to the door and then said, "I am gonna feed Ally and buy her medicines. Okay?" She nodded and he exited shutting the door. She locked it instantly and rested her back against the door. Then she walked to the huge mirror. Her body was soaked in blue shirt, sticking to it. Her blonde hair wet and hanging strangely to her shoulder. If looked closely, her wig was pretty clear. She sighed. Her eyeliner messed up. She was looking a weirdo.

"Oh my God. Was I looking like this all the time?" She brought her palms and placed them on her cheeks, "What would he be thinking of me?" She shut her eyes and husked to the wardrobe. Pulled out some clothes and went into the washroom. Cleaned herself. Changed into the new fresh clothes of Anna. Taimur's sister. Then combed her hair down and half clipped them making sure her brown hair were hidden. She looked into her bag. Since it was a leather bag and it had a layer of leather inside as well, the things inside the bag were safe. She pulled out her eye liner and carefully put it on. Taking out her pink baby lips, she chapped her lips and looked again in the mirror. She looked complete in an apricot colored knee high dress whose sleeves were cut just below her shoulders leaving her golden arms bare. She walked out of the room.

He was in the kitchen and Ally was still eating her food. She smiled at her and walked inside the warm kitchen. Well maintained with cabinets and cupboards, there was a microwave, an oven beneath the stove, a fridge and a glass cupboard where all the crockery was placed neatly. A smile appeared on her face without her knowing it. He was making hot chocolate. The smell was enchanting and delicious and her tummy grumbled. She put a hand over her stomach and walked ahead. "May I help?" She said in a soft voice. He was still in the same clothes. "No, it's fine." He said, not even looking at her. She felt bad.

"You should go change. I'll take care of the chocolate." His hands stopped and lifted his chin to look at her. "I didn't know my sister had any clothes except for jeans and shirt. Nice choice." She blushed and shoed her away, whisking the chocolate. He smirked and escaped out. One day she is rude to hi and the other day she is helping him. Was It really the craving of affection and belonging, she was finding in every person or was it the Karma?

She then poured out the liquid into two white mugs carefully when the hot chocolate was ready. Placing the mugs in a brown rectangle tray she brought the delicious liquid in the lounge and set aside the tray on the wooden table with a vas in center. Ally crawled in her lap. She was licking constantly. She pursed her lips feeling sorry for the dog.

"You know you'll be gone, Ally." She said, comforting her.

"Everyone leaves." Ally's dark eyes frowned and she laid her head down.

"But the place for creatures like you is already reserved in heaven. You will be watching us from up the sky. Like a star. Like a lot of stars among that one moon." She picked up the mug and sipped the hot fluid. It was sweet, hot and contained a warm that melted inside. She frowned. It was already 8.

The door opened and he came out rolling his white sleeves up. He was wearing a Pakistani Kurta. All white. She who was tensed already, smiled a fake one at his entrance. He turned on the television. His hair were swapped back now properly with Gel. He sat across her on the other Sofa. Ally jumped out of Minha's lap and crawled into his. He kissed her head and picked up the mug. Looking at the TV, he kept changing channels with his lower lip bitten by his teeth.

While she kept rolling her fingers in her blonde open hair, he was busy. Looking like a normal easy guy.

'He said, his father wanted him to control the management of fancy hotels and restaurants. If that's true then why is he living in this house?' she thought, tensed. 'But he also said these two rooms are for his sister and him. What if this is a hiding place? He doesn't even look like the same manager we met in Karachi.' She pressed her lips again sipping the hot chocolate.

"I work on my own and I bought this house with my own money. Dad is always having his friends out there and we don't like it. The managing and business is all what I do to please my father. To keep him calm until I can grow up tall buildings on my own. Anna liked this house. This place is calm and far away from the crowded places. There is peace here. Even If I am in Munich, I stay here. This house feels like home." He said sipping his hot chocolate. She stayed quite. "Ally likes it here too." He patted her. She rested her neck against the couch's crown. A lot of thoughts were running inside her head.

"This place is warm." She said.

"That's because there is life here, sweet heart." She looked at him in surprise. He did too and their eyes met. "Sorry. I…uh…" He scratched his head, "…used to talk to my sister that way. I am sorry." He looked away but she kept staring at her. She sighed and got up, keeping the mug back in the tray.

"I am getting late. I need to study. Can you book a cab for me? I will pay." She said firmly.

He got up confused. "Minha-"

"No, it's okay. I am getting late." She picked up the bag. Taimur walked to the kitchen rack and picked up his keys. "Can you bring Ally?" He asked without looking at her, and didn't wait for her response. She was tangled up in multiple decisions but then she picked her up and went out. The door was open. The rain was still there.

"You don't need to do this, you know." She said looking out.

"But I did." He said.

"I could have gone by myself. I travel all alone all the time. I am responsible."

"Yeah, you could have asked a kidnapper if he was to kidnap you in the middle of the night under the rainy sky. Very responsible." He teased her. She made a face.

"At least, I don't ask people out of nowhere under the white sky to stay with teary eyes."

"Hey! That was rude!"

"Not as rude as my life, but anyway." She was still looking out of the window. Her chin resting against her palm.

"I told you a lot about me, but I don't know you." He said. She spun her head and glared into his eyes. Then sighed and looked at Ally. "Should I tell him about me?" she asked the dog and she stuck her tongue outside panting. "Okay."

Her hands were now in her lap, her fingers scratching against each other.

"I was very young when my parents passed away in an accident. Me and my brother were the only family. But he left me," She was saying. A smile on her lips. As if this didn't matter her.

"As if I am going to believe this story."

"Don't then." She said, twirling her fingers in Ally's fur.

"Your brother was killed. Right?" He said. They were his words or sugar coated murder weapons. Her twirling hands stopped and she jolted her eyes at him. "What?"

"By an explosive. The Aim high school?" He said.

"How do you know about it? Were you stalking me?" She was angry. She wanted to get out from the car. "Don't panic. I couldn't bring a stranger to my house. I looked into your background." He said and she was looking at him in shock. "What else do you know about me?"