It was winter. The golden rays of the sun shining in the vast sky completely illuminated the terrace of the Star's House. On one side was a beautiful vases of plants and on the railing hung bunches of oxen. There were three chairs around a table.
She was sitting on a chair. Her half-face was visible through the open door on the terrace. She looked like a slim, twenty two years old girl. The 20-year-old boy sitting on the chair in front of her looked very cute and innocent. There were expressions of pain on his beautiful red and white face. And right next to him was his twin sister, who looked exactly like him. Enjoying her brother's condition, she could barely hide her smile because the teacher sitting in front of her was very strict.
"Moon! Where is your attention???" Star said to moon in a gruff tone. Moon, who was trying unsuccessfully to control the pain, nodded his head in panic. Haniya bowed her head to hide her laughter. After all, he was suffering because of her deeds.
"Why aren't you reading? Since when have I been watching you grimacing?" This time the girl's face was clear. The girl has goldish wheat color and sharp features were shining like a star in a black dress. There was always such a sting in her eyes that forced the person in front of her to lower her gaze and Moon was Coward. He couldn't look up in her eyes for more than a moment.
"No … I'm reading." Moon looked at her for an instant, then bowed his head and began to open the page of the lesson. She stared at him angrily.
"If you were studying, you wouldn't have to look for a page now. Why star?" Haniya poured oil on the flame and looked at star.
"Shut up," he said in a low voice, warning Haniya, then turned to star.
"That … the page was back and forth because of the wind, otherwise I was just reading." Moon said. Star angrily slapped him on the head.
"So when I called you, then you remember to look for the lesson?" Now she was grabbing his ear and twisting it. Haniya became happy.
"Ah … Star. Leave my ear. I'm already in a lot of pain." He moaned and Star let go of his ear.
"Where's the pain?" She was upset. "Here," Moon said innocently, placing his hand on his knee.
"Show me what happened here." Star pointed to him to lift up the hem of his jeans. Moon fluttered.
"I have said something, Moon." Moon shook his head as soon as he heard her thunderous voice and lifted up the hem. His knee was red.
"Oh my God, how did this happen?" She said anxiously. Haniya swallowed.
"There was oil on the stairs. My foot slipped on it and the stairs hit my knees." He started crying like a child.
"Shut up. Be a man. You shouldn't care about such small injuries." Star said in a wise tone. Moon wiped away the tears and pulled the hem down.
"Haniya! Go and call soni." Star said, looking away from Moon. Soni was her housemaid.
"Now I'll be caught." Haniya got up from her chair saying to herself. In fact, she had thrown oil on the stairs so that Moon would fall and while doing so, soni saw her. She did not know exactly what Haniya dropped there, but she did know that haniya had dropped something. Now, if star could ask her, soni would have mentioned her name directly. She had to escape somehow. She went downstairs and came upstairs without saying a word to soni.
"She's gone to the market." She was terrified, lying in front of star.
"Okay, you sit down and read." When she said that, Haniya breathed a sigh of gratitude that the matter was buried here. But Star was not going to give up so soon. How could anyone hurt his Moon and she let it go like that?
....
"Don't worry, Zara. Samia is like my daughter. I will make her my daughter-in-law." Tania was talking to her sister on the phone when Haniya entered the lounge. Moon was yet behind.
"Ok sister, the children have arrived. I'll talk to you later." She hung up. Haniya was sitting on the sofa while moon had not yet reached inside.
"Where is moon?" she asked angrily. She did not like Moon to be with Star at all but she was compelled. Moon did not study with anyone but Star.
Haniya was about to say something when Moon staggered inside.
"What happened to moon? Why are you walking like this?" Tania said attentively, got up, and walked towards Moon.
"Nothing Mama …" He couldn't share his pain with his mother as he used to share his pain with Star.
"Don't lie. I know this witch must have hit you. I won't let her go today. What does she think of herself?" She said and headed towards the outside.
"Wait, Mama. Star didn't say anything to him. He's hurt because of me." Haniya said in a loud voice from behind. Tania turned and stared at her with bloodshot eyes. Moon was also shocked.
...…..
"Who poured oil on these stairs?" She was looking at the soni sharply.
"um … I didn't do that. Madam." Soni was confused at first and then wondered why she was scared. She did nothing.
"Haniya was dropping something on the stairs. When I saw her, she hid the bottle behind her. I didn't know it was an oil bottle," Soni said, remembering something. And Star's anger had reached its peak. She pursed her lips, turned, and left the kitchen. From behind, soni let out a breath stuck in his chest.
She entered Moon's house, next to her house and hurried inwards. When she approached the lounge, she had to stop.
"Fat woman … Did you hurt me?" Moon shouted from inside and Haniya laughed.
"How painful it is. Remember you knocked me down yesterday." Haniya pointed to yesterday's incident. While running, Moon hit her and she fell down on her knees. Star had also punished Moon but Haniya wanted revenge on her own.
"It was a mistake. I have apologized to you." He burst into tears. Tania moved aggressively towards Haniya.
"You're not ashamed to hurt your brother." Her hand was about to reach Haniya when star entered the lounge. Seeing this, Moon and Haniya were shocked and Tania's hand was also stopped.
"Should I slap both of you?" She came in front of Haniya and Moon and gritted her teeth. Haniya bowed her head.
"What have I done wrong?" Moon muttered. He knew that if he had said it out loud, he would have been slapped.
"Oh girl. These are my children, not yours. I'll take care of them. It would be better if you mind your own business" Tania looked at star with disgust. Star turned her face towards her and looked at her with sarcastic eyes.
"Oh well. Let me see how you handle them." She challenged Tania. Now Tania had to meet this challenge. Star sat on the sofa like a judge, waving her foot and looking at them. Tania fumed and moved towards Haniya. Haniya ran behind the sofa.
"Come here. I will not spare you today. You have crossed your limits" Tania said angrily and started running after Haniya.
"Watch your son too. Every time he spoils my work, later becomes innocent and says ….. sorry." Haniya was running ahead. Star was watching this funny scene with glazed eyes. And Moon was looking at her in fear.
"Don't say a word about my son. He is a thousand times better than you." Tania loved her son a little too much. That is why Haniya used to be jealous of moon.
"Wow mom. I work all day. And you love your fatty son." She glared at Moon.
"I eat less than you. Fatty" He spoke in a low voice so that Star did not hear but Haniya had heard.
"You're rotten egg," she said and climbed up.
"Look at yourself. Ladyfinger." Moon raged.
"All right. Enough." Star suddenly got up and they both fell silent.
"So did you handled them, Auntie?" She looked at Tania. Tania bit her lip helplessly. Her children were afraid of Star but not of her.
"Now let me show you how to handle kids." There was a smile on her lips that disappeared in an instant. And the Balaj's heart started beating fast. She seldom smiled in front of him and whenever she smiled, his heartbeat quickened. He looked at her smile like a statue. This strange state of his was beyond his comprehension. He was very attached to Star from the beginning but still Star never allowed him to be so frank with her that he could just see her smile By chance. Even now Star stared once at him and he was looking around.
"Come here, baby. It's time to punish." She frowned and walked towards Haniya.
"N … no, please. Please don't punish me." Haniya Stepped back.
"It's necessary to punish, baby. Otherwise, you'll make the same mistake every time." She spoke calmly. Moon was now staring at him innocently.
"I won't do it again." She was scared. Star grabbed her ear.
"I know But now get your punishment. Why did you throw oil on the stairs? If moon got seriously injured? Who was responsible then?" she asked.
"He also hurt me yesterday," she said in a low voice.
"I gave him the punishment yesterday, so why did you take revenge?"
"Because my anger didn't subside." Her tone was stubborn. Star stared at her sharply.
"Then how can your anger be cooled?"
"When he will get scold as I got scolded. You all scold me. Why don't you scold him? You love him more than me" There were tears in her eyes. Star took a deep breath. Then after a pause, she moved on. Haniya stepped back in fear. Star leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. Haniya's heart became happy while Moon was jealous.
"You've never loved me like that." He began to think, then startled.
"Oh god, what I'm thinking." He began to curse his thinking, embarrassedly.
"I love you so much." Star patted Haniya on the cheek. Tania was also deeply impressed by her.
"Really?" She said happily.
"Yes, but if you make a mistake, you will be punished. Go to the kitchen and prepare dinner. And Auntie, sit and watch a drama on TV. Haniya will take over the kitchen." She gave the order to Haniya and addressed Tania. She could not speak. Star gave them a smile and turned to Moon.
"you have pain in leg and you are still standing. Never use common sense. Go to your room." Moon obeyed her order.
....