When she woke up, Kay was gone. She left a note beside her table which read, "I need to finish some groceries for my mum and Tia wants me to read her a story since I bugged last night. Need to compensate in advance too because we are going to the party. Call you back later!"
A smile appeared on her morning face. 6 hours left. She had a lot to do.
Cleaning up the floors, washing last night's dishes and doing morning's breakfast. From clothes to shoes she did all that day. She felt filled up again. The rocking Alan Walker music was wrapped around her ears. She did it all. She was a strong young woman and even if her face didn't say it as much, she knew it from the inside.
2 hours left and she needed to get ready for the first ever grand popular party she was attending. Not that she was never invited. She was pretty, and could do as much as a miss popular could do. She could manage to have relationships, but she knew better. The world outside is not what these young fellows think it is. It is busted in rage, anger and desires. And no one is loyal. Not even your own people.
Pulling the zipper down, she took off her frock from the stand and pulled it in her wardrobe stand. The last time she prepared for a Miss Queen was the night she went to her sister's graduation party. It was a boom blast. She brushed the blush softly over the surface of her cheek. It was when the night actually looked full of stars. The night when people finally felt loyal and full of joy. She smiled and pressed the red lipstick on her beautiful lips. The night when everything was normal for once. She took the cap off and applied the eye liner beautifully as if she knew how to put it on and was used to it like she put it on every day but in reality she was putting it on after a long while. Her grin deepened.
But that was also a night when something got lost. When life decided to surprise her yet in another way and make it impossible for her to rely on the causal turns it took. The liner distracted and got off the track and she stood there looking at herself in pity and awestruck moment wondering if she even had to do this.
She lost her brother, her sister and the great grief that took over her. But she moved on. She had Kay now. And she needed to get dressed for her tonight. She couldn't lose one more person she built herself for.
Grinning, she looked at her reflection. And then nodded as if teaching herself. She changed and climbed down the building for the immense night.
Cinderella steps in and everyone stares at her. She dances and everyone looks at her. She strangles her hands with the movement of her Prince and everyone looks at her. But this Cinderella is unseen. She has lived her life as Cinderella hiding from the royals, but she didn't miss it. She loved it that way. She never wanted to crave for good popularity because she knew it's a game she can play. She needed to pull the strings and the game was hers.
"Look at you, Miss Girl. I didn't know you were so beautiful. You got it hidden where? Your lame ass bedroom?" Karina was surely impressed by her ravaging looks. After all, Minha was not just Min. She was Minha Qureshi. Her parents were the real king and queen with a little princess. Karina took her hand and walked her with herself to the center of the room.
"Hey people. Welcome the princess..."
"No please, Kay."
"You deserve it, queen." She told her and then faced the group of audience who were already vowing at the pretty little thing in front of them. "Tributes to Minha Qureshi!!" and the crowd went up applauding. Drinking and cheering. So not like Minha.
Then from somewhere between Evelyn walked in and hugged her. Minha returned it with the same warmth.
"Glad to have you, Minha. You look gorgeous just as ever." Eve said excitedly. Dressed in a crop blouse and glitter mini skirt she still didn't look half as beautiful as Minha who was dressed in a half sleeved daisy frock touching her feet.
"My pleasure." She smiled.
She walked behind her friend to the popular kids group. They were all wearing crop blouses and half naked dresses just the way western people do. She bit her lip in the new environment, just when the flames started to rise and the bonfire started. The rocking music behind blasted the night falls and the laughter of people overcome the sadness.
Happiness. It was everywhere.
Laughter. It was the melody that night.
Flames. They were the rulers.
Minha. She was the queen. The queen who returned.
The music played and they danced. Again and again on her little feet. The DJ exploded with tunes and they twisted on their waists. The harmony between them clasped hands and they clapped together. They smiled. They laughed. They banged upon the floors and went out of their minds. They drank and lost control. The alcohol beamed and stroked their guts and noses. They laughed more vibrantly. The night stars shone and the moon danced with them. The sky loathed the sheet of nice blue and folded the dark black one. The fairies came out and showered the party people with pixie dust. The sleeping beauty woke up and kissed the joy. Snow white ate the apple and asked for more. Cinderella danced on both the shoes.
And among all of them Minha Qureshi enjoyed the meaning of high school teenager for the first time in all of her teenage years. She danced hard, she drank and she laughed. She sure was the star of her dead parents. A friend to her bleeding brother and an entertainer to her disloyal sister. But whoever she was, she was golden. And that night she let the lust in her sparkle like never before.
"You look gorgeous tonight, Min. and you know that, right?" she heard Karina say.
"Of course I do." She sat beside her on one of the expensive marble tables. With the roar of chimes, Karina's cell phone started ringing. She made an I-need-to-pick-the-call face and left. Minha nodded and involuntarily started playing with her bracelet. A beautiful golden chain with a diamond in the center which reflected as many colors as you could see. It was her father's gift to her on their last birthday together. And it's been a while since she wore this. And today she was proud of having it.
"You look nice, young lady." Someone busted her out of her thoughts. And she was sure it wasn't just someone. She stayed quiet and took a nice survey of the old man. Raised her one eyebrow to question his existence at the very moment.
"We met at the coffee shop that night." He said and brought his hand in front. She didn't take it. Her introversive behavior was back. He pursed his lips and took back his extended hand. "Your brother died 4 years back. Maaz Qureshi." If something, her brother was a secret.
"How do you know my brother?" The question was abrupt.
"He was in a relationship with my daughter. Elisa." The color on Minha's face faded and she couldn't hold it in. "How can you say that?" Verification was needed. Just taking her brother's name and dedicating a death certificate doesn't prove that someone knows you.
The man brought his phone forward and swiped through the pictures of two young people enjoying the meaning of happiness. She was shocked. She never knew her brother had a girlfriend. He was just 12.
"He used to come to my house often. They used to study together, eat together and they played together. His friendship made my daughter lively and it made me happy. But then they died."
"Your daughter died?"
"In the same accident your brother died."
"My brother did not die in an accident, sir. You must be mistaken."
"The school staff killed him. And they did the same to my daughter."
They were his words, or the lie he just made up to explain their connection, Minha's all the joy and happiness was drowned in the night shades. If nothing, her life has been a lie since when? She was confused and the sorrow she tried to fill, started burning again. She stood up and started walking out.
"Here, my contact number. I am sure you'll need to see me again, miss."
She nodded and drank back her tears.