Sahar tried to open her eyes, the eyelids were a little heavy and it was a big effort to spread them apart but she finally managed to open her eyes. She looked around and realised she was in a hospital. white curtains flew by the regular strokes of the desert wind, a drip connected to her hand, a man sitting beside her. "Sahar you are finally awake," said the man getting a bit emotional. Sahar looked him for a beat and then recognised him, "Aaron". Sahar started to recollect how had she reached this hospital and why this white man was sitting beside her.
She recollected, the immense pain when she was hit by a bullet and then Aaron had picked her up. She blushed thinking about how she had felt in his muscular arms. "What are you smiling about?" Aaron asked. Sahar felt so embarrassed she kept quiet. "Might be all these drugs," said Sam pointing at the drip. Sam had just walked in and Sahar was very thankful for that, as he took Aaron's attention away from her smile. "These are medicines Sam," argued Aaron. "Drugs are drugs Aaron, they make you do stupid," replied Sam.
Aaron didn't like when Sam called Sahar stupid but he didn't say it loud. "I mean she is not stupid she saved our lives," he said to himself. "Did you say something?" Asked Sam. "No, I mean Let me call the doctor," said Aaron and went out. "So, you know right?" asked Sam suspiciously. "Know, what?" asked a confused Sahar. "That you needed a kidney transplant and Aaron donated his so your life could be saves!" said Sam innocently. "Oh, did he really? He shouldn't have," said Sahar almost about to cry. "Chill Sahar, I'm just kidding" laughed Sam.
Aaron enters with a military doctor with him. "Don't tell anything to Aaron, he will kill me," requested Sam. "Alright," said Sahar smiling. The Doctor checked all the vitals, everything was normal. The Doctor looked at Aaron and said, "She will have to stay for a week more for observation, but she is fine." The doctor left and Aaron sat beside Sahar again. "Is there someone we should inform to about your health?" asked Aaron with a voice of concern. Then suddenly a dread appeared on Sahar's beautiful face. "For how long I have been here?" asked Sahar. "It's been four days," replied Aaron.
"Yup Aaron knows all this because he is here in this hospital for the last four days, waiting for you to open your eyes again," mocked Sam. "You have been here for four days?" asked Sahar almost smiling. "That's not important, I was asking you that is there anyone who should know that you are in a hospital? Asked Aaron and hoped that there is no husband or someone else. "Just parents and siblings lord!" he prayed Silently. "My friend Zahira! She will be really worried for me," said Sahar. "Where do we find her? We will bring her here," promised Aaron.
"We both run a school near the village square, she should be there." Explained Sahar. Aaron looked at Sam. Sam whimpered, "ah! No, one more task". Aaron started to rise from his seat with a stare. Sam leaped for the exit, "Yes I am going." Now, Aaron and Sahar were alone in the room. Sahar kept her eyes down and Aaron too felt embarrassed to look at Sahar. But he knew he had to gather some courage. So, he finally asked the first thing that came to his mind, "Are you a school teacher?"
Sahar looked at Aaron, a little shy, but she wanted to talk to him too, "Yes, there are lot of unfortunate kids in the region. We try to help them as much we can. Even if he succeeds in giving them basic literacy, we will think we have achieved something." "But how did you educated yourself," Aaron inquired. Sahar gave it a thought and said, "there was a senior commander here, in my teenage years. He used to gather the village kids and taught them." "Must have been a good human," said Aaron wondering if he should do something like that too. "I guess so," replied Sahar after a thoughtful pause.
Sam did know the town well; he reached the square. There were no students or teachers there, but Sam made some inquiries and reached a house which belonged to Zahira. He knocked on the door. He could hear someone running towards the door. "Sahar is that you!" Zahira called out before opening the door. Zahira opened the door excitedly, and was utterly disappointed to not find Sahar on the door. Zahira was not like Sahar, she was not shy, she was not strong. She was delicate, she was full of energy, a beautiful storm. Sam for the first time, in his life had no silly jokes or mean comments to deliver.
"Who are you, and what are you doing at my door?" asked Zahira, totally ignoring the fact that Sam was wearing a uniform and was armed. "Sahar told me to get you!" replied Sam like a student answering a teacher. And Zahira was a teacher but Sam was an armed Us soldier but Zahira was not treating him like a fierce fighter. She treated him like a mischievous brat, who needed to answer some tough question. "What happened to her, what have you done with her?" Zahira let out a brigade of questions. "I will tell you everything please come with me, Sahar wants to meet you," Sam replied plainly without any regular dose of jokes and hooting.
Meanwhile, in the hospital - Lieutenant Mike enters the room with a file in his hands. Sam and Aaron stand up in attention as they see Mike. "Easy boys," Mike commands, Aaron and Sam get relaxed. Mike turns his attention towards Sahar, "Sahar is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself?" said Mike. "I am a school teacher," replied Sahar. "That you are now, but before that, you were a part of the Taliban," said Mike pointing towards the file he has brought in with himself. Aaron and Sam were shocked. Aaron looked at Sahar, Sahar nodded a yes.