"Who are you....?" She says and tries to get up in fear. Ali makes her lie back. " Shh.. it's okay. You're safe here..." He says with a gentle smile trying to make her comfortable.
She looks around. "Where am I?" She says still scared.
"This is our home...." Usman says. "Where are you from? Where are your parents...?" He asks.
"My parents.....?" A tear rolls down her face. Ali cups her face and wipes her tears and asks, "what's your name, little angel?"
"M-my name is Noor....Noor-e-Yaram...." Her voice cracks as she says.
" Where is your mom...?" Ali asks trying to sound as gentle as possible.
"She left this world...." Noor says trying not to cry.
Ali takes her in his arms and holds her close. "And your... father?" He asks, he was afraid that he knows the answer.
Tears well up in her eyes. "H-he...he is in the forest. He's bleeding.... He didn't let me call a doctor... Can you save him? Please save my Dad.... please...." She says in one breath. She was looking like she's going to have a panic attack.
"Shh...shh.. Noor, calm down... we're here... you're safe..." He tried to comfort her.
" But my Dad....?" She looks up with pleading eyes.
" When we found you....he... was already..dead." It took his everything to tell her this.
"Dead? What does it mean?" She asks with fear etched on her face.
"Just like your mom...he left this world...." He says and holds her tightly, trying to comfort her.
Tears roll down her cheeks, but she wipes them quickly.
Flash Back
Left this world...what does it mean dad ?" The girl asks fear etched on her face.
Her father hardly smiles to hide his tears but anyone could tell that the smile was fake.
"God calls those whom he loves the most and they leave this world and never return ".
"Dad it means mother will never come back." She was about to cry again .
Her father said , "my dear, we should not cry . If we start crying mother will not feel good..we should pray for her...." Yaram holds her close.
BACK TO REALITY
She wipes her tears brutally. "I shouldn't cry..... father won't feel good... he'll be sad if I start crying...." She says to herself.
Ali and Usman looks at this little girl who's trying to act mature.
"Noor....." Usman says.
She looks up.
"You can cry...." Usman says, Noor looks at Ali and he nods.
"Dad, never liked whenever I cried....he won't like it..." She says and looks away.
"It's time for medicine...." Usman changes topic ,trying to sound enthusiastic,to lighten the mood.
.....
Ali is standing outside the house when Usman comes out.
" What is she doing..?" Ali asks.
"She's asleep..." Usman replies. "She's just 8 years old....." Usman adds without looking at him.
Ali let's out a sigh and gets lost in his thoughts, staring at the mountains in front of him.
" What should we do?" Usman asks.
"She'll stay with us...." Ali says.
"With us...? Ali, we're thieves. She's from a good family....." Usman says.
"We were thieves..." Ali corrects his statement.
"What do you mean?" Usman asks in confusion.
"I don't know...we are not thieves anymore...." He says.
"How are we going to feed ourselves and her...?" Usman asks.
"We'll start a new life...." Ali says.
"Ali, are you serious...? This isn't that simple..." He says in a persuasive tone.
"Everything has a first time.... I thought about it many times.... you're right. We can't raise her like this.....so we'll just change our occupation.. instead of leaving her in danger..." Ali replies and looks at him. "Of course you can still choose....but I.. I'm not going to leave her like this...." He adds.
"Why? You don't even know her...." Usman says desperately.
"I don't care..but you can leave. I won't force you to do anything." Ali says.
Usman looks at him. " Just like you can't leave that girl alone...I can't leave you alone.... we've been together since childhood...and I'll be with you till death..." He says and tears prick the corner of his eyes.
Ali hugs him tightly. " Thanks....."