The Moazzan was reciting the Azan e fajr, and the sound of azan was soothing and giving comfort to those who were preparing for prayer and ready to agree with Gods will. The azan e fajar reminded every human being the power and will of God how the days follow the night and how the system is flawless.
Zara was lying in her bed but she was awake. Her eyes were open and she was looking around her room in the dim light of night bulb. She had not slept for many nights, due to the difficult situation she was in. All the time she was thinking what has she done wrong to reach this point in her life, and what is going to happen next.
When the azzan ended she tried to get up and say her prayers, she used to cry a lot in prayers before God now a days. She went to the washroom and came out after the ablution and came towards the place where she used to pray. Suddenly she heard the voice of her mother coughing in the adjoining room. Rashida Begum was now frail and old but still did all her work herself. She said work is dignity of every soul. Zara moved quickly towards her room.
Rashida Begum was awake and getting ready for the fajr prayer. Zara asked her to take her morning medicine and brought water for her. She looked at her face and asked her `did you sleep well` , she told her about her sleepless night and started talking about her mothers health. Her mother was also very worried about her. Then both of them got ready for the prayer and started praying to God.
Her mother was not well; she was getting thinner day by day. Zara was watching her mother carefully and noticing that there were dark circles under her eyes. Zara was scared of her mother's illness, and was also afraid of the increasing responsibilities and of losing her mother and loneliness of herself. Her mother was her only companion who never disappointed her. She was unable to imagine a future without her.
She went to her room for prayers. She was still at the place of prayer when she heard the sounds of milkman outside their gate. Every morning was the same for her filled with fears, questions, and need to survive. She prepared breakfast and gave it to her mother, also ate something so that she could have the energy to work on her job. She had to reach for the work in a garment factory, where her job was to assure the quality of stitching.
At 7 she was out of the house and walking towards the factory. The roods were bustling with early morning traffic. She walked fast although her slippers were battered. She cannot afford to get late as there was a pay cut for every late day or leave. Her pay was just enough for her daily expenses and her mother's medicines. She was thinking constantly about her problems which seem to have no solution at all.
As soon as he reached at work her supervisor said, "Zara, hurry up, this shipment has to go tomorrow!". She started working faster as she examined every stitch in the clothes which were ready. There was a high noise of sewing machines, her hands and eyes were focused on work but her heart was busy chanting the Quranic verse which says with hardship comes ease. Thought when the God will listen to her and when the ease will com. She was thoughtful about herself.
Lunch break was a usual matter for her. As usual she sat alone and ate her flatbread with chatni. All the others were busy enjoying biryani and chatting heartily with each other. She does not have any friend at work and did everything alone. She was not only poor but also does not have any resources to exchange gifts or delicious food with colleagues. People also did not want to be friends with her due to her poverty and unable to respond their gifts and delicious foods.
Suddenly she heard her phone ringing. She pulled her phone from the battered purse. It was her brother who was in Dubai. She already knew what will he say even then she answered the call. Her brother said he was sorry because he will not be able to send any money this month, and she should manage without his help. She was already upset on many fronts and this call has increased her worries.
She was already managing the finances with difficulty and now once again had to manage alone. She asked God silently to help her.She slipped the phone back into her bag and pressed her lips together. Tears would not come. They had dried long ago.
At the end of the day, tired and disappointed she came back home and checked her mother. She was sleeping on her cot. She put the cattle on fire to make tea when there was a knock on the door. They never had visitors so she was shocked but even then went to open the door. She opened the gate cautiously. Standing outside was a man she did not recognize. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed neatly in trousers and a neat shirt. He had an air of confidence, his gaze steady but not unkind.
He said politely. "Assalamualaikum," "Are you Zara?"
She answered hesitantly. "Yes but who are you?"
"I am Saif," he replied. "I am a friend of your brother, I have come from Dubai, and want to talk to you about something important."
She got upset as his brother has not told him anything about his friend and his visit to her house. Her heart gave a small jolt. Kashif's friend? But why here? Why now?
Even then she Afasked him to come in. His presence filled the small living room, making it seem even smaller. Her mother looked up weakly from the cot, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
After sitting down Saif said . "Your brother has burdened me with a responsibility, which is aabout both of you, meaning you and your mother," Zara felt her pulse quicken. A responsibility? Her brother was miles away, yet somehow his shadows stretched back into their fragile lives.
"What kind of responsibility?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
Saif continued very seriously while looking at her. "I am not here to upset you people but you will have to understand that in Dubai there is not only money but enmities as well, because your brother is living in a different world."
Zara quickly drank aa glass of water. It seemed to her as if the room is closing in on her. He knew that her brother is bit reckless, but she had no idea what has he done now.
Then Saif said more slowly but clearly. "Whatever is going to happen in near future will definitely affect both of you, and you have to be ready for everything."
Zoya's heart started racing wildly. She looked towards her mother who was looking confused and scared and was looking towards Saif with suspicion.
"I do not understand what you are talking about," she whispered.
Saif gave a faint, knowing smile and said. "You will soon understand."
He suddenly stood up to leave, and at the door he stopped and said, "remember one thing always, sometimes we are thinking about something as bad for us but the same comes out to be good at the end."
And then he was gone, swallowed by the night.
Zara stood lost in thoughts by the door, her hands trembling. Her life had already been drowning in uncertainty. Now, with the arrival of this stranger and his cryptic warning, it felt as though the ground beneath her feet had begun to shift entirely.
In the distance, the azaan for Isha rose, echoing through the city's tangled streets. Zoya lifted her eyes to the darkening sky, her lips moving soundlessly.