Sunlight replenished the sky, pure scattered light; its hue ambitiously adorning each crevice of the land. Sparrows twittered an explicit background melody. With breath paused in her lungs, she wished time would thwart. The trees shone as if they were wearing golden crowns and the vast sea was not able to absorb the glorious sparks of the sun. The currents on the sea were competing among each other to reach the horizon from where the mighty godlike sun appeared. And though time resumed, the emotions that spiraled lulled her nature.

Almost two weeks had drifted since the tragic demise of her parents and things were coming to an ebb. Though the empty silence and memories they left behind tormented them in their sanctuaries, time was moving and so were they. Yet, it wasn't the source of her dilemma. The entire Shah Villa was buzzing with sudden energy all around. Eira heaved a deep breath as the nerves got the best of her.

Today was an important day. At least, it was an important day of her life. Life had a funny way of changing its course suddenly. One minute, you're waddling through the calm waters, and then in the next, you're gasping for breath under the violent rip tides of it. Eira wondered why she wasn't feeling happy at this moment of her life, that one moment every girl whether she accepts or not is always anxious and hopeful about it.

The answer was bitter and harsh but it was a reality. And Eira knew very well that reality couldn't be deterred. Closing her eyes, she rested her face against the windowpane and recalled the vicious words her grandmother had uttered to her in silence. 'I have had enough of your bad luck at my house. The day Sierra and Sulayman brought you home, I told them you'll turn out to be a bad omen for us! And look how time proved me right. You and your bad luck took away everything from us! You took my children away from me!'

Those ominous words had rendered her speechless and immobile. The poison had been dropped, and now the arrow flailed and had lodged itself right into her fragile heart. Like always, she had eaten the poisonous apple with nothing but the agony in her heart. The circumstances around her had changed so rapidly that she herself couldn't grasp what was happening and what was not.

In the events that followed, her grandmother had announced her marriage into some family she knew and had been in touch with. Considering that she was done with her education, her grandmother had given her a verdict to get her married. She had not once but many times reminded her how much she wanted Eira to go from her house.

Eira didn't realize that a tear had escaped from her eyes as she kept getting the flickers of the words spoken to her. She was rubbing her palms together when the door of her bedroom clicked open behind her. Eira saw Amaya walking in, her hands holding a plate of sweets. Amaya closed the door with her leg and moved inside, her orbs fixating directly on her elder sister.

"Please, don't tell me you're going to back out at the last moment! I've already even decided on my dance moves and the songs I'll be dancing on." Her hands were busy plucking the savory sweets and then plopping them in her mouth.

A smile graced on Eira's face as she saw Amaya stuffing her face.

"Aren't you getting a tad bit more excited? I mean, they're not even here and we haven't even met or said yes to this proposal." She moved towards the wardrobe as the clock chimed. Eira knew that the family would be at Shah Villa in an hour so she decided to choose her outfit.

"If you're deciding to ditch my potential jeeju (brother-in-law) last minute, then I'd like to tell you that I heard Dadu telling phopo (aunt) about how they're a good family and you'd be the perfect addition to theirs." Eira didn't acknowledge Amaya's words for a whole minute until she broke her silence, "I'm sure if Dadu thinks they're a good family, then they must be." Her hands were busy rummaging through her closet to find the outfit that she would wear today.

Eira was busy with her work when Amaya spoke from behind, "that one! Wear that ice blue colored one. It always matches your eyes." Eira instantly saw the hanging outfit which her sister had pointed out. The light blue color was soothing to look at, it was a traditional salwar kameez. The kameez had a circular neck with a deep back that was stitched together with a Dori. On the borders of its sleeves, light zardosi work was stamped on as well on the bottom of the kameez.

Eira gently took out the outfit and then walked towards Amaya who was now done chewing and sat on the bed, wiping her hands with a tissue. She placed it on the bed and Eira touched the soft fabric with a wistful expression on her face.

"Mama always used to love this on you. Remember?" Amaya, it seemed, was now lost in her own mind. The words kept slipping from her mouth involuntarily.

"Hey, don't worry about anything okay? You've got this!" Side hugging her, Amaya put her chin on Eira's shoulder.

"Thank you, Amaya. For always being there for me and loving me even when I forget myself to." She looked at her sister with devotion.

Squeezing her back, Amaya stood up from the bed and went towards the neat dresser. She was tinkering with things when Eira asked confusedly, "what are you looking for?" Amaya was shifting things to and fro, her hands messing with jewelry by boxes and perfumes. "Aha! Got it!" Smiling triumphantly, she showed Eira the diamond studs in her palm. "These will go with your dress so well!" Eira nodded absentmindedly from her place on the bed.

Amaya came towards her suddenly and hugged her tightly. This sudden display of affection somehow had shocked Eira. Yet, she immediately hugged her sister back with much more force and vigor. She smelt of vanilla and mint and it was the most soothing smell in the world for her. This was clearly an emotional moment for her, Eira's eyes turned misty as she recalled all their precious memories one by one.

Removing her face from Amaya's neck, she held out her pinky finger and asked, "you'll love me till the end of time?" Amaya's finger came and joined with hers.

"Till the end of time, Eira. Always."

❄❄❄

The slow slurping sound of the beverage being consumed by the guests and the low chiming of the grandfather clock ticking was the only sound in the drawing-room. The silence was terse and awkward as the minutes trickled by with bated anticipation and nervous puffs. They seemed like an ordinary, well off family with their articulate actions and appearance.

The Siddiquis sat in a whole group of three. Eira quelled a nervous tremble as she felt the scalding gaze of Mrs. Siddiqui on her every move. As if being presented as an article for sale wasn't enough embarrassment, the brazen stare Hammad - the forthcoming groom gave her was making her extremely uneasy. It didn't help at all, that her grandmother had precisely told her to not create any spectacle in front of her guests.

Eira was nervously rubbing her fingers when she heard Mrs. Siddiqui clearing her throat. Immediately after, she placed the delicate china teacup on the wooden table and then focused on her. "So, Eira dear, tell me what are you doing these days? Anything you'd like to tell us now that we have gotten familiar with each other." The intent stare she gave to her seemed more frightening than relaxed.

Eira scrambled up from her slouching position and straightened her spine, "I just recently completed my graduation. I am actually looking for some spring internship programs p-presently." Her voice wavered towards the end but she held onto her hand with vigor. From the corner of her eyes, she could see her grandmother giving her a disapproving glare and Eira couldn't understand the problem.

The three people who had come to see her were Mrs. Siddiqui herself, her married eldest daughter, and Hammad himself. Eira was thankful that her aunt and Safina aunty had decided to be there for her. Eira was sure that she wouldn't have survived this tedious hour without their calming presence.

At her answer, Mrs. Siddiqui scrutinized her and then smiled her crooked smile, "that's not what I was asking dear. I meant, ghardari to aati hai na tumhe?" (You can do house chores right) For a whole minute, silence rang around the room, the air became stifling as Eira stared at the woman with an incredulous look. She gulped down the saliva and looked at both of her aunts who were too just in much shock as she was.

Arzoo phopo was about to speak in between when she was swiftly silenced by her grandmother, "of course Mrs. Siddiqui. Our Eira knows everything related to the house. I'm sure she will be a perfect daughter in law for your family. " Eira ducked her head down and tried hard with all her strength to bear the torture going on. As if the answer had greatly pleased Mrs. Siddiqui, she again smiled her crooked smile.

Picking up a biscuit from her plate, she pointed out, "that's right Mrs. Shah. I've always believed that young girls should be taught how to manage the workload from an early age. Marriage is no joke. If she can't look after the house, how will she look after her husband and his family!" Finishing her sentence, she laughed as if she was telling a funny joke one had to laugh on.

Eira hated this. Hated every minute of this bearing torture she had to go through. This woman was clearly portraying the toxic reality of the 'Rishta culture' in their society. Eira had never liked the way girls are always asked to present themselves like some sacrificial lamb to the families. It was utterly disrespectful and humiliating how the male side could say anything without any regard to others' feelings and inhibitions and the other side is always forced to listen to constant sarcastic remarks and jabs.

Since the time they've come, Mrs. Siddiqui had been blabbering on about how her eldest daughter managed her house and pleased her in-laws. Then she had gone off on a tangent of 'Hammad this, Hammad that'. If it wasn't for her Dadu, she would've given this woman a piece of her mind. She talked as if she wasn't here for a daughter-in-law but a slave for her son and herself. The said son, who sat beside his mother and kept giving her leering looks. It disgusted her to no ends.

"I'm telling you, Eira will be happy with my son. And there's no need to work after marriage, Hammad can take care of all her expenses. You already know we have our own family business and my son is running it with such diligence and hard work!"

Her hands clenched in anger at the words being said by Hammad's mother. This woman was clearly delusional if she thought that she'll ever agree to this arrangement. The way she disregarded Eira and her emotions sickened her to the core. She wasn't even surprised that Dadu wasn't telling this woman off considering all she wanted was to get rid of her. But she could see that Aunt Arzoo and Aunt Safina were barely holding themselves back on her grandmother's account.

"With all due respect, Mrs. Siddiqui our Eira hasn't agreed to this proposal as of yet. It is important for us that her choice is considered in this matter. After all, it is her entire life. So, let's not get into a marriage that fast and give time to the children to decide."

The atmosphere in the room changed in a second as soon as Aunt Arzoo spoke up. It was a clear indication that her patience was running thin here and that it was time that she'd stop with her countless demands. Eira was glancing between the two women with trepidation. Mrs. Siddiqui raised her arched brow up and pursed her lips tightly.

She cleared her throat, "of course, I understand that, Arzoo. It's just that you know I'm the mother of a boy and we all comprehend the extra burden there is on the guy's family. Now that Sierra and Sulayman aren't here, we need to make a lot of adjustments."

As if a fire had been lit, Arzoo stood up from her place, "that is enough! I've been tolerating your rude remarks for so long and these degrading words you say for my niece. You have crossed a line here! How dare you talk about my dead brother and his wife like that! Who gave you that right? You sit in our home and have the audacity to insult us time and time again. This is over. You can leave now!"

All three of them were looking at Arzoo's angry features with slackened jaws and wide eyes. Her grandmother on the other hand looked ready to give a piece of her mind to her own daughter. "Arzoo, that is enough! Sit down and let us talk." Her tone brooked for no arguments but Arzoo was her mother's daughter and she knew how to use that.

"Talk? What is there left to talk, Ammi? Do you not see the condescending way this woman has been speaking so far! Can you even see how toxic and backward her thoughts are? She literally commented on Eira's skin saying that she's too fair-skinned than other people in our community! Not to mention her ridiculous comments about how her height is too much for an average girl!"

"Arzoo Sahiba, there's nothing wrong with interrogation. You're making a big fuss out of nothing. These are all normal questions, one can ask while looking for prospective suitors."

"I'm creating a fuss? Do you even realize that you're being utterly rude and crossing so many boundaries here! Girls are not some ornament you can come and take a look at and then proceed to pick out mistakes in them. They're human beings and should be treated with respect. Your good for nothing son isn't some prince charming that you sit here and talk rubbish about my niece."

The argument was escalating now as both the parties felt the need to speak up. "My son is quite possibly the best your girl can get in this city! I mean, just look at her! Those eyes are abnormal. I'm telling you, people will take one look at her and label her as a witch!" All the voices blurred around her, and the only ringing voice was of a hyper Mrs. Siddiqui.

Witch.

Eira's vision was getting blurred with tears when she heard Aunt Arzoo's loud voice, "Eira beta, go back to your room. Go c'mon. Let me handle this." She didn't wait around to see the fiasco but rather swiftly turned to leave the drawing-room. As she wrenched the wooden door open to walk outside, she saw two frozen figures standing on the threshold, their faces an expression of astonishment and sadness.

Amaya and Kabir.

"E-Eira."

It was Amaya but she didn't hear anything as her feet took the path of the back garden of Shah Villa. As her steps faded away to mild jog, the loud voices became a part of the background.

Witch.

❄❄❄

The sadness flowed through her veins and deadened her mind. It was a poison to her spirit, dulling her killing off her other emotions until it was the only one that remained. It was as if a black mist had settled upon her and refused to shift, and no matter how bright the day was she would feel no sun and hear no bird song. For the world was lost to her and she knew of nothing that would bring it back into focus.

Except him.

There was only one word to describe the sun-kissed Grecian. Where his eyes were the gray of a storm raging. His lips were soft and thin and his nose slender and rounded. A prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the potency of his neck reflected in the twining cords of muscle that molded his entire body; robust arms, bold thighs and calves, a firm chest, and abdomen. He was an Adonis among the other men who each pale in comparison. One glimpse and women swooned.

Adonis.

"I thought I'd find you here, at your favorite place."

His voice was a deep, husky drawl. Each word that escaped out of his mouth was carefully uttered. The receding sunlight fell majestically on his tall frame, he resembled an angel standing there in front of her, the only thing he was missing was a pair of wings. Eira hadn't expected to meet him, considering they didn't really get a chance to interact in the time he was here at the Villa.

Zohran Khan had always surprised her with his personality. He observed and speculated, his sharp eyes taking in the details around him. His mind was shrewd and brilliant, and there was something incredibly salacious and alluring about a man with brains. Four years had passed since she last saw him. Completing her further studies from abroad, she didn't get a chance to meet him but now that he was in front of her, Eira felt breathless.

Beauty and grace.

Her gaze raked down his well-defined torso, the navy blue shirt that completely stretched around his chest. Both of his hands were buried inside the pockets of his gray slacks. And that goddamned smile on his face. She felt her focus shifting.

"How are you? I came to know what happened earlier."

Eira could see the concern shining in his eyes for her.

"As okay as I can be, I guess. Arzoo phopo and Safina Aunty being there helped a lot." She shrugged her shoulders.

Zohran came and stood right beside her. The height difference between them was uncanny. Even though Eira was a tall woman, he still towered over her by at least a foot or two. "Look Eira, I just wanted to see if you were okay after today's incident. That woman was extremely rude and inappropriate in her approach."

Eira let out a derisive laugh, "you don't have to apologize. I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't be though."

"This is real life, Zohran. And it's not perfect for everyone."

"It's not perfect for anyone, Eira. You have to find that perfectness."

She was now curiously looking at him who had also concentrated his attention on her, "and how do you think we can do that? Where do you even start?"

Zohran's face tilted into a half-smile, "your own self. You start with yourself, Eira. Find that perfectness inside you rather than in others. You're perfect just the way you are." If words could breathe perfection, Zohran Khan would take the lead in it.

"You need to accept yourself first, Eira. People will always degrade or try to bring you down but it's up to you how you tackle those unwarranted remarks."

"How do you always know what to say? Let out your secret." The sun was setting, the tangerine and opal loomed over their heads as the sky became a Kaleidoscope of colors.

Zohran felt envious of the sun that touched her face, "just a bit of magic."

"Magic doesn't exist, silly." Eira was shaking her head at his remarks.

"It does if you truly believe in it. It's everywhere around you. All you need is your belief in it."

"I see that in these four years that I've been away, you've become quite a philosopher." Her laugh was the most beautiful sound in this world for him.

"You have that effect on me, I guess." The words slipped from his mouth with such ease that he shocked himself too.

Eira Shah for the first time in her life felt utterly mystified by someone. Nervously, she tucked a loose tendril behind her ear. "I'll keep that in my mind." She cleared her throat and whispered to him.

Zohran looked down at his feet, his brows scrunched up in hesitation, "your grandmother I take is now looking for suitors for you. Any particular reason for this prompt decision?" Eira saw him shuffling his feet as if the question made him uncomfortable.

Even though he tried to portray a nonchalant front, Eira could see right through his facade. Zohran Khan cared for what she had to say about her supposed marriage and somehow it pleased her to no ends. There were very rare moments when he was flustered and this was one such moment.

"Yeah, I mean she thinks it's the correct time to get married so here we are."

"And what about you? What do you think of this?"

He was waiting with bated breath for her answer.

She peeked up at him, the cerulean orbs were glittering and his breath hitched in his throat at the appealing sight.

"Does it really matter what I think?"

"It matters to me." This wasn't a normal conversation anymore.

They both knew something was shifting in the air that crackled between them but both were scared to take the plunge.

"I think it'll be the right time when I'll find the person I want to be with."

"And do you think you've found that person or can find him?"

"Maybe."

Silence.

That silence spoke more than words ever could.

Zohran moved closer to her, his steps more confident than ever.

"What would you do if you were in my position? Would you fight for yourself and that person you want to be with?"

Another step closer.

"I would."

Azure met with gray.

"Why?"

The sun descended, leaving behind the echo of his words.

"Because some people are worth fighting for."