It was rather usual for Shabo to stay a little longer in Sadat's room than she stayed at the rooms of Saima or her daughters. It was her duty to prepare tea for the family after dinner and she was then supposed to deliver one cup to everyone in their respective rooms. She used to serve Saima and her daughters first and then Sadat. Whenever she handed Sadat a cup, she would then stay there, standing near the door, on her toes, ever ready to pretend that she just came, in case someone else entered the room. Sadat also knew this, but he could not do anything about it. Thus he never offered her to sit. They usually talked in low tones, often it was asking about each other health and stuff, and whenever they heard someone walk outside, they raised their tone and started to talk about innocuous things such as the tea being not hot enough or something like that.
It was a habit for Shabo to sleep late at night although she went to bed rather early. Often she used to look out through the dingy window of her shabby room and see that the light in Sadat's room was still lit although everybody else was fast asleep. Many a time, she had wished to slip into his room, since he would not mind it, and watch a full movie, a luxury that fate had never offered her before.
Sadat used to study at night. He also sometimes wondered if Shabo can come to his room at night sometimes when everyone else was asleep. He would however be afraid of the idea since his mother was such a terse woman and would kill Shabo,if not him, in case she found out.
This happened for almost some years. Both Shabo and Sadat were in their late teens now. Sadat just passed his matric examination and got admission into one of the best colleges in the country. He had to leave for college.
It was only when he had left that Shabo realized the intensity of her feelings. Although she had not even once properly spoken to Sadat, she was still very different when he was at home. She realized how devastated she felt that he had left. One day, a few weeks after Sadat's departure, Saima started to cry saying she missed her son. Shabo felt like crying with her, but had to press her tears back. In her room, at night, however, she cried so much she had to turn her pillow to sleep on it.
Sadat came home after four months. They were all waiting so impatiently. All of them had bought gifts for him. Shabo did not buy a gift. Not because she did not want, but because one needs money to buy something. And also because she did not know if she would have the courage to give a gift.
On seeing Sadat back, Shabo was struck by a storm of emotions. Yet, she had to appear perfectly unaffected. She managed to make an indifferent face, and say to him without meeting his eyes, "salam saab" (hello sir). Sadat hardly said anything in reply, perhaps because he was already talking to his family, or perhaps he did not want anyone an impression that he was on any friendly terms with Shabo.
It was rather usual for Shabo to stay a little longer in Sadat's room than she stayed at the rooms of Saima or her daughters. It was her duty to prepare tea for the family after dinner and she was then supposed to deliver one cup to everyone in their respective rooms. She used to serve Saima and her daughters first and then Sadat. Whenever she handed Sadat a cup, she would then stay there, standing near the door, on her toes, ever ready to pretend that she just came, in case someone else entered the room. Sadat also knew this, but he could not do anything about it. Thus he never offered her to sit. They usually talked in low tones, often it was asking about each other health and stuff, and whenever they heard someone walk outside, they raised their tone and started to talk about innocuous things such as the tea being not hot enough or something like that.
It was a habit for Shabo to sleep late at night although she went to bed rather early. Often she used to look out through the dingy window of her shabby room and see that the light in Sadat's room was still lit although everybody else was fast asleep. Many a time, she had wished to slip into his room, since he would not mind it, and watch a full movie, a luxury that fate had never offered her before.
Sadat used to study at night. He also sometimes wondered if Shabo can come to his room at night sometimes when everyone else was asleep. He would however be afraid of the idea since his mother was such a terse woman and would kill Shabo,if not him, in case she found out.
This happened for almost some years. Both Shabo and Sadat were in their late teens now. Sadat just passed his matric examination and got admission into one of the best colleges in the country. He had to leave for college.
It was only when he had left that Shabo realized the intensity of her feelings. Although she had not even once properly spoken to Sadat, she was still very different when he was at home. She realized how devastated she felt that he had left. One day, a few weeks after Sadat's departure, Saima started to cry saying she missed her son. Shabo felt like crying with her, but had to press her tears back. In her room, at night, however, she cried so much she had to turn her pillow to sleep on it.
Sadat came home after four months. They were all waiting so impatiently. All of them had bought gifts for him. Shabo did not buy a gift. Not because she did not want, but because one needs money to buy something. And also because she did not know if she would have the courage to give a gift.
On seeing Sadat back, Shabo was struck by a storm of emotions. Yet, she had to appear perfectly unaffected. She managed to make an indifferent face, and say to him without meeting his eyes, "salam saab" (hello sir). Sadat hardly said anything in reply, perhaps because he was already talking to his family, or perhaps he did not want anyone an impression that he was on any friendly terms with Shabo.