Hikayat ✔

Chap. 7

After the family had offered Fajr prayer, the morning grind began.

Quick rushed motions where Vania gave Khala Jan her medicine as she lay in bed reciting the holy Quran and then handed the sleepy Zeeshan his uniform while Zainab had already gone to change hers. The garbage bags were thrown out and she quickly threw there clothes in the washing machine before leaving to get dressed herself.

Coming out of the shower Vania sniffed and opened her wardrobe.

And thennn, Vania faced her biggest dilemma.

What to wear??!

Before yesterday's disastrous revelation and the re-entry of Harris Abdullah in her very problematic, insignificant life, her outfits hung perfectly pressed, colour-coordinated and numbered with her working days.

But after, she had no idea what to wear.... how to dress.

The mauve kurta shirt seemed too dark and the bead work on it too pronounced. She might invite  unwanted attention...

The green long shirt looked too fancy with the black embroidery and silk piping.

The lemon sweater appeared to be too sultry as it would cling to her frame...

And so there was a problem with every other dress.

Ughhhhh!!!

Kuch nhi hai peheney koo mere pass!!!! I should just quit this job!

Her brain teased her with that thought but then countered that this was just another lame excuse for not facing him.

Besides, she couldn't afford to quit anyway.

Biting her lip vania stared hard at her dresses.

She wanted something that would make her look inconspicuous but also regular. She didn't want to dress in a way that would make her stand out or make Harris think she dressed up for him, Astaghfirullah!

Not that she wanted him to think of her.. Not that she wanted him to stare..

No.. Of course not!

Finally after shuffling more of the hangers and wasting 30 mins of precious time, she found her perfect inconspicuous regular dress.

It was a simple white long maxi, she had bought with Zainab last year, with a soft cotton embroidery on the hem. Simple and appropriate. Yanking it out of the hanger with a jerk Vania ran to the washroom slamming the door close.

Pairing it with a grey-brown scarf, she quickly draped a denim jacket over it ready for work!

Word of the Day

INCONSPICUOUS.

***

Running downstairs, she quickly packed three lunch boxes and cleared the kitchen then she poured milk in three bowls and Choco cereal in hers only.

Zainab wouldn't stop crying if she got their cereal soggy pouring it before they came.

Then seating herself on one of the barstools by the kitchen counter and started chomping.

"Zainy!! Zeeshan!! Jaldi kar lo!!!" Vania called with her mouth full and heard their loud thumping of footsteps on the stairs.

"Eww! Aur gell toohs lete naa sir main ! Itni kam kyun lgayi hai?!" Zainab commented sarcastically, scrunching up her nose at her brother's styled hair.