Yusuf warmly welcomed his daughters and son-in-law. The condition of the house revealed that he was spending a lonely life. Although the carpet, paintings, showpieces on the walls, pots and thin curtains told a different story about Yusuf. This was the face of Yusuf that his daughters were not aware of and had never seen before. While the conversation was unfolding, Hina wanted to go to the bathroom. The door of the bedroom was opposite the bathroom. There was a huge painting on the bedroom wall on which was the inviting nude body of a beautiful woman. She saw the painting through the curtain in the hall, and then silently shut the door of the bedroom and came back to join the conversation.

When they got up to leave, they seemed satisfied. Yusuf had clearly said that he would never remarry in his life, nor will he ever divorce Darakhshan.

His son-in-law asked, ‘Daddy, then why are you living here alone?’

‘I’m not alone here, my heart is with me.’

‘What do you mean, Daddy?’

‘I mean that a man is alone in a place where his heart is not with him. I am happy here. If I’m not able to sustain my happiness here, I’ll come back home.’

They moved towards the door. Hina was silent. Yusuf looked at her. Hina looked into his eyes.

She was sad. With the passage of time, the framed portrait of the lustful nude woman in Yusuf’s bedroom kept adding to Hina’s sorrows.

Yusuf was in contact with Aymal.

After a few months, Aymal introduced him into that circle of people who followed the same beliefs as her. He became a member of that group.

Yusuf kept visiting his house.

He would exchange greetings with Darakhshan but never stayed over. That rope which tied a marriage was broken in search of new perceptions of desire. He had regular conversations with Hina. Three years later, Hina passed her tenth standard examinations. Yusuf gave her a diamond ring as a present. Hina, considering her mother’s happiness, asked him to stay over for lunch. He agreed. It was a pleasant afternoon. He kept talking to Darakhshan as and when required. She had still not understood how Yusuf had suddenly left her life. After lunch, Yusuf told Hina that he would take her out to see the museum. Hina immediately got ready.