Hina told Drakhshan that Yusuf had asked her to take admission in a good college for further studies. He would take care of all the expenses and also provide her with guidance. Darakhshan felt nice hearing this. She told Hina in Gujarati that a Sufi outside Shah Baba’s tomb had told her that it was her time of saadhey saati (seven-and-a-half-year curse) and it would continue for the same period. Which meant that Yusuf would become absolutely fine in a couple of years or so and would return home. Hina encouraged her mother and said whatever God does, he does for our good. After finishing dinner, she watched a film on the television for some time and then went to sleep.

When she closed her eyes, the entire day spent with her father projected itself on her mind’s screen like a movie. She could see her father and herself in distinct colours on that screen. She stopped at every frame to try and understand her father. Yusuf was now a stranger to her. He was a riddle yet a very attractive one. She kept repeating his words in her mind. There were so many questions that had taken birth within her, thousands of questions that she wanted to ask him. Through those questions she wanted to learn about his life but also about the coldness that he’d suddenly developed towards Darakhshan. Yusuf had made sure that all their needs were fulfilled, and in fact he had started giving more money than what was required for their expenses.

Two years back he had also bought a new fridge, a sofa, a television and a showcase. He kept calling his daughters and monetarily helped them as and when required. Probably, this was why there was no negative feelings or criticism directed towards him in the house. But still there was a wound in Hina’s heart. She had seen Darakhshan weep during all those years. Those cries had knotted themselves up in Hina’s throat. At times, when she was alone and talking to herself, those knots became as painful as cancer. Grief would strike her. Everything around would start to seem strange and meaningless. A feeling of detachment overwhelmed her. She had found herself in such a situation many a time throughout the past year, and had hidden her condition from her sisters and mother.

Two weeks after the visit to the museum, Yusuf called Hina up and asked her to be ready by 5 p.m. as they had to go and meet Aymal.