‘I’ve just come.’ Hina got up to take the tray from her mother’s hand. She served Yusuf a cup of tea and went to the kitchen. She knew there was something wrong. She immediately prayed to Haji Ali and vowed that if no one got to know what happened, she would present a sheet of red roses to the dargah next Saturday. The prayer gave her a little courage. She poured some tea in another cup and came and sat next to Yusuf again. Darakhshan was sitting opposite to them. Yusuf was drinking tea silently. Innumerable reasons for his silence rushed through Hina’s mind. On seeing him so quiet, Darakhshan asked, ‘I hope your health is fine.’ Yusuf said he was fine and turned towards Hina. On seeing him turn towards her, Hina repeated her prayers to Haji Ali in her heart and beseeched Haji Ali to help her.

‘Bitiya, I’m going to America for a few months.’

This made her smile. The colour on her face returned. Yusuf thought that the news had made Hina glad. He said, ‘I knew this would make you happy.’

Hina responded, ‘Of course, I’m happy.’

‘Won’t the trip be a huge expense?’ Darakhshan asked.

‘It’s a business trip,’ Yusuf said.

Yusuf sat there for around 20–25 minutes. He primarily spoke to Hina during that time. When he was about to leave, he took out a packet for Darakhshan. Hina took it from his hands and gave it to her mother. Yusuf told them that there were Rs 40,000 in the packet. The amount would be more than enough for three or four months. While taking his leave he shook hands with Darakhshan at the door. Hina accompanied him till the main gate downstairs. Father and daughter stood and talked for around five minutes near the car. Yusuf told her that he would go to a few trade centres with Aymal to talk about expanding his business. Hina was happy. But there was a knot in her heart that made her wonder if there was something going on between Aymal and Yusuf. She, however, brushed it aside by calling it her own misconception. She bade farewell to her father warm-heartedly and requested him to call home from America every 10–15 days. Yusuf hugged her and promised that he would.

When the car had gone, Hina climbed the dark stairs to her house and while doing that she realized how big a coward she was. Her fear had made her promise votive offerings to Haji Ali. Then she told herself that everything went well because of her votive promise. She was unsure and restless for some time and finally decided that when her father returned from America, she would make him meet Asrar.