Chapter 14: Birthday Party

Her mother tells him to stop talking because he was hurting their daughter. They were home and Sara ran to her room. She didn’t know that Aaron was gonna take everything so seriously and he didn’t even think about her for once. She thought that when he took her to the airport, he was pretending that he couldn’t live without her and now he went to California without telling her. Plus, he wasn’t answering his phone and now what she was supposed to believe. She told herself that he had some work, maybe he had to leave without telling her. Then it comes to why he wasn’t answering her phone calls. She thought that maybe because he’s mad and maybe he’ll answer it in the morning. She hoped that he comes back in few days and answers her phone calls, but never did any of those.

The days went by and she used to stay quiet all the time. She wasn’t the same Sara anymore, she used to go to the library and get books to read. Most of the time she stayed in the library reading books for college. She read books for her major so that she won’t have any problems in college. Her parents got worried about her so much because she didn’t eat often and didn’t talk to them like she used to do. Her mother was so worried about her daughter that she used to cry seeing her like this. She had given everything up in her life, even the fashion shows. Neha used to ask her to go with her to the fashion shows, but she never went with her. Her parents thought that it would make her happy if they told her that if she chooses her major in fashion designing, but nothing could make her happy. She was like living her life without knowing what was happening in the world.

It was her graduation day, which they thought would make her happy, but she didn’t even smile. She didn’t even cry. People say if you cry and let your sorrow out and makes it easier to forget. It was like living her life without a purpose or goal. She was graduate from high school with a distinguishing requirement and was the top first of her senior class. That day her father and mother gave her a little surprise, they thought that maybe it will make her smile. It was May 25th, when she graduated from high school and after graduation, her parents had a party at their place. They were celebrating her graduation. Everybody was there at the party, but Sara was sitting alone by herself. She was wearing a long black dress, sequined beading on straps and around the bodice. She didn’t even talk to Neha anymore. Her father came to her to give her a graduation present. It wasn’t a present, but it was a surprise for her.

Emraan said, “Look, what I got for you?” She looked at him, “You got accepted to Stanford University and we want you to go there and make us proud.” Finally, she said something, “Dad, now you also don’t want me here. You want to send me away from you.” She started crying, “Why does it happen to me?” She hugs her father, “The person I love always leaves me or tries to get away from me. Why can’t they just love me the way I love them?”

Emraan told her, “Your mother and I love you a lot and if you don’t want to go to Stanford, then we won’t make you go.” She was still crying, and her father couldn’t see her cry, so left from there.

She was sitting outside and started crying so much that her mother came running for her.

Ayesha asked, “What happened? Sara, are you alright?” She sat down on the floor, “Mom, what should I do to forget him? Please, tell me, mom. What do I do to make him go away from my heart? I just can’t forget him. Mom, please do something. I’m dying. Just make him come back to me, mom.” She was crying so loud that Neha, her father, Neha’s parents came over to check. “I’m gonna die if he doesn’t come back, mom. I never asked you for anything please mom, just give him to me. Please, why don’t you call him and tell him that I love him so much and I didn’t mean to hurt him or anything? I’m dying, mom.” It started raining and tears were coming out of her father’s, Neha’s eyes. They were feeling her pain. She didn’t cry even once for anybody and look now she was crying so much for this guy, who didn’t come back. She never liked crying and now she was the one who was crying the most in the whole world. Her mother tries to tell her to go in, but she couldn’t say anything seeing her daughter like this.

“Mom, I always thought how I should forget because I know he’s never coming back, and I also know that I can never forget him. What should I do now? I don’t even have a purpose to live or die. Why is he tormenting me so much? Please, mom. Just tell me something. Please, mom.” Her mother was also crying and didn’t know what to tell her daughter that will make her stop crying. Neha came over and told her to stop cry, “Don’t cry, Sara. He wasn’t the one for you.”

Sara said, “No, Neha. He’s the one made for me and I just can’t forget him. He told me that he loves me so much, then why he’s not coming back to me. I will die without him, Neha.” She was crying so much and couldn’t breathe well.

Neha hugged her, “Stop crying, Sara. You’re gonna get sick.”

Sara begging, “Neha, please. Do something to make him go away from my life? Please, I always help you; now it’s your turn to help me.” Neha was also crying, “Neha, he took everything from me, my happiness, my heart, everything, and look what he gave me, in turn, these tears. Even my hope waiting for him is dying and I can’t live anymore. I just can’t.” Neha wipes her tears, “Do you think he’s ever going to come back? Please, Neha.” She couldn’t breathe well.

Neha told her, “You’re gonna get sick and in this rain, you’ll become sicker.”

Sara trying everything, “I want to get sick, maybe then he’ll come back.”

Neha making her understand, “Just forget about him and he wasn’t the one for you.”

Sara was suffocating inside, “Remember, I used to tell you that never fall in love with somebody and look at me. I can’t forget him, I just can’t. I tried so much, but he’s everywhere.”

She couldn’t see anybody’s face; her parents were crying so much. She fainted after a few seconds and her father took her inside. She became so weak because she didn’t use to eat that much. She was still unconscious and stayed unconscious all night. Her parents stayed up all night and couldn’t see their daughter in this pain. They had no choice, but to accept whatever their daughter asked. They couldn’t think that their daughter could love somebody so much that she would forget the rest of the world and forget how to live. Sara didn’t want to live anymore because her life started with Aaron and stopped with Aaron.

It was five o’clock when she became conscious. Everybody left the party; Neha stayed over to be with her best friend because she also loved her and couldn’t see her in pain so much. Her parents and friends didn’t know that she was going through so much pain when last night she started crying so much. She woke up and still was quiet. She remembered what happened last night and still didn’t say anything. She got up and went outside.

Ayesha told her, “It’s cold outside and you’re already sick.” Her husband stopped her because he thought she needed to spend some time alone to get herself together after whatever happened.

She went outside and ran so fast away from the neighborhood. She was in the park and it was a little dark too. She sat there on the floor and thought about what she said last night. She started crying again and started talking to herself.

Why did I become so weak? I shouldn’t have cried, but what should I do to forget him? He used to tell me that loving me wasn’t easy, and I say that falling in love is so easy but forgetting is so difficult. A day never went by that I didn’t remember him. I just can’t forget him, he always around me. I feel him all the time close to my heart touching me, kissing me, loving me, but he’s still not gonna come back.

God, please help me. Just take my life away because I can’t endure this pain anymore. When I see my parents being sad for me, it makes it harder. I can’t let them be sad because of me, I tried to be normal, but I just can’t be normal anymore. I’ve tried so much, forgetting him is not possible for me. I made lots of excuses to make myself forget you, but it makes me remember you more than forgetting you. I never thought that I will cry this much for somebody who doesn’t even care about me.

I never thought that you would leave me without saying anything. At least, you should have told me something, so I could spend my life with that, but leaving me without saying anything, you’ve brought me somewhere, where I can’t go back. I spend my days and nights thinking about you and I never knew that you would do this to me. I know I have hurt you, but not like this. Aaron, you don’t know how much I love you, but I just hurt my parents and my friends because they see me whatever I’m going through, and it hurts them. I have to hide my feeling and act normal.

She stayed in the park for almost an hour and then went home. Her mother was making breakfast and soup for Sara. Her father was sitting at the dining table and was eating breakfast because he had to go to work and can’t leave work because he already took off before.

Ayesha being so polite, “Dear, come eat this soup.” Sara didn’t argue and had the soup. “Neha is still here and right now, she’s asleep because she stayed up with us last night and just went to sleep a few hours before you became conscious.”

Sara apologized, “Mom and Dad, I’m really sorry for whatever happened last night. I didn’t mean to do anything like that, but I couldn’t control myself last night.” Tears were coming out of her eyes, “I was gonna have a heart attack, if I didn’t cry last night.” Wipes her tears away, “Now, I feel better.” She was lying because she felt the same as before. She did feel a little lighter than before.

Emraan puts his hand on top of Sara’s hand, “Honey, you don’t need to apologize for anything. We understand what you are going through.” Her mother came over, “yes, Sara. We are your parents and if we’re not gonna care for you, then who would.”

It made her think about Aaron that he wanted to take her with him, but look, who was with her to support her when she’s in pain. She thought that she made the right choice to stay with her parents because what if her parents were telling the truth that Aaron never loved her. She was quiet for a minute and mother goes back to cooking.

Sara told him, “Dad, I’m ready to go to Stanford University.” She thought that she has hurt her parents so much that why not going to Stanford would make them happy. She also thought that this will lessen their pain a little because then they won’t see her like this.

Emraan still insisted, “Look, if you don’t want to go, then don’t go. I never want you to stay away from us.”

“No, Dad. I really want to go to Stanford University.” She made a face that she’s so excited to go, which made her father think that she’s ready to move on, but she wasn’t.

Emraan told her, “Okay, then. Oh, I forgot to tell you that you got a scholarship for the full four years and I don’t know if I should say this or not.” He didn’t say anything after looking at her mother.

Sara asked, “No, dad. Tell me, what is it?”

Emraan said, “I was thinking that you should stay at Farhan’s house if you think it is okay with you?”

Sara agreed, “Sure, dad. I’ll stay with them if that’s what you want.” She didn’t want to argue because she wanted her parents to be happy. “Mom, I was thinking that if I get a job now because staying home all the time, I get bored.”

Ayesha told her, “Why do you need to work? I mean, you can go out and have fun with your friends. This is your time to have fun because you’re gonna go to college in a couple of months. Plus, you’re turning 18 in two months.”

They were so happy that their daughter was becoming normal, but they didn’t know that she was putting this act for them to be happy. She didn’t say anything else and went to her room after finishing her soup, she saw Neha sleeping. It was so early that she didn’t know what to do and doing nothing made her think about Aaron. She didn’t like that so to get herself busy, she started cleaning the other rooms.

Her mother came upstairs to tell Sara that she was leaving for work and her father left already, so she should lock the door, she saw her daughter clean the room made her mother feel bad because she never used to clean and went downstairs without saying anything to her. Her parents were gone already when she came downstairs to clean. She cleaned the whole house and Neha finally woke up. She came downstairs and ate breakfast.

They were watching TV, after Neha had breakfast, “Hey, Neha. Thank you, I just want to tell you that you’re my best friend and you’ll always be.”

Neha asked, “Why are you saying this? I can’t see you suffering all the time. You need to forget about him and move on. This is life and you used to tell me that love is bullshit and I believe you were right because seeing you like this makes me hate to love.”

Sara sits next to her on the couch, “No, Neha. Love is the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me. I never told you this, but whenever I was with Aaron, he always loved me and made me love him more and more. He used to touch me here, here, and here.” She was touching her lips, neck, back, waist, and shoulder. She touched every spot where he touched her. “He used to tell me how much he loved me, and you know what he even wrote a poem for me.” Tears were coming out of Neha’s eyes because of seeing her best friend going crazy about someone she loves so much and seeing that she didn’t forget anything about him. “I remember the exact words he wrote for me. I wish he had given that poem, so I could spend my whole life with the poem and show the world how much he loved me.”

Neha shakes her, “Sara, you need to forget him. Why are you doing this to yourself? I can’t see you like this.” Sara starts crying and hugs Neha.

Sara asked, “Neha, you tell me what I should do to forget him. I see him everywhere. Look, he’s standing there,” points where he was standing in the kitchen when he came to her house. “There,” points on the couch, “there,” On the dining table, “he’s everywhere.”

Neha told her, “Please, stop. You’re going crazy.” She gets up and holds her hand, “Come on, let’s go outside. You’ll feel better.”

“No, Neha. I don’t want to go anywhere.” She drags her to the door and Sara locks the door. “Now, I’m gonna have to drive, but where are we going?” She starts the engine and drives, “Where?”

Neha said, “we’ll go for a long drive. How’s that?” Sara didn’t like the idea, “You’ll better, trust me.”

She didn’t have anything to do, so she put the music so loud and drove so far away from the house, the town, and the world around her. They weren’t talking because they were listening to music and enjoying being away. Finally, she made a stop somewhere because it was a dead-end and she turned back home. It was 2 in the afternoon, Neha told her that she wanted to go to her home because she needs to clean the house and she’ll come to visit her sometime soon.

Sara asked, “You don’t want something to eat at my place.”

Neha told her, “I’ll eat home.”

Sara said, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” She dropped Neha at her house and went to the beach. She didn’t go home until her parents came home. She was there all afternoon, just listening to the waves and she was feeling better. She lay down on the sand and thought about the moment that she had spent with Aaron. She never stopped thinking about Aaron. She wanted to see him just once and ask him why did he do this to her? Why he made her love him so much? Why couldn’t she forget him? She knew that she wasn’t going to see him ever again. She also knew that he will never come back to her. She has to forget him and move on with her life. She thought about moving on, but how? Her life was all about Aaron, Aaron. It was getting dark and went home. Her parents were home already, and they were having dinner.

Ayesha asked, “Did you eat anything?”

Sara lied, “Yeah, I already ate.” She went to her room without saying another word. She tried so much to be normal, she couldn’t be normal as before and she hated that so much. After an hour later, she came downstairs to talk to her parents. “Mom and Dad, I want to talk to you about something. I know you’ve refused this, but I get bored staying at home and it makes me think about him all the time, if I get a job, then maybe this can keep me busy.”

Her parents were thinking, then Emraan said, “Okay, but where will you work?”

Sara said, “I was thinking about going to the hospital and work there as a receptionist. You know I was a school leader and I’m very good at keeping things under control and maybe they’ll hire me. I can give a shot.”

Ayesha said, “that’s great.”

They were happy and Sara as well. She went back to her room and thought that maybe talking to people on the phone all the time, she’ll probably forget Aaron, but guess what she just couldn’t. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t forget him.

She got a job in the hospital as a receptionist because of her good resume. Nobody would want to lose such a talented person. She used to answer phone calls and her boss was very happy with her work because she was so nice to everybody. Whenever somebody called, she thought that it might be Aaron and that made her forget nothing. She was in this hope that maybe someday, he will call at the hospital for some reason, and she will get to talk to him, but sometimes things never happen the way you plan them to be.

She believed that it’s all written in everybody’s destiny whatever happens. She got separated because it was written in her destiny. She can’t fight with her destiny and make it the way she wants it to be. She was working during the day and after work, she used to go to the beach and spend some time trying to think what she did wrong to make him so mad that he didn’t even come back to even ask how she was. Did she make a mistake by falling in love with him? She used to blame herself for what she hasn’t done.

When she had days off, she used to go to the library to read books, so she doesn’t have any problem at Stanford University. The days went by so fast, and everything was happening as usual. She was working, going to the beach, to the library, and talking to her parents a little, so they won’t feel sad for her.

It was July 20th, when she got home from the beach and saw that the lights were off, and her parents weren’t home. She opened the door and heard screams.

Screams, “Happy Birthday to You.” It was her birthday, and her parents threw a party for her and called all her friends to come over.

Ayesha congratulated, “Happy birthday, my beautiful daughter. I hope you get all the happiness you want.” She hugged her, and Sara thought that Aaron was her happiness, she wasn’t gonna get him.

“Thank you, mom.” Emraan came over, “Happy birthday, Sweetheart. You’re the most beautiful gift that God gave us and we’re so happy to have you with us.”

Sara smiled, “Thank you, Dad.” She hugged her dad, too and everybody came to wish her a happy birthday. Neha came over and wished her, too.

Neha hugged her, “Many many happy returns of the day.”

“Thank you, Neha.”

Neha takes her to her room, “come with me, I have to show you something.”

Sara was confused, “What is it, Neha?”

“Just come with me.” She opens the door and Sara saw somebody sitting there, but he had his back on her. He turned to face her, and it was Farhan.

“Surprise, Happy birthday, Baby.” It made her smile because he didn’t change at all. She hugged him.

Sara laughed, “Thank you, but what you’re doing here?”

Farhan asked, “Why you don’t want me here?” She was smiling now because he used to tease her all the time and she remembered when he was here, so used to have lots of fun talking to him and learning new things from him.

Sara told him, “It’s not that, I mean did you have any work here?”

“Yeah.” He was looking in her eyes and she looked away, “What work?”

Farhan told her, “I came here from California to wish you a happy birthday and you’re looking away.”

Sara was laughing for the first time after Aaron left. Neha went downstairs again and left them alone. “You’re never gonna change.”

Farhan replied, “Of course not.” She was quiet again because she didn’t know what to say. She used to stay so much quiet that she forgot to socialize with people. She wanted to talk to Farhan but didn’t know what to talk about, so she thought she should talk about school.

Before she could start, Farhan interrupted. They were sitting on the bed and Farhan held her hand. “Your parents told me everything about Aaron and I just want to say that…..” She interrupted him again, “Farhan, please.” She got up. “I just want to talk about him anymore.”

“I know you don’t want to talk about him, but you always think about him.” She puts her hands on her ears, “No, Farhan.”

Farhan puts her hands down, “You have to hear this. If you don’t listen to me right now, then you’ll never get out of this. You have to listen to me.” He turned her to face him, “He’s never coming back, do you hear me? He’s never coming back. You have to move on with your life and who is he to stop you from living your life happily. If he doesn’t care about you, then why do you care so much? I know you love him, but he doesn’t love you. You have to move on with your life, Sara.”

He puts his hands around her face. “When he wasn’t in your life, didn’t you live? Why can’t you live for the people who love you? We all love you so much, why can’t you live for us? Why are you doing this to yourself and your family? You think that he’ll come back if he sees you like this. No, he won’t because if he had loved you, then he would have never left you in the first place. Are you listening to me?”

Sara hugs him and cries so much, “I’m so sorry, Farhan I was being selfish, and I didn’t even think about my parents, my friends, or anybody else. I’m so sorry.” She was still hugging him, and he was letting her cry. After few minutes, she stopped crying. “Thank you, Farhan.”

Farhan told her, “In friendship, no thank you and no sorry.” They laugh, “Let’s go downstairs, or else everybody will think what we’re going upstairs alone?”

Sara slapped him on the shoulder, she was gonna tell him that he’s naughty, but then she changed her sentence, “You’re very nice, Farhan.” They were walking downstairs.

Farhan said, “Well that I am.”

She was smiling when she came downstairs. Farhan had told her to live for her family and she understood that she was making everybody sad because of her. She thought that she was doing the same thing that Aaron did to her. She wasn’t being with her family when her family loves her so much. So, she decided that she will not even think about Aaron anymore and move on with her life, but it was very difficult for her to do.

Sara asked, “Farhan, can I ask you something?”

They were standing in the living room talking to each other while everybody else danced. “Yeah, what is it?” The music was very loud, and Farhan couldn’t hear her well. So, she whispered in his ear, “For how long you are gonna stay here?”

Farhan teased her again, “Why? You don’t want me here?”

Sara laughed, “No, I want you here.” Then she thought that he might think wrong about whatever she said. So, she corrected herself. “I mean, I like you to stay here longer than last time.”

Farhan said, “Oh, I see. I thought you want me here because you like me” teasing again. She turned away, “I’m joking, why are you taking everything seriously? I was just joking.” She turned to face him again, “So, tell me.”

Farhan told her, “Well, I’m gonna stay here until we both go back.” She was confused, “Are you ready to go to Stanford University? I’m here to take you with me.”

Sara thought, “Oh.”

“Oh, yeah. Come dance with me?” He grabbed her from the hand and took her where everybody was dancing. Her parents were happy to see their daughter having fun. She was dancing with him and he was making funny faces to make her laugh, which she was doing. She was having fun; first, she was a little nervous to dance because, after such a long time, she liked the atmosphere and wanted to enjoy it fully. Then she started dancing like Farhan was doing. She was very good at imitating people. They danced and then she was talking to him about college while eating dinner. For that moment, she definitely forgot about Aaron.

They were having dinner together and Neha was also sitting next to them eating dinner. “Farhan tells me about Stanford University. How is it being there? Do you have lots of friends from Pakistan?”

Farhan replied, “Well, yeah. I do have lots of friends and we go out all the time. We even skip classes and go out to have lunch. It’s so much fun going to the university. Now, you’re gonna be there, we’re gonna have more fun. We actually have a group; we have lots of fun. I’m telling you, you’re gonna love it there,” she was smiling.

Neha was curious, “Really? I wish I could go there, but my parents will never understand. I’m really gonna miss you, Sara.”

Sara said, “Me too.” Neha spoke urgently before Sara could say anything else, “Farhan, you’re stealing my best friend from me.”

“Well, I wanted to take her from here a long time ago, but she refused to go with me.” He was smiling when he said that. He thought that Sara will get mad, but she was back.

Sara said, “No, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even say a word.” He was completely shocked because he didn’t know that she would take him so lightly about that. “What do you think? Only you can crack a joke.” They all started laughing; her parents were so happy seeing her like this.

Her mother came over, “What are you kids talking about and what’s so funny?” Farhan makes another joke, “your daughter has agreed to marry me.” She speaks up immediately, “What? No, I did not.” She was smiling, “I just said that I didn’t….” He speaks again, “I was just playing with you, my sweetheart.”

He laughs, “I’m not your sweetheart.” She twists her nose, “well, maybe one day you will.”

Her mother laughs and leaves.

Sara made a circle of her hands showing of killing him, “maybe one day I’ll kill you.” He puts his hand on his heart, “Ouch, that hurts.” She gets up and Farhan holds her hand, “Where are you going? You didn’t even finish your plate.”

She told him, “I’m full.” He made her sit again, “No, you’re gonna finish your plate and no excuses. Okay, look at you, you’ve become so weak.” She was so weak because she didn’t use to eat a lot. “I’m here for a month and I want you to gain 10 pounds at least.”

Sara blinked at Neha, trying to tease Farhan, “What? You want me to look ugly, so nobody can like me.”

Farhan replied, “Yeah because then maybe you’ll marry me.” He was trying his best luck to convince Sara to marry him.

Sara laughed, “Even then, I won’t marry you.”

Farhan asked, “Why am I that bad?” She thought that maybe he took it seriously.

“No, I didn’t mean that.” He started laughing again because seeing Sara’s face like she felt so bad for saying that. He runs around the house. “I’m not gonna leave you, Farhan. I said stop.” He was around her mother. “Mom, please catch him for me. Don’t leave him.” She was running after him and then she stopped. She started making sad face and he came over.

Farhan worried that maybe she remembers something about Aaron, “What happened?” Then she caught him by his shoulder.

“Nothing, I just wanted you to come here.” She slaps him on his back, and she runs away from him. So, he started running after her.

Sara’s Father said after them, “You kids never gonna stop playing.” All the adults started laughing, and her parents were so happy that their daughter was back. So, they thought that maybe if she gets married to Farhan, then she’ll forget about Aaron, but she never forgets him for even a minute. Of course, she was happy to see Farhan because he made her laugh, but he could never be her love. She ran upstairs and he was running after her. She went to her room and he caught her from the waist.

Farhan grabbed her from the waist, and they were so close, “Got you.” She felt a little awkward because Farhan never touched her like that. So, he lets her go and she turns away. “I’m sorry about that.” She didn’t say anything and sat on the bed.

Sara said, “I’m glad you came here. I thought I could never be the same girl as I used to be, but you told me that I need to live for my family who loves me a lot. Why was I punishing them for what Aaron did?” She didn’t even want to think about him, but she couldn’t ever forget him.

He goes and sits next to her, “can I ask you something?”

She looked curious to what he was going to ask, “Yes, Mr. nice.” He laughed, “Are you ever going to fall in love again?” She got up immediately and didn’t say anything. “I think Neha’s looking for me.”

She goes downstairs without answering him and he knew the answer that she will never love him, and he never asked her that question again. He went downstairs and most of the people were leaving. Sara was standing with Neha and she couldn’t look at Farhan at that moment because of whatever he asked. He came downstairs and stands next to them.

Neha wanted to leave too, “I think I should leave too. Mom, I’ll go with you.”

Farhan asked Neha while she was hugging Sara goodbye, “Alright, You’re gonna come tomorrow, right?”

Neha curious, “But, why?”

Farhan had some plans to go out, “we’ll go somewhere and have fun.”

Neha said excitedly, “Ok, I’ll be here, but what time?”

Farhan was looking at the watch, “Maybe around 11.” Sara spoke immediately, “But I have to go to work.”

Farhan laughing at her, “What? You work?”

Sara was puzzled, “What’s so funny about it?”

Farhan teasing her again, “I mean a girl who never liked to work is working now.” Before Sara could say something, Neha interrupted, “I’m gonna go now. Just call me when you guys decide when to go.” She leaves and everybody else was gone too. They were only there and her parents too. They were laughing at them because they were teasing each other over little things.

Sara told him, “You think that only you can work, and we girls aren’t good enough. You know what we girls are above everybody. You get that.”

Farhan surprised, “Oh really?”

Sara asked, “Oh yeah, tell me what a guy can do, which a girl can’t?”

Farhan and Sara were arguing over this, “Well, there are lots of things that a guy can do, but a girl can’t.”

“Like what?” Sara rolling her eyes.

“Alright,” he takes his shirt off and her parents started laughing.

Emraan said, “That was a good one, son.”

Sara annoyed, “You’re a cheater. I don’t wanna talk to you anymore.” She goes upstairs to her room.

Farhan calling after her, “Hey, listen. There are more things that a girl can’t do.” He laughs and Sara was laughing too.

Sara was happy and went to sleep peacefully for the first time because before she couldn’t go to sleep. She used to take sleeping pills to go to sleep. She liked being with Farhan and she even quit the job, but her boss was so happy with her that he told her that she can join his other hospital in California close to Stanford University. She spends most of the time with Farhan going out to the beaches, lakes, long drives, and library. They started having lots of fun together, but Sara didn’t forget Aaron for even a minute. She loved him and missed him the same way as before, but it was just that she wasn’t showing her feelings to anybody. Whenever she was alone, she cried and begged God to bring Aaron back into her life. She didn’t even tell Farhan what she felt because she didn’t want anybody to feel sorry for her and feel pity. She always smiled and showed Farhan around the city. They made fun of each other and teased each other.