62. BROTHER

Haroon burst into the café, his laughter filling the room as he rushed toward his father, Mr. Mahir, who stood behind the counter with a welcoming smile. Haroon’s small feet barely touched the ground as he leaped into his father’s arms, wrapping his arms around his neck. Mr. Mahir chuckled, lifting his son effortlessly as if he weighed nothing at all.

From the entrance, Haroon’s mother waved goodbye, her smile warm and full of love. She stood there for a moment, watching her two favorite people together before she turned to leave. Her delicate cough caught her off guard, but she brushed it off with a smile and hurried toward the violin studio down the street, where she spent her days teaching young children how to play.

Taliya watched this scene unfold from her usual spot in the café, her eyes narrowing with a mix of emotions she didn’t fully understand. A sense of jealousy burned deep inside her, a longing for something she had never known. She tried to push the feelings away, but they clung to her, refusing to let go. The sight of Haroon and his parents, so happy and so whole, made her chest tighten. She wondered what it would be like to have a family like that, to feel that warmth and love surrounding her every day.

Lost in her thoughts, Taliya barely noticed her hand slipping off the table. Her pencil, which she had been absentmindedly twirling between her fingers, clattered to the floor. The sudden sound startled her, snapping her back to reality, but it was too late. As she reached down to grab the pencil, her elbow knocked against the glass on the table. The glass teetered for a moment before tumbling off the edge, shattering into pieces as it hit the ground.

The loud crash echoed through the café, drawing the attention of everyone inside. Taliya’s heart raced as she stared at the broken glass, her face flushing with embarrassment. She hadn’t meant to cause a scene, but now all eyes were on her. Mr. Mahir gently set Haroon down and rushed over, his expression shifting from concern to understanding as he saw the look on Taliya’s face. He knew her well enough to sense what might be going on beneath the surface.

Taliya’s hands trembled as she began to gather the pieces, her mind racing with thoughts she didn’t want to acknowledge. All she wanted was to disappear, to be anywhere but here, where the ache in her chest was too strong to ignore. She had spent so much time trying to be strong, to be independent, but moments like this reminded her of how alone she truly felt.

Mr. Mahir crouched down beside Taliya, his movements calm and reassuring as he began to pick up the shards of glass. His presence was steady, a silent promise that there was nothing to worry about. Taliya, still flushed with embarrassment, hesitated to meet his eyes, but his voice broke through her self-consciousness like a warm breeze.

"It’s alright, Taliya," Mr. Mahir said gently, his tone filled with kindness. "It was just an accident. Happens to the best of us."

Taliya glanced up, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and shame. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Mr. Mahir cut her off with a soft smile. "No need to apologize, really. We’ve got plenty of glasses around here. One less won’t make a difference."

As he carefully swept the remaining pieces into his hand, Haroon peeked over the edge of the table, his small face breaking into a wide grin. "Yeah, Taliya!" he chimed in, his voice bright and cheerful. "We’ve got so many glasses, it’s like a mountain in the back! You don’t need to worry about it."

Taliya couldn’t help but smile at Haroon’s enthusiastic reassurance. The knot in her stomach began to loosen, replaced by a warmth she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t used to people being so kind, so understanding, and it was almost overwhelming.

Mr. Mahir finished gathering the last of the glass, and he placed a reassuring hand on Taliya’s shoulder. "Why don’t you go back to your seat and relax? I’ll take care of the rest."

Taliya nodded, her voice too thick with emotion to respond properly. The thick knot in her throat tightening around her throat, not letting her breath. As she moved back to her seat, Haroon followed her, his playful energy infectious. "Next time, you can knock over two glasses if you want!" he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "It’ll be our secret."

She laughed, the sound light and genuine, surprising even herself. Haroon’s words, though simple, held a warmth that Taliya clung to. For a moment, she felt like she wasn’t just an outsider looking in on someone else’s happiness, but a part of something, however small.

As she settled back at the table, she caught Mr. Mahir’s eye once more. He gave her a knowing smile, the kind that said he understood more than she might think. And in that moment, Taliya felt a little less alone, a little more hopeful that maybe, just maybe, she could find a place where she belonged.

As the afternoon stretched into evening, the café slowly began to fill with people, the familiar hum of conversation and the clinking of cups creating a comforting backdrop. Taliya, now more at ease after the earlier mishap, finished the last of her homework. She packed away her books, feeling a sense of accomplishment, and glanced over at Haroon, who was already bouncing on his toes with excitement.

“Ready to go?” he asked, his eyes shining with anticipation. Taliya nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips as she stood up. Together, they waved goodbye to Mr. Mahir, who gave them a warm smile in return, and headed out the door.

The sun was beginning to dip low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the streets as they made their way to the nearest park. The air was cool, and a light breeze ruffled Taliya’s hair as they walked side by side. Haroon chattered away, his voice full of the carefree joy that came so naturally to him, while Taliya listened with a fondness she didn’t often let herself feel.

When they reached the park, Haroon’s eyes lit up at the sight of the swings. Without hesitation, he grabbed Taliya’s hand and pulled her along, both of them breaking into a run as they raced to claim the swings. Taliya’s heart felt lighter than it had in days as she let herself be carried away by the moment.

As they reached the swings, Taliya let Haroon have the first turn, watching as he kicked off the ground and began to soar higher and higher. His laughter filled the air, and Taliya couldn’t help but smile, feeling a rare sense of peace.

After a while, Haroon slowed down and hopped off the swing, landing with a playful bounce. He turned to Taliya, his expression suddenly serious. “Taliya,” he said, his voice earnest, “will you be my big sister?”

The question caught her off guard. She looked at Haroon, his wide eyes full of hope and innocence, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t used to people asking her for something like that, something so simple yet so meaningful.

A soft smile curved her lips as she reached out and flicked Haroon’s forehead gently. “You’re such a silly boy,” she teased, her tone light but affectionate. “Who said I wasn’t already?”

Haroon grinned, rubbing his forehead but looking pleased. “Really?” he asked, as if he needed the reassurance.

“Really,” Taliya confirmed, her heart warming at the sight of his happiness. She suddenly felt a strong urge to protect this boy, to keep his innocence intact for as long as possible. Haroon’s world was still so pure, so untouched by the harsher realities of life—realities that Taliya had known all too well at his age.

But instead of dwelling on those thoughts, she gave him a playful push and took off running. “Catch me if you can!” she called over her shoulder, her laughter echoing in the evening air.

Haroon didn’t hesitate, his feet pounding against the ground as he chased after her, his laughter mingling with hers. They were almost the same age, but Taliya felt years older in her heart. She had seen and felt things that Haroon couldn’t even imagine, things she hoped he would never have to experience. But for now, all that mattered was the present, the joy of running through the park, of being free, even if just for a little while.

As they raced through the park, Taliya knew she would treasure this moment, this innocence of Haroon’s that she wanted so badly to protect. In that instant, she felt like maybe, just maybe, she could be the big sister he needed, someone who could look out for him in a world that wasn’t always kind.