Two years ago, on a calm Sunday morning, Saba woke up with a sense of unease and queasiness. She lingered in bed, choosing to remain lying down for a few more minutes. Little did she know that these fleeting moments would mark the end of her serene and tranquil life. Unaware of what was about to unfold on that dreadful day, she embarked on a series of unfortunate events, a frightful journey she could never have imagined. Her life was about to take a horrifying turn, and by the end of the day, her heart would sink slowly into a dark abyss, missing every second beat. Her beautiful green teary eyes would be fixated on the dark ceiling, filled with an incessant question: "why?"

It was 10 am, and the day had just begun. Saba got up and went straight to the fridge to check what was there for breakfast. The house was filled with an eerie silence. The absence of birdsongs added to the strangeness of the morning. The fridge was empty, which was not normal. Her father's motorbike was also missing from the courtyard, indicating that he hadn't come home the previous night either. It had been a whole week since she had last seen him. Although she had sensed the underlying tension between her parents, she never imagined it would escalate to such an alarming level.

As the eldest of four siblings, Saba had recently celebrated her 22nd birthday at home with her two younger brothers and her youngest sister, whom she adored like a mother. Ahmed, who was only fourteen months younger, was more like a twin to her. They were best friends and shared every single detail of their lives. They both attended the same college. Salman was in high school, and Malaika was in fourth grade. Being the eldest, Saba was supposed to be the wisest and most responsible, and she did her best to fulfill those expectations.

Everyone was still asleep when Saba returned to the kitchen. She roamed around barefoot as she always did. After searching everywhere, she found nothing worthwhile to eat or drink except for the dirty tap water. Suddenly, a thought struck her, sending a chilling sensation down her spine. Her body started shivering, and her vision became blurry. Her head spun like a tornado. She quickly sat down on the cold kitchen floor, holding her head with both hands. She began to realise the gravity of the situation. What if her parents split up? What if they were already divorced? What if her father never returned home? How would they manage without his support? Countless thoughts flooded her mind. She was the one responsible for managing the household finances, and she had only about two thousand rupees tucked away in her cupboard. After a few moments of these heart-throbbing thoughts, her mind's defense mechanism kicked in, and she started to calm herself down. But she wanted to be sure, so she got up and slowly walked to her mother's room.

It was now 10:30 am, and her mother was still asleep. Normally, her mother would wake up early in the morning, make breakfast for Malaika and Salman, send them off to school, and then wash the dishes and start cleaning the house. Meanwhile, Saba, Ahmed, and their father would wake up and start demanding breakfast. The devoted mother would prepare customised meals for everyone, infused with love, and serve their favourite breakfast in the lounge. Her father worked in an insurance company and would usually leave for work at 8:30 am. Ahmed would depart for college next, and Saba would sometimes accompany him, but mostly she would stay at home to help her mother, who was getting sicker with each passing day. Since the birth of Malaika, her mother had not fully recovered, both physically and psychologically, from some complication related to delivery.

Even on a usual Sunday morning, her mother would wake up before 9 am. Today, she did not. Saba cautiously entered her mother's room only to find her still sleeping. The sunlight streaming through the curtains made her mother look like a beauty from another world. Saba had inherited her looks from her mother, who was nothing less than a goddess of beauty. In her childhood, Saba could not stop looking at her pretty mother. She was the eldest child and therefore the most favoured one. Both her parents adored her equally, and she could never decide whom she loved more. She never felt envious or resentful when her little brother arrived and seemed to steal all the parental love. Instead, she became more responsible, taking care of Ahmed. Then Salman came along, and her responsibilities multiplied. With the birth of Malaika, she almost became the head of the family. Her mother remained sick most of the time, and her father was often away from home throughout the day and sometimes stayed out at night as well.

Saba began to notice the cracks developing between her parents. She could notice that her mother was no longer able to show the same affection towards her father as she used to. Although her parents never fought or argued in front of her, the silent gulf between them kept widening. They probably still loved each other, but living together demanded something more than pure love. Her mother had accepted this as her fate. Over the past few months, her father had started giving money to her to run the household and pay the rent, bills, and other expenses. Saba had taken on the role of managing the finances efficiently. It was at this moment that she realised she had suddenly lost the sole source of funds. What if he never came back home? What if he never gave them any more money? These thoughts drove her to the edge of her sanity until she decided to call her father before waking up the sick mother.

It was now 11 am, and everyone was still in their rooms. They lived in a rented house with three bedrooms. Ahmed and Salman shared one room, her parents occupied the second room, and Malaika shared the third room with Saba. She slipped back into her room and found Malaika lying in bed with half-open eyes. Saba retrieved a small phone from under her pillow and began to leave, not wanting to talk to her father in front of young Malaika. As she turned, Malaika spoke in a sleepy voice, "Api, breakfast...!" Before Saba could respond, Malaika asked again, "Is Ami awake?" And once again, before Saba could utter a word, Malaika, now fully awake and hungry, asked, "Who are you calling at this time? Your secret friend must be sleeping." She giggled and ran to the adjoining bathroom.

Finding the room empty, Saba dialed her father's phone number. Her heart started racing as the phone rang on the other end. What would she ask her father? What if he said he wouldn't come back or support them anymore? Her mind was filled with these thoughts, but her heart clung to hope. She knew her father loved them all. He couldn't just abandon them. They were still his responsibility. Her mind and heart were at odds. Suddenly, she heard the phone being answered. Her heart pounded faster and louder. A cold, freezing sensation engulfed her body. She remained silent for a while until she heard a drowsy female voice say, "Who is this?" She hung up the phone and dropped dead on her bed.

Saba lay motionless on the bed, with Malaika bending over her, shaking her shoulders fiercely. The female voice from her father's phone kept echoing in her head, "Who is this, who is this, who is this." Was that woman her father's new wife? Saba couldn't come to terms with this reality. She kept on speculating. Malaika was now shaking her even harder, shouting her name frantically. Saba snapped back to her senses. Tears flowed from the corners of her eyes like a small stream of pearls. She remembered how her father would never let her be sad. He used to carry her around like a princess in his empire. But today, she was crying because of him. Her father had thrown them back into the harsh realities of the real life. How time had changed, and what was yet to come? She was about to experience it all. It was only 11:25 am on the first day of her independent life, and she had only 2000 rupees at her disposal.

Saba wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and gathered her thoughts. She couldn't let herself be consumed by despair. There were still responsibilities to fulfill and her siblings relied on her. With a newfound determination, she stood up and walked out of her room, leaving Malaika behind to get ready for the day.

As Saba made her way to her parents' room, she couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that had enveloped in the house. The silence seemed to grow heavier with each step, amplifying her worries. She reached the door and gently pushed it open. Inside, her mother lay still, seemingly lost in her dreams. Saba approached her cautiously, hoping to awaken her from the deep slumber.

"Ami," Saba whispered, gently shaking her mother's shoulders. "Ami, wake up. It's late."

Her mother stirred, slowly opening her eyes and focusing on Saba's face. Confusion clouded her gaze for a moment before recognition dawned.

"Saba, what's the matter?" the mother asked, her voice was filled with concern.

"Ami, I called Baba, but someone else answered the phone," Saba explained, her voice trembling slightly. "There was a woman's voice, and I don't know who she is."

Her mother's brows furrowed, and a flicker of worry crossed her face. She sat up, rubbing her temples as if trying to dispel the confusion.

"Baba hasn't come home for a week now, and I'm afraid something is wrong," Saba continued, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and desperation. "What if he never returns now? What will happen to us? How will we survive?"

Her mother's eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resignation. She took Saba's hands in hers, her touch was comforting yet fragile.

"My dear Saba, life can be unpredictable and challenging," her mother said, her voice was filled with a quiet strength. "But we must hold on to hope. We've faced hardships before, and we'll find a way through this too."

Saba listened to her mother's words, taking solace in her wisdom. She knew her mother had endured countless struggles and had always emerged resilient. In that moment, Saba realised that her strength and determination had been passed down to her from her mother.

"You're right, Ami," Saba said, her voice was steadier now. "We've faced tough times together, and we'll face this too as a family. We'll find a way to support ourselves and take care of each other."

"We will, my dear," her mother whispered. "We have each other, and love will guide us."

Her mother smiled, a faint glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. She embraced Saba tightly, drawing strength from their bond.

With newfound resolve, Saba left her mother's room. She knew that they couldn't rely solely on her father's uncertain return. It was time for her to take charge, to be the pillar of strength that her family needed.

As she walked back to her room, Saba's mind started to formulate a plan. She would search for a job to support their expenses and ensure her siblings' education continued uninterrupted. She would tap into her resourcefulness and resilience to navigate the challenges that lay ahead.

It was now mid-day, and everyone in the house was awake. Saba gathered all her siblings and updated them on the latest situation. Worry spread across their faces, and Malaika couldn't hold back her tears. Saba embraced her youngest sister, holding her tightly, and made a promise that she would protect them all, no matter what.

Ahmed, filled with concern, said, "Don't worry, Sabu. I'll quit the college and find a job to help."

Salman, who was 17 years old, chimed in, determined to contribute as well. "I'll find a job too and help run the house," he declared.

Saba hushed them all, her voice filled with determination.

"No one will leave their school or college," she insisted.

"I've missed most of my classes this semester, so I'll find a job. And don't forget, I have experience working at a beauty parlor."

to be continued...