Read Online Pir-E-Kamil: The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed - Free Book Online

Rabia's voice.
    'It could be that she met with an accident...that she did not get home...' 'Whenever she goes home, she always calls up to tell them that her brother should pick her up from the bus stop. Had she called up this time too, they would not be sitting complacently if she hadn't reached home—they would have called the hostel. From her father's attitude, it seemed that she had no plans for going home this weekend.' Rabia stopped Javeria in her musings.
    'Yes, she never goes home twice in a month, but this time she decided to...the very next week. In fact, she took special permission from the warden. There's definitely something wrong somewhere.' Javeria's fears were aroused again.
    'We're going to be in deep trouble along with her. We really made a grave mistake in covering up—we should have been honest with her father that she's not here; he could have done what he wanted to...it would be his problem. At least we would not have been in this mess.' Rabia went on muttering.
    'Anyway, what can we do now? Let's wait and see till morning—if she does not turn up then we have to tell the warden.' Javeria was pacing around the room.
    They spent the entire night talking, worrying—they had not slept a wink. The next day they did not attend classes—there was no point in going in their sorry state. Imama used to get back by nine on Saturdays when she went home for the weekend, but there was no sign of her. Rabia and Javeria were at the end of their wits—it was two thirty and she hadn't returned. Ashen-faced and trembling, they left their room to see the warden, making up their statements.
    They were a short distance from the warden's room when they saw Imama entering, calm and collected. Bag slung over her shoulder and folder in hand, she was certainly returning from college. Javeria and Rabia felt as if the ground slipping away from beneath their feet had suddenly become firm. Their stilled breath was restored and the headlines that seemed to be screaming at them from the next day's papers miraculously evaporated. All these fears were replaced by the anger that was aroused in them by the sight of Imama.
    She had seen them and was moving towards them; there was a very pleasant smile on her face.
    'Why didn't you come to college toady?' she asked after greeting them.
    'We would think about going anywhere if we had respite from your woes.' Rabia's tone was bitter and sharp.
    Imama's smile disappeared. 'What's the problem, Rabia, why are you so angry?' she said with some concern.
    'Just step into the room, and I'll tell you why.' Rabia grabbed her arm and pulled her in. Javeria followed them without a word. Imama was surprised, confounded by Rabia's and Javeria's attitude. Rabia shut the door and faced Imama.
    'Where are you coming from?' she asked in a sharp, angry tone.
    'Islamabad, where else?' Imama put down her bag. Her reply added to Rabia's fury.
    'You should be ashamed of yourself, Imama...deceiving us like this, pulling the wool over our eyes...what do you want to prove? That we're duffers? Idiots? Fools? Fine, we are, I admit, or else we'd not blindly believe you nor be so deceived,' said Rabia.
    'I fail to understand you...what deception are you talking about? It would be better if you sat and spoke to me calmly.' Imama appeared helpless.
    'Where did you spend the weekend?' For the first time, Javeria interrupted the conversation.
    'I told you, I was in Islamabad and I came to college directly, and now from college...' Rabia did not let her complete her words.
    'Stop this rubbish, Imama. The lie is not going to work—you did not go to Islamabad.'
    'How can you say that?' Imama raised her voice.
    'Because your father was here yesterday.' The color drained from Imama's face. She was silent.
    'Why are quiet now? Why don't you insist that you were in Islamabad?' Rabia was sarcastic.
    'Baba was here?' Imama asked slowly.
    'Yes. He brought some clothes for you,' said Javeria.
    'He got to know that I was not in the