Zuhra walked across the university grounds, the sunlight streaming through the leaves, turning the grass into a carpet of gold. In her hand she held the golden trophy, a backpack slung behind her, headphones resting on her ears.
Her long red atamfa gown and neatly arranged veil gave her an air of grace and tradition. On either side, her friends walked with her—Rushna in a green-and-gold kurta, and Amla in a brown salwar kameez, their steps light with joy. But Zuhra's smile came only from her face, not from her heart. Daddy wasn't there. Mama wasn't there either. Would this trophy ever change their minds?
Not far away, Kamal's eyes followed them. Dressed in black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and polished shoes, he cared little for himself—his gaze was locked on Zuhra. Desire filled his eyes… but beneath it, something unfamiliar stirred, something even he wasn't used to feeling.
Their walk drew the attention of students around; some filmed with their phones, others clapped as if they were stars. Zuhra responded with a soft smile—not proud, but humble. The smile of a girl whose victory burned because her parents weren't there to see it. If only Daddy had seen…
Kamal stood with Munir, his eyes refusing to leave her. Then, for the briefest moment, she turned and met his gaze. Her faint smile made his chest heavy.
Munir nudged his shoulder.
— "Man, you're completely gone."
But Kamal didn't hear. A strange mix of calm and restlessness stormed inside him.
A car pulled up for Zuhra. She climbed in, slid off her headphones, and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes shone with both joy and tears. Then her father's voice echoed in her mind:
"Zuhra, forget this singing. Medicine is your future."
Her hand tightened around the golden trophy, as if to protect it from that voice.
The car drove off, disappearing into the city streets.
Kamal stood rooted, his breath uneven. Something had moved inside him—not the shallow desire he always knew, but something deeper. Something he feared might be real.
Munir scoffed with a tired laugh.
— "Wallahi, women are all you ever think about. Tomorrow's the exam, and you haven't even prepared."
Kamal let out an uneasy laugh.
— "I'm not in the mood for studying today, Munir. Just leave me."
He revved his motorbike, but his heart remained behind—at the spot where Zuhra's car had vanished.