"Who are you....?" She says and tries to get up in fear.
Ali makes her lie back. " Shh.. it's okay. You're safe here..." He says with a gentle smile trying to make her comfortable.
She looks around. "Where am I?" She says still scared, but she felt a weird sense of safety around them.
"This is our home...." Usman says. "Where are you from? Where are your parents...?" He asks.
"My parents.....?" A tear rolls down her face. Ali cups her face and wipes her tears and asks, "what's your name, little angel?"
"M-my name is Noor....Noor-e-Yaram...." Her voice cracks as she says.
"Wow.. that's a beautiful name just like you..." Ali smiles trying to lighten her mood. "Where is your mom...?" Ali asks trying to sound as gentle as possible.
"She left this world...." Noor says trying not to cry.
Ali takes her in his arms and holds her close. Noor hesitates a little and then relaxes in his embrace. "And your... father?" He asks, he was afraid that he knows the answer.
Tears well up in her eyes as if she just realized something. "H-he...he is in the forest. He's bleeding.... He didn't let me call a doctor... Can you save him? Please save my Dad.... please...." She says in one breath. She was looking like she's going to have a panic attack.
"Shh...shh.. Noor, calm down... we're here... you're safe..." He tried to comfort her.
" But my Dad....?" She looks up with pleading eyes.
He didn't want to tell her this harsh reality but it was her right to know it. " When we found you....he... was already..dead." It took his everything to tell her this.
"Dead? What does it mean?" She asks with fear etched on her face. She was scared that she knows the answer but still she hoped that she is wrong.
"Just like your mom...he left this world...." He says and holds her tightly, trying to comfort her.
Tears roll down her cheeks, but she wipes them quickly.
Flash Back.....
Left this world? What does that mean, Daddy?" she asks.
He gave a faint smile, trying to shield her from the storm in his heart. But even she could tell—it was a smile dipped in sorrow.
"God calls back those He loves the most. When they leave, they don't return. But they watch over us from a place where there's no pain, only peace." he says trying to comfort her but deep down he knows the pain.
"Mom...mom will never come back?" Her eyes well up again.
He wipes her tears. "Shh...mom will watch over you, right? And if you cry she won't feel good."
BACK TO REALITY
She wipes her tears brutally. "I shouldn't cry..... father won't feel good... he'll be sad if I start crying...." She says to herself.
Ali and Usman looks at this little girl who's trying to act mature.
"Noor....." Usman says.
She looks up.
"You can cry...." Usman says, Noor looks at Ali and he nods.
"Dad, never liked whenever I cried....he won't like it..." She says and looks away. "Dad must be watching over me from heaven... he'll be sad if I cry..." She says but it felt like she was telling it to herself.
"It's time for medicine...." Usman changes topic ,trying to sound enthusiastic,to lighten the mood.
........
Ali is standing outside the house when Usman comes out.
" What is she doing..?" Ali asks.
"She's asleep..." Usman replies. "She's just 8 years old....." Usman adds without looking at him.
Ali let's out a sigh and gets lost in his thoughts, staring at the mountains in front of him.
" What should we do?" Usman asks.
"She'll stay with us...." Ali says.
"With us...? Ali, we're thieves. She's from a good family....." Usman says.
"We were thieves..." Ali corrects his statement.
"What do you mean?" Usman asks in confusion.
"I don't know...we are not thieves anymore...." He says.
"How are we going to feed ourselves and her...?" Usman asks.
"We'll start a new life...." Ali says.
"Ali, are you serious...? This isn't that simple..." He says in a persuasive tone.
"Everything has a first time.... I thought about it many times.... you're right. We can't raise her like this.....so we'll just change our occupation.. instead of leaving her in danger..." Ali replies and looks at him. "And Of course you can still choose what you want....but I.. I'm not going to leave her like this...." He adds.
"Why? You don't even know her...." Usman says desperately.
"I don't care..but you can leave. I won't force you to do anything." Ali says, his eyes were blazing with determination.
Usman looks at him. " Just like you can't leave that girl alone...I can't leave you alone.... we've been together since childhood...and I'll be with you till death..." He says and tears prick the corner of his eyes.
Ali hugs him tightly. " Thanks....."
"So what will we do next....?" Usman says as he pulls back.
" I'm not sure... we'll start new....