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No Plagiarism!fsSv8ZcMIM5qIcZHaV7bposted on PENANA It was early winter in Lahore.8964 copyright protection76PENANAKyJm63UYxo 維尼
The kind of cold that whispered through old kothis, wrapped itself around bangles, and lingered in cups of steaming chai. The sun had dipped behind the Wazir Khan mosque, casting its last light on the pink brick walls of the old city. Evening had arrived softly — like it was walking barefoot.8964 copyright protection76PENANAGg4LkmhoSR 維尼
Alishba stood on the rooftop of her little flat near Mochi Gate, camera in one hand, a book in the other, and her dupatta pulled close against the wind.8964 copyright protection76PENANAEWA77zEXvQ 維尼
Below, children released paper lanterns into the sky.8964 copyright protection76PENANAFUKarv2qFo 維尼
Each one glowing like a promise.8964 copyright protection76PENANATrLkmY9V2h 維尼
She lifted her camera and clicked — not out of duty, but habit. The city always looked its most honest right before nightfall.8964 copyright protection76PENANAnBOXbNMdh2 維尼
It had been almost a year since Daniyal’s ashes scattered over the Ravi. A year since her truth went public, loud, unfiltered. Since Reyan walked away.8964 copyright protection76PENANAPe9bule798 維尼
He hadn’t called.8964 copyright protection76PENANAJ6a4QyP6IS 維尼
Not once.8964 copyright protection76PENANAiOKoBnbQSg 維尼
She told herself that was the closure. That maybe he’d needed to vanish to heal.8964 copyright protection76PENANA1KHoy5yxL6 維尼
And she… she had finally learned to live with half-light.8964 copyright protection76PENANAmVbe79t0wD 維尼
She went downstairs just after maghrib, kettle on the stove, jhumkay on the side table, and an old ghazal playing from her grandfather’s radio.8964 copyright protection76PENANAS1NSczDywg 維尼
Then—8964 copyright protection76PENANADatDIxA28P 維尼
A knock.8964 copyright protection76PENANAI8HyVDj3yI 維尼
Not rushed. Not uncertain.8964 copyright protection76PENANAlf6QbA4qK1 維尼
Three steady taps.8964 copyright protection76PENANAcuAjid5dPJ 維尼
She opened the door.8964 copyright protection76PENANA8SRIcnzptM 維尼
And there he was.8964 copyright protection76PENANAoJZxTlblZp 維尼
Reyan.8964 copyright protection76PENANAOyRfjnJSxU 維尼
Standing like he had every right to — like he’d never left.8964 copyright protection76PENANAG1jfW898kv 維尼
Beard trimmed, eyes tired, jacket creased from travel. But his posture was different.8964 copyright protection76PENANApovsw1t2pm 維尼
No duffel. No weapon. No secrets.8964 copyright protection76PENANA7cHwzoNVvR 維尼
Just… him.8964 copyright protection76PENANAiNLCPHPVlk 維尼
“Hi,” he said softly.8964 copyright protection76PENANAZqnQVWwGn6 維尼
Alishba blinked.8964 copyright protection76PENANAQNjHNPcXTu 維尼
“What are you doing here?”8964 copyright protection76PENANAnhUGXebQKF 維尼
“I was in Karachi,” he replied. “Then Islamabad. And then… nowhere.”8964 copyright protection76PENANARSjrCA4KOb 維尼
She folded her arms.8964 copyright protection76PENANABntS1oVgqP 維尼
“And now?”8964 copyright protection76PENANADoVStXrORf 維尼
“Now I’m home.”8964 copyright protection76PENANAV2xHU125uJ 維尼
A long pause.8964 copyright protection76PENANAd7Ko7OXLrr 維尼
Then he added:8964 copyright protection76PENANADO5KoR8Rac 維尼
“I didn’t come for a mission. I didn’t come with a warning. I came because… I think I’ve run from you enough.”8964 copyright protection76PENANAeKrtFOHYSp 維尼
Her breath caught in her throat.8964 copyright protection76PENANARQIqf8QBr9 維尼
“You left without a word.”8964 copyright protection76PENANACBChZumZ0f 維尼
“I thought I was poison,” he said. “To you. To Daniyal’s memory.”8964 copyright protection76PENANAPbBjSnmccN 維尼
“You were… once,” she admitted.8964 copyright protection76PENANA16Dr8VXPTb 維尼
“But now?”8964 copyright protection76PENANANLAOiiBj9I 維尼
She didn’t answer.8964 copyright protection76PENANA3KJEGubPQW 維尼
She turned, walked back inside — left the door open.8964 copyright protection76PENANAmwFGrLj330 維尼
And after a moment… he followed.8964 copyright protection76PENANAxyAx2E3uBe 維尼
They sat in silence for a while.8964 copyright protection76PENANAcKyGOOQ7ch 維尼
Then she poured two cups of chai.8964 copyright protection76PENANAJYaEXhvVyT 維尼
Passed one to him.8964 copyright protection76PENANATcQueCddv8 維尼
“I still don’t trust you completely,” she said.8964 copyright protection76PENANAmABXqzncUl 維尼
“You don’t have to.”8964 copyright protection76PENANA9BFwVn5435 維尼
“I still remember everything you didn’t say.”8964 copyright protection76PENANA10l1kz5PWg 維尼
He nodded.8964 copyright protection76PENANAYK8oZ8A31t 維尼
“You always did.”8964 copyright protection76PENANA8fcvDAg1bf 維尼
Another pause.8964 copyright protection76PENANACSlaW1jVWg 維尼
Then she looked at him, really looked.8964 copyright protection76PENANAeJhJugnQFD 維尼
“You came back.”8964 copyright protection76PENANA7iYjoXaKd4 維尼
He smiled.8964 copyright protection76PENANAuDWx2HqXSF 維尼
“No one ever really leaves the ember, do they?”8964 copyright protection76PENANAV1mlsxz32m 維尼
She laughed — a real one this time.8964 copyright protection76PENANAAc5PSeIUfd 維尼
And then leaned her head against the window, watching the lanterns rise outside.8964 copyright protection76PENANAHYJhMk5rIS 維尼
Softly, without turning, she asked:8964 copyright protection76PENANAaoRo83tTLR 維尼
“Will you stay?”8964 copyright protection76PENANAHOOiKGRmPL 維尼
He didn’t answer with words.8964 copyright protection76PENANAGvVQLARaoK 維尼
He just placed his hand beside hers — close, but not touching.8964 copyright protection76PENANAorIVhvaZJy 維尼
And in that space between skin and warmth, she knew:8964 copyright protection76PENANAiAPVGWYJRm 維尼
He would.8964 copyright protection76PENANAAHdD55VqAt 維尼
80Please respect copyright.PENANA8iUCinr1AI
And somewhere in the sky, a single lantern glowed brighter than the rest — not for what it carried, but for who it returned to.8964 copyright protection76PENANAwM1gxzOm5F 維尼
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