Alluring Masquerade

          Hira knocked on the front door of her house and quickly hid to the side of the entrance. She hid her smile behind her hands and as soon as she heard the door open, she jumped in front of the door. "Booh!" she yelled. Her smile was replaced by a scowl.

          Hiba was standing with her arms crossed and she was shaking her head. "You know that it never works on me," she stated. Suddenly she grinned, like the sun rays pushing through the neutral clouds, and embraced her sister. "I missed you so, so, so much! Are you back now? Huh? Are you?! You're never leaving me alone with our crazy mum again, right?" She pushed to look at Hira for a moment before squashing her again.

          "Hiba, I need ... oxygen!" Hira gasped, and was freed. After catching her breath she jumped on Hiba and hugged her back, not as strongly as she was beforehand. "Oh, Hiba, you've grown so much since I went away!" she observed, and received another pleased smile from her younger sibling.

          "And I'll continue growing until I'm at least eighteen," Hiba added smugly, "I don't want to be as small as you. I need more height if I'm going to be an actress!"

          Hira pinched her sister's cheek playfully. "Aw, my dear, sweet, innocent-yet-annoying, little, baby sister!" she cooed. She saw that her sister's - previously - long hair was now trimmed in light layers, and her whole head was now gleaming under the sun with a red tint. "Love the new hair!" she added in awe.

          "Ow!" Hiba cried, moved out of Hira's grip, and ushered her sister inside the house. "Get in, get in, get in, sis! Mum will be ecstatic!"

          Hira laughed at her sister's attempt at distraction. She stepped into the house with a smile and her heart swelled with warmth. Her heart knew that this was where she belonged and missed it so much.

          "Mum, guess who's back?" Hiba called into the house loudly, causing Hira to cover her ears.

          "You can be an opera singer, too," Hira laughed.

          Hiba turned to glare at her elder sister. "You think that you're funny – Ow! Mum that hurt!" Hiba rubbed the back of her head and pouted.

          Hira happily hugged her mother and laughed a little when Hiba was still rubbing her head. When her mother let her go, she was told to stand still while she was being scrutinized and studied, and then pulled in for another embrace.

          "I've missed you, too, mum," Hira gasped. She was finally let go and pulled into the living-room with Hiba in tow. "Mum, something smells – oh, my God, food!" Hira cried desperately, "I've missed your cooking so much!"

          Hiba was already sitting in her usual seat around the dining table. She was rolling her eyes with a knowing smile. They all said a prayer before eating and made Smalltalk.

          Their mother was usually quiet save for the silently crying and sniffles of happiness, and even some sadness for some unforeseen reason.

          "Mum, stop crying. Please? Mum..." Hira sighed, and pulled out her mother's usual seat. She waited until her mother had sat down and then took a seat next to her. "What is there to cry about? You're acting like as if I've come back from the dead."

          "She's been like this ever since you went to live with your boyfriend," Hiba decided to say. She looked from her mother to her sister and then back again.

          "I didn't go to live with my boyfriend," Hira muttered shyly.

          "And I'm not even allowed one," Hiba tutted with a pout.