Zeenat angrily kept her book aside as the constant knocking on her door demanded attention. She opened the door with a face so angry that she could spit fire any moment.

But as soon as she opened the door, her face changed into a smily one, as if Cinderella's  godmother had waved a magic wand on Zeenat. She was so happy that she momentariliy forgot about the world around her. She had all the reasons to be happy. Rizwan, living in a land far-away had sent her a parcel. Reading the book now seemed irrelevant. The parcel was waiting to be carressed, to be hugged, to be opened.

She slowly opened the parcel, savouring each and every moment. It was a beautiful Hijab and a letter, a long one. She wore the Hijab and looked at the reflection in the mirror, adoringly. Hijab, to her, was not a piece of clothing that held her captive. Rather, it showed beauty, kindness, feminine strength, in her eyes. She then read the letter, for umpteemth time. She knew each word of the letter, but she read it again, as if to see if anything was missed. Ofcourse, no word was missed. How much she wished to see Rizwan!

But Rizwan didn't want her wish to be fulfilled, for the first time, and may be the last. Who would want his lady to see the dead face of her beloved?   

Rizwan died of cancer. But before going to the heavens, he sent a Hijab which showed her beauty and her strength, and a letter, perhaps long enough to help her live.