#pharametra

Yellow bannerslined the walls of the common room as everyone crowded around the birthdaygirl.

Momentsbefore the room had erupted into a cheer when Fareeha walked through thedoorway, grinning from ear-to-ear as streamers showered onto her. A rainbow ofcolours still littered Fareeha’s dark hair, falling onto her feet as she triedto shake them out.

Satya sat onthe couch, her fingers drumming on the lovingly wrapped box on her lap. She hadto continuously swallow the fear rising up her throat – trying to block the chatterout.

Ana wasthere, of course, standing by the cake protectively. Swatting the hand ofanyone who tried to touch it – including her own daughter’s. Satya didn’t makea habit of speaking to the older sniper. She was always too frightened by thoseintense, brown eye of hers. Looking at her as though she were something to bewary of.

Many peoplestill didn’t trust her – they still believed her to be a Vishkar spy sent tosteal their secrets. That her claims of leaving the company were untrue.

All exceptfor one.

Just aspredictably Angela was there, nervously laughing when Fareeha came over toembracer her and kiss her on the cheek. An odd reaction, true, however Satyadidn’t take much heed in it. It was probably tiredness. The doctor had workedtirelessly to keep the surprise a secret from her, and single-handedly plannedthe event.

She had toadmit, in the short period of time she had, Angela managed to pull it off well.Fareeha hadn’t a clue about it and everything was quite orderly. Nothing wasout of place nor unaccounted for.

Taking adeep breath she rose off of the couch, joining the crowd that was formingaround the Fareeha. She clung onto the box in her hands like it was alife-line.

She hadfound the turntable online after hearing how much Fareeha liked old rock music.Satya had seen her play with an imaginary guitar along with music, kicking outher legs and rolling her head back as she sang along. She had also mentionedhow she longed to play the records her grandmother owned as they were allclassics.

“My mom andmy grandmother were huge rock-fans,” she had explained to Satya one day on theride home. It had been a tough mission, and she was quite annoyed at how no oneon the team cared enough to mind the teleporter she had set up for them.Fareeha noticed this and sat next to her for the entire journey. “Listened toit all the time together. Naturally I was raised off of it, too. You shouldhave seen my room when I was a teenager. It was filled with posters and CDs andold concert tickets and a few guitars. Drove my dad insane because of all the noiseI made.”

“I neverknew you had such a love for music,” Satya said, leaning forward to hear more.

“I could saythe same for you. I heard you singing a few days ago down the hall.”

She feltheat rise to her cheeks. “I apologize if I was disturbing you—”

Fareehalaughed, reaching out to pat her shoulder. She felt the heat travel down towhere she touched her skin. “You don’t have to apologize! You have an amazingtalent.”

It was oneof the few moments Satya felt like she was finally welcomed into Overwatch.

Just as shemanaged to squeeze herself into the circle to present her gift, Fareeha’sattentions were caught once more by Angela, who leaned in to whisper in her ear.Fareeha froze, turning to her with eyes wide with surprise.

Satya felther stomach drop as soon as Angela bent down on one knee before her.