Chapter 45: "Family Focused"

Post your reactions as you read. Y'all are rusty these days but any chance anyone is up for goals again? I'm in early update mood 😅

You hugged Zayn!

Salma stared at the roof of the car as the shocked voice in her head screamed at her.

You just hugged Zayn!

I didn't. Salma sighed. He hugged me.

And you let him.

Yes, she let him. Why? She was not exactly sure. Because he asked? Because it was alright? Because she did not mind anymore? Salma did not know the answer. All she knew was she was fine when he asked, she was fine when she complied and she was still fine with it even now. None of her dark memories resurfaced while in his arms. There was no overwhelming congestion in her chest and her suffocating anxiety did not get triggered. Was she really getting the hang of it, after all? Yes the whole thing was a bit unfamiliar and strange but the embrace felt oddly right.

Brrrr! No it didn't! The voice in her head gagged.

Maybe not right then, Salma thought, I didn't have the urge to jump back, slap or claw his face.

Perhaps they have made progress. Perhaps she trusted him now. Maybe things could work out between them.

Salma felt hopeful. In the past couple of days, a lot of very jarring, horrible things had happened but they had navigated through them all like mature adults; almost no shouting, or any forceful or violent confrontations – except for that one time when Zayn had to be an insensitive, cold-hearted rat's ass.

They had mostly communicated about their problems and emotional limitations, put a united front to shut Lena up, walked through the memories of shame and revisited to fight them with funny comics. Salma had had a meltdown but Zayn had known to step back and let her heal. He had then defended her against Lena and attempted to proceed within her comfort zone. His behavior in the aftermath of the sniper attack in the hospital was despicable despite his rationale for it, however, Salma was glad she had managed to maintain her calm and communicated clearly that she would not tolerate such misbehavior. So far, he seemed to have gotten the message. He was sticking to his end of the deal; Salma was doing all she could to keep her end.

Maybe Sarah was right and it should not have to be a prison sentence to endure to thwart Agha Gul off his High Chair?

Isn't Sarah always right? The voice in her head scoffed.

She thinks butterflies are the only beautiful insects and she's horribly wrong.

A'ight, I'll give you that.

Salma heaved another sigh, turning to look out of the window for a change. They were passing through the crowded city center.

"You're super quiet," she heard her father. "What bugs the princess?"

"Nothing," Salma replied shortly. "Why'd you ask?"

"We passed by three ice-cream cone vendors and you didn't --"

"Where?!" Salma jolted in her seat, snapping her eyes to the busy streets outside.

Her parents' laughter filling the small space of the car made her realize her father was joking. The street they were passing by had no ice cream vendors.

"That wasn't funny!" she muttered, sitting back and crossing her arms firmly.

"Does that mean you don't want an ice-cream?" her father continued teasing her, "because I was thinking of stopping by the vendor around the corner --"

"I'd like extra chocolate sauce on top, please," Salma said quickly.

Her father laughed again.

"Your love for an ice-cream is quite worrying," her mother teased.

"I'm fine," Salma replied. "I never let a stranger buy me one."

"Aww, bless. We've got a clever baby," her father said with mock pride.

"She knows not to take eatables from strangers," Aliya agreed. "That's worth celebrating."

"Alright, alright, stop." Salma chuckled. "I was just thinking about random things. Nothing to worry about."

"I'm quite sure it was important," her father added. "Such as the amount of chocolate sauce on the ice-cream cone --?"

"That's not what I was thinking?!" Salma interrupted. God, she had to change the subject or they would keep roasting her. "I was just surprised to see you in the hospital and was wondering about that amongst other things."

"Well, it was such a huge attack," her father began, "your mum and I figured we had to visit the girl's family, especially with you knowing her and all."

"I didn't know her that well but it was nice of you guys to visit her family and Professor R.K too. The parents appreciated it a lot."

"I feel for them," Aliya replied earnest. "It's huge blessing from Allah that the child lives. I cannot imagine Mr. and Mrs. Walker's condition had their daughter been killed."

"Or R.K.'s, if he finds out about his daughter being the actual target.

"I know." Salma muttered in agreement. "Any more news on the attacker?"

"Not much, except that, at one point many years ago, Toryal had short-listed him as a potential hire," her father said, turning Salma's blood cold. "He never seemed to have considered him good enough though. He seemed to have gone for other options."

"Is this news of any importance?" Salma asked, aghast.

"If we make it," he said

"What do you mean?"

"We're working on a story," Atif Rahman replied. "We'll be using this attack in our favor. With the information on Toryal and his thinly-veiled threats to Asim, this attack will be spun as Agha Gul's attempt to eliminate you, or at the very least, intimidate you."

"But that's not really true!" Salma cried. "We're edging upon lies at this point."

"It's politics, princess," Mr. Rahman replied. "You make use of whatever opportunity that presents itself."

"It's politics for them!" Salma argued. "For us it's a duty to the family line and the people of Sthooriya. We should not stoop low to their ways."

"Yes, ma'am!" her father replied good-naturedly.

"Leave it to her to be up in arms to defend the family's honor and traditions," Aliya replied, sounding somewhat tired.

"I'm defending none of that – maybe a bit but that's not – it's just wrong!" she struggled to explained.

"We know it is," her mother replied, shaking her head.

Her father laughed, stopping by the ice-cream vendor. He grabbed his wallet from the dashboard.

"We're not going to be pushing the story until we have grounds to stand on, princess," he said taking a few bills out. "It's just a file being prepared as a preemptive measure in case we find the Torguls' involved."

He lowered the window and gave the order for an ice-cream. Salma heard, "coat it with that chocolate sauce, please," which made her smile.

"Do you suspect their involvement?" she asked, feeling a knot in her stomach.

"We have to be careful, Princess." Her father sighed. "Be prepared for all eventualities – Thank you. No you can keep the change for that extra chocolate sauce." He smiled at the boy selling the ice-creams as Salma reached out to grab the cone.

"Thank you." She accepted a tissue the boy offered, before turning to her father, slightly worried despite the creamy goodness in her hands. "Does that mean I can't drive around now?"

"Oh no," he thankfully replied, after giving her mum a cone. "This was just a coincidence. We were in the hospital when you initiated a clearance request so I asked your shadow to hold the clearance till we were free. So long as you stick to the protocol, you'll be fine."

"Thanks dad," Salma replied, licking her cone.

"I can't tell if she's thanking you for the cone or the fact that she can drive around," her mother laughed as her father shifted to drive again.

"The cone, of course!" Salma said without thinking, making her father's booming laugh reverberate within the car.

***

First draft: July 25th, 2021

*Beep*

Salma paused typing her review to raise an incredulous brow at her phone. Zayn's new text flashed in the notifications bar.

"Dude, what do you want now," she muttered as she picked up her phone and swiped the text open.

Zayn: No, not mellifera. The other specie

Salma frowned. What was he up to?

Salma: It's Apis dorsata

The reply was quick, just like the last three times.

Zayn: Okay. Thank you🥰

He used the same blushed smiley with three hearts.

Salma: No problem

"Except that you're disturbing me when I'm trying to get this review done," she said.

A knock on the door made her sigh.

"You can't come in!" Salma called out.

The door opened regardless and in popped Asim.

"I said you CAN'T come in!" Salma fixed him with flat look.

"Yeah, I heard you," he replied. "Are you done?"

"No," Salma replied. "You can hear me again and leave."

"Oh come on!" he returned, lodging on her bed. "You've been doing that assignment for ages. Just wrap it up already."

"It's a little more complicated than that, sweetheart." Salma smiled at him sarcastically. "I can't just wrap it up."

"You're just a slow worker."

"I like to do things perfectly," Salma retorted, adding another reference in her article.

"And be crap at it regardless," Asim returned.

"Get out of my room," Salma sang with sarcastic politeness.

Asim just scoffed in reply, but became silent for a while. Salma was grateful. She returned back to her work. Barely fifteen minutes later, her phone beeped with another text. Salma frustrated sigh was perfectly synchronized with Asim's inquiring glance at her phone. He looked away quickly, raising his hands in surrender.

"I'll pretend I didn't see Zayn texting you," he exclaimed.

"Be my guest, but I rather you don't," Salma continued typing before she could forget the point she wanted to add. "Send him a reply."

Asim raised an incredulous brow.

"I'm busy," Salma explained shortly. "Have fun."

"That's a disgusting idea, unless . . ." His face brightened up with mischief. "I pretend to be you and fire some unprovoked shots!" He snorted a laugh.

Such a kid!

"Your brain really never grew up after fourteen," Salma replied in a bored tone. "Watching you get excited with immature ideas is kinda sad."

"Yeah, you telling me to take over your private chummy-choo-choo conversation with your significant other is real mature." Asim clapped sarcastically.

Salma let out an exasperated breath. Did he even have a brain anymore?

"I don't even know what to say to you, Dumbo, but I'm glad you respect my privacy," Salma said tiredly. "However, trust me there's nothing in that conversation that'll mar your sleep and innocence. Just tell me what he's saying so I can tell you what to type."

Asim frowned as he reached for the phone.

"Don't tell me you're just as cold to him as you're to me, Queen ice-cube," he muttered, entering her pattern to unlock her phone.

"And if I am?"

"For heaven's sake, you guys are --"

The phone beeped with another text. Then another. Salma paused her typing, and frowned.

"He's still the same impatient dude," Asim muttered, the lines on his forehead deepening.

"What did he say?"

"Bee," Asim said with all mocking seriousness.

"And?" Salma resumed her typing. "Before that?"

"You there?"

"Yes," Salma replied.

"You think I don't know?" Asim deadpanned.

"Type that," Salma ordered.

Asim sighed.

"What else?" he asked.

"Meaning?" Salma scrolled through the paper she was reading.

"There a message before 'Bee' and 'You there' and '?'."

"Then tell me what it is, you idiot!" Salma said frustrated.

"Don't yell at me!" Asim scolded before reading the first text. "It says, 'What're the appendages called?'" he turned to Salma with a questioning look. "Appendages?"

"Yeah, bee's appendages?"

"Is he alright in the head? What's he on about?"

"Nevermind that," Salma replied. "Ask him which ones? Wings, legs or --?"

She was interrupted by two more beeps.

"My God," Asim laughed, making Salma a tad concerned. "Is he alright? It says, 'Bee' 'You okay?'"

Salma gritted her teeth.

"Type yes!" Salma snapped. "And then type what I said earlier and then get out of my room with my phone!"

"Take a chill pill," Asim replied unfazed as he responded in her stead. "I'm not the one acting like my tail is one fire. He is."

*Beep*

"He says legs."

*Beep*

"The smaller sections on legs"

*Beep*

Salma pinched the bridge of her nose. She was going to explode if they did not stop bothering her. The stress of this impossible review had her riled up and now they had to test her.

"Those claw like digits." Asim read the latest message.

"Tarsi." Salma replied in a barely restrained tone. "It's called tarsi."

"Tar-what?" Asim chuckled. "How do you spell it? T-A-R-C--"

"I'm going to murder you both!" she seethed. "Give me my phone!"

Asim blinked at his empty hands as Salma snatched her phone and typed the word as if she wanted to crack the screen of her phone with her attacking fingers.

"I think I was doing a fine job," Asim muttered but stayed put at the foot of her bed.

Salma was too irritated to control the harshness of her words, so she pressed her lips together and resumed working. She was never taking another class with Professor Lawrence. The man thought his students' sole purpose for existence was to do the assignments that he handed out. She was going to opt out of entomology part two --

Or not? A voice in her head meekly suggested.

Salma released a sigh of defeat as she started typing another section. Professor R.K was the most accommodating teacher and Salma had her mind made up to select him as her supervisor, however, insects were not his expertise and before she could do that, she needed the sea of knowledge that professor Lawerance carried within himself.

Her laptop flashed a low-battery warning. Salma made a face at it but she had no choice. She had to let it take a break and recharge. Also, she needed a break. She was starving. Her tea and sandwiches that Asim was so kind to bring up to her room earlier were lying untouched and getting cold by her bedside. Putting the laptop away, she reached for the sandwiches.

Her stomach churned. She could never eat under stress. She needed a distraction.

"So what's up?" she asked her brother who was busy scrolling through his phone.

"Oh, you're talking to me now?"

"Dude, you're lying on my bed like a dying fish, it's obvious you wanted to tell me something," Salma said, taking another bite. "Tell me now while my break lasts, or you'll miss this window."

"I had to tell you something?" he frowned, not taking his eyes away from the UFC fight clip he was watching on mute. "Oh yeah – I did!"

He sat up excitedly. He did not just act like a fourteen year old. He acted like a gossipy fourteen year old!

"I just heard Dad and uncle Dawood talking – not eavesdropping!" he added quickly. "We were just watching a basketball match and they were talking. Anyways, Ghamey is here."

Salma mouth froze mid bite.

"What?"

"Yeah, Princess Sparkles is back in town."

"Don't insult my gender by calling that thing a princess. Call him prince!"

"Why would I insult my gender?!" Asim returned defensively. "What do you call a royal 'it'?"

"I don't know, called him 'princit' or 'printhem' or something," Salma replied.

Asim chuckled.

"Anyways, why's Sparkles here?" Salma asked.

"'Motive's unknown,' said Uncle Dawood," Asim said. "but he's been found lurking around the campus. They said they'll be keeping an eye on him. I thought I'd let you know."

Salma chewed on her sandwich, thinking.

"What could Agha Gul want by sending Princit Sparkles here?" she said slowly.

"Here's the crazy thing, he didn't," Asim replied.

"Huh?"

"Agha Gul didn't send him. It seems Princit Sparkles sneaked out without permission. Uncle Dawood said, our spies have relied that Agha Gul was mad when he found out and he's asked Toryal to fly back in to Blue Riverdale and take him back to the Valley."

"Interesting. . ." Salma took another small bite out of her sandwich. "Where's Toryal been all this time?"

"Atalanta, apparently." Asim replied. "He's reportedly just booked a flight to fly back in."

"Wow!" Salma breathed. "This just makes no sense. Could Sparkles be rebelling to switch sides against Agha Gul?"

"Don't tell me my newly chosen title for him will have to be revoked out of respect for allies." Asim facepalmed.

Salma chuckled, kicking her brother lightly in the side.

"I'm serious."

"I don't know," Asim replied. "It's being considered a possibility but it could also be a trap. So far, it seems he's shown no intent to switch allegiances. The Green Coats did a planned and restricted exposure but he approached none of them. In fact, he attacked one with a knife when the Green Coat approached him in a bar and introduced himself as someone who could put him through to you or me."

"Did the Green Coat get hurt?" Salma cried.

"Minor injuries, apparently." Asim shrugged. "Uncle Dawood said a slit to the palm and another scratch on the shoulder."

Salma breathed a sigh of relief. She felt responsible for every Green Coat approaching the enemy to protect her. She was glad his injuries were not fatal.

"Sparkles was disarmed, knocked unconscious and left for the barmen to dump along with their trash bins." Asim chuckled. "Imagine waking up with a hangover to the smell of stinking bottles, rotten rubbish and stray animals."

"Serves him right." Salma scoffed. "Piece of rat's poo."

"Hope he stays there till Toryal is here to grab him by the ear and send him back." Asim continued laughed. "It would be so satisfying if we can get a recording of Agha Gul spanking him with that staff of his."

Salma could not suppress the laughter that escaped her lips with that image popping in her head. She shook her head in amusement.

"Stop dreaming," she said. "We still don't know what he wants and why he's here. Maybe him out in the wild, acting wild and being a constant threat to Agha Gul's carefully crafted image is good for us."

"Yeah, I suppose you're --"

"Salma!" her mother's voice carried upstairs. "Can you come over for a minute?"

The two siblings looked at one another, alarmed.

"Not another marriage proposal from Ghamey!"

Author's Note:

A rat just scuttled out of the gutter again👀. What do you think he has in mind by sneaking up on his old man like that?

Vote, comment and Share!

Drop by my Patreon. The chapter there got a major bombshell dropped in them 😁

Lots of love

J.