26. The sweetest lies

*****

Ziah took her sweet time within the room that had provided her solace and comfort for more than a month. The windows had been left open and the breeze of monsoon was floating all around- her favourite season was finally around the corner but she couldn't bring herself to enjoy the fact.

Walking up to the dressing table, Ziah went through all the things that were untouched, apart from the kohl and the lip balm that she applied once in a while. Opening the drawer, she found nothing that could entice her and closed it softly before turning around to look at the suitcase that Madiha had lended her.

Now coming to think of it, none of the things in the room belonged to her. They were all mere necessities that the Qureshis' were humble enough to give her without any cost.

New clothes to wear.

Food to keep her stomach full.

A roof over her head.

And a room that could've been given to a special guest.

Guest.

That's what she was and her stay had finally come to an end. Maybe a little sooner than her mind and heart would like to admit or maybe, it was the fact that the word 'guest' had suddenly turned into something more.

Swallowing down her emotions, Ziah kept the suitcase aside and walked out of the room with nothing but a small something clutched in her palms. It was a belonging she refused to leave behind, the last remnant of the wishful dreams that her heart had woven.

Coming to stand in the living room, she found faces that were all dull and gloomy, aside from the man who had given her nothing but hell.

Madiha had stood silently in the corner, not once had she spoken nor had she voiced anything to oppose Ziah's departure.

Laiha and Parizad though were a different talk. The duo kept pointing things and stinking words at Badar, all the while trying to find excuses to delay Ziah's departure.

"Abhi hi kyu nikalna hai? Itni jaldi bhi kya hai?"

Laiha interjected, not ready to see the woman she had come to accept as a sister leave with a man who clearly disturbed her comfort and peace. Parizad stood beside her and gave a rapid nod, agreeing with everything Laiha had to say.

"Amma bahot excited hai Ziah se itne dino baad milne ke liye. Aise kaise mana kar du unhe?"

The smooth words couldn't even be doubted with the way Badar voiced them.

"Ziah, bag kaha hai?"

Badar frowned when he found her standing empty handed, suddenly alert of the fact that she might have changed her mind.

Ziah avoided looking at him as much as she could. Giving a small smile to the rest of them who looked just as confused as him and maybe a little hopeful, she spoke in an audible tone just above a whisper,

"They aren't mine to take."

"Then whose are they, Ziah?"

Madiha spoke for the first time. Her voice held a soft lilt to it, as though trying to suppress something, trying to hide behind a smile and cover the sheath that had covered her eyes.

Not finding any words to reply, Ziah stood silent and could only offer a knowing smile to Madiha who shook her head and raised her hand a little to say that she'll be back in a minute. The silence that had surrounded the place was soon diturbed by the sounds of rolling wheels and metal clinking on the floor.

Ziah blinked a few times to confirm what she was seeing. Madiha had packed the clothes that she had bought in a suitcase of sky blue colour. Rolling it down the stairs, she placed it beside Ziah who stood dumbfounded.

"Gifts nahi hai yeh. Aise kaise inhe chod ke ja rahi ho?"

"Lekin yeh-"

"We can argue all you like. Aakhir mein tumhe inhe le jaana hi hai."

Madiha's tone was soft with an underlying authority in them. Ziah would have spoken more if not for the sigh of annoyance that registered in her ears. The corners of her eyes glanced subtly at Badar who tried his best to hide how irked he was but was failing miserably.

Knowing that neither party was in the mood of taking part or hearing any negotiations, Ziah half-heartedly nodded her head and Madiha could only smile.

"Aaj jaana zaroori toh nahi hai."

"Wahi toh. Let's wait until Marwan's return. He wouldn't be happy knowing that you left without greeting him."

Parizad and Laiha spoke simultaneously, hoping to delay or cancel Ziah's departure.

He wouldn't be happy.

And Ziah knew that all too well. Her gaze flickered to her hands and she rubbed her palms together in a casual manner but the essence of why she did so was known only to her. He had touched her in the same manner. A touch so soothing and assuring. A touch of familiarity and of longing. And with that touch, he had asked just for one thing,

'Wait for me.'

The words rang in her years like a song of nostalgia. The voice that had once soothed her memorial burns now felt far away along with the person to whom it belonged. Maybe it was better if she waited-

Or maybe, it would make it all even worse.

Oh how they say promises were the sweetest lies.

"We would've agar mama message pe message na kar rahi hoti. She wants to assure herself that Ziah's safe and in the confines of her home."

Laiha would've argued if not for Madiha who gave a small shake of her head. Biting her lips, Laiha's gaze burned Badar's form while Hafeez just stood silently, glancing back at his phone again and again. He had missed Marwan's calls and now that he was trying to connect to him again, the phone was switched off.

"Ziah, chale?"

Badar asked with a polite tone but the desperation and slight tinge of command behind the words was hidden from no one.

"Son of a..."

Parizad gave a side-eye to Laiha who almost let her tongue slip. The words were bitterly swallowed back and her dark glare pinned Badar's form that was facing Ziah.

"Ziah, phone liya?"

Madiha asked again when Badar walked out of the mansion with Ziah's suitcase. The one questioned gave a curt nod and a small smile.

Madiha gulped feeling the rise of emotions within her, a dam was built and if not controlled, she didn't know whether she'd be able to hold it for long or not.

Analysing Ziah's face, the older woman took a step forward and enveloped her in a hug. The warmth that Madiha carried along with herself cocooned Ziah's form like a lullaby, soothing the silent storm that was raging havoc in her heart and mind.

"Call me if something happens. Anytime, regarding anything that unsettles you or simply for a chit chat. Hmm?"

Madiha whispered next to Ziah's ears. The latter stiffened a little but relaxed and nodded. Placing her head on Madiha's shoulder, Ziah closed her eyes as though savouring the moment and the embrace. Madiha's arms were nothing but just like a mother's touch. It had been years since she found herself in a hold so loving and gentle and as one would have it, a tear slipped past Ziah's closed eyes.

"The door's of Qureshi mansion will always be open for you, meri bachi. Kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho, koi bhi baat jisse dil halka karna ho, remember me. Aur baki mera rab tumhare saath hai. Kise se nahi toh usse hi baat kar lena Ziah. Woh shabdo ka mohtaj nahi, but the feeling of someone always watching over you, protecting you, listening to you and knowing how much it hurts would soothe all that burden on your shoulders. Just breathe, Ziah."

Madiha gently rubbed Ziah's back. She had an inkling about how tough it was for the young lady but knowing better than to pry, she stood silently, hoping to comfort her with her words and embrace.

"Ziah, it's getting late!"

Badar's voice broke the moment and Ziah reluctantly pulled away. Discreetly wiping her cheeks and blinking a few times, she smiled at everyone in the room as a sign of a silent goodbye.

"Humare liye hug nahi nahi?"

Laiha and Parizad frowned when they didn't find Ziah already crushing the two in a hug. Rolling her eyes, Laiha pulled Ziah in a tight hug and Parizad joined not a second later.

The latter was already crying, sniffing every now and then while Laiha kept looking anywhere but at Ziah, trying to hide her own tears.

"R-ro kyu rahe ho t-tum dono?"

Ziah asked while chuckling though the tears that streamed down her own cheeks told a different story.

"I need a video call everyday."

"A message every hour."

"And if it was possible, jao hi nahi yaha se."

Both spoke one by one and Ziah could only laugh at the silliness of all the suggestions apart from the last one. Oh how she wished for that to happen.

"Ziah!"

At the sound of Badar's voice, Laiha scowled in annoyance and pulled away from Ziah while Parizad only shook her head with a frown. Madiha patted Ziah's head a last time and Hafeez, he kept grumbling under his breath, not parting with his phone for even a second.

"Now that all is settled, can I have the signatures of the head of the house please?"

Karan spoke after what felt like eternity. His presence was ignored like he was invisible but he didn't seem to mind. Standing at the side, he waited patiently for everyone to let the news settle in and when it was all decided, he spoke again.

Madiha signed on the papers, her eyes did a quick sweep of whatever it was that it contained and with a sigh, she gave a small smile to Karan who returned the favour.

"I'll be taking my leave now. Thank you for your cooperation."

With a professional nod, Karan was out of the mansion while Ziah too followed suit but with small steps.

Her eyes caught Badar's form standing beside a white land cruiser, his phone pressed against his ears and a scowl had marred his features. He clearly looked agitated and riled up.

"If he bothers you even a little, make sure to give me a call."

Laiha whispered next to Ziah's ears and the latter could only suppress an amused chuckle. It was clear that Badar had left an impression on everyone- and it was definitely not the good kind.

"Ziah, hurry up."

Badar had started losing his patience after the second call. Khursheeda begum had not let a single minute go by without her questioning him about whether he had found her or not. The flight to Bareilly was set to take off at 5 in the evening and it was currently 2 in the afternoon.

Taking a deep breath, Ziah turned around to give one last hug to the people with whom she had bonded as a family. Laiha and Parizad were nothing less than sisters she never had while Hafeez, the way he looked dejected about not being able to stop her from going made her smile at him. He cared and that was more than enough. As for Madiha, if her glistening eyes were any indication, Ziah hoped that she meant her earlier words.

That the doors of this mansion would always be open for her.

And hopefully, when Ziah has unravelled the unsettling mystery of her past, maybe, just maybe, she might be able to return back.

Return back to a place she could call home, people she could call family and to a man whom she had given a promise.

Ziah silently accompanied Badar through the journey. Not once had she spoken and the fact didn't bother Badar to say the least. He kept giving his own opinions about the cities being loud and too crowded. A few times, the man went as far as to judge a few people based on how they were dressed.

Ziah bore the agonisingly slow journey with patience- at least, she tried to. The sky dimmed as time went by. The sky lost the brightness, surrendering to the orange-red hues and by the time they stood in front of the haveli that brought a wave of nostalgia over Ziah, the evening had already casted its glow.

The doors of the haveli were opened- unsurprisingly- and who stood there waiting for her had Ziah taking in a sharp breath.

Khursheeda begum welcomed her niece with an innocent smile, trying to guise and show how worried she was. If someone else where in Ziah's place, maybe believing the old woman would've been easy.

"Ghar wapsi mubarak ho Ziah bache."

*****

"This sucks."

Marwan grumbled for the nth time in the casual attire of a loose tee and faded black jeans. The turban on his head and the fake beard that had been put to place were itching his sensitive skin and he didn't know for how long he'd be able to take it.

"Well, handle it like a man and shut up."

Aliya groaned in annoyance through her veil. Wearing a black khimar, she had herself covered from head to toe. The sight of a modestly dressed woman was surprising to see on the streets they were walking on but many disregarded them after a single glance.

"Where is the damn den?"

Marwan was seconds away from ticking. The frustration of roaming on these streets for so long yet not meeting any result.

Aliya rolled her eyes at the big baby beside her and zoned him out. Her eyes kept doing a discreet once over of every nook and corner. Everything around felt normal. One couldn't doubt that a shady business was taking place behind the masks of the merry environment and wide smiles of the sellers and the buyers alike.

"Kaç tane?"

(How many?)

A male voice at a distance asked. Marwan and Aliya shared a look, thinking of it as nothing and were about to walk away, if not for the next lines that spiked their interest.

"Neredeyse bir düzine. Tamamen taze ve karşılığı değer."

(Nearly a dozen. Completely fresh and worth the money.)

Marwan squinted his eyes and subtly took a look at the barrels that the said man patted. On the outside, nothing looked out of the ordinary, but when one of the barrels shook lightly, the man gave a harsh hit to the lid of it and then it was silent.

"Kya bolti public?"

Marwan whistled lowly to himself. A sly smile slowly captured his lips and even Aliya chuckled at his antics.

Looks like they found the key to the den after all.

**********

Ahuh, Marwan's seems a little excited, no?

Lekin usko kaun bataye, ki what's going on back at his home?!

And, what is it that I smell?

~Trouble, trouble...~

**********