Hassas- Pt 3

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Coincidences were a rarity in Mayza's life and at that moment, coincidence was the only word that struck her mind.

Blinking as she watched him hesitantly moving towards her, Mayza didn't know when her palm had clutched the handle of her bag with a grip that turned her knuckles white.

"Mayza? Is- is it really you?"

Humaid sounded unsure of himself and why wouldn't he? They had barely known each other for a month before walking apart for nearly 2 years. Mayza matched the look of disbelief in his eyes and a soft smile appeared on her lips.

"I believe so, Humaid bh-"

She didn't get to complete the word upon seeing the shadow that fell over Humaid's face. The memories, always the memories acted as both the healers and the criminals.

Mayza cleared her throat, not wanting to dig deeper when the wounds clearly hadn't fully healed. Humaid could feel the slightest of knocks on the door's of his mind, asking him to open up and relive the moment that had haunted him for the past years.

"It's really a wonder how life works. Pata hi nahi chala ki it's your company."

Humaid was relieved by the change of topic as he offered a smile of his own. His eyes glanced between Mayza and the woman beside her who wore a sly expression, as though amused by what she was seeing.

"This is Qizrah-"

"Her best friend and companion for this trip. Your services have so far been pretty convenient. I can only hope they continue to remain the same."

The last words held a tad bit of seriousness and Humaid chuckled at the way she switched tones so quickly.

Mayza scrutinized Humaid as discreetly as she could, trying to find anything that would soothe the havoc of questions in her mind. The memory of how he had left, the circumstance during which he had walked out and the words he had said, everything clearly didn't point out in any direction that would've ended up well for him.

"Humaid, aap- aap theek hai?"

There was an underlying concern in her voice and he seemed to have caught onto that. Not wanting to weep over things that were better left unsaid and hopefully, one day on the brink of being forgotten, Humaid gave a nod with as much conviction as he could.

Clearing his throat, he offered a nonchalant look to Mayza who seemed every bit unconvinced but left the topic where it was.

"Ladies, hope you'll enjoy the trip. In case of any inconvenience, you can personally get in touch with me."

Humaid handed his business card to Mayza who reluctantly accepted it. It was clear that he wasn't in the mood to make any conversations and they had nothing more to chit-chat about. They were equal to strangers but at the same time, there was the slightest bit of familiarity between the two.

"Now, if you'll excuse me."

Humaid politely took his leave and when at a good distance from the two women, he registered the tiniest beads of sweat trickling down the back of his neck. Taking support on the pillar that stood in seclusion just like him, he closed his eyes and let the memories of the horrific day flood in, leaving him helpless and torn like every other time.

"Kyu? Ladki ne kuch zyada hi jadu kar diya tha tumpe jo woh sab bol kar aa gaye?"

Jamal fumed angrily at his son. His wrinkled eyes were lined with red, clearly raged with the circumstances that had unfolded in the past 2 hours.

His brother was behind the bars, their family name had been tarnished and his son had oh-so clearly taken the side of his now sworn enemies.

Humaid remained quiet, not really knowing what to say. The dull sobs of his mother and tayi ammi could be heard not from far away but he couldn't bring it in himself to care.

"Galti jiski thi, use saza mili."

His words held no trace of emotions. Just a monotonous matter-of-fact tone which wasn't appreciated by anyone in the room.

"Galti? Mere shauhar ki koi galti nahi thi! Woh galeez ladki-"

His tayi ammi had just started with her loud rant when Humaid took in a sharp breath and turned to face her. The look he wore on his face clearly said enough for the older woman to swallow back any other bitter word that might have rested on the tip of her tongue.

"Aap bhi janti hai kiski galti thi aur kiski nahi. Kyu phir apne shauhar ko masoom sabit karna chah rahi hai?"

"Humaid!"

Jamal all but yelled his son's name, seconds away from ticking like a time bomb waiting to cause chaos.

"Family tumhari hum hai ya woh? Huh? Aisa kya jadu kar diya hai us badzaat-"

"I think that's enough!"

Humaid finally lost his cool, having enough of them trying to play the 'blame game'.

Taking a step closer to his father who looked taken aback by the loss of composure in Humaid's tone. The two stared hard at each other before Jamal Mirza finally spoke,

"Get out and do not enter this house again."

It was a threat or a warning, Humaid didn't know but what he did have an idea about was the fact that his legs didn't think twice before leaving the confines of the mansion he had lived his entire life in.

Maybe because the sense of right and wrong had turned greater than the bonds of blood.

Maybe because he knew what he did was what he'd do again and again, if time came.

"Sir?"

Humaid jerked open his eyes and quickly looked away upon feeling the familiar sheath clouding his vision. Humming in response to Lucien's call, he discreetly wiped his eyes and breathed in once to calm the familiar burn in his throat.

"What is it?"

Thankfully, his voice sounded confident enough and Humaid turned to look at his tour guide who was staring confusedly at him.

"Lucien."

Humaid pressed with an edge in his tone and Lucien snapped out of his query with a sheepish look.

"I apologise, sir. Actually, there's a couple who's creating a scene at the reception, claiming that they have been cheated or something."

Humaid blinked once, not really sure what Lucien was trying to imply.

"Sir, they're saying that we've cheated their money and have not stood up to our words. They're asking for a refund and free tour."

A nerve ticked in Humaid's jaw. Such instances were rare but whenever they did happen, they always left him in a bitter mood. Rubbing his forehead to calm the lines of stress, he motioned for Lucien to take him to them and the latter was quick to pave way through the increasing crowd.

"I want to meet the owner of this company! You're clearly lacking in your services and manners."

A shrill male voice was heard and Humaid physically held himself back from grumbling in annoyance. Dusting the front of his suit, he put on a fake smile and entered the circle where a man was glaring at one of Humaid's employees while the woman wore a sneer on her face.

They had rehearsed well.

"Excuse me, sir? You were asking to meet the owner? Is everything alright?"

Humaid made sure to keep his tone in check, smiling through it all while the couple's eyes snapped towards him. The man took a step back, startled by his sudden presence while the woman openly gawked at him.

Humaid watched silently as the man collected himself and stood tall in front of him- clearly lacking a few inches as he reached Humaid's shoulder.

"I want to meet the owner! Not a lowley-"

"I happen to be the owner of the company, sir. Now, if you could please stop creating a scene and get to the point, we'll all be able to save some of our precious time."

The sarcasm dripped like honey and Humaid couldn't care less. The embarrassed look that coated the man's face twisted in an unpleasant scowl as he crossed his arms across his chest, trying to come off as intimidating but was second by second annoying Humaid to a dangerous degree.

"See! No sense of mannerism or chivalry. I've paid thousands for this trip and according to your brochures many things are out of place or have to be paid extra for."

"Mind specifying exactly what you are talking about."

"The hotel services are limited to food, swimming pool and the games room. The spa section, the theatre and-"

"I believe the latter are not mentioned anywhere in our brochure. Maybe, you'd like to recheck the section."

Humaid motioned for Lucien to hand over the official brochure that had been circulated around. The man gritted his teeth once again. His eyes glanced at his wife who was now acting nonchalant and unbothered, as if she wasn't the one who was supporting her husband or whatever relation they had in the beginning.

"I assume you've misread a few things."

Knowing well who would win in the end, the man dejectedly gave him a nod and stood silently for a while, staring blazingly at Humaid who could care less about that look.

The man's eyes flickered past Humaid and over his shoulder and the latter watched as his eyes first blinked and then widened for a narrow second, disbelief settling in as he kept staring at someone or something that was behind Humaid.

Feeling the slightest bit of curiosity, Humaid turned to follow his gaze only to be met with a pale looking Mayza. She looked ready to faint or flee and a sudden emotion gripped his heart at the way the bizarre expressions shadowed her face.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Uncertainty.

Fear.

"M-Mayza? Y-you-"

The man stuttered with his words, taking a step forward. Humaid did not like the interaction one bit- not the emotions nor the oozing fright from the woman he was staring at.

He sidestepped the man, covering Mayza's form with his. His eyes burned through hers while she stood still, frozen and immobile in her place.

"You alright?"

His voice was low and gentle as he addressed her with every bit of concern. Mayza broke through her haze with a pain curling difficulty. The familiar sheath clouded her vision, making it impossible to control the shake in her voice and the familiar sense of being suffocated.

"I-I-"

She couldn't speak, no matter how much she tried. His presence had let loose strings of demonic memories, haunting pasts and interactions, self-doubt and nausea and all Mayza wanted to do was curl herself beside a wall in a corner where she'd never be seen, never be acknowledged, never be bothered.

Humaid was quick to sense the panic attack through the series of broken words and facades. Without wasting a second, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug even when every rational thought in his mind asked him to step away.

One of his hands gently patted her head, silently giving her a shoulder to lean on and he felt her muscles loosening themselves, her irregular breathing turned itself down but just by a little.

"We can always leave."

His whisper was calm and soothing, just like his touch. Mayza knew this was wrong on so many levels but she needed the comfort and she would gladly accept that she was guilty.

She didn't when she had given him a nod since the next moment, she found herself walking beside him away from the curious crowd and him. Him who was now yelling from behind them but was somehow stopped from reaching the two.

Humaid calculated his steps, making sure not to be too quick or careless when she was still withering due to unpleasant emotions. He had let go of the hug and now held her palm in his, trying to ignore the feeling of how she had tightened her hold- seeking her solace in him.

On the other hand, Mayza couldn't bring herself to look back nor did she want to. They had taken the elevator up and to the floor where her suite was. She had momentarily met Qizrah's worried gaze while walking away from the scene but she couldn't bring herself to say something- not yet.

"Keycard?"

She blinked at his word before numbly removing the keycard from her pocket. Humaid swiped it on the door lock which opened not long after and guided her in.

Mayza felt herself being seated on the plush couch. She had not yet taken a tour of her room so wasn't known to the things around. Her eyes glanced at the peach coloured furniture she was seated on when a glass water met her vision.

The tears had dried, maybe to resurface again when she was alone and her slightly clear gaze met Humaid's who hadn't said or asked anything else.

She gratefully took hold of the glass and sighed in half relief when it parched the burn in her throat, though it wasn't completely gone.

"I'll take my leave then..."

It was a question or a suggestion, neither knew with the way Humaid trailed the words- uncertain and worried. Mayza took in a sharp breath, trying to get rid of the haze in her mind but maybe, she wasn't quite successful due to the words that left her lips the next moment.

"N-no, p-please st-stay."

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Right, so...

I don't really know what to say. Maybe cuz I'm drained due to everything that's happening in life. Lmao, no, not depressed- yet.

Academics has been stressful and fully loaded with tons of work. Apologies in advance in case the updates get stretched a little longer!

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