"in matters of goodness, never expect any compliments. do your job and disappear like the wind - sulaymaan."
Sulaaymaan had been hesitating in front of the washroom door, the water hitting down fast against the tub indicating that Afra was still showering. He still wasn't sure of how to interrupt her shower time.
All he wanted to do was ask her if she'd like some caramel popcorn but he didn't feel like disturbing her. Well, that was one of the things he had in mind.
He tapped his knuckle on the door. For a few seconds he didn't hear anything until Afra shouted back.
"What's it?"
Sulaaymaan hesitated a little more.
"I was wondering if you'd like to have some caramel popcorn?"
"Enamel ? No, thank you very much my teeth are fine."
He frowned.
"I didn't say enamel."
He shrugged confusingly.
That's when it clicked in that she might not be able to hear him since she was in the shower. Slapping his forehead, he knocked on the door a second time.
"Afra, close the faucet for a minute please."
"Closet ? Why would one have a closet in here ?"
He sighed internally and gave a short laugh.
Not having much luck, he decided to knock harder on the door and hope that she would get the idea.
Banging his fist on the door, he shouted. He felt bad of course to alarm her like that â while she was showering â but he had no choice.
Within a minute, she had thrown open the door, her face peeking through the small opening.
Hair stuck to her cheeks and water dripped down her face, some blurring her vision.
"Oh My God what is it?"
Sulaaymaan sighed and crossed his arms tightly.
"I've been calling you for a while. We have some emergency. Can you please hurry up?"
Afra rolled her eyes.
"If the emergency you're referring to is your hair getting tangled, then I'm not helping you."
Sulaaymaan opened his mouth wide and gazed at her in utter shock.
"Excuse me for letting my sisters play with my hair. Who would have thought they'd use chocolate glaze and cereal rings to style?"
Afra giggled and he patted down his hair self consciously.
"Anyhow, what's the emergency then?"
Sulaaymaan's face became serious. The amusement in his eyes died and in place of a one sided smile lay a frown.
"You might want to hurry up. We will need to go somewhere."
He diverted his gaze unable to meet her happy eyes and glistening face. For some reason, she was unrealistically ecstatic today. And he felt his stomach churn just with the thought of breaking that news to her.
She quickly shrugged and shut the door. Immediately getting into shower and the water pattering down the tub.
He slowly sat down on the bed and pulled his phone out from the pocket of his thoub.
He held his breath, unable to process whatever he had been sent a while ago by Derek. They hadn't socialised much but he was a very eligible and smart man.
His message board had been bombarded by several messages and a video. Curious about the sudden explosion, he quickly scrolled through the messages. They technically brought awareness to the fact that Faaris had been shot in the mall.
Five times at that, according to Gabriel who was present at the scene. It could have been less or more; one couldn't point out the exact number.
The news had already battered his hope and played along with his mind in a delusional setting. What he had assumed to be limited to Afra was now slowly being gradiated towards her family.
Sulaaymaan sighed aloud.
His head had been throbbing for the last few hours and such thoughts intensified it. He unintentionally clicked on the video and it started playing again.
It all began to show Derek's camera following a brown haired guy. Even if Sulaaymaan were to be blindfolded, he could still easily say that it was Waasay.
What ridiculed him more than ever was not only was he limping as Afra had indicated and as he had himself seen, but he was meeting some unknown man after which the whole mall blackened.
He was grateful that Derek didn't shake his camera much. It could have worsened the matters to a greater degree since the only evidence wouldn't hold much clarity.
"I'm back."
She said and shut the door behind him.
He hadn't seen her walk in already and shivered in his spot as the phone slipped from his grip and fell to the floor.
"Hey, are you okay?"
She glanced at him and bent down to pick up the phone. He was still dazed but out of worry, just managed to nod.
"Here."
She gave it to him with a smile and adjusted herself on the bed.
Her hair was still wet and it splattered droplets of water when she adjusted and moved. A few drops fell over his cheeks and he smiled cheerfully. Something about that act glorified his emotions.
"So, what's the emergency?"
The smile vanished just as soon as it had come. And in place of it, his lips lay in a tight smile.
"I think you might want to start off with this video."
Afra's heart stopped the moment the destructive words left Sulaaymaan's mouth.
Faaris had been shot.
For a few minutes, she laughed rolling her eyes at Sulaaymaan. What she had predicted to be a prank wasn't what Sulaaymaan's expressions read. He looked at her with pitiful eyes and had given her a sad shake of his head.
If she wouldn't have been seated, she would have collapsed. Her surroundings whirled around and second by second her chest burned with ache.
Sulaaymaan wrapped an arm around her shoulder and murmured a lot of consolations. But none were audible. She was lost; in a whirlwind of emotions were her consent didn't matter.
When she realized that Inaya was alone and might be looking for her, she practically threw herself out of the room and ran towards the exit. Her friend had only recently started to fall for her husband with hopes and dreams of giving him the life he deserved.
It had been destroyed. It wasn't her life that was affected but her friend's. An innocent human's who was more closer to her than anyone.
She lowered herself into the passenger seat, absently staring into the air.
As Sulaaymaan secured a belt over her body and took a glimpse at her, he sighed a little and kissed her head reassuringly.
She didn't mind it. His touch refrained her from loosing her mind over whatever was happening around them.
And such intimate moments were insightful in judging her feelings for him. As days passed, she noted how much she enjoyed his company and affectionate touch. He was gentle and soft spoken. His eyes sparked everytime she was around and she was â overall â very comfortable with him.
He buckled himself in the driver's seat and immediately started the engine.
Along the way, she fixed her gaze over the lush green farms and the tall trees. None were successful in restricting her mind in worrying over the condition of her family.
A few tears trickled down her face and she fairly recognised how suffocated she felt with the numbness.
Whatever the scenario, she had promised herself that she'd be strong and not worry the people around her. That she'd emit enough positivity and warmth for others around to feel hopeful and optimistic.
Blinking away the unshed tears, she made up her mind to not be bothered by the satanic thoughts and focus over doing dhikr and praying to Allah.
No one besides Allah can rescue a soul from hardship.
Sufficient for us is Allah and he is the best disposer of affairs.
Do not lose hope nor be sad.
She smiled a little; so precious and deep it was that she could feel it embrace her whole body with enthusiasm and determination. By Allah, no words were more effective than the ones the Lord bestowed over his creatures.
And only in those words shall one find peace.
She managed to smile more widely, for Allah was there after all.
"Afra, I'm so sorry."
He spoke for the first time since they started out. She didn't turn to face him. But inwardly, she smiled gratefully for a man as humble as him.
"It's not your fault Sulaaymaan. I'm fine."
She murmured an answer.
For the rest of the ride, they drove silently again. It was a comfortable one; something that they didn't share much.
In another five minutes, they found a parking space, parked and were out and about in their feet.
Some people around kept gasping and stopping in their paths, giggling and pointing at Sulaaymaan.
Afra shot them all dangerous glares and snuck closer to him. She deliberately let her shoulders rub against his.
But when a group of women were about to approach them, she narrowed her eyes at them and linked her arm with Sulaaymaan's. He turned to face her with a confused frown but didn't speak up once his eyes fell over the group of ladies glaring at Afra from a little over the side.
With Afra's eyes fixed over the group, they crossed the vicinity. He turned to her with an indicative smile.
"Looks like someone's jealous."
Afra snapped her head at him but didn't look him in the eyes. Of course she was jealous but that didn't concern him.
"I am just protecting you from international terrorists."
He frowned.
"But they were just women."
She seethed.
"Yeah, right. Women of high intelligence. Women who are rightfully known as international husband thieves or the husterists."
He chuckled and shook his head wearily.
They headed towards the emergency centre lead by a nurse who highly insisted on escorting them. She kept her eyes narrowed at her and along the whole route, he seemed to be a lot more evident of her protection scheme and kept his mouth shut.
Her mood changed when they were informed by a doctor that Faaris had been shifted a few hours ago to a ward on the second floor.
They hurried together to the second floor. All she could think of was how they must be hanging in.
She needed to be with them.
Her hold tightened on Sulaaymaan's arm.
"I'm scared."
She mumbled and Sulaaymaan looked down upon her.
"I'm here and Allah is there too. Don't worry."
She nodded and breathed heavily.
As the elevator doors opened they quickened their pace and followed the nurse to the room numbered ten down the hallway.
She was in such a hurry that she bumped into a hooded figure and stumbled to the floor.
"Oh I'm so sorry."
The man spoke briskly and hurried down the path. Sulaaymaan helped her up but all the while her doubts were fixed on him.
The man!
"Sulaaymaan â ," she pulled him closer and whispered ," â keep a close watch over that man. Or ask your guards to do so."
Sulaaymaan hesitated but nodded almost immediately and headed off in the same trail the hooded figure took.
She could be overthinking but at the moment no type of protection seemed too much.
In the meanwhile, she jogged over to the room and froze in her spot.
Stuck against the door was a sticky note. She pulled it away and studied the writing.
Afra isn't it? I have this amazing sense of deduction you see m'lady. I had a feeling you'd be reading this for some reason. I'm glad you're playing this game with me. Sulaaymaan has just been quite a boring pawn. You're more interesting or should I say fiesty.
She frowned and crumbled the note in her palm. Things were getting very out of hand and she was feeling extremely helpless about this. Allah had guided them upto Waasay and she believed it was so she could extract some valid information.
Taking a deep breath, she fisted the paper in her hand, knocked on the door and smiled as normally as she could.
Within a moment, the door opened with a teary Inaya on the other side. As soon as her gaze fell on Afra she smiled with relief.
"Afra...â"
She threw herself over her, breaking down into silent sobs.
"Shhh. It's okay."
Afra patted her friend's head and hummed words of encouragement and help. She cried for another two minutes before she stepped aside and harshly rubbed her tears away.
She barely could keep her disappointment in. For the sake of her friend, she stood strong.
"How is Faaris? I'm so very sorry I took so long."
Inaya's lips quivered again and Afra regretted the question instantly.
"The doctors said that he won't be the same again. One of his legs is horribly damaged and he won't be able to use it much."
« Assalaamualaikum Princesses â¤
I'm so so sorry I haven't updated in so long. Trust me, I'm trying my best. Please forgive me for that.
The chapter was boring right?
I promise in shaa ALLAH things will get interesting.
AND GUESSSS WHAT????? DO YOU GUYS REALIZE WE HAVE SOMETHING COMING UP, LIKE REAL SOON?
I'm not saying what. You all already know it. â¤â¤â¤â¤
Let me know in the comments okie? â¤â¤â¤â¤
Love you all so so much.
Me ;) »