"Make sure you correct your manners starting from now, you're meeting up with him day after tomorrow," ma'Amina informed Zara.
Saliha soundlessly laid on her bed, feigning to be sleeping. The information had sorely grieved her. Her anxious heart swung round whilst she grasped tightly to the bed sheets, tortured about the whole that was taking place around her. Her heart raced with fear and confusion
What made it worse was that Zara had scorned her. Nobody even said a thing to her again about the 'recent ploy'. It was as if everything was advancing in a normal way. Although it appeared as if nothing was out of the ordinary, Zara's coldness towards her was like a sharp knife cutting through the thick atmosphere.
Saliha felt like speaking to ma'Amina to pursue the grounds for their alteration of plans but did not feel the boldness to. Afterall, she remained a nobody to interrogate them about highly important but hasty decisions that they reached. Although hesitant to voice her opinion, Saliha knew she had to be brave and take a chance. Eventually, she later presumed that her uncle may have had knowledge of all that was happening, yet she was strongly confident he was not pleased with it even if he knew.
The luminescences were instantly extinguished and Saliha accurately detected the doorway close which meant Zara was out. Feeling down, she rose high, inquisitive to perceive where she vanished to.
"I can't wait to marry her off," ma'Amina told her sister.
"She's becoming a liability to you, I can see," ma'Hanan mumbled, scrolling the tv channels. They were having late night discussions as usual.
Saliha squatted very close to the open door, listening attentively to the conversation. Zara was also a part of it.
"But do you think Yusuf will agree to this?" ma'Hanan asked, her eyes now on her phone. She was texting her children who were living with their grandmother at Kentucky.
"Well, the boy did not respond again! Seems he is no longer interested in Sallu! Simple and obvious reason."
"WAllahi that's a shame." Zara chirped in.
"A shame indeed," ma'Amina stated as she moved the prayer beads with her right hand.
"How long do I need to cleanse my face with this?" Zara asked, showing her sisters a liquid cleanser.
"Keep using it for better effects," ma'Amina energetically replied and looked away to her right.
-
Saliha quietly stood up and left to the bedroom. The moment she closed the door, she sat on the floor sobbing her heart out with an aim to release all the pain that was itching her deep inside.
"Dear God, make things better for me, I plead you," she finally said, now composed after minutes of crying. She slowly walked to her bed and got underneath the covers, attempting to drift into a sleep.
Now that she had Aabid's contact information, she wanted to text him. Saliha knew it would seem strange because it was late. She simply started viewing some deen lectures on her phone as a result.
She forwarded the link to Aabid and a few other people she could think of after finding one that was a must-see. The girl was anxious about Aabid's part because she didn't think he would ever respond. Still, she had to try and do her part.
The young lady slept restlessly, hoping that this depressing mood would disappear by tomorrow morning.
Safeeya was audacious enough to ask cold Aabid for decaffeinated coffee. He agreed. It took place right at that place, no phone associations exchanged just her buying freezing coffee for him.
At night, his brain examined his harmonious interaction with her and his friends the whole day for approximately half an hour. She was confident which he fancied. Cool with everybody around her too.
Subsequent to his supplication, he shifted his laptop to begin what he typically does at that hour every Fridays.
Searching for his mother.
He would contact local Pakistani town heads or people that knew people around and ask if they had documents or knew 'Narmin Khan' in their locality. Atimes he would search for her name among lists in confidential folders. These folders, he obtained from notable people which he connected himself with purposely for the search.
He could still remember it clearly, how some things happened and remember the stories he was told.
His father was on a trip to visit far tie-ins from his maternal side. That was where he met ma'Narmin and fell deeply for her. She was his far relations. Although he left without making a big move, years later after coming back, he came across her again and finally opted to take her with him.
That time, she had completed her bachelors in Arabic and he was pursuing his masters degree in Economics. Although married, he figured ma'Narmin would make a huge impact in his life so the wedding took place in a jiffy-it was a happy reunion.
They lived happily-as far as Aabid could remember. But one day, things took a huge turn. But the only scenario that clung to his mind was his father beating his mother up and him screaming his father to let go and the next day, his mother had called him for a serious talk although he was only 5.
"Promise to be good whether I'm here or not,"
That remained the only strong and clear memory he had of what happened.
Nobody ever talked to him about that. Nor did they explain to him what exactly happened. Except one of his aunt, ma'Kalthum. She noted that the mother wanted no ties with him
Out of the blues, his phone rang incessantly, driving him out of his reflections. This annoyed him greatly and with anger, he yearned to know who disturbed him at such odd hours.
Finding that it was Violet who was calling, his heart lightened up so quickly. She filled his ears up with sweet lovey-dovey darling words which he enjoyed. But he knew very well that it had to end that night.
"How are you, lovely madam?"
(I am well. Its just that i miss you babe. Can't you come to me this moment?)
"You know very well, I can't. I would be dead if I tried." He said, closing the laptop. "Tell me, what are you up to?"
(Ever since you've left, i've been bored to death... thanks for connecting me to this new job. Now I have something doing--at least...)
"Oh. Not at all... not at all. That was nothing,"
(I know its nothing to you! But its great for me, love.)
"Mhm. Anything that makes you happy," he knew he did not mean it. But it felt like a duty to say that. That's what everybody says, he noticed.
(Babe, how was your day. What did you do? Who were you with, darlin'?)
"I would appreciate if you would tell me that too,"
(But I asked first. What do you mean?)
"I went to work. I was together with my friends. We played games. That is all that happened."
(Wait... are you suspecting me or something?) she asked, slightly offended.
"Suspecting? Just answer the question Vi, where are you even right now?"
(What do you mean?)
Aabid sighed.
"I have something to tell you, Vi,"
As she pondered what he had learned about her, her heart soared. Was it because she had a new boyfriend or that she invited guests over to their house without telling him? In addition, she was really afraid that he would find out that she was in Hawaii right now with this new boy-friend.
He learned about all of them, not just one.
Aabid and Violet's relationship thus came to an end that evening, for he had discovered all of Violets secrets - not just one - and their story came to a conclusion.
Maybe forever, maybe just temporarily.