Hazek's POV
I try calling her again but she hangs up the call for the tenth time already. Running my hands through my hair in frustration, I put my phone away in my back pocket.
I have been tense all night after I saw my video against Sana in the library flowing on the internet. I underestimated her, she was far more viscous than my imagination. She could go to such lengths to achieve something, it disgusted me to the core.
And the mere thought that she could get someone… Ra*ed?
My only concern was Aisha right now. I just hope she hasn't already brainwashed her against me although my gut feelings tell me the opposite.
I was sitting in the library and I could feel people's eyes piercing through my body. The urge to yell and tell everyone what actually had happened was overwhelming but I knew it would be in vain as no one would believe me.
'Go ahead tell everyone. Just like Rafia faced the dirt, you'll be no different.'
Sana's words echoed in my head and I could now understand why she had been too quiet about her situation. Rafia had no proof to prove herself innocent meanwhile Sana must have something against her to conceal her lips.
"Dude! I have been searching the place all over for you." Mahir speaks suddenly appearing and taking a seat in front of me. "What is going on? You're not even picking up your phone."
"I dug up my own grave. This is what happened bro."
I explained everything to Mahir and it shook him. For a moment he stayed quiet and the silence bothered me as if I was really doomed and I had no way out.
"You have to talk to Aisha anyhow."
"I can't reach her, she's been avoiding my calls."
"Then go to her. It's her life that is at stake. You're a guy, people will ignore it since you're a man but if something happens to her they will torture the girl wherever she goes unless she dies that's how our society is."
"You're right. I have to get through to her somehow."
~~~
I waited in the class for her to arrive but she didn't arrive until late when the class had already started and I had no choice but to sit back and watch her chatting and whispering with Sana.
Sana turned to look at me and winked and I knew she had the situation under her control and I was out of luck.
"Don't be disappointed. You'll get a chance." Mahir whispers in my ear. "And if not, just go to her house and talk it out. You're cousins after all and about to get married and no one would mind a little conversation."
After the class, I quickly rushed to where Aisha was before she could leave her seat.
"We need to talk."
"We? I don't." She deadpans and carries her bag on her shoulder but before she can leave I block her path with my body.
"You listened to her side. Isn't it fair you hear me out too?" I looked at Sana who was just a foot away looking at the both of us. Suddenly her eyes teared and she ran out which didn't surprise me.
"I am not leaving my best friend when she's struggling mentally because someone blackmailed her." I extend my hand and block her path again. "Do you want us to be filmed and see that flowing on the internet?"
I now took the leverage to look around and she was right, a few classmates had taken their phones out stealthily to film us. Taking this chance, Aisha walks out on me yet again.
~~~
It was Zuhr prayer time and the break time too. I went to the University's Masjid (mosque) and prayed to Allah only to feel much lighter.
Leaving things to Allah brings peace and satisfaction, no matter how bad the situation might be but knowing my lord is there for me always, he would never bring me unjust and only carve me to become a better and tougher human.
"Blackmailer." Someone comments as I pass through them while leaving the masjid but the comment didn't hurt me after I made peace with my Allah.
As I was walking towards the front gate of the university, I saw Aisha standing near the exit. Grabbing this opportunity, I rushed towards her.
"I know you don't want to hear me," I say, coming to stand next to her which took her by surprise. "But I am not saying anything to prove myself innocent but only to make you aware of who might be your real friend and enemy."
"Thanks to her. I now know who is my friend and who is an enemy." She says without looking at me.
"Rafia. She's a year junior in our department. Just go talk to her if you despise me that much."
"Rafia?" She scoffs hearing her name. "You think I don't know that she's a man snatcher?" She puts her sunglasses on and lifts her chin in the air before combing her hair with her fingers. "Hazek you only made it easier for me. I'm proud that Sana is my best friend, she trusts me with everything she's been through. She's one in a million."
My mind was blown by her admission.
So Sana had already shared her manipulated story and she's believing her with her eyes closed?
"Whose man snatcher?" I finally ask.
"Sana's. She was engaged to a businessman and Rafia being her ex-bestie out of jealousy couldn't take it and-"
"And she broke them up and became his girlfriend instead?"
"You know then why ask?"
"She reversed the story. Rafia was the actual victim."
"I could say the same for Rafia." She quirks up an eyebrow. "Now if you'll excuse me." She was about to turn and leave when my question froze her feet on the spot.
"Why aren't you wearing your abaya, and hijab with niqab when you're going home?"
I know she always comes and goes out of the university with her cover but why wasn't she wearing it when she was leaving for home? Had she already told everyone at home about being an influencer?
The women of our house are always covered in front of na-mahrams. Seeing Aisha take off her hijab on the university's premises was the first time I witnessed her after we became adults.
I felt rage when she did it for the first time because a Muslim woman isn't ordinary, she is someone special who must be protected from evil men's eyes and intent like a treasure box.
This box can only be opened by her husband who will know her true worth and value her.
A Muslim woman's parda (cover) is like a wrapped candy that is not splintered in the dirt, trampled by people or animals, or flies sitting on it because it's wrapped, it stays new. Only the one who buys it knowing its worth will be able to have a taste of it for a lifetime. Just like nobody prefers used stuff, a Muslim woman protects herself from being misused by men, and in this way, she saves her beauty for her deserving husband.
I have been patiently tolerating Aisha's decisions but now I was concerned if it may lead her to a dangerous path where there'll be no return.
"You're no one to question my choices Hazek." She now turns to me for the first time since I encountered her. "Let me make this clear once and for all today. I am not marrying you Hazek, not before, not ever in my life. Throw out any thoughts of marrying me, I have dreams I need to fulfill and you're only a hindrance between them. Sorry for being late to tell you but I just received the confidence now." With her harsh words, she turned away and walked out of the university's gates Meanwhile I was left with an aching pain in my chest.
Why was I feeling hurt? Was it the right time to feel this way when she was under the influence of a person who could sabotage her life? I should be more reasonable. Her vision has been blurred but not mine. I should try to explain things to her one more time.
With a heavy heart, I turned around and followed her out of the university gates. Just when I was about to yell her name to stop her, I saw a Porsche stop before her and she settled inside the car without hesitation.
I tried to catch sight of the driver but from my distance, I couldn't identify who the person was but my heart sank.
I could see it was a man she sat with. The man said something to which Aisha gave away a hearty laugh and with that, the car sped away.
"Poor you. She's way out of your reach, Hazi." My head whips to the person standing next to me.
It was Sana with a snarky smile.