Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Abba felt under the intense of a scorching fire; rather than the bloodshot eyes of his dear daughter. His Adam's apple kept bubbling up and down, he was surely trying to form the words in his mouth, but it loomed the words are so hard to compress.

Amna sombrely moved close to Abba, and placed her hands on his thigh___her tears dripping onto his trouser. "Abba, please tell her, she might feel relieved. We all know what she has been going through, please Abba," she pleaded sith a rueful tone, she knew it's hardly Abba will talk, seeing the look in his eyes.

He held her shoulders and squated her down to his sitting size. Clearing her tears, he spoke softly, yet; lovingly. "It's okay, Amna. I'll tell your sister, stop crying," there was a smile, rather; smirk that curved his, he might have an idea of how to halt this heart scourging conversation.

Laboriously, he yawed his gaze from Amna's face to Hayfah's; whose eyes were closed, tears of anguish rolling down sideways. She was thinking of him, she wants to see him, feel his warmth, she want to be ensconced in his warmth forever. But he has left her once again. Did he know how she love him? He wouldn't have left like that___albeit he helped vulgarized her back into the painful world.

"Bingel am (My daughter)," Abba slurred, his heart breaking as to how he saw her trying so hard to suppress her tears, but she was in too much pain to do that.

Without a word, she opened her eyes and fixed them on Abba's distraughted face. He gulped down a lump before answering her. "I'll answer your questions, but before then___I would like you to ask your Mother about the whereabouts of your so called pregnancy and the authentication of the numerous abortions," there was a triumphant tone on his voice, for it seems they all have forgotten about the pregnancy case and abortions____including Umma herself.

Umma abruptly looked at him, sweat forming on her forehead. She felt burning with their piercely gazes____including Hayfah's.

It was when Abba uttered those words that realisation hits on Hayfah, she was supposed to be a whore; a pregnant lady that did many abortions huh? Could her life be meaningful? 'He' was the only reason she lives for. If not for him____she knew she might be dead years back.

Hayfah laboriously scrutinised the whole room, not meeting their gazes. She knew Abba brought up the issue of pregnancy because he couldn't answer her questions. And she prefer living with no accusation on her, than hearing the tragic end of that story, for it loomed it would be an afflicting tragic end.

"Umma, you knew I know I'm not pregnant huh? Why the so much hate? Please, tell them you were mistaken. I'm not saying you were lying, but, wash me out of this," Hayfah pleaded, her tears streaming down profusely.

Umma wore her fiesty expression and looked at them "Something might be fishy, how she's so weak is a sign of another abortion! So, stop asking of already aborted pregnancy," she bellowed, not meeting their gazes, as she yawed her gaze to the other side of the room, hissing.

Before anyone in the room could react, Tahir stood up and walked to where Umma was; fuming with rage. "What's the meaning of this? Why can't you for once feel empathy towards this frail lady? Umma you weren't like this!" He roared, his wrathful voice sending shivers down their spines.

"She was like this before you were even born, she was like this from the incipient!" Abba retaliated in a high pitched tone that was laced with guilt, hatred and pain.

All their hearts missed a beat. So the story of the incipient was true! They thought they were all confused, but they knew the story didn't end. Hopefully, they might get to hear the end of the story.

"What happened to Rukayya?" They heard Hayfah's desolated whimper; as her husky voice was choked with tears.

Abba stood up, "I don't know! She was the one that cooked up the story, completing it lies on her mouth. And don't ever ask me any question, until she approve to be accusing Hayfah about the pregnancy and abortion!" He declared in a high pitched tone, with a tone of finality laced on his voice____as he infuriatedly stomped out of the room.

There was an eerily silence in the room, only Hayfah's sobs could be heard, Tahir's hummings and Amna's phone's annoying ringtone.

"Would you pick or deny that goddamn call!" He yelled furiously.

"Don't you dare yell at my daughter! You can go out as your coward father did!" Umma chirped in, she would never change.

He stood up, shaking his head sideways, with a rueful smile plastered on his lips. "You see your injustice act, Umma? Why are so selfish? I'm out," he spoke disgustfully and trudged out of the room.

"Umma..," Amna spoke, but was halted by Umma's wrathful voice.

"Don't even utter a single word!" She declared, and stomped out of the room too.

Amna sombrely looked at Hayfah; after flashing Umma's retreating back an unexplainable look. "Hayfah, I don't know how to console you, I know you're going through alot, but just have one thing in mind___you're worth loving, worth caring for, and you deserve to live a happy life," came Amna's placating voice, as she moved forward and took Hayfah's hand in hers, squeezing it a little.

Hayfah smiled ruefully___yes, she knew she's worth loving, but would she ever have that love she yearned since childhood? What of the care she had always wished to have? And happiness___does that word even written in her life? She doubt, only if she would be with 'him' which has no iota of chance.

"Addah, you don't have to worry about me, I'm used to the pains, I'm inured now. Call me Fareeha please," she smiled factitiously, knowing she couldn't tell anyone about 'him' but Fareeha; even though she too still didn't know his name.

Amna called Fareeha and told her they were in the hospital, with the room number and all, before she ended the call, looking at Hayfah that had been contemplating wether to let sleep engulf her or not; for she was afraid of seeing him, whilst she was sure he would leave again.

"Even if he'll leave, I hope I'll see his face again," with that, her lips curved into a smile, as she closed her eyes____hoping to see him in her dream.

***

He was walking along a beautifully decorated aisle, there was an exquisite bakhoor that filled his nostrils. The atmosphere alone send chills down his spine, sending a feeling of solace to his heart, as he yearns more to take a glimpse of her face.

The aisle was long, he couldn't see the end of it; he began feeling thirsty, as his legs began to pain him, due to the time he took ascending the staircase that has no end to his eyes.

Seconds turned to minutes, as those minutes became hours____there was still no scintilla of a being in the spacious humungous place, which has nothing in it but that beautiful aisle. He couldn't take it anymore, his veins were drenched, joints feel detached, as his heart began constraining due to stress.

He slumped down on the stairs and began panting for breath. Out of the blue moon, a fair well-sculptured hand that was beautified with a red henna; handed him a cup brim of chilled water. Relieved and appreciated, Adyan looked up with his lips curving a smile. "Thank you," he uttered slowly, as he still couldn't see her face.

She scooped beside him and began massaging his sore feet, whilst he closed his eyes; welcoming the feeling of relief. Lifting up his eyes, he wanted to see who this girl was____when she looked up too, locking her orbs with his. "I miss you," she smiled warmly and genuinely at him.

His once forlorn and tired face lit up into a grin. Long forgetting the pain he was; Adyan pulled back his leg and engulfed her into a bone crushing hug___heaving a sigh as he felt her warmth, and how her heart was beating erratically.

"I was walking for god knows since, I was alone on this aisle; where were you before? Were you also walking on this empty aisle alone?" He asked, when they break the hug, but their hands were entwined; as Hayfah kept looking at their hands, smiling affectionately.

Tears began spilling down from her eyes, as she remembered what brought her here; out of her dungeon, her black and lifeless bush. "No, I wasn't walking here; but mine is a black and lifeless bush, full of pains, tears and grudges. I felt you need me here, that's why I've been praying, until I finally feel the chains that ensnared my hands and legs were unchained. I need to go back there, alot more awaits me," she informed, hugged him one more time; before she stood up, handing him a basket; brim of fruits and a water jar.

"This might be of use to you, because I know you weren't used to hardship, but up there; at the top of the aisle____there might be alot of pains and grudges. I hope we all overcome them one day," she cleared her tears, as her beautifully attractive clothes started rifting off, turning into dirty and horrifying; whilst her beautifully subtle skin was becoming scaled and pale.

Adyan got tensed, he held her hands firmly in his, agitatedly convulsing her "What is happening to you? Why are you turning like this? Come to me, we shall leave all these places together," he was trying to drag her to him, distraughtedly____but it was as if she was rooted to her spot; a rueful smile on her lips.

"Everyone has his own kind of life journey, brace yours; there are also alot of grudges and hardships, whilst mine____you can't withstand it," as she closed her mouth____a chain from nowhere ensnared her legs and hands, dragging her to a place unbeknownst to Adyan.

Adyan shouted and moved closer to her, trying to take a hold of her hands. But as he slightly touched her hand; he felt as if it was a scorching fire, blazing with pain. He quickly take back his hands, tears streaming down his face, he could clearly imagine the pain she is in.

"That's just the preamble, the pain is so unbearable," she smiled painfully at him, before she vanished into a thin air.

Adyan slumped on the staircases and let out a loud wail, crying profusely, with so much anguish and pain laced. "I'll come for you, that too; very soon___Tesoro mio," he avowed, as another set of tears washed down his face.

Crest fallen, he woke up from the scariest slumber he had ever fallen in his life. Surprisingly, he felt his pillow soaked with tears, as some were still cascading down. Abruptly, he reminisced the dream he had with Hayfah, his one and forever love. He felt a pang in his heart, remembering the pain he felt in his hand. Would she by any chance be in such pain? Is she really in need of him in her life?

But how he saw her in the dream felt surreal, he could still feel her warmth, and could vividly see her affectionate and heart melting smile. Her rueful and vulnerable tears scourged his heart. He hardly dream, so he knew____their might be something enshrouded in this dream.

Clearing away his tears, Adyan scavenged for his phone and dialed his Sorella's number, which she picked immediately. "How's ny Amore doing?" She asked sweetly. As soon as her voice chirped through the phone, Adyan broke into tears; he just can't control himself. He needs to see her, to see wether she's in pain or not. He needs to protect her, wether it would cost his life.

"What happened? Talk to me, son!" Mum shouted agitatedly, tears were already glistening her eyes; she felt her heart violently beating, for Adyan seldom cries, but when he does____it's something she wouldn't wish to hear.

"It's her, Mom. She's in pain, she needs me, I can't live like this. My heart is paining me, I need to see her, to protect her, she needs me, Mom!" He whimpered loudly, crying profusely. The pain in his heart is really unbearable, he felt his breath languishing.