Everyone has secrets, what about Alina?

Aliya was starting to worry about what Alina had been doing, especially when she would come home later than usual.

"Ali, you do realize that she isn't a child to be told what to do, right?" Red asks.

"I know but I can't help but worry about her and I know that you will say whatever she is doing is her life but for me..."

"She is your sister. I know and I understand but sometimes you need to let her come to you when or if she has a problem. Don't be that person who would do the same as Rukiya did when she lived with her. I understand that she might be her chance to be a teenager. Well, a rebelious teenager. She come around to tell you if anything goes wrong, Ali. But I promise you if she tried to harm you again, I wont hesistate to hurt her," Red says, making a promise knowing how Alina was before they became friends almost a year back.

"I know and I am grateful to have someone like you and Zayn but you need to understand that people do change when they are given a chance to," Aliya explained. "Dont worry I promise that I will always be cautious about her," she added, smiling.

From that day onwards, Red kept calm and started investigating what Alina had been up to. She didn't want to tell Zayn or her best friend about what she had been doing in her free time.

Alhamdulilah, Red's schedul was packed like theirs were. She took an event planning course that required her to have a lot of projects but also free time.

Sorry, best friend. But I need to do this, not only for your sake but also for my peace of mind. I know that you trust and love your sister but for me, I just couldn't forget what she did to you in the past along with her mother. I love you as my sister, that's why I need to be an investigator to keep you safe.

A few days later, Muskaan started following Alina as soon as she got out of class. Thankfully, the university had everything that a student would want and they wouldn't have to go out of campus to get it.

But Red wasn't expecting company in the form of Zayn. She wanted to lie to him but knowing Zayn, he would get the truth from her.

"Is there something you wnat to tell me or should I guess?" He asked.

"That's none of your business, Zayn. I have places to be and my course requires me to be around campus looking for inspiration for a birthday..."

"Red, stop. Tell me before I do something that you wont like," Zayn said stopping her from more lying.

Muskaan took a deep breath and explained to him, her suspicions about Alina.

"I need to know where she has been. You know that even though Aliya, trusts her now but..."

"You dont. I know and I understand that Red. But you shouldnt be out alone following her. What if you get caught by the campus security? And you do realize that this university has a cerfew?"

Red realized that he was right and also she would need his help in uncovering what secrets Alina had that she had to sneak out past curfew every night.

"Fine but you can never tell Aliya, Matthew or even that person," Muskaan says making Zayn laugh.

Red has stopped saying Hamza's name after what he had done to her best friend.

"Seriously? Red, fine. I promise that I wont tell any of them. Now tell me what have you found."

Red started explaining what she had uncovered for the past three days to Zayn.

"She has been visiting that building for the past three days. And tonight I want to go and find out what she has been upto. Hopefully, I will get the answers that I have been waiting for."

"Okay, let's make a plan to go and catch whatever she is doing and get evidence. As it might be useful in future."

They planned the timing that they would go and see what Alina had been hiding in that building. But they also knew that their roommates, in the form of Hamza, Aliya and Matthew.

"I will just tell them that the professor asked for my help..."

"Zayn, you do realize who you are in the same class with? Your cousin, who is my best friend."

"Great there goes our plan..."

"Don't worry, I know exactly what to do. As I have been doing this longer than you have," Red said.

This confused Zayn as he didnt know what she was talking about.

Red explained what he needed to do to get out of the dorm without being noticed as she had been doing it for the past three days without Aliya noticing anything unusual.

"Fine genius. If this doesn't work, I will tell Ali everything that you have been doing..."

"Go ahead and I will tell her who crashed into her favorite bike and blamed it on the garbage cart," Red says with a smirk forming on her face.

"Okay, I would tell her anything and neither will you."

That same night, Red walked out after five minutes of Alina. She was thankful that Aliya was asleep. She then sent a message to Zayn telling him it was time.

Food and sleep are Aliya's favourite things to do. Good luck to her future husband.

Red watched carefully as Alina walked into the elevator.

"I just hope that monkey is there where we agreed on meeting or else I will be in big trouble," she said to herself as she got into the elevator.

After a few minutes, Red got out and walked to where Zayn was supposed to be waiting for her.

"Hey, I was begining you forgot about what we were supposed to do?" Zayn said as Red approached him.

"Do you know how long I needed to wait for Alina to get off the elevator? So stop nagging and let's get going before she leaves."

Zayn rolled his eyes and started walking alongside Red.

"There she is. We need to wait for five minutes before going inside," Red suggested.

"Okay."

After five minutes passed, Red and Zayn sprinted across the road and ran into the building just in time for the campus guard to do his rounds.

"That was a close one. But how do we know which floor she is in?" Zayn asked.

He turned to face Red who was already at the elevator.

"Come on, let's go before the guard sees us," Red said ushering him into the elevator.

Zayn got inside waiting for Red to say something but instead, she pressed the number 5.

"How do you that is the right floor number?"

"Because this building has rooms that are being renovated for the transfer students. I lied when I told you I didn't know what was happening in the building. And as for the number, check the plate," Red said pointing at the plate of numbers.

Zayn looked at saw the number was fading but he was confused because the building was completed a few months ago.

"That's the only number that has been touched for the one year we have been here and I doubt that the contractors did that."

Zayn knew Red had a point but he was curious why would Alina be here at that time. It was almost 10. PM and curfew is 9;30 pm.

After a few minutes, the elevator stopped at the fifth floor. Red started running towards the left side and Zayn ran with her but he felt confused.

"Hey, slow down. It seems you know more that what you say. We aren't going any farther until you tell me exactly what has been going on?" Zayn demanded an explanation.

Red had no choice but to explain her suspicions.

"I think your friend and her are in one of the rooms together. I can't tell you which friend unless I am sure that it is him."

Zayn nodded and started walking in the same direction as Muskaan until they stopped at a door that was slightly opened.

Zayn opened the door slowly with Muskaan behind him. As they both got closer to one of the rooms. They were shocked to see Alina with someone they least expected to see her with.

Red quickly took out her phone and started recording. Zayn wanted her to stop but knowing how stubborn she was, he let her do what she wanted.

"Its time for me to gio now before the noticed that I am gone..."

"We cant keep hiding this, Lina. from your sister, from everyone around us. I love you and I want to be with you. I want to marry you..."

"I know that and everything will work out. In shaa Allah. I still need to talk to my father about a few things before accepting your proposal," Alina said. "But now we need to leave and be act like strangers again," she added sadly.

They hugged each other and got up from the bed making Zayn and Red rush into one of the finished closets.

Thankfully, Alina and the person she was meeting left the building.

Zayn and Red walked out of the closet and were shocked to find out that Alina had been hiding a huge secret that might destroy her and Aliya's life.

"What should we do? I need to confront him..."

"Zayn Ahmed Aryan, no we wouldnt be doing any of that. We will continue to act as we normall do. I will keep this video and use when the time is right. Now, let's go before we get caught," Red says cutting him off.

"I don't understand you. You wanted proof yet you won't use it. Why?"

"I have my reasons, Zayn. But the most important one is protecting Ali. I will do it even if its against her sister," Red explained. "Now lets go," she added leaving the room.

Zayn was torn about telling his cousin what he learnt or leaving it as it was.

I guess Red has a point. Protecting Aliya should be our priority. Nothing else matters.

Secrets don't stay hidden for long.

Islam is a perfect religion, Muslims aren't. Before you judge a character remember that not everyone is perfect.