Salaam readers,

It was really sweet of some silent readers to take out their precious time to leave behind valuable comments.

Thank you.

Dedicated to fmk350

The next day was one of the worst days of my entire life. I hadn't slept a wink on the previous night and nor had Aahil.

It took us a terrifying amount of will power to remain calm. Aahil had sensed danger as soon as Uncle Haroon had fled the scene and he had immediately rephrased his earlier sentence and told Hamilton that he had just invited him for dinner as we hadn't seen him from a long time.

But, Hamilton was no fool and had returned a look of a wicked smile. Aahil had to make up some false stories to satisfy the detective's lust to gain information.

We had to act happy and smiling host until the dinner was over and as soon as he had vacated the house, we had begun a mad search of the entire house but had found not a single clue.

The whole house seemed to be messed up and I had never experienced mom's wrath to such extent.

She had thrown one glance at the house and gone into hysterics. I couldn't divulge to her the complete truth and make her worry, therefore, I had told her that I was searching for some precious thing that I had lost.

Eventually, she had calmed down but had been obdurate that the house should be cleaned by those who are responsible for the current state.

Aahil had laughed out loud and agreed to clean the mess. I had tried my best to help him but felt too weak to do anything.

Every hour or so the bile kept threatening to show up and I was sure that I had caught a stomach bug.

________

The following morning when Ayaath woke me up, my throat felt like I had swallowed a packed of razor-blades and my head felt like it was splitting in two.

"Mom is waiting for you, downstairs. It is already past ten and you are still in bed." Ayaath drawled bemused.

"I won't be needing any breakfast," I croaked, just the thought of food made me terribly nauseous.

Ayaath narrowed her eyes, "I guess you had a late night. Is that handsome hubby of yours keeping you awake." She ended her sentence with a husky laugh.

I threw her a nearby pillow when I found my energy to lift my head.

"Calm down. I ain't a kid anymore," She teased, "Mom will be sending the housekeeper in a few seconds so don't lock the door."

"Tell mom not to bother about cleaning my room. I'm going to die in it today," I added dramatically.

"You are such a baby," Ayaath was diplomatic enough to ask any further questions and she left the room throwing one last glance at me, "We are planning to play a game of scrabble, you could join us if you wish."

I could hear loud chattering noises from the hallway. I heard ayath shouting and Noor arguing with her over a word on the scrabble board and after a few seconds, Ali came to their rescue.

The happy conversation's and laughter got louder and I groaned against the bed, pressing the pillow to my ears.

Consequently, I was surprised not only to hear a knock at the door several minutes later but to see Aahil walk in response to my feeble squawk.

"What on earth happened to you?" In a dark pinstriped suit, he looked superbly healthy, in contrast to how I must appear, I thought, if my matted hair, hot cheeks and aching eyes were anything to go by!

"I've got the deadliest stomach bug and bubonic plague," I pouted, "And there is this little man brandishing a sword around my tonsils!" subconsciously my fingers curled around my throat. "So you better go away before it gets to you too."

He pulled a face, coming nearer and I wondered why he had to look so effortlessly dynamic. I hadn't forgiven him still and just the sight of him was going to weaken my resolve.

"No problem. I've had it," he said, palming my temple, then gently feeling both sides of my throat.

His fingers were tender and cool, "Your temperature is high and your glands are pretty swollen."

And your hands smell of cologne, I thought, the very smell which could make my knees weak and bring butterflies to my stomach, was making my stomach churn and I swallowed the urge to throw up.

"You look so flushed."

"I'm alright," I said feebly, "I don't need any looking after."

"So you are going to get up and do all your daily chores, are you?" He looked amused, half-sceptical.

"I'm going back to sleep," I slipped back to sleeping position.

"What about breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry," I croaked.

"No, but I bet you could certainly do with something to drink."

My throat craved something fruity, and I tried to mask the longing expression on my face. I was too proud actually to ask him to get something for me.

"I'll be back," he told me, astute enough to guess.

He returned a few minutes later, holding a huge cup of something.
"Freshly made lemonade with honey and paracetamol," He said in answer to my silent query, as he sat down beside me.

Aahil held the tablet out for me to take. It was small and white in contrast to the strength of his hand.

"It was thoughtful of you," I quipped, sipping the liquid from the mug he had handed me. It was sweet and lemony, unbelievably soothing as it slid down my burning throat.

"Take the tablet," he urged, suddenly impatient, and I obeyed.

I kept my lashes lowered so that he wouldn't witness the love that I had for him. I wanted to fling myself on him, but I wasn't going to forgive him so easily. So ill and cranky, I thought as I popped the pill into my mouth. It was still excruciating to swallow but the liquid was easing my throat by the second.

"Thank you," I said when I had had enough, and as he took the mug from me I leaned back against the padded headboard, closing my eyes, murmuring almost unthinkingly, "You are a godsend."

"Really?" The amusement in his voice made me open my eyes again, even my eyelids were burning. "I thought your opinion of me was that of a devil."

"The devil is somewhere out there and we need to find him soon," I replied half humorously.

He nodded his head and his eyes seemed to probe beyond the brown of my eyes to the very depth of my soul. "We need to search the warehouse once again. I'm sure uncle Haroon might not have searched thoroughly enough."

"You are right, we need to place a call to dad's lawyer too, as he said dad has left a lot of valuables and the security system opens only with a password."

"I wonder what could the password be," Aahil drawled, "We have found two clues and both of them open with a password."

"I've been thinking the same too," I swallowed again.

"You need to rest. We'll sort out everything once you feel fresh and new."

I shook my head. "We haven't got all the time in the world. I have this terrible gut feeling that things are going to turn worse."

"Don't be pessimistic. If Allah wills things are going to become better."

"I agree, but Aahil I'm scared," It was the first time that I had acknowledged to myself that I was running afraid of all that was going around me, for a long time I had tried to suppress my fears, but after rushda had gone missing, I felt terribly weak and helpless.

"I know what scares you. We have already begun the search, InshaAllah we will find her soon."

"I hope they don't harm her."

"Believe me they won't. Don't let them terrorize you."

I nodded my head and let out a small breath.

He got from his sitting position and stood beside me, "Turn."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

I shot him a perplexed glance before I did as I was asked.

Without warning he pulled back my messed hair, running a comb through them, and tied it back into a ponytail.

And I couldn't contain the huge smile that spread across my face.

"Do you know even safwan is worried sick," Aahil divulged in a sad note.

"I wouldn't be surprised if his concern was fake," I replied annoyed.

"I have never seen him look so gloomy. He is trying to use all his journalist contacts to try and find her."

"I do not wish to speak about him," I dismissed his further sentence with a wave of my hand. Safwan had left Rushda months before my wedding and seeing him last time with another girl had increased my bitterness on him.

"Ok. I won't discuss him if it doesn't go well with you."

Aahil's phone beeped and he took it out from his trouser pocket, glancing at the screen, anger erupting from him in waves.

"I can't believe this," He grumbled as he threw his cell phone across the bed.

"What is it?" I asked concerned.

"Look at it yourself," He said motioning towards his phone, which was lying beside my pillow. I snatched it from its position and took a quick peek at the message he had received.

It was photo sent by Hamilton, "Noor and safwan were sitting in a conference room with Rizwan."

I looked up to find Aahil's pale face and clenched fists.

"Aahil don't get to conclusions. Everything we see needn't be true."

He kicked one of the chairs, before sinking down to the bed, running a hand through his head, "I can't believe Noor could do this," He exclaimed, angrily.

"Aahil, I agree that I suspected him way before you but he is your brother and you need to give him the benefit of doubt."

Aahil remained silent, a muscle pulling taunt in his jawline.

I stood beside him and kept a reassuring hand on his shoulders, "We cannot trust anybody at the moment. I mean Anybody. Not even Hamilton."

Aahil gasped, "You mean he could be involved too?"

I nodded my head and Aahil wrapped his arms around me and leaned his head on my waist.

I ran a gentle hand through his hair, "We just need to keep our eyes open to dangers and take more precautions," Even though I tried to calm Aahil, I felt a sickening feeling of fear pulsate through my veins, crippling me. I was too drained to cry, I stood still, staring into empty space, with a feeling of helplessness empower me.