I will not have you
without the darkness
that hides within you.
I will not let you have me
without the madness
that makes me.
If our demons
cannot dance
neither can we.

           -Nikita Gill

________________________________

'Something is bothering you.' I state. Maaz is walking beside me with his hands folded before him. My voice brings him out of his reverie.

'No, it's nothing.' He continues to walk.

A sea gull cries out victoriously as it skims the surface of the water and plunges into it, a moment later a writhing fish is in its beak. A black haired boy, standing near the railing, watching the water squeals in delight.

Maaz is oblivious to it all.

'I think I'm rubbing off on you.' I playfully shove his shoulder. He looks at me in question.

'Earlier you used to prod me to talk.' He smiles as understanding dawns on him.

'So what is it?' I persist. Pleasant sea breeze carrying the smell of salty water and sand blows around us. My long hair are braided but few strands escape falling across my face.

'You don't blame me?' He asks me quietly.

He has been cautious around me since the day he told me about Numair's accident. I understand his indirect question.

'No, I don't.' I respond. He doesn't seem satisfied.

The wind blows his smooth black hair over his head. His eyes flick over the ocean not quite meeting mine. He trudges on around the perimeter and I trail him.

'I trust you.' I place my hand lightly over his arm.

'I do not doubt you or blame you at all. I know that you will not let me down.'  The words roll out of me surprising even me. After Numair it had seemed impossible to be able to trust another person. And to assure myself that I can give my unwavering belief after it has been broken in such a manner.

Sunlight glints in his eyes, brightening the blue making it look like a reflection of the ocean beyond. The waves break over the water, the same way doubts flicker in his eyes.

'Race you to the pier.' I touch his arm and break into a run.

I fall into pace along with numerous other joggers. My feet resound against the wooden boards. I turn my head to see Maaz reluctantly jog behind me, still further away.

'I hope you aren't planning to lose!' I shout.

He shakes his head giving in to my prodding. He breaks into a run and reaches me.

'That looks like your plan. All talk and no show.' He says with a grin before overtaking me.

On the way back home, we halt at Smile. Aylin doesn't smile on seeing us. She chews on her bottom lip and casts a nervous glance to Amaro's office.

'Please don't tell him I came to you.' She whispers hoarsely. Her usual immaculate appearance is disheveled. Her mousy brown hair are roughly tied into a pony tail, lines stand out around her dark hazel eyes.

'We are only here to meet the kids.' I say, keeping my tone indifferent.

My heart sinks as I walk inside to the play area. Kate and Ashar come bounding to me. Tom leaps onto Maaz. In spite of knowing, my eyes scour the area for quiet green eyes looking at me.

I fail to find them.

The children chatter happily around me. Maaz has already settled down in the middle of the circle, and a game of whisper has begun. The kids cast secretive glances as they whisper words to the next person.

Laughter surrounds me as the last kid, Vanessa messes up the original words. I try to smile but thoughts of Lisa invade me. I think back to the last time I had seen her. She had snuggled close to me as Maaz had read out Hansel and Gretel.

After a game of tag and two rounds of hide and seek, Aylin comes to inform us that visitor timings are over. At least she looks ashamed about it.

***

Monday morning arrives fresh and crisp, I open my closet and remove the letter Numair had written. I see his words in a new light with more depth, now that I know his intentions behind it. My heart cracks as his profound love seeps into me from the pages. I carefully fold them away before a drop of tear lands on it.

I place it inside the envelop and slide it beside the snow globe. I drape a cloth over it hiding it from view as if not looking at it would made me forget.

Movement on the driveway catches my attention. I step outside the French windows to see Harry's car pull away. I find Henry staring remorsefully at the car. I am thankful Maaz isn't here, he would throw a fit.

'What is he doing here?' I tap Henry's shoulder making him turn to me. Guilt crosses his face

'I tried to stop him after Sir told me not to let him in.' He says tiredly.

'Maaz said that?'

'Yes, he said he was forbidden on the property.' Henry says.

'Then why is he still here?' I ask.

'Ma'am doesn't listen to me. She said this is her house too and Sir can't always have what he wants.' Henry says warily.

'It's alright, you don't have to worry. Maaz isn't home, he won't know.' I reassure him.

'He will, if he checks the cameras.' His shoulders slump.

Of course, there would be cameras around the house. It is basic security. I feel stupid as I realize I never noticed them before.

'He will not be mad at you.' I tell him. I can't say the same about Ira.

Maaz and Ira had the most beautiful bond. Unlike me, Ziyan and Eliza who always argued and fought they respected each other. Maaz never said no to Ira and Ira fulfilled everything Maaz asked for. Perhaps losing their mother at a young age had bonded them that way.

Ever since Harry walked into her life, not only has he troubled Ira but he has also shaken the bond between the brother-sister duo. He is one thing they both hold widely opposing views on.

My phone begins to ring demanding my attention. I grab it from the table.

'Are you dressed?' Maaz asks me.

'Was I supposed to be?' I rack my brain wondering what I have forgotten.

Maaz sighs, 'Dad is leaving today. We are dropping him off to the airport.'

'Oh drat, of course. I'll be ready in five.' I throw the phone to the couch and run around the house like a headless chicken. I throw open my closet.

I put my hands into a plain red button down shirt while trying to put on my pants at the same time. It is highly not recommended because a second later I topple face down onto the floor. It is this embarrassing posture that Maaz finds me in.

He laughs as I pick myself from the floor, drowning in embarrassment. He stands beside me and pulls out clothes for himself, from his closet, laughing all the while. I button my shirt up with as much dignity as I can, then turn to glare at him.

My glare is cut short when Addy's voice booms in our house, 'Do you want me to miss my flight? It leaves in three hours and we haven't started!'

Maaz ducks into the bathroom with one last grin at me.

With reach the airport in record time, Addy rebuking Maaz all the way for his tardiness. Their mild banter entertains me on the way.

'Why did you go to work today?' He asks for the tenth time.

'To work!' Maaz responds eliciting a chuckle from me.

'You had a valid excuse to not go.' Addy grumbles.

There is barely time for goodbyes, Addy gives both of us half a hug before running over to the check in counter.

Back in the car Maaz lets out a sigh of relief. I look at him in question.

'If he had missed his flight, I wouldn't have heard the end of it.' He replies.

Instead of dining in, we buy sandwiches and juice and stay inside the car to eat them. I idly think over the events and something clicks into place. I stop unwrapping my sandwich and turn to Maaz, accusingly.

'You sent them away on purpose!' I exclaim.

He stares at me in confusion, his eyebrows pinch together.

'My parents and your dad.' I state.

He smiles a guilty smile, 'I thought it would be safer.'

'How far are you with finding her?' I ask.

'Not much to be honest. I found out her uncle's name, Ryland's brother, is William. He is a law student but I don't know where he is.'

'The other missing children?' The questions tumble out.

'Similar to Anna I found a couple of them in various newspapers.'

I eyes widen, the sandwich I had eaten wants to come back up, 'You mean dead?'

He grimly nods his head.

'All with plausible reports explaining the deaths. I have to get in touch with their parents if we need to find out more.'

I am unable to speak as I try to wrap my head around this information.

'Arhaan found out Anna's adoptive parents address. We were planning to visit them next week.'

'I'm coming with you.' I state firmly.

He opens his mouth to object but I stop him. 'We are to do this together, don't cut me out.'

We finish our food in silence. I take his silence as yes. There are so many questions I want to ask that I don't know which one to ask first.

I wonder how Maaz has been coping with all this knowledge. Knowing that he had to keep it a secret, bearing the responsibility. Knowledge is a blessing as well as a curse.

One thought strikes me, 'Why did you agree? You had the choice to say no to Numair.' I ask.

He turns his head towards me, his lips split into a tiny guilty smile.

'I did consider saying no for a second. But... these innocent brown eyes over powered my mind. I couldn't leave you alone.' He says staring right into my eyes.

He leans over the console between us. I am frozen in place, captured by his eyes. My breath slows down as if this moment would be broken the second I breathe.

My eyes close on their own, breaking contact with his. I feel him shift closer, his breath caresses my face and my heart stops. A gentle touch on my forehead makes me open my eyes. Maaz untucks a strand of hair from behind my ear. It falls on my face in a subtle curl.

'Cute.' He smiles.

I flush, my fingers playing with each other. I blurt out a question to distract him, 'Why would I be in danger?'

He scrunches his forehead, leaning back a little in his seat giving me much needed breathing space.

'The wife is always in the know.' He declares. 'Numair had the information, it is easy to assume that he had shared it with his wife.'

'But he didn't.' I interrupt.

'Yes, he didn't but if they assumed you knew then they would come after you as well. Or could have used you to extract it from Numair. There are numerous ways it could have played out.'

'Vague possibilities.'

'In a way, but some of them have come true so I'd call them intelligent deductions.'

'If I was in danger, why not his family? His mother? Brother?'

'You lived with him, you were a constant part of his life. When was the last time he met his mother?' Maaz says.

I think back to those days, the memories are hazy because I have done my best to block them.

'Uh.. We had gone to France for a conference, after we came he left again for a week... so... I think two months. But that was before he left me. If we include the entire time it would become five months.' I say haltingly.

'There... it seems unlikely for him to tell her. Besides he may have warned Selah about it, asked him to keep their mother safe.' Maaz shrugs.

'Who is they? Have you figured that out?' I ask.

His face falls, taut lines appear on it.

'I am not sure about that yet. I have a few theories but nothing more.'

***

A/N : Heylo!

I hope you enjoyed this  chapter, a little revelation and a little romance makes the perfect recipe for a good chapter! What do you say?

Zara and Maaz's relationship seems to be progressing! I am so happy to see the brighter side of her.

I am planning to end RH soon. I have always had the story mapped out in my head and things have begun to fall in place. I can't tell you how many more chapters... maybe ten... maybe twenty! But we are almost there.

I don't know if that should make me happy or sad.

Cheers.

Compromise.