She has been feeling it for a while now - that sense of awakening.
There is a gentle rage simmering inside her, and it is getting stronger day by day.
She will hold it close to her - she will nurture it and let it grow.
She wont let anyone take it away from her. It is her rocket fuel and finally she is going places.
She can feel it down to her very core- this is her time.
She will not only climb mountains - she will move them too.

-Lang Leav
___________________________________

'This place gives me the creeps.' I whisper. A cluster of men stare at me, eyes filled with hunger. I instinctively fold myself behind Maaz. I clutch his arm, using it to shield my body.

We continue down the small, poorly lit alley. Shutters are closed on either side but this place seems to be opening as the night gets older.

A trio of girls, laugh and point at Maaz. A girl breaks free from them and kohl rimmed eyes wink at Maaz, she holds up her long manicured hand urging him forward. Her electric blue hair are left free, she purses her dark red lips when Maaz doesn't move.

'Just a minute.' Maaz murmurs and heads to the girl. Her eyes light up, lingering on his chest then his face, taking him in. She places her palm on his chest and leans up to whisper in his ear.

I clench my hands, nails digging deep into my palm. I take a step ahead noticing a lone girl smoking. Like all others the lack of substantial clothing on her body is appalling.

A stout man falls into step with me. His hand brushes mine and I flinch.

'I am in the mood for a tease tonight. You are perfect.' He grins at me. He tugs at his earring and leans closer to me.

'But don't keep me waiting too long.' His breath washes over my face, I stumble backwards.

Strong arms encircle me from behind steadying me. The familiar cologne washes over me and I relax under his touch.

'She's mine tonight.' Maaz says casually, tightening his hand around my shoulder.

'I do not mind sharing.' The man winks at me. I shiver, goosebumps rise along my arms.

Maaz towers over the man, 'I said she's mine tonight.'

'And every other night as well.' He mutters under his breath.

The man glares at Maaz and after one last hungry glance at me he prowls away to find another prey.

'Let us get out of here. Those girls recognized Anna. It is not safe for us here.' He tugs me back into the darkness of the alleys.

'But..' I stumble over a stone which stops my protests. A couple brushes past us, laughing drunkenly.

'Why are we not questioning them!' I whisper once the couple is out of earshot.

Maaz ignores me and continues to tug me until the voices of the alley fade in the distance. Our car looms up ahead and he opens the passenger door.

'What was that about!' I say as he slips in the driver's side.

At the same time another female voice wails, 'Let me go!'

I twist behind to see a girl squirming as Arhaan muffles her voice with his hand.

'Arhaan let her go.' Maaz orders.

'We are not trying to hurt you, we only want a few answers.' Maaz then addresses the girl.

She stares at Arhaan and then at Maaz, confusing clouding her face. I realise the boys are not going to be much help here.

'My name is Zara and these are my friends.' I break the silence. 'We came here looking for a girl... she used to live here or so we have heard. She is dead now.'

Her eyes widen in shock, 'I am sorry.'

'You had nothing to do with her death. It was a suicide.' The lie tastes bitter in my mouth. 'Please tell us what you know about her.'

Maaz shoves Anna's picture towards her.

'Annalise, she used to live here. Very pretty. Brought lots of money.' She speaks up for the first time.

I swallow.

'She did not like it here. She talked about running away.' The girl whispers as if that was equivalent to trouble.

'And did she?' Arhaan pipes up.

'Yes she did. There was this boy... perhaps he helped her.'

'Why did she work here if she didn't like it?' Maaz prods.

The girl laughs humorlessly, 'No one likes to work here. Darren had brought her here.'

'Darren?' I ask.

'He is the one who helps with the... travelling. I do not know where she came from. We are not allowed to talk much. Only supposed to make money.'

'She was a little girl!' I whisper, my heart wrenching in sorrow.

'She was pretty. That is all that matters here.'

Not a single star spots the bleak night. A blanket of darkness engulfs us as our car speeds down the highway.

'Was Aspen lying?' Arhaan asks.

Maaz dips the lights as a car overtakes us. I stare listlessly out the window, my mind a jumbled mess.

'No, I do not think so. We know that Anna left Neut. She may have arrived at Henley's shortly before her suicide.' Maaz replies.

'It was not a suicide!' I scream startling the boys into silence.

No one says a word for the hours long drive back home. Or maybe they do talk after I fall into a restless slumber haunted by memories of Anna.

$.O.$.O.

'The DNA test reports are here. I have to go pick them up.' Maaz yawns as he stretches.

My heart somersaults. Lisa's avuncular test reports. I am not sure what I am hoping for them to be. If she is Liam's niece then she would stay with him and I would lose her. If she is not, then she will lose another man who she has gotten attached to.

'I'll come.'

'Are you sure? This is your hospital's lab. You might run into someone you knew.' Maaz hesitates.

'I have to face them someday. Why not today?'

It is a bright sunny afternoon, tufts of cottony white clouds hang in the sky. I have to shield my eyes on the way to the car. The sunlight glints on the glass walls of Addy's drawing room and I see the silhouette of Ira looking out.

In spite of my prior confidence I feel jittery as we near Thumbay, the hospital that Numair and I used to work at.

'Michael said he will meet us in block B. You remember the way?' Maaz asks as he backs into an empty parking spot.

'Yeah, I guess.' I reply my mind still far away.

Maaz has driven into the common parking lot. Numair and I used to drive in from the staff entrance which was at the back. We seldom used the main entrance. It is only when Maaz opens my door I break free of my thoughts.

It is a strange feeling to walk in towards the reception like a patient. I pause every few steps with bated breath, carefully looking around the atrium. Fear of running into someone I know washes over me. I walk in a daze on a parallel line alternating between the past and present never fully present in either. The strange smell that hospitals carry of bleach, medicine and sickness is oddly comforting.

Maaz is silent but he slips his little finger into mine, tugging me along with him. He does not bother me for directions and stops a couple of times to ask a nurse or a cleaner. I look away each time afraid that it maybe someone I knew.

'Dr. Zara! It is a pleasure to see you. Your friend, Maaz told me he came here on your recommendation. It was a pleasant surprise. I am glad you visited us today. ' Michael smiles warmly at me.

'The report was needed quickly and I knew you would do it.' I smile back at him.

'Here are your reports.' Michael hands Maaz a sealed white envelop.

'These are not mine.' Maaz scratches his neck, flushing slightly.

'Oh sorry, I thought you were the father.' 

'No, we are picking this up for a friend. I'm Zara's...' The word friend lingers on the tip of his tongue. Though time has passed only chosen few know of our relationship and I seldom affirm it publicly. I beat him to it.

'Husband. He's my husband.' Maaz's eyes open wide, he opens his mouth then closes it.

'Congratulations! I didn't know you got married.'

'Thank you.' I smile politely at him.

'These sort of reports are usually confidential. Only since I knew you and Numair as honest people, I will hand these over to you. I hope I can trust you with these.'  Michael says uncertainly.

'Yes, I understand. Thank you so much for doing this for us.' I reply.

He looks down at his watch, 'I'm sorry but I've got to go. It was lovely meeting you after all this time.'

I bid him good bye for both of us. My husband still seems to be at a loss of words.

'Quit gaping. I just said the truth. Aren't you my husband?' I turn towards him once he leaves.

'Yes, yes of course... I'm yours.' I glare at him. 'Your husband I mean.' A grin breaks free and his eyes dance with delight with hidden promises in their blue depths.

'I am starving. Let us pick something to eat.' I hurry towards the nearest exit, now leading the way. I want to leave this place as soon as I can. Relief hits me as I finally break out of the sterile clinical smell into the mossy outdoor lawn.

We stop a a small self serve diner for lunch. 'Get me whatever you are getting.' I tell him as I settle onto the compact leather seat beside the glass window.

The mental exhaustion pulls me down but there is a small part rejoicing within me that is whispering in an awed voice, you did it. I smile to myself thinking, it was not as hard as I had imagined.

'Your husband at your service.' Laughter is concealed within his crinkled eyes and tight lines around his mouth. He places a cup of coffee and a burger before me. I glare at him.

'It... Was it too hard?' He begins precariously halfway through our meal.

'Not as much as I had imagined.'

'I am glad.'

'Memories are the most brutal form of torture.' I add softly.

I watch as shadows flit across his face, his eyes faraway while he eats almost subconsciously. I finish my food in silence leaving him to his thoughts.

His voice is subdued, coated in hesitation but the words seem to be pulled out from his deepest recesses, 'Do... uh... do you miss... him?'

'All the time.' The dust motes swirling in front of the window stand still. Cold wraps around my numb fingers inching its way to my chest.

'I have to clear the bill.' He slips out the seat and strides to the counter. There is a slight falter in his step and I catch the crestfallen expression on his face reflected on the glass case near the counter.

When he returns there is a soft smile on his face and I begin to question myself whether I had imagined it all. At the door he strides ahead of me and opens it with a flourish, 'Allow your husband to get it for you.'

The study has never been this shabby. Stacks of papers flutter all over the thick carpet as Arhaan skims over each and discards it. Maaz is hidden behind a pile of books and files that clutter his table.

I am sprawled over the carpet at the other end of the room with my back resting against the trunk shaped table, sipping coffee, willing my headache to go away.

'When are you going to meet Liam?' Arhaan asks.

'He had been busy. We will visit him tomorrow.' Maaz answers.

'Yeah, it has already been two days since we received the reports.' I add.

'Zara, come here.' Maaz calls out to me from his swivel chair.

Out of acquaintance I find myself settling into his lap, to lean over to the screen he is pointing at.

'This is the first file. It is an alphabetically organised list of names. I think they are orphanages.'

I scroll the unending list in bewilderment, 'So many exist?'

'These are from many countries, not only from around here. Here, check out these columns.' He scrolls back to the top.

'It lists the name, the location, the  name of the person in charge, number of staff members with their names, contact details,  the number of boys and girls in each home and miscellaneous notes on each.'

'That's a hell lot of details to sift through.' I remark.

'Yes, but importantly why?'

'Why are they listed here?'

'No idea.'

'I have managed to get into the next one as well.' Maaz closes the list and pulls up another.

'You opened the same thing.'

'No, this is a second updated sort of list. If you observe you will notice differences in both.' He leaves me to flip between the two lists and joins Arhaan on the carpet. They talk in hushed voices, softly discussing.

I pull up a notepad and start jotting down the differences between the two documents hoping they make more sense when they are down on paper in front of me.

'Oh shoot, I am late!' Arhaan jumps up knocking off the pen from Maaz's left hand.

'Late for?' I inquire.

He shoots me a skeptic look, 'Eliza and I were going to have dinner today.'

'I see.'

His head snaps to me, eyes narrowing in suspicion. He looks at Maaz and then at me.

'That easy? No she is my little sister warning today?'

'She is not little anymore.' I return to writing on my notepad tuning him out.

The door shuts slowly, the automated lock clicking into place and the study is quiet again. Except for the soft rustling of papers as Maaz sifts through them, his head bent over.

An hour later I have a decent list but no rhyme or reason behind it. Exhausted the slap the notepad closed and turn off the laptop.

'Shall we order in. I am too tired to cook.' I ask heading over to Maaz.

Thirty minutes later the bell rings, 'Your husband will get it.' He grins. I glare. Like a polite girl I had blushed and smiled the first three times he had referred to himself as, your husband.

It stopped being cute after the twenty eighth time. And around the sixty fifth time I wanted to shut the door on his fingers when he so lovingly had opened the already open bedroom door with the words, 'Your husband will get it for you.'

$.O.$.O.

A/N: Yup, I am still here. Still updating.
As promised I will be updating but not as frequently. Do stay tuned!

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