I can't hold it for too long. It's high time I tell Ash and Ryan about all those threats. So I decided to meet them. I called them to my place.

They both arrived around eleven in the morning and we conversed for about one hour and then had our lunch. Later, after finishing lunch, we sat in the living room on the round grey mat.

Each of us was sipping on our coffees and were speaking about anything and everything. "I have been receiving threats from Charlie." I dropped the bomb and they both almost choked on their drinks.

"WHAT??" they both screeched simultaneously, staring flabbergasted at me.

"Yeah. You guys heard that right." I sighed helplessly and narrated them the whole story.

"Did he seriously put an ice slab under your bed?" Ash questioned with wide eyes and I nodded.

"What a sick fuck." Ryan cursed under his breath and gritted his teeth.

"Give me a minute." I excused myself and ran towards my bedroom. 

Holding the box safely in my hands, I walked to where I was previously sitting and placed the box on the center of the grey mat.

"This box holds my most precious possessions," I spoke in a soft, hushed tone. I opened the box and showed them all the belongings and explained to them whom each thing belonged.

I took out the map and described the marked places. And then I showed them the photographs.

"I've been to this place before but can't remember anything about it." I handed Ryan the picture of that building and Ash peeped to look at the picture.

"I think I know about this place," Ryan spoke with assurance and hope kindled in my heart. 

"Really?" Ash asked holding his hands with puppy eyes.

"Well, I think," Ryan said with uncertainty in his eyes, shrugging a little.

"Ryan!" Ash cried out in utter disappointment and I sighed sadly.

"Okay ladies, chill. I was just kidding. Before you guys kill me, I'll admit that I know about this place." said a laughing Ryan and I sighed in relief but poor guy got beaten up by his lady love. 

"Gosh, Ryan, that was such a bad PJ," I said with clear annoyance.

"I totally agree." Ash piped in, hitting Ryan on the shoulder.

"This woman's gone crazy," Ryan said in horror and put his hands up in an attempt to dodge the punches thrown at him.

"Stop overreacting Ash," I spoke laughing and Ryan joined me. "Okay, Ryan tell me already." I almost pleaded. 

"It's the Head office of the Davis Empire," Ryan said with an innocent smile gracing his lips and mine fell. 

All this while, I had been trying to find the missing pieces and didn't even, for a second, think that Ethan Davis was more than just Baba's friend. How could've I missed that. 

Ryan and Ash's bickering faded a bit as I was trying to absorb this new information in my brain. I couldn't think straight. I knew that Ethan Davis was somehow related to Charlie and I also knew that through Ethan Davis, I could easily find Charlie. But this piece of information was like a hardball that hit my face with full force.

Please, Allah let it not be what I think. I muttered a silent prayer. It must not be what I am thinking. 

Ash and Ryan left a few hours later. I wanted to go outside and spend some time alone. 

***

I took a quick shower and changed. I tied my hijab, grabbed the keys and locked the house. I sat in my car and ignited the engine. I decided to do some shopping first. I parked my car near a supermarket.

I was in the clothes section and I saw a shadow loom over me. I turned around and there was no one. Maybe I was hallucinating. Brushing the thought away, I proceeded towards the toys section. The school of Happy Smiles was re-opening in a week and I bought few gifts for my children. 

I was standing in queue for the cash counter and the person standing behind me was so strange. He was wearing a hoodie and I was getting negative vibes from him. He was trying to hide his face from my gaze. I felt like I was making him uncomfortable and there was nothing weird about him. 

A few days before I had experienced the same thing. Oh, Allah! guess I need to have a talk with Thea. I've been hallucinating lately. 

I turned back and facepalmed myself. So stupid of me. I was probably staring at him like a pervert. I probably made a joke out of myself. 

Afterward, I drove to a nearby park and parked my car there. I entered the park and the scent of fresh flowers hit my nose. 

I walked around for a while, looking at the happy faces and praying that no sorrow ever puts their smile down. Smiling at the thought, I hit a small pebble from the way.

It started raining suddenly. Everyone scattered around to find shelter and I just stood there enjoying the cold rain droplets touch my skin. I opened my arms wide.

'Ru! come here. You'll get sick.' He called me from where he stood under the tree.

'It's raining and you know I love rains.' I exclaimed excitedly jumping in a small puddle.

'Why are you so stubborn?' came his concerned, annoyed voice. 

'Because I am.' I screamed, behaving like a small little kid.

I opened my eyes and nothing was the same. Sighing, I crossed my arms over my chest and shivered due to the coldness. 

***

It was time for Fajr* Salah when I woke up. I made wudhu* and wore my khimar*. I stood on my musallah*. I offered my Salah* and sat on the musallah for a while. I raised my palms in a crescent shape and made Dua'a*.

Ya Allah ease all my worries and give me the strength to fight my battles on my own.

I prayed as my eyes poured out all the worries and sorrows and for a few moments, as I sat there, I felt all my stress and problems run away.

I got up, folded my musallah and placed it in the wardrobe. I removed my khimar and hanged it on the hanger. 

The sun was slowly rising and the blues from the sky were replaced by the hues of orange. 

I stripped off my clothes and stood under the cold shower. Feeling my skin absorb the coolness. I stayed in the shower crying my heart out and let out a scream. I hit the walls and sat down under the shower, feeling like a lost woman.

After a long shower, I wore fresh clothes and stood in front of the mirror. I brushed my hair and looked at myself. I kept the hairbrush down and took a closer look at myself.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror for the longest of times, trying to recognise the woman standing in front of me. I could see the woman broken and devastated.

Her eyes were the colour of an autumn leaf, which had now lost their brightness. The laughter in them replaced with immense grief. If you look into her eyes, you would see the pain in them, you would see her soul wanting to be freed away from her body, her shattered heart yearning for solace.

The bags under her eyes narrated a tale of her sleepless nights. Her tears a tell-tale of her misery, her grief, her pain, flowing like a broken stream, having no control.

Her cheeks, which flushed the shade of crimson, had now lost their glow making the woman appear older than her age. Her plump lips now remained chapped and dry. Her face had lost its usual glow, making her skin pale.

She looked like a warrior who had lost everything in the war of destiny and had been a witness to the downfall of its own empire. 

I could see her strings of fate in a tangled mess. She looked like the remains of a destruction, the destruction which ruined her completely, destroying everything she had once found her home in. 

She was now a woman who was only breathing but not living for there remained nothing to live for. 

***

Glossary :

1.  Fajr: It is first of the five prayers offered by a muslim each day before dawn.

2. Wudhu or  wuzu : Ablution.

3. Khimar: Clothing Muslim women wear that covers the head, temples, and neck. It reaches above the knees. 

4. Salah or  salat : Obligatory Muslim prayers offered by a Muslim five times each day.

5. Musallah: A prayer rug.

6. Dua'a: Supplication.  

***

Hello!! My ahmazinggg readers..!!!

How are y'all doing?? 

How's life been treating??

It's an update!!!

Ethan Davis and Charlie.. What do you think is the link between them?? 

Who's this hooded guy?? Any guesses?? Is he a piece of good news or a piece of bad news??

Can I get a ship name for our love birds Ash and Ryan??

Whom do you like more?? Ash or Ryan??

What do you guys think about the chapter??

Let me know in the comments!! ->

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