An Echoing Race.

Chapter Twenty Five.

#Chapter Twenty Five#

My heart began to beat faster at baba's words. 

Intensify the security system? Why did we need to do that? We already had a large amount of guards at home, not to mention the three to four guards who had to accompany each of us wherever we went, including Samir.

In fact, even our extended family each had their own set of guards who lived close by to them. 

We had top of the range equipment installed around our house and private investigators who worked behind the scenes to catch anyone who may be plotting against the government. 

Protection was always something baba had prioritised so the fact that he thought we needed to strengthen it, was a problem. 

For Gods sake, the only place I could go without wearing my scarf in this house was in my room. Everywhere else there was a camera with someone watching.

I plastered my ear closer to the door. "Has something happened Sir?" Salem asked, reading my thoughts. 

Something must've happened.

Something baba isn't telling us. 

"Sameena?" I heard Tariq's voice call out to me. I jumped away from the door just as he rounded the hallway corner. I managed a smile in an attempt to mask my worry and took slow steps towards him. Tariq, I had realised, was an expert at reading emotions. Maybe it was because of his job, or maybe it was just a trait he was born with. "There you are," he said. "I wanted to go down to the kitchen to grab some painkillers, but I wasn't sure if I could just walk down there?" 

"Of course you can!" I exclaimed with a wave of my hand. "I'll come with you." 

"Thanks." He stepped up so he was side by side with me and I didn't miss the little wince he gave as he started to walk. 

"Are you alright?" I asked worriedly, roaming my eyes across his face. 

"Yeah, I just have a little pain on the right side of my stomach." He was clutching the same side as he spoke. 

"What kind of pain?" I questioned.

"Sort of like a sharp throbbing."

"Does it hurt a lot?"

He shook his head. "It's not excruciating, but it is uncomfortable. It just started playing up tonight actually." 

"Aw, come on Doc, aren't you going to diagnose yourself?" I joked. He chuckled and winced again as we descended the last flight of stairs and headed into the kitchen.

"I'll take the painkillers first and if they don't work and the pain persists, then I'll have reason for concern." He swiped a lock of hair away from his forehead and smiled up at me, grey eyes kind and searching as always. Before I could get swept away in them, I moved towards the high cabinet where all our medicines were stored and pulled out two types of painkillers, holding each out to him.