Always In Your Heart

Chapter-21

The crescent moon was peeking through the curtains of clouds, as the stars giggles twinkling. The air caressed her cheeks softly and her sleep got disturbed as her eyelids moved a little in attempt to open her eyes, which were feeling so heavy to lift. With lots of difficulties she was successful in opening her eyes, but she shut them tight as the sharp ray of light entered her pupils. She felt her head spinning badly, slowly she bought her hand towards her head and massaged her forehead to ceased the deadly headache. She felt something so odd about her surrondings and she opened her eyes instantly to see it, and her eyes widened seeing not so familiar place.

She got up from the bed, and ran her gaze in all the direction of the room, it was a untidy and dirty room, with the paint of the wall vanished half and spider webs hanging on the ceiling and corners of the room. A small window made up of net was present on the further height  of the  room and a dim light bulb hanging low was spreading the light in the room. But the bed was tidy with a fresh bedsheet and soft mattress. A water bottle was kept beside her bed, seeing the precious liquid she ran her tongue on chapped lips , as she gulped down her saliva, she grabbed the bottle, it was sealed, bringing it closed to her nose she took a deep sniff but found nothing fiahy, so she twisted the cap, and gulped down the water greedily. She choked at it badly due to dry throat but getting herself normal she again drank some. Then putting the cap on it, she took a deep breath as she felt so fresh now.

Previous scenarios started playing on the display of her mind as she tried to conclude why she was here? In this locked room. She checked her body for any sign of injury but found none.

To be honest she was not afraid of getting kidnapped or of anything as she knows, her lord will never let anything bad happen to her. Seeing the locked door, she didn't felt afraid or neither she reacted the way any girl who would get kidnapped would have done. She knew she have to be conscious about everything cause she have to face anything or everything, now all alone, till the time any help comes.

She got up from the bed and walk towards the door, and pressed her ear against it, but there was pin drop silence out there, she found a tiny hole in the door, looking through it she found the empty but dimly lit corridor.

She started pacing in the room, as she chanted the sacred name of Almighty Allah. She heard the call of early morning prayer, she grabbed the water bottle and performed ablution in one corner of the room and spreading the bedsheet on the clean side of the room, she offered her prayer and made dua and asked her lord for the help. Hours passed and the bright morning light entered in her room, but she was still engulfed in the remembrance of her lord.

A clicked sound of opening of the door,  broke the silence and the light footstep approached towards her, it was a maid who has bought a cup of hot tea, apple and some biscuits for her. "Get up, come with me to get fresh." The old maid ordered and Maria got up from her place and followed the maid through the dimly corridor, after passing by one room, there was an attached washroom present there. Maria quickly entered there to get fresh, after getting fresh and washing her face and cleaning her mouth with the mouthfreshner she exited the washroom. A man passed by them and she quickly drew her hijab down to hide her face from that stranger man, as she hurried to that closed room.

"Who was he?" Maria questioned but the maid glared her, giving the fresh water bottle to her.

"Why am I bought here?" Maria asked, glancing at the tray of breakfast, seeing the breakfast she felt like her kidnapping was not to harm her but for some other reasons, but she was unaware of it.

"Boss, has send me for giving you the breakfast not for gossiping. Quickly have your breakfast, I need to go." The maid ordered her harshly, and Maria, making a sad face took a sip of the tea which has turned cold. Having some biscuits, she left the half tea as it was not upto the taste. She grabbed the apple and told the maid, she is done. Maid took the tray and left from there, after locking the door.

"Boss, the girl is so timid and she doesn't show any anger or anything. Just she asked why she was here and nothing else." Maid said to Mr Rauf, who was busy in taking puffs of his cigar.

"Have you added sleeping pills in the water bottle?" He asked, and the maid nodded,"Boss, as per your order, I have not added sleeping pills in the previous bottle have injected this new water bottle." Mr Rauf nodded and with the movement of his hand, told her to dismiss and she left from there.
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It was afternoon but there was no update about Maria, everyone was praying for her safety. Half heartedly the preparation for today's Haldi function was done. Except Faiz, Faraz, Irfan, Imad, Asra and Sara, everyone were aware about Maria's absence.

All the youngsters decided to go in Saira's room as they all cousin has planned to get the beans spill from Saira or Maira, as the sisters might know abou Maria for sure. Arsh shares about everything to his wife Maira and Maira shared her everything with her sister, Saira.

"Saira Appi, where Maria has disappeared? Did someone kidnapped her for....?" Faiz asked joking but received a slap from his sister.

"Can't you keep silent, guests are there in the house, if anyone will hear this doomsday will take place here instead of my marriage." She said quietly, seeing here and there, checking if any outsider has hear them. But everyone was busy in their world, she took a sigh of relief.

"Listen, don't discuss about Maria and just pray for her safety." Saira said with tears shining in her eyes.

"Appi is everything fine?" Faraz and Asra asked panicking, to which Saira nodded her head confusingly not sure about the answer, "Uzair bhai is looking after the matter and he said me, Maria is fine."

"Children go n get ready quickly, Saira's in laws will be arriving soon for the function." Said Saira's mother to the youngsters, as she instructed her daughter to take bath quickly and changed into the mustard outfit her in-laws has send.

"Okay Mamma!" She said disappearing into the bathroom. And her mother went to look after Shaista, as Arshi, her mother has gone for doing some last minute shopping.
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Haldi ceremony took place with all the traditions and rituals, Haldi paste was applied to Saira, Shaista and Shazil but the whole family didn't felt like any enjoyment and happiness.  And the youngsters were all gloomily, they have planned lot of fun and activities for the ceremony but the situation was just out of the box and they have lost interest in doing anything.

Some guests has inquired about Maria, like where is she? But they replied them that she got her some exams and have to go back to attend them, she will be back soon.
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Peace be upon you all!
What's up roses?
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