Shattered Chains

17.0

"Emotions are like seasons, forever evolving, changing hues with the passage of time."

~ Unknown

─── ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

Amira sat on the bed, her breakfast only half-finished, as Ali's family, along with Raiyyan and Haya, entered the room. Ali continued working on his laptop, seemingly oblivious to the others. Amira's gaze shifted from Ali to his family, and she couldn't bring herself to look them in the eye, weighed down by embarrassment and the events of the past few days. Without a second thought, Haya approached Amira and embraced her. The sudden hug made Amira close her eyes tightly, a hint of pain visible on her face. Ali observed the scene, his attention divided between the screen and the room. The boys, too, were keenly watching.

"Haya, she will suffocate with your hug!" Ali's stern voice interrupted, prompting Haya to release her hold. Amira opened her eyes, relieved to be free from any more physical discomfort.

"Amira, how are you feeling?" Jasmine inquired softly.

"I am fine," Amira managed, offering a weak smile. Her eyes betrayed the inner turmoil she was experiencing. Ayesha, noticing the spots on Amira's arms, examined her more closely.

"What happened to you? These wounds?" Ayesha asked, concern etched on her face. Amira hesitated, fear flickering in her eyes. She quickly covered her hand with the blanket.

"It's nothing, aunty. Just a few clumsy accidents. They will recover once medicine is applied," Amira replied, surprising the boys.

"Accidents? Are you sure? How would you cut your neck by accident?" Ayesha probed further, intensifying the boys' curiosity. Ali's attention shifted from the laptop to Amira, increasing the pressure.

"It was dark and I tried to go through that fence. It cut my neck," she was rubbing her hands which were sweaty. Raiyyan exchanged glances with Ali, while Samad and Zain shared a silent exchange.

"Amira, you need to be more careful. Are you sure everything is fine?" Aabid added, expressing his concern.

"Yes, uncle. I promise. It's really nothing to worry about," Amira assured, though her nervous demeanor lingered. The family left the room, leaving Amira to grapple with a mix of emotions—gratitude for their care, guilt for concealing the truth, and a lingering fear of her past resurfacing.

"Why did you lie?" Ali asked with gritted teeth.

"I did not!" He simply left for the washroom. Amira sighed in relief. She was left alone with her thoughts. Little did she know that the tranquility would be disrupted once again.

The door swung open abruptly, and in walked Asif and Faisal, Amira's brothers, their expressions cold and uninviting. Amira's heart raced, fear gripping her as memories of past confrontations flooded her mind. They stood in front of her, casting a shadow that seemed to engulf the room.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Asif almost shouted, making her flinch.

"What is this?" Faisal took the card of her, lying freely. Amira hesitated, fear evident in her eyes, but she remained silent.Before Amira could react, Ali returned from the washroom, his protective instincts kicking in. The atmosphere tensed as Ali, with a stern expression, questioned the unexpected intrusion.

"What are you doing?" Ali stepped forward and took the card from his hand, "And who allowed you in?"

"Since when do we need permission to enter your room, Ali?" Asif asked baffled.