Raaz ( Mystery)

Chapter 11

Arhaan :
15th April 2023
12:00 Pm

Arhaan was getting out of his showroom to reach Asher's office. He had already texted to inform him that he was on his way to pick him up from his office and they're gonna have a boys Sunday. It was their tradition back in college.

Over the past few years things had taken a different dimension in their lives. Nothing was the same as before. Asher had changed a lot and said they should finish this boys Sunday tradition as it was childish and stupid but Arhaan being the stubborn one never agreed to it. There are certain incidents in life that we're lucky to survive but not lucky enough to live after them. Asher was living but he wasn't alive anymore. The life in him had left his body three years ago. Arhaan was the only pillar of support in his life.

While driving in the traffic of the third ring his eyes landed on a girl and a boy sitting together
inside a school bus standing beside his car. It hit him like a blast from the past and brought back many pleasant memories. He couldn't stop looking at them until the bus moved forward leaving behind nostalgia and him. The traffic had started moving so did he.

He parked his red Marrusia in the parking lot and entered the building. On his way to Asher's office he clashed with someone. "I'm sorry" she said. "It's oka..." as he was saying the girl lifted her head just enough for him to realize who she was. An expression of blow went over his face. She didn't recognize him. It looked like she was in a hurry to get out of the building. She started moving past him immediately. Mihrimah is that you? Wait please stop" he said in the background but she didn't stop. He tried following her but she was nowhere to be seen. After searching her for 5 minutes. He decided to give up and enter Asher's office.

Asher was on a phone call when he entered the office. He sat on the chair Infront of his desk.

"What are you doing here ?"Asher asked him after ending his phone call.

"Why do you keep a phone? When you don't check your messages." Arhaan asked in a taunting manner.

"I do check my messages except the useless ones" He replied sarcastically.
Arhaan didn't say anything he just sat their in silence. He seemed lost in his thoughts.

"What are you thinking?" Asher's question brought him back to the present.

"I feel like I saw someone I know today but I'm not sure if it was her" He replied.

"Who are you talking about?" Asher asked.

"You don't know her." He said.

"Then why are we having this conversation ?" He looked at his wrist watch and said " I'm getting late for Dhur. You're welcome to join me if you want."

With that he left the office with Arhaan following behind.

They went to the Moscow Cathedral Mosque to offer their Salah. After performing Wudu they both prayed Dhur together.

Asher looked at Arhaan while he was making dua. After he was done with it he asked "What are you looking at ?"

Instead of answering his question he asked him another one. "What did you ask for ?"

There was a moment of silence before he said "I prayed for life" and suddenly her name appeared on his lips Fajr he whispered. "Yes I prayed for life" he said.

"What did you pray for ?" He asked , even though he knew that Asher had stopped making dua but he wanted an answer.

"Nothing" he replied with a robotic expression on his face.

"Do you know the power of Dua Asher ?" Arhaan asked.

When he didn't say anything in return , Arhaan continued "In the Holy Quran ALLAH SWT reminds us again and again to ask him for things. Whether they are big or small , possible or impossible. Nothing is impossible for him "

"When everything is already written in our destiny the what's the point of making dua ?" He asked in a challenging tone.

"Yes ALLAH has written things for you and nothing takes place without the knowledge of ALLAH. But that doesn't mean you can't ask him for change. The power of Dua is incredible it can change your whole situation."

"Remember Asher every loss is mend able except the loss of ALLAH. You've lost everything if you've lost him and you've lost nothing if you have him" Arhaan said while looking in his eyes. He could sense how miserable he felt in that moment.

Asher couldn't say anything in return. He just looked at his face and nodded. Arhaan patted his shoulder before standing up.

After getting out of the mosque they both went to Mister Livanets for lunch. It was Arhaan's favorite Halal restaurant in Moscow. He had a thing for Lebanese cuisine. Asher could go anywhere with him.

While sitting there waiting for their food. Arhaan looked at him and asked "Why are you upset?" Asher could hide his emotions from the entire world but not him. He was the only person that could look at his face and instantly sense what he was feeling.

"I'm not upset" he said.

"Then what is it? That's bothering you" he asked.

Asher knew there was no point of hiding anything from him.
"It's the case I'm working on currently" he replied while looking outside the glass window.

"Which case are you working on? Tell me about it." He said calmly.

" It's a journalist's case who went missing a month ago."
Asher took a pause before he said "I don't know why but everytime I look at her I see suffering and agony. How can someone be so fragile and powerful at the same time?"

"Who are you talking about? Is there a girl in your life ?" Arhaan asked in confusion.

"No , she's that journalist's daughter who went missing" He replied in a edgy tone.

Arhaan didn't understand a word but he didn't want to interrupt him. After a very long time Asher had shared his feelings with him so he wanted to make him feel heard.

"I think you're taking excessive load of work. Your personal life is being affected by your professional life. Try keeping a balance between them" He said while squeezing Asher's hands in an assuring way.

"I think you're right. I'm associating my professional life with my personal life" he said still looking out the window.

After having lunch Arhaan dropped Asher back to his office. When he left the car Arhaan opened his wallet and took out a letter. He moved his fingers across the letters "I need to tell you , you mean so much to me" It said.

"You mean so much more to me. I wish I had told you earlier" He said with tears in his eyes.

Author's note :
Assalamualaikum I hope y'all are doing well. What do you think is going to happen next? Will Asher be able to separate his professional life from his personal life? Or is everything going to jumble before his eyes ?