An Echoing Race.

Chapter Thirty Five.

Salaaaam, my very loyal, patient readers :D

A very belated Ramadan Mubarak! Hope you have all been reaping the rewards of this amazing month! 

It's been 23 days since I've updated and I have never felt so bad! To make up for it, this chapter is SUPER LONG and I really do hope you guys enjoy it. Make sure you comment and vote, you all know I take your comments to heart :) 

Also, thanks for all the well-wishes on the last chapter. Alhamdulillah the operation went well and I am now fully recovered! 

This chapter is dedicated to my dad. I love him with all my heart <3 

Just a hadith I would like to put out there:

Abdullah Ibn 'Umar saw a Yemeni man circumambulating the Ka'bah in Mecca while carrying his mother on his back. This man said to Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, "I am like a tame camel for her! I have carried her more than she carried me. Do you think I have paid her back, oh Ibn 'Umar?"

Abdullah Ibn 'Umar replied, "No, you did not even pay her one contraction!"

#Chapter Thirty Five#

Samir pulled aside the curtain and groaned audibly. "I knew it!" 

 Since I was still hanging off Ziad's shoulder, I lifted my head with great difficulty to peer at him over my billowing jilbab. I wiped away some of my tears and swallowed. "What is it?" 

 "Paps have taken over the front entrance," Samir answered with a sigh. "The guards are trying to push them away but I know they're not going to leave without a few snaps of us."

 "I'll get more guards outside," Ahmad said, fiddling with a device in his ear. 

"You can't be seen like this habibti," khalto directed at me. Ziad reluctantly placed me back down on my feet and I swayed slightly as all the blood left my face. "You'll have to change." 

Not having the energy to argue, I nodded my head slowly and reached out for the bag that was in Samir's hand. 

My brothers exchanged a look with one another.

"I'm not going to lock myself up in the room again, if that's what you're worried about," I said dryly, glancing between them. 

"Are you sure about that?" Samir asked cautiously. 

"Oh just give her the bag will you?!" khalto snapped impatiently, ripping it from his hands and placing it in my own awaiting ones. She flicked her blonde hair in frustration and shook her head at my brothers. 

"Thank you." I moved to leave the room, sensing my brothers eyes watching me like a hawk. Not wanting to delay the inevitable any further, I quickly got dressed in a navy skirt and white blouse. I wrapped a tan, black and blue patterned hijab around my head and pulled on some black flats. 

I was surprised the clothes actually matched. In my haste to leave the house that night, I was barely aware of what I was throwing into my bag.I had brought no make up with me, so I'd just have to walk out looking like one of the casts from the next horror story. I didn't even have sunglasses that I could use to cover the bags beneath my eyes. 

 Satisfied that I looked at least semi-human again, I made my way back to the entrance where everyone was still waiting by the door. 

"I'll come by and visit you tomorrow, OK?" khalto said as she rubbed my arm. 

I nodded my head. "Sorry for being a burden this past week. I know it wasn't easy having me around, moping away in the room..."

"Don't apologise silly girl," she was quick to reprimand me. She pulled me in for a hug. "I'm always here for you, you know that."