QAIS

Chapter 32: If I Lie to You

"I found the retired maid." Zaviyar had informed her. The one that could lead them to Qais, and hence Layla, was found. But that wasn't the difficult part. Zaviyar needed Ruhi to go along to take her into confidence as she refused to acknowledge Zaviyar thinking the young heir was using her for some political benefit.

Ruhi paced around the room biting her nails in anxiousness. The gears of her mind were running a mile a second. How was she going to sneak out of the house for so long? The retired maid lived in another city 3 hours away. It would take at least half a day to go and return. Her brother was already mad like a hyena after Layla's deception, doubling his scrutiny on Ruhi.

Ever since Layla's leave, there had been no mention of her in the house again. Ali's determination was dwindling upon no success in finding her, somehow Arfa Khanum had stopped speaking about her too, having made peace with the fact that she was safer out there than here, and Mustafa, Mustafa was the only one who seemed to still be tormented by her absence. He grew weaker by the day in worries of his daughter and the remorse of his actions. A thousand what ifs plagued him. He would often, gullibly, ask Ali to accompany him to the police and other authorities. Ali who himself wondered if the ground had swallowed the girl whole, assured himself that she was at least suffering on the streets now that the bastard had thrown her away. But it wasn't that Ali had forgiven them, no, the man always kept on the lookout for any ocean-eyed bastard wherever he went. He had sworn to kill both Qais, and Layla, the day he saw them.

It was after dinner when she was serving tea that her prayers were answered.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Mustafa offered his nephew who had to visit the village for official matters regarding his inheritance.

Ali who was already bitter as could be having lost Mustafa and Layla's worth of inheritance as the marriage never took place. He feigned an amicable smile, "No need, uncle, its a long ride. It'll only serve to tire you out."

Ruhi placed the tray of tea ahead of them as Arfa stood at a side.

Ali glared at his aunt from the corner of his eyes, "There needs to be someone left behind with the women too. For safety."

Arfa ignored the double-meaning in his eyes. He didn't trust her after she let Layla go. Instead she got up from there without a word, shrugging past Nadia on her way. Arfa seemed to have lost any and all respect and concern for everyone after what they did to her daughter.

Nadia felt sorrowful by her silent demeanor but steeled her heart, remembering her murdered husband.

Ruhi, meanwhile, cursed in her heart at Ali's suspicious nature. If both Ali and Mustafa left for the day, she could sneak out easily.

"Do you have something to say?" Ali could read his sister like a book and it didn't help Ruhi's conflictual thoughts were apparent on her features.

Ruhi startled like a doe in headlights. "No...uh..."

"Is there something you wish for, dear?" Mustafa came to her rescue. Lately Ruhi had found a father in him, and he a daughter in her. Both of them tried to fill the respective voids in their hearts with each other.

As Ali's stare bore holes in her head, Ruhi quickly whispered out, "Its just... baba used to bring me halwa everytime he went there. I just thought..."

Ali's glare instantly softened hearing that. He grew remorseful of his harsh tone seeing that his little sister was only missing their father.

"Tell me the kind you want, I'll bring it." He mumbled.

Mustafa chuckled at Ali's consideration. "See? All you had to do is ask."

Ruhi faked a smile and nodded, too preoccupied to bask at the rare love being poured onto her.