𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐕𝐨𝐰𝐬

Chapter 7

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Sometimes, the only way to escape the darkness is to walk through it, even if the path is unclear and the night feels endless.

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The rain poured down with relentless intensity, transforming the city into a gray, liquid labyrinth. Each droplet cascaded from the darkened sky, creating a constant, rhythmic drumming on the pavement.

The streets shimmered under the relentless downpour, their usual bustle muffled by the heavy, wet blanket. Amidst this deluge, a lone figure moved with an almost resigned urgency—a young girl, drenched through and clearly lost.

She was young, with a rain-soaked abaya clinging to her frame. Her hair, once neatly styled, now fell in tangled, damp strands around her face.

The once-bright colors of her clothing were muted by the rain, blending into the drab, monochrome backdrop of the stormy afternoon. She walked with a certain heaviness in her step, her shoes sloshing through puddles that seemed to appear everywhere.

The water pooled around her feet and splashed up with every step, soaking her socks and adding to the growing discomfort. Her face, partially hidden beneath the brim of a sodden hat, was marked by a forlorn expression.

Each time she glanced up, her eyes, rimmed with the hint of tears or perhaps just the constant rain, searched for something familiar in the relentless downpour.The rain made everything look distorted, the edges of buildings and street signs blurring into one another.

Her surroundings had turned into a confusion of indistinct shapes and muted sounds, as if the city itself was conspiring to obscure her path.

'Should I accept his offer? It is the only way to save baba's life but'

Aamirah, lost in her thoughts and the relentless rain, didn’t notice the car hurtling toward her until it was nearly too late.

As she looked up, the vehicle’s headlights illuminated her startled face, her eyes wide with the sudden realization of her peril. Time seemed to slow as she stood frozen, caught between the curb and the approaching danger.

In that critical moment, a burst of adrenaline and instinct propelled her forward, her movements clumsy but desperate. She lurched back onto the sidewalk, narrowly escaping the vehicle’s path. Certainly she was shaken by the incident.

Aamirah’s gaze fell upon the old lady, whose presence seemed almost forlorn against the backdrop of the rain-soaked city. The beggar looked up, her eyes softening at the sight of the girl.

With a slow, deliberate motion, she reached into her bag and pulled out a modest portion of food wrapped in a cloth—some bread and a few scraps of what looked like stew.The beggar's hands trembled slightly as she extended the food toward Aamirah.

Despite her own evident hunger, there was a generous warmth in her gesture. The girl hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting the beggar’s with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

"Here, dear," the old lady said, her voice a whisper lost in the drizzle. "You look like you are hungry, i have something for you to eat."

Aamirah’s expression softened, her initial hesitation melting into gratitude.
"Thank you grandma but it is your food" Aamirah whispered not wanting to steal someone's food just because she is hungry.