After the truth

~26~

Zayn ruffled Aaron's hair as they both got out of the masjid making the latter push him aside, laughter bubbling out of his mouth. Zayad was trudging lazily behind them feeling content from watching his big brother goof around.

After Zayn and Aaron had lunch, they chatted some bit and ran into Zayad at the restaurant where they had eaten. Aaron and Zayn spoke for a long time about action figures and every model of sports car they could remember. It was as if they were reuniting after a long period of being away from each other.

Zayn tugged on Aaron's hair again and began screaming with his hands flailing above him as he ran around the parking lot of the masjid. Aaron was giving him chase and some people stopped to watch them. Their fun came to an abrupt end when a deep voice called out to Aaron. It was Imran.

Zayad gave a curt nod to Imran in greeting. He held a bit of grudge towards his cousin. Zayn face lit up and he walked over to the young man.

"M.R my brother!" He pulled Imran to himself and gave him a brotherly hug, his hands patting Imran's back.

"Zayn." Imran said, smiling a stiff smile.  "I didn't know you were back."

"I had things to attend to here, per Baba's order." Zayn responded, taking a step back and putting his hands in his pocket. "I had no idea you knew Aaron."

"We're best friends." Imran chuckled, tugging Aaron towards him. Aaron stumbled awkwardly towards his slightly burly friend. "And I'm here to pick him up."

Zayn nodded. He turned towards Aaron and gave him a firm handshake.

The Hussein brothers stood side by side and watched as the friend pair sauntered off towards Imran's car. Zayn let out a loud sigh, then he adjusted his tie. It had been so long he felt free and happy as he did tonight.

"You've never been that way around me." Zayad suddenly stated, watching his big brother under hooded eyes.

"Let's go home." Zayn said instead. He didn't want to speak much with his brother. He began walking towards his vehicle. He was grateful they came in different ones.

Zayad got mad and ran over, tugging forcefully at Zayn's suit. He knew how much his brother hated creases on his suit or shirt.

"Don't turn your back on me! I'm still..." Zayn didn't let him finish, before swinging a punch to his brother's face.

"I've always wanted to punch that stupid, smug face!" Zayn spat, feeling angry and sad all at once. He laughed at the look of shock on Zayad 's face.

"I shouldn't turn my back on you?" Zayn yelled. "You turned your back on me! On Zak! On your siblings when we needed you!"

"What???" Zayad frowned.

"You always snuggled up to dad?" Zayn hissed.  "I mean, come on, Zayad. You could have been a little less obvious about kissing his ass."

"Wow. So it's my fault? I wasn't the one playing favorites! Zayn, get over yourself please!" Zayad gritted, pushing Zayn hard.

"I didn't play favorites!" Zayn yelled, pushing him back.

"Sure." Zayad scoffed. "What was I thinking?" He whispered, turning away from his brother.

"You've always been a coward Zay! And it infuriated me." Zayn screamed for him to hear.

In the blink of an eye, Zayad was suddenly in front of Zayn. His fist had kissed his brother's face in the ugliest of way. He didn't stop throwing punch after punch. He was tired of his family thinking he was a weakling. Zayn rolled them over and was soon returning the punches. The third one to his face and Zayad caught his brother's hands.

"I've always been in your shadow." Zayad shouted, tears rolling down his face. "Not the intelligent child, not the strong one, nothing! You seem to tick all the boxes and I'm just that son that has to work his ass off to even get his father to acknowledge him. I'm the useless one that couldn't even help his own sister! The only way I could, was snuggle up to MY father. What did you do? You think you're all that?! You always think you're better than me!"

"What?" Now it was Zayn's turn to be confused.

"Just get off me. We can just return to our mundane life." Zayad pushed him off, panting hard.

"I don't always think I'm better." He was sitting on the interlocked floor now.

"Yes you do!" Zayad cried. "Ever since we were little. You wouldn't even talk to me or play with me. Zakariya included. You always called me a weakling and daddy's boy. You'd rather be with the girls than look at me. You're no different from our dad."
Zayn felt his heart break watching his brother cry. It was just as his mother had said, Zayad wore his heart on his sleeves. And he was mad to have thought otherwise.

"Zayad." Zayn pulled his brother to himself. "I'm sorry." He didn't know what to do with Zayad's body shaking under his arm.

"I'm sorry for being so mean to you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

All the years they had grown, that had gone past, Zayn had resented his brother for always doing whatever their father asked of him- both the bad and the good. He judged him by calling him weak and thought him lesser. He wasn't even aware of his arrogance and ignorance. He never thought that Zayad had felt lonely growing up and that whatever he did was what he thought best believing he was weak.

"I'm so sorry." Now Zayn was crying.

**********
It was getting late but Marwa was stuck in the chair unable to pack up and leave the office. She stared at the cups placed inside a large ziplock, she managed to sneak out of the conference room. She wasn't sure which was Aaron's so she carried both of them.

The first person Marwa called was her twin sister, Zulfa. After narrating the whole ordeal of the secret messenger and the message, her twin told her to get anything that could hold Aaron's samples, be it hair strands, fingerprint , saliva. She had a friend that could run up a DNA test. Zulfa promised to drop Mukhlisa's sample at the friend's laboratory and immediately sent the address.

Sighing loudly in exhaustion, Marwa gathered the cups and placed them in her lunch bag. She gathered her things and exited the building. The ride to her destination was a quiet one despite the sound of people chatting in the bus.

Marwa had no idea how to feel. She was certain there was no trace of resentment or anger towards Aaron. He had raped me. He ruined my life and now I'm in love with him. Marwa shook her head repeatedly. She couldn't be in love with Aaron. He was her rapist. He's also Lisa's dad and Lisa loves him a lot!

A tear rolled down her eyes. Why was life playing games with her? ''oh Allah." She whispered, feeling overwhelmed. "It is you alone I worship and you alone I seek help from! Help me, my Lord. Help me." She was sobbing now. The announcement for her bus stop came on and she hurried down the bus.

After calling Zulfa's scientist friend almost a trillion times, she was finally directed to the house where she handed over the cup sample in her lunch bag. The lady collected Marwa's details and promised that 5 days to two weeks, the DNA results will be ready. She thanked the lady and began her journey home.

It was late, past 9:00pm. Around 9:38pm, Marwa heard footsteps from behind her. It grew louder and faster whenever she hurried and returned to a quiet pace when she slowed down. She began to panic. She wasn't familiar with the area so she began worrying on ways she could escape. She ransacked her bag for her phone, hoping to send an SOS. Suddenly, she was yanked back by her hijab and a handkerchief was placed over her nose.

Marwa began flailing around. She tried so hard to pull away from the assaulter but his hands around her neck were so strong. Tears began pouring down her face, gathering at the hem of the handkerchief. The man was a lot stronger than her and his arms didn't budge even after she scratched the exposed arms. For some reason, her mind went back to the many times Zayn had put her in a headlock. She had always been weak. Mukhlisa. Mama. Zulfa. ....Aaron. Aaron. Her eyes began to close on its own accord and her body went limp.

**********
Unknown

You're playing with me boy!
And you'd be regretting that soon.
Over 48hrs and no money uhn?
Seat back and relax Aaron Siddique.
Your worst nightmare has just begun.