After the truth

~27~

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.

Aaron rolled his eyes when he received the message from the blackmailer. He typed back a response that made him chuckle.

Aaron

Sit back, not seat back, my number
one fan.😘

He dropped his phone on his bed and laid back in bed. His bed side clock read 3:00am. He was startled from sleep by the loud sound of thunder and an equally terrifying nightmare. He couldn't call Marwa by this time so he scrolled through his phone, unable to go back to sleep. He dropped the device and decided to pray tahajjud.

The pit patter of rain outside was almost a lull back to sleep but Aaron got out of bed. The floor was cool beneath his feet. He loved the feeling so he walked bare footed. The house was quiet despite his cousins being over for the holiday. It's 3:00am dummy.

He walked past his mother's bedroom door which was slightly open. Without thinking, he pushed it open and watched as she slept. She looked peaceful and it annoyed him. Was she okay with his father being away? Aaron rubbed his face and was about to turn when some prescription tablets on his mother's dresser caught his attention. He went over and was about taking one when he heard her move.

"Haruni?" She asked groggily. "What are you doing awake?"

"I had a nightmare." Aaron quickly responded, turning to look at her.

"Awww. My poor baby, come over here." She stretched out her hands. Immediately, Aaron went over to his mother. In their embrace, he noticed she was smaller than the last time he had hugged her. Her rich, long, dark hair had some gray strands in it. Was she that old?

"Mama. Are you ill?" He questioned.

"What? No. Not at all." He saw sincerity in her eyes and chose not to push further anymore. He would observe her for an signs and decide then and there.

"Alhamdulillah." He said, giving her a small smile.

She placed her hands on his cheeks and stared at his face like she was memorizing it. Then she pulled on the fine strands of his hair like she was picking out something only she could see.

"My Haruni." She breathed heavily.

"I want to pray tahajjud. Care to join me?"

His mother agreed. He led the both of them in prayer and once they were done. Aaron sat on his prayer mat and made Dua to Allah for all the people he cared about, including the one who seemed to cross his mind every day. And he prayed that Allah kept him firm on the right path and protect him from evil. He asked that whatever secret that was hindering his growth as a person was better revealed than kept a secret weapon.

Sometimes, one doesn't know what they've prayed for until it happens.
**********

Zayad was pissed. He trudged down the foyer towards the door hoping it wasn't his father. Because why would he be going off on the door bell like that when he had the key to the house. He turned the lock behind the door and yanked it open, frowning even more upon seeing Zayn at the door. Zayn had been shuffling between home and Marwa's tiny apartment.

"Don't you have the keys or something?" His voice came out deep and groggy since he was just waking up from a sleep he fought.

"I do. But that wouldn't be fun, now would it?"

"You must be mad." Zayad hissed slamming the door in his face.

Few minutes later, the door opened with Zayn laughing like an idiot. It was refreshing knowing the stuck-up, rich man could have a good laugh. In fact, his whole personality was based off on being goofy and acting confident. If he was this way, Zayad wondered what Zakariya would be like now.

"Did you sleep well princess?" Zayn cooed, tugging on Zayad's hair.

"Stop it." Zayad groaned, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at his brother. He was comfortable on the warm, leather couch and he didn't like talking so early in the morning. If they had grown up together, Zayn would have known.

"I came for serious business." Zayn suddenly said. Zayad let out a loud sigh feeling too old to be conversing with his big brother.

"Can't it wait? I'm sleeping. You saw me yesterday and said nothing. Urgh."

"You whine more that Zulfa does." Zayn chuckled.

Zayad sat up on the chair. His eyes going over to the family portrait above Zayn's head were he sat. He rolled his eyes and was pouting.

"Aigooo! You look so cute when you pout." Zayn leaned over to pull his cheek. Zayad did not even bulge a bit. He was starting to get used to his annoying habits.

"Aigooo?" Zayad was confused.

"Mukhlisa and Maryam put me onto this new k-drama. I had to watch it to make sure what they watch is sensored so I picked up on a few words."

Zayad's eyebrows went up and soon he was laughing so hard. His stomach hurt from laughing. When he was done, his face broke into a smile when Zayn watched him, totally unimpressed.

"What serious talk are we having?"

"The night Marwa was raped. Tell me everything that happened." Zayn had his elbows resting on his knees and his fingers clasped together under his chin.

"Why?" Zayad's mood changed.

"Why? I want to catch the bastard and beat him to a pulp." Zayn gritted. "Marwa has been bothered about it lately. Some random number messaged her about knowing about her rapist. Although she acts like she doesn't care, I know she's curious. And you know what a curious Marwa can do."

Zayad sighed, leaning back on the couch.

"Did you get who the unknown person is?" He was bidding for more time. The night he found Marwa was his worst nightmare. Ever since that day, he hadn't been able to sleep well.

"Number is saved as I'm sane. Doesn't make sense." Zayn frowned.

Zayad chewed on his lower lips. His mind was going in overdrive. It made sense to whoever the person was. What made the person 'Im sane'? How did the person know when he himself had no idea? Unless it wasn't just one person present at the time Marwa was raped.

"So, what happened the night Marwa was raped?"