After the truth

~29~

Aaron stood in the corner of the masjid watching his dad give lectures to the teenagers in the masjid. Their attention was wholly on his father and he felt something warm in his chest. He looked happy to be where he was, interacting with young souls eager to listen to every word he was saying.

The lecture was coming to an end and Aaron decided it was time to leave. He didn't want to ruin his father's mood by letting him know he was there. He was going to respect the man. May Allah forgive him, he had thought his father had another family and had traced him to the masjid.

These past few days have been the saddest moments of his. He stopped going to work and gave his personal assistant some task to carry out in his place. He was conflicted with emotions that came with no reason and despite being away from Marwa for that long, his feelings still stayed. When did he begin to love her?

He quietly stepped out of the Masjid and made his way towards his car at the parking lot. The air was a bit crisp or was it just him feeling that way? Why did he love Marwa? Aaron paused and stared up at the birds chirping peacefully on the tree. He wanted Marwa. He wanted to protect her, provide for her, care for her, cause her joy and relive her of stress. He loved her.

"Harun!" His father's voice boomed loudly behind him. He looked away from the trees, turning slightly to see his dad on the stairs. It reminded him of his childhood. His dad would bring him to the masjid to teach the youth about Islam and sometimes he'd go out to play with his friends. His father's voice still sounded the same way it did years ago when he'd call him with the same smile on his face.

"Baba." He teared up, watching his dad slightly jog towards him. He couldn't move and his vision blurred from the tears in his eyes.

Upon reaching him, his dad tugged him by the shirt and pulled him into his embrace. Aaron could feel his body shake from his sobs but he couldn't stop himself. He felt like he was six again, crying in his father's arms.

"Were you going to leave without seeing me?"

"I'm sorry. I thought you wouldn't want to see me."

"I'm sorry that you thought that way. I apologize for my behaviour."

"Seven years dad." Aaron cried, pulling away from his father.

"I'm sorry."

"Can I know what it is I did wrong?"

"Aaron." His father only calls him Aaron when he was displeased with something. Despite naming him that, he was called Harun at home.

"Please." He pleaded.

"Let's talk somewhere else."

**********
It was dark, chilly and a musty smell was choking her from breathing properly. She didn't know where she was or how long she had been there. It felt like forever since she was kidnapped. She never seemed to catch a break from all the happenings in her life.

Zulfa's scientist friend had said the DNA result won't be out until 5 days to two weeks later. How long has it been since she was taken? How would she know if Aaron was Lisa's father? Marwa shut her eyes, unable to cry any longer. She was weak and sad. Had anyone even noticed she was gone? Why haven't they come for her?
What if Aaron was Lisa's father?

Marwa felt a kind of peace and quiet in the thought that Aaron could be her baby's father but somewhere in the crevices of her mind, she wasn't okay with him being her rapist and leaving her to die that day.

She thought hard about that day, begging for her brain to bring memories that were long buried. What were the unique things that stood out that day? It was a fuzzy memory for her as she had wanted to forget her bitter past and the hurt she had gained.

It had rained that evening. That was what delayed her from returning home early. When she stepped out, she had passed the route behind the library, through the garden to go home since there was a shortcut there. Who liked the library? Not many people. And the only people who knew of her love for books and the shortcut from the garden behind the library to the house were her family. Aaron's school wasn't even close by, how could he have been the rapist?

Marwa shivered when a gust of wind hit her from the left. Perhaps that was where the door to the room was situated. She heard footsteps and suddenly, a flood of light filled the room, almost blinding her. She blinked rapidly trying to adjust to the bright room.

She looked around and gasped loudly when she saw her father staring back at her. She was seated at a dinning table, with her arms tied behind her while her father cut into the steak he obviously had just started to eat. A stocky man stood behind him with a straight face on and hands crossed behind him.

"Father?" She called out in disbelieve, watching him chew the meat like it was tough rubber.

"You have a lot of questions, yes? I'll only answer two." He said.

Marwa glared at the man before her. He had kidnapped her, for what reason? Wasn't he the one who had abandoned her when she really needed him and now he can't seem to let her be.

"How long have I been here?" Marwa needed to know how long she had to be here so she could receive the DNA results. But how would she do that if she was tied up here.

"Really?" Hussein laughed, baffled by the question his daughter chose to ask. When she didn't seem to change her question, he placed down his cutlery.
"5 days."

Marwa's eyes widened at the revelation. She begin to struggle with the rope she was tied with. Her arms burned and the rope kept digging into her skin. Tears gathered at her eyes.

"You're evil! What did I ever do to you? You disowned me. What else do you want from me?" She screamed, shaking her head. The low bun her hair was held in got loose, leaving her dark mane to fall out of the hair band. Her eyes widened. Her hijab had been removed.

Hussein slowly rose from his chair and walked in strides towards her. When he stopped in front of her, he gave a bone chilling smile and smacked her right across the face.

"You don't talk to your father in such manner!" He gritted out, glaring with such rage. It was when he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands, did Marwa know that her cheeks must have been bleeding.

"Father? Did you just call yourself a father?" Marwa asked, chuckling to herself. "Even animals make for better fathers than you."

She could see the tinge of madness in his eyes and for some reason, she felt happiness from it. This was the man who had ruined her life and continued to do so. She couldn't believe she almost forgave him.

"I will forgive you for that because you have more use to me alive than dead."

"I'd rather you end my life now." Marwa cried out, grunting in pain from the rope. Her arms felt numb since she had been in that position for days.

"Don't you want to see your bastard daughter's father?" Hussein asked, grinning like a mad cat. He was handsome no doubt but at the moment, he looked like the devil.

He turned away from her and made a sign with his hands.

"I've lost my appetite, clear up the table!" He said to no one in particular. Out of the privacy of a curtain, a woman scurried out to take his plate away.

"I'll see you soon, daughter." Hussein waved, walking away.

Soon, darkness followed and Marwa had her racing thoughts to herself.