Ahlam (Dreams)

14 - Secret

Him

"Where are you going?" Yazid questioned

I turned around slowly "Umm...I wanted to see if I could get something at the bazaar, I'll be back" 

Yazid tilted his head "Just send a servant then, why go yourself?"

I chuckled "Yazid, I don't like exploiting the luxury Allah has blessed us. There's nothing wrong with me going to the bazaar"

Yazid hummed in response "Ma'asalam (Goodbye)"

I went there as quickly as I could and searched for anyone with a cloak like hers. I was searching for her frantically when I saw an attractive necklace

"Has this emerald pendant been sold?" I asked abandoning my search

He shook his head. After paying and getting it in a box. I heard a familiar voice behind me

"So are you buying that for her, didn't that shot do any good?"

I turned around slowly. There she was, with a cloak that hid everything, even her silhouette, but her voice was unmistakable. I felt a lump in my throat.

"Answer me, did you buy that for her?" Her tone was calm, but I knew that beneath it was a  double-end dagger

"No, I don't know. It was for no one in particular" I said stepping back slowly

She raised her head and I saw her gruesome scar "I would have taken it for myself, but you know I don't like this kind of necklace, so I'll grant you the grace of keeping it"

She stepped closer "You should have come. I wanted to kill her so badly. I was thinking of more brutal ways, Aliyah was a nice toy"

I felt my fists clenched and she looked down at my hands "Easy there Asad, your actions determine whether she will live or not. Now tell me, what was she doing in your room?"

I decided to lie "She just came to inform me of something"

She saw right through the lie "Do you think I'm a fool Asad huh? Niyyas, don't test me. Tell me why she was in there, with you"

I held the stand for support "She just came to ask me for something and I ignored her"

I could feel her smirk "And what was that 'something'?"

I looked away "I had done something bad and she just wanted to know why I did it. But I'm not lying, I ignored her"

She chuckled "It's so nice to see you so afraid of me Asad. I can remember when the tables were turned"

Then she lifted her face and I saw her features, but not entirely. Her expression darkened "No you're afraid to lose the one you love, again"

She smirked "But I'll use it to my advantage"

I couldn't hold myself back anymore " Why are you hurting her Veeda, why don't you just punish me for what I did and kill me"

I saw her expression change in a split second before returning to a darker one right after "I am punishing you, by punishing all who choose to love a sinner like you"

"I have repented a long time ago. And two wrongs don't make a right Veeda"

"You know my name used to sound so nice on your tongue. Veeda. but now it pricks me like a thorn"

I looked away "Veeda, look I know..."

I reached forward for her hand and she jerked away, looking horrified before composing herself

"Don't think I'll ever forget what you did. You ruined my life so don't start faking the religion. You're rotten inside" 

I put my hand on my chest. " This rotten heart is re-growing Veeda. It's becoming alive again."

She scoffed "Then I'll make it rotten again. I wouldn't let it blossom. It should remain just like mine"

Before I could say anything else, she stepped back and said "Our meeting is over" and she disappeared into the crowd.

 I anxiously entered the house. On the way to my room I met Sayyida Alba

"Niyyas, Marhaba" She said with a half smile

I once again plastered a smile "Marhaba Sayyida, how is Cyra doing now?"

She nodded "She is fine, but I need to talk to you"

I followed her, What would Sayyida even want to talk about?

As we reached her room, she gestured for me to sit

"Niyyas" he started, looking down "Did Cyra meet you yesterday?"

I wanted to lie, but Cyra would probably tell her anyways "Yes she did Sayyida"

"Did she say anything to you?" She raised her eyebrow

I nodded "But I'll like to keep it only between the two of us"

She smiled wide after that "May Allah bless the both of you."

"Amen"

She put her hand on my head "You have my blessings and prayers with you. Don't hesitate to move forward in this"

I smiled and nodded "I'll be on my way"

As I went to my room, I thought of the unfinished copy of the Quran I had promised her. I sat down on my bed, trying to write the remaining pages fast so I could give it to her.

I finished writing and I looked at my elegant piece of work. I smiled broadly before going back to Sayyida Alba's room in haste.

As I approached, I heard a deep voice "Really, you won't let me marry the one I love because of you and Abi's dirty secret."

The voice continued "And you support someone else, you're not a good mother, you can never be like Maman"

Then I heard Sayyida Alba's voice "Stop it, you know this can't get out"

The door opened and it was Yazid. His expression hardened and he brushed back my shoulder and left without looking back. Did I do something wrong?

 I tried to process what Yazid was saying, was there a secret between Sayyida Alba and her brother, what was Yazid talking about?

I entered her room slowly and I saw her sobbing into her Khimar

She saw me and quickly wiped her tears "Ah Niyyas why are you here?" Her face now held a fake smile

"I'm true with the copy of the Quran" I handed it to her and she felt the cover and then laughed "This means a lot to me, Jazakallahu khayran"

I pretended like I didn't see when she was crying and I left her room. A lot of questions raced in my mind.

This house was a web of secrets and untold events. And each one is adding a burden on my mind. But who knows, if I find out, it may be more than I can bear.

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