ENTANGLED AND HEARTS (Her Price For Dreams) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 17: The Big Reveal 2

Maryam's POV

I am still crying against the door.Anaya pulls me up from the floor, but my legs still feel like jelly. "Faris isn't home yet," I say.Anaya had to left suhana's birthday party early to drop me off at home.

"He'll be home soon," Anaya reassures me, but my mind is already racing with worst-case scenarios.

What if stalker comes and hurts Faris? The thought sends a chill down my spine.

How did I get myself into this mess? I think, desperation clawing at my chest.

I stumble towards my room, my eyes fixed on the floor. Just as I reach the door, my phone buzzes with an incoming notification.

Let's meet, Love. Tomorrow, 9 am, Kindness parking lot.

My heart racing, I'm torn between fear and determination.

Another message pops up:

Wear that olive-colored hijab.

Sleep eludes me, my mind a maze of worries: Rayan, the stalker, Rayan's mother's harsh words, my studies, Suhana's sly smile.

I toss and turn, waking up every hour, until I finally give up at 4 am. I lie in the darkness, thinking, overthinking.

My thoughts swirl:

- What if the stalker hurts me?
- Can I really handle this alone?
- Should I tell Anaya about this?

I hear azaan( prayer call),my heart starts soothing hearing the words of Azaan.I am not alone,I have Allah, i dont need anyone one except for him.I will face that stalker alone I will save everyone from this problem.

I finally leave my bed and perform salah.
.........

"I want to visit the NGO kids," I tell Anaya.

"Let's go tomorrow." she suggests.

But I insist, "I really miss Roshni. I need to see her.Its almost a month since I havent visit NGO"

" I am busy today,I cant go there.I have to visit a relative today at hopital." Anaya says seperating egg yolks from my boiled eggs.

I plead," Please Anaya.I wanna go out.Its been a whole week of torture for me."

She decides, "okay.Faris will drop you off, and I'll pick you up returning from hospital .

..........

" What is in this huge bag." Faris asks,struggling to lift it to the car.

"Chocolates." I say,forcing a smile."I will donate these in NGO" I am lying.I will return this to him today. I have even put that Abaya in it I will erase every mark of him from my life.

" what if he finds out?He will get mad knowing you are donating his gifts." Faris says in a playful tone.

" Maryam, think about this.You are going alone.What if he kidnap you or something like that.You can wait till tomorrow." Anaya says while watering the plants.

" I will be in NGO,He cant be there.".I say even though He is there,He is there.He is there.

"You will come to pick me up.I will be safe." I say.

My mind:I am not safe,I am not safe ,I am not safe.

Faris puts the huge bag in the backseat of his care and we drove to NGO.

.............

I gaze around the NGO's parking lot, struck by the lush greenery. It's more garden than parking space, with vibrant plants and trees everywhere.