When Fire Meets Ice - Completed.

7. T H R E A T

A H A D

The launch has been really successfull Alhamdulillah. We left after my thanksgiving. Right now the car is filled with weird silence, neither of us is speaking until I decide otherwise.

"Looks like you talked to Salman after really long time". I asked hesitating and chosing my words carefully.

"It's none of your business". She said back insolently without sparing me a glance, I closed my eyes controlling my anger. Why is she so closed up always? I'm idiot to initiate a conversation.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to". She said looking down as if she's fighting within herself unsure about how to act and what to say! And wait, did she just apologize? I can't definitely let this slip.

"What did you say? I actually couldn't hear properly!" I said smirking devilishly.

"I didn't mean to". She screamed leaning towards me a little and I raise a brow questioningly, "No no, before that".

"Nothing".

"I think I heard you apologise to me". I said taking a turn and she glared narrowing her eyes at me.

"I did. But now I realise that I shouldn't have". She said shrugging her shoulders.

"You can tell me if something is bothering you". I have no idea why I'm saying this to her, why am I asking when I don't care? Or might be I do!

"It's complicated Ahad". She said sadly and I regret to say that my heart fluttered at hearing her take my first name! Focus Ahad! She's sad.

"I know! Business is never easy". I said and she looked at me shocked, shaking her head in disbelief. God! Why am I so bad at consoling people? Uggh!

"Do you think about anything apart from business?"

"I mean, your life is complicated when you enter into this ruthless business world. You have people around you at your heights. But when you are at your lowest point, craving for someone to stay by your side. All you find is loneliness and darkness". I say reflecting to my own life and she just looked at me. Her gaze unwavering, holding a whirlwind of emotions like she finds it relatable.

She sighed and looked outside, silence engulfing us again.

"Salman was my friend. When my mother left us, his mother simply called me unlucky saying that Mumma would have been with us if I wasn't in the car with her that day. He didn't even care to ask me once about how was I doing. Now he reappears again claiming to be my friend". She chuckled and smiled sadly, the type of smile you have when you lose everything and hold onto that flicker of hope! But the way her voice broke at the end didn't go unnoticed by me. She was quick to mask it and close her eyes attempting to sleep.

Seema aunty is really the type to believe in false superstitions, but putting all the blame on her for her mother's death is clear hypocrisy and stupidity. How would've the girl felt who heard such words from her people whom se expected to stay by her side at her lowest?

"It's inhuman! It was her hypocrisy and superstition that spoke something as incoherent as that". I say anger bubbling up inside me. She opens her eyes and looks at me briefly.

"It doesn't matter anymore! The girl inside me who cared for relationships is long dead". She smiled at me and I smile back.

This was the first ever time we spoke smoothly without biting each other with our words. But my heart ached when I felt like I had a glimpse of that broken and mysterious person that is hiding inside her successfully. It also felt good that she was comfortable sharing her worries may it be just for once atleast!