OMNISCIENT
The woman's lean frame fronted the entrance as she stood in the waiting area, observing portrait after portrait of the past national heroes. Her midnight blue umbrella gown swayed with the wind coming from the blasting fan.
"The ASP is here, Ma'am," The inspector announced his presence, the sound of his black office shoes almost silent against the red carpet.
Sumaira followed right after, her lips set in a straight line, eyes sharpening, a subtle mannerism that didn't falter even after she fully recognized who it was.
"Aira!" The woman whipped around before running to the girl who stood several meters away from her.
"Aunt Humaira," Sumaira's lips parted as the woman's arms wrapped around her, tightening to a point she could almost not breathe.
Humaira could swear on her life she sensed a chill that spiked her adrenaline levels, but she blamed it on the girl not reciprocating her embrace before breaking away.
"You've grown so much. I can't believe it's been five years already," She ignored the wild thumping in her heart, her eyes scrutinizing the young woman in police attire.
"Where is Shaheeda?" Sumaira responded without batting an eyelash.
It was a tone that made Humaira start questioning if she had been stripped of her facade and all her motives had been laid bare. But she inhaled deeply to calm her raging heart and proceeded with her speech.
"I left her with Aarif and his girlfriend. That brings me to why I'm here..." She trailed off and pulled out a white envelope from her black clutch bag.
Humaira opened it and pulled out a somewhat unclear picture then handed it to her niece whose keen eyes scanned it.
In the picture was an elderly woman in a wheelchair with streaks of grey hair that rested at the nape of her neck. Her monolid eyes with grey orbs were focused straight ahead while she appeared to be pushed by a maid.
"Your maternal grandmother was found in Korea. My sources have it that she's living peacefully but still haven't managed to track down her address,"
Sumaira grabbed the edge of the table behind her, eyes never prying away from the picture. She stared at the woman for the longest moment, a person she had never met, and yet, found a peculiar warmth embracing her just at the thought of having someone related to her mother.
"My dear, I know you must've been resenting me for missing your graduation party. However, I was busy trying to carry out the task you entrusted me. It's been five years, I can't possibly give up when—"
Her words were brought to a halt when her niece's body tackled her in a fierce hug. Sumaira could all but cry, so her body squeezed Humaira's, a gesture that spoke the torrent of words she couldn't bring herself to utter.
"Thank you, Aunt Humaira," Her tone was laced with a humility she never knew she possessed, and her aunt delighted in her triumph of having the upper hand once again.
"I have your best interest at heart, always remember that," Humaira rubbed her hand against Sumaira's back, a serpentine smile that was even more ominous than her brother's donning her lips.
Liar! That maid... died in the process of my grandma's rescue.
Sumaira's lips curled into a lopsided smirk, a deadly glint dancing in those grey orbs. Albeit she wanted nothing more than to fire a shot at the woman in her embrace, she was excellent at saving her twisted fantasies for the best times, and she did just that.
YOU ARE READING
THE CONTRACT MARRIAGE
Любовные романыIn a world where a father is every daughter's first love, it was quite the opposite for her. The man that gave birth to her treats her as a sworn enemy, never for once in his life has he ever shown even a single strand of love for her. Sumaira Muha...
