After the truth

~34~

'Imran has never been a stable child! He's insane! And Marwa is his obsession. I'm sorry I didn't say anything all these years but the guilt has eaten deep within me. I tracked Imran, he has Marwa and your dad is in on it. The address is down below.'

Zulfa, in her haste forgot to take her car and instead ran down her street with tears blinding her sight. She decided to take the bus to the house where her brothers resided. How did she miss it? She trusted him. He was family.

She could feel pains in her legs from running so suddenly but she didn't stop until she got to the bus stop. After waiting for what felt like eternity, Zulfa decided to use the taxi. She texted her siblings to please hold off on whatever it is they were doing and to make sure they were home.

The ride was like a million years journey and Zulfa couldn't stop crying. Why was life so cruel to her family? Why did Allah choose someone as evil as Hussein to be her father? She couldn't think straight. What did Marwa ever do to him?

Immediately the taxi halted at the gate, she threw him a wad of cash and apologized before bounding off like a crazy lady. She didn't bother with waiting for the gate to be opened and instead, she pulled herself over the fence, thanking God that the electric guard was off. She ran up the distance to the house and didn't stop ringing the bell until Zayad opened the door.

Zulfa pushed him aside and ran in. She raised her phone, panting so hard.

"The address. The address." She repeated, trying hard to breathe. "Eeman sent an address. He has been tracking Imran. Imran was the one who kidnapped Marwa. We need to go get her"

Zayn swiped her phone from her hands. He forwarded the message to himself and deleted it from her phone. He ignored the bewildered look from his siblings and carried on with putting on his coat.

"What the fuck was that?" Zulfa screamed, smacking him across the chest.

Zayn ignored her disrespect and placed his hands in his pockets. He pulled out a gun, making Zulfa take a step back. His brothers began asking questions.

"Silence!" He stated firmly. "I won't be repeating myself so listen quietly, do not question me and move immediately I do."

When he saw he had their attention, he started, "I'm going to kill our father. May Allah forgive me."

"Are you crazy Zayn?" Zachariah asked, marching over to his brother. He stopped when Zayn placed his hands up.

"I want Zayad to take over the business. A jewelry department would be opening soon, Zayad will work you through. I want Zulfa to be in charge. Zachariah, my brother! My twin." Zayn was filled with emotions. "Please take care of Maimunah and the family. Send my apologies to ummi and Marwa."

"I will let you guys know when I get there by sending the address. Immediately I do, alert the police. I love you all."

"Zayn please. Don't do this. We can figure something out." Zulfa pleaded, going over to her brother. She tugged on his coat but he ignored her. "Are you all just going to let him do this?" She screamed, turning to her other brothers. Zayad looked away, tears in his eyes.

Zachariah swallowed the tight feeling in his throat. He pulled Zayn in for a manly hug and patted him on the back.
"For our family. For Marwa's honor."

Zayn nodded and pulled away. He lightly stroked Zulfa's hair with tears in his eyes. If only he had rebeled. He could have protected the girls better. Life could have been different.

"I know what you're thinking. Its not your fault." Zulfa begged.

"There are documents in my office. We have two siblings from Hussein's affairs. Take care of them as well. Belinda also." He knew they would be shocked. It was sad he wouldn't be able to tease them about it.

"Oh. And also, Aaron Siddiqui will be getting rid of Imran." And like that, he was gone.

**********
"Have you gone mad?" Hussein yelled from the door. He was glaring daggers at Imran. "What were you going to do with my daughter?"

"What haven't I done before? Uhn?" Imran rolled his eyes, his hands digging into his wavy hair. "She's mine anyways. I can do whatever I want with her."

"She's yours? She isn't yours! Not until  I have what you've promised me. You haven't even said a word to Aaron."

"She's mine!" Imran screamed, striding over to the old man. How dare this greedy fool speak to him in such manner. "Marwa has always been mine. I love her!"

Marwa let out a barbaric scream. She hated the position she was in. She hated the men arguing about rubbish and putting her life in danger.

"Shut up!" She yelled.

"I love it when you get fired up that way babe." Imran grinned, throwing a wink her way.

Eeew. How did she not observe such irritating behavior from him? Was she blind? She couldn't believe that there was a time she had feelings for him and hoped they got married.

"I'm calling off this plan. There's no money, no deals. Nothing! You lied to me. You're not having Marwa. Over my dead body will you have her!" Hussein fired.

Imran chuckled. He loved how bold the man was. He turned away from him and returned back to Marwa. In a swift action, he pulled out a knife and cut through the rope that bounded Marwa to the chair, nicking her skin.

"Alright old man. Over your dead body will I have her then." He let out a maniac laugh. And just as quickly as he had pulled out the knife, a bullet shot through the air.

Marwa gasped loudly. At the entrance, stood her brother Zayn and Aaron. And despite the anger and hatred towards her father, Marwa screamed as she watched the wall through the hole in his head and his body plunged down.

Everything else that happened seemed to go in slow motion. Like she weighed nothing, Imran jacked up Marwa from the chair and threw her across his shoulder.

"You touch me. She dies! And I die too."