The Secret Behind Her Hijab | ✔

21. A Blast from the Past

Also dedicated to queeniekauthar . Both of you came close to the secret :)

Suhad

I was walking down a very lonely street. It was almost sundown and I was running late. Usually I wouldn't have taken this route because it was very creepy and deserted-- this street was rumored to be the street where all the types of crime took place-- but today I had no other option. A car passed by me and I got goosebumps all over. I wrapped my stole around me tightly. I was wearing my favorite outfit. It was a high necked azure Kurta with sleeves that came up to my mid fore arm and its length was upto my knees. I was wearing black skinny jeans and a black stole to complete the whole look. My hair was tied in plaits and my ears shined with my imitation hoop earrings. I fastened my pace and wished I had taken a cab home but I had to forget my wallet at home today of all days.

I kept glancing back, checking to make sure no one was following me. There were hardly any streetlights. Most of them were broken or out of order and the ones that worked were too far away from each other. There were times I had to walk between the dark patch before entering the lighting spot. I saw a car gaining at me from behind and I silently wished it would zoom past me. This street was vacant except for some cars that liked to take this route because it was void of traffic. The scar screeched to a halt and I stopped for a second my heart hammering inside of me, my subconscious wondering who would it be. Thankfully my legs followed my brain's command and started to move forward, hoping to leave the car behind thinking whoever it was would just go on its way without paying any attention to me. A few more minutes and I would be home. The car started to roll beside me, gliding with me, matching me pace to pace. The windows were rolled down now and loud music was blaring from it. I kept my head down and concentrated on getting home.

"Hey Suhad!" A male voice called me and I looked up. I knew that voice. I talked to that voice every day in college. It was Asher's. Relief flooded through me. I wasn't in any danger, I knew this guy. I looked at the car and he was the one driving and I could see two more of his buddies whose name I didn't know.

"Hi. What are you doing here?" I asked halting completely and facing the car.

"What do you think? Going home. Need a lift?"

"No. I'm fine." I said and turned to walk. I heard the car door open and close and Asher was beside me.

"Let me walk you home." He slurred. I couldn't make out his slurring when he was in the car but now when he was beside me it was very clear. Red flags went up all over and I wanted to flee.

"Are you drunk?" I asked beside myself.

"What? Nooo!" He dragged the 'no'. "Drinking is harr... Harrrr... Harrraam Suhad." He said wagging a finger at me and leaning towards me. It took him three tries to say one word. He reeked of alcohol and I wrinkled my nose backing away from him. "Stay Suhad. Don't go." He said taking a hold of my arm.

"Don't touch me." I slapped his hand away still backing until my back hit the wall and I knew I was trapped.

"Did you just slap me?" He said rubbing the part of his arm where I'd slapped him and giving me a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes."Feisty huh? I like that."

I went to smack him again but he grabbed both of my arms in one hand. "Let me go!" I shouted as loudly as I could.

"Fight me and I will let you go." He was teasing. He didn't look like he wanted to let me go and here I thought Asher was a nice guy. He had me in a vice-like grip that had me immobilized. If I could just get my knee up and hit him I would be free. I tried making my leg move but Asher having guessed what I was about to do smacked me hard on the face. I felt a rustic taste in my mouth and I knew I had burst my lip.