Deadly Stalker

Chapter XX: Mysterious Mysteries

The hands of the clock twitched slowly as I kept staring back at it. A bird singing in a distant was heard but I kept my eyes strained on the clock, wishing for it to fast forward and the time to pass soon. But not all things you wish for in your life comes true.

It had been an hour back that Zaid had called me. He didn't say anything but instead ended the call. And I never tried back. Maybe I was afraid of what mystery must have unfolded there or maybe I was too scared to face reality, either way I was at fault for not calling him back or asking him. Since then I am staring right at the clock, watching the minutes pass by slowly.

Seconds turn into minutes and minutes into hours. Two hours have passed since Zaid called me and since anyone has bothered to check on me. Understanding the people staying in this house is another big mystery for me. It hasn't been that long of my wedding, I'm a new bride. People are supposed to be around me, talking about various things, getting to know me. But here I am, sitting all by myself in this big mansion-like house where I don't even know the other rooms. I let out a huff as I move my eyes from the clock to the other things around the room.

My eyes land on the picture placed above the fireplace. I move towards it but before I get time to recognise the people inside it, someone clears their throat behind me. Startled, I turn around to face Ali, Zaid's younger brother and my brother-in-law.

I fold my hands over my chest as I wait for him to speak. Staring right in my eyes, he tries to read them as I do the same with his emerald green eyes. This goes on for a while before he opens his mouth,

"I am going out with my friends. Since mom and dad aren't home and Eman is nowhere to be found, I am telling you." By the end my eyes must be resembling a saucer. Don't blame me but my reaction is not a surprise.

He smiles at me before plopping down on the couch on which I was previously sitting. I stared at him wide eyed.

What the hell?

"I am supposed to be waiting for my friends." He smiles at me, a fake one I must say. I smile back at him.

How can anyone do that? Not telling your daughter-in-law where you are going is very bad, at least in my eyes. It makes me feel that I'm not worth it. That I'm useless in this house. No one cares about me. Don't blame me for having expectations. In my parent's house, daughter-in-law's weren't treated like this. Oh Allah! Why is everyone treating me like this?

At that moment all I wanted was to curl up and cry till there is not a single drop of tear left. Not only on this but on everything that is happening with me since day one.

I grasped the sofa made myself steady before sitting down on it. Ali looked at me but said nothing. I waited for him to speak up like the last time but he didn't. So I too kept my mouth shut.

Silence covered us and as usual I slipped off in to my thoughts but this time I wasn't staring at the clock, I was looking outside the window, onto the snow covered piece of land, with my palms stuffed in between my knees feeling a sudden chill run down my spine.

A honk broke me away from my chain of thoughts and as expected Ali stood up and went outside the door, murmuring a soft 'khuda hafiz' which I'd barely hear if it weren't for my sharp ears.

I took in a sharp breath as I heard the laughter of Ali's friends and a little later, the starting of an engine. Resting my head on the arm rest, I closed my eyes letting the time pass away and wishing that it could even take my worries so I will have nothing to worry about and I can live a peaceful life. But not all wishes are meant to come true.

Half an later I was woken up by the sound of a car on the driveway. I hurriedly walked to the nearest window and saw Mom and Dad come out of the car. Behind them was another black colored Volvo from which Zaid came out. I opened the door for them and stood on the porch, tightly wrapping the sweater around myself.

"We had gone to a friend's house. You were sleeping so we thought not to bother you. I'm sorry dear." Mom said after the greetings. She smiled at as she passed by, Dad did the same. I smiled at both of them.

****
Lunch was over and now it was almost time for dinner. Preparing the food, I had gone back up to our room. Zaid was sitting on the bed with his laptop in front of him. He glanced once at me and continued typing something on his laptop. He was like this from the time he had arrived from our house. I tried asking him many times but he didn't reply anything and skillfully changed the topic to something. That was also for time before he stopped replying at all.

What had I done to see all this?

I sat on the bed beside him, pondering over the drastic change in my life. If someone would have predicted all this before, I would have just laughed at them. But now everything was opposite. I was totally opposite of my own self. I wasn't like this before. Nor was Zaid like this. I still remember the time he stuttered while asking permission from my brothers (does anyone remember this time?).

But now everything has changed. Sleep has changed places with nightmares. Peace changed places with restlessness. Healthy cheeks changed places with hollowness. Everything has totally changed.

Unknowingly a tear made it's way down on my cheek. I sniffed and hearing the sound Zaid looked up. I looked in his eyes and saw all that coldness dissappear. For a moment we looked in each other's eyes before he wrapped his arms around me.

"Why did you call me today?" I asked him slowly fearing that he would again turn cold. But he remained intact.

"It was nothing." He replied after a while.

"I think we should inform the police." I whispered slowly but he heard.

"I think so too."

We stayed like that for a while before a ping from my phone interrupted us. He took my phone and unlocked it. Color drained from his face, his grip on the phone tightened. I backed away from him as he threw the phone with so much force.

It felt like all of sudden the petals of the rose had decided to fall off leaving behind only thorns.

***
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