Her Encounter | Islamic Story

Chapter 32

My eyes widened in fear, surprise and bewilderment. Aiza's face lost color and she got up quickly, pulling me with her. That's when we had to carry the plan of the escapade we renewed every night before sleeping. We quickly wore the shoes while the banging got louder. There were clearly more than two men.

They were shouting my name too, throwing curses at me. I was surprised that hotel management wasn't there by then, but there was no real surprise, considering it was the Vemen Society, also their lack of duty was in their favor if they wished to live a day longer.

We picked up our bags and opened the fire-escape door. Shutting it on our backs, we ran downstairs. My mind was being filled with all sorts of fears, anxiety, my body was replete with adrenaline but even in that state the thought of Aiza being sick didn't leave me.

That's when I noticed that Aiza who was running down the stairs before me wasn't wearing her gown, in hurry she only was able to shove her hair in her shirt and wear a small scarf which still showed half of her hair. I wasn't a practicing Muslim, or even a Muslim for the matter but I knew how wearing tights and t-shirt and a headscarf that didn't cover her hair properly must be feeling for her. Many a times Aiza had made a parallel that she would feel naked if any man saw her in that state. I was quite sad and embarrassed that exactly what she feared was happening and because of me.

We reached the last step in less than half a minute. Thankfully the men weren't out yet. It may take them time to break open the door and then come out through the fire escape. I ran in full sprint, only slowed when I realized Aiza wasn't catching up. I turned around and saw her bowed on the road clutching her stomach, her face showing signs of excruciating pain.

That's when I remembered that even a little of strain increased her pain by many fold, but with the news of Uncle's death and such an anxiety and the fear of death on our back, her pain must be killing. I ran back to her.

"Aiza, get up. We must run," I said trying to pull her up but she wasn't even budging from her position. "Aiza, we can't stay here." I looked up from where we came from, just waiting for the moment when the men would barge out of there. We were wasting time.

"I can't," Aiza said with gritted teeth. "You go. Run!"

"You know I won't. Aiza please. They will kill us. Please." The backdoor opened and the first man who came out shouted, "There" just as soon as he spotted us in this darkness of the night. I screamed from fear.

"Aiza!" I pulled her against her will and dragged her. Her bag was sprawled on the road which I hung on the same shoulder as my own bag.

Slowly we gained pace, it was probably fear which gave Aiza the boost to speed up. Holding hand in hand we ran while the other men who were four by count followed us at a faster pace. The darkness would have been in our favor had we been in a crowded market or in the main town.

With quick paces we got out of Vemen Society and on the highway. The main town was almost a mile away, forget Aiza, even I wouldn't be able to run that far. I knew we would be caught today.

The trees around us would have been a help too if Aiza had been healthy. It would be immensely foolish to get inside the woods under these circumstances.

The road was deserted, hardly any vehicle passed by us.

The sounds of the men's boots on the footpath were getting louder and louder and so was the thumping of my heart. Every now and then one of them would ask me to stop or else they would shoot. Ha! As if Kantun would let you live if you killed me.

"Denae, I can't run father," Aiza slowed her speed and said in a cracked tone. I turned around only a little to tell her that we must run and that's when I realized how close they were getting. Even if we kept the same pace, we would be caught within the next five minutes.