TREASURES AND THORNS

Chapter twenty nine

“Reason is powerless in the expression of Love.”
                                    -Rumi

The parts in bold are flashbacks...dive in!

OMNISCIENT
<The hunt>

UNEDITED

Rukkayya walked in to the mansion feeling way better than when she left it earlier in the day. Haneefah might have been a handful but her company was much better than waiting all day for her busy husband. He had called his sister to  during the day to keep his wife company till he returned at night. Being the sweetheart that she was, Haneefah had relayed his message in a subtle manner but it felt like venom being poured in to her bloodstream from a potent scorpion.

What is wrong with him today? Rukkayya wondered.

The whole thing felt like a set up, first he left without informing her, then he didn't call her like he usually did whenever he was away. He sounded so off when she spoke to him on the phone and her name, Ahmad had called her by her name! Rukkayya's heart was not at peace with what was happening, something deep within her feared the worse - the truth unknown to her. That prompted her to embrace the distractions the day had presented to her. It had worked like magic, she felt indebted to Haneefah.

It got even better when Yusuf, Haneefah's husband came home. In a matter of minutes, Rukkayya felt those two were perfect for each other. The way Yusuf laughed at Haneefah's silly jokes, how he ignored her taunts, put up with her drama. It was so beautiful to see and she felt genuinely happy for Haneefah. A part of her felt sad for herself. Perhaps she wasn't destined to experience such happiness.

"Assalamu Alaikum," Rukkayya said as she entered in to the mansion. The main living room was empty, her attention was drawn to the wall clock that read 8:30pm. She proceeded upstairs initially planning to go straight to her room but thought better of it when she reached the top of the stairs. She walked in to the private area saying salam in a quiet voice.

The voice that responded made her heart skip a beat. The sound was so unique she could recognize it even in the darkest of nights and the deepest of sleep. It had become so familiar to her. The deep, soothing voice that made her fears seem irrational. The few hours that she didn't hear the even rise and fall of its tone, felt like years.

"I feel like you don't care about me anymore."

"I loved you then, I love you today and I will love you tomorrow," Ahmad avowed.

"Then lets be together!"

"Its not that simple!"

"I love you, you love me, it doesn't get any simpler than that! Do something babe! I can't lose you, I won't lose you!"

Rukkayya took slow steps as she walked farther in to the cozy little room. They spent most of their nights together there watching movies or just sitting in silence. In between those the place had made a special place for itself in her heart. The divine scent of Bakhoor plus the magic of the room and the bold eyes that she could feel on her as she moved added to the charge in the air. Rukkayya stopped in her tracks as she neared the white couch that filled the bulk of the room.

A tiny flame had ignited within Ahmad the moment her salam came through. It burned brighter with every little step she took nearing him. It warmed his cold broken soul that he didn't bother putting up his defences. He was much too tired to try to fight things he couldn't explain. All that mattered to him was staying sane and he could only do that if he was alive. The chill that he had brought home with him would finish him in the blink of an eye. But the the spark she ignited, that offered a solution - temporary yes - but he didn't have the luxury of choosing or of caution.