Two faced

Chp 16

***
Late after the dinner as usual everyone had retired to their beds except Naima who was dressed plainly in a whitish night suit, was swinging on a huge grey hammock. As per the position of the door, the hammock was in front of it while the bed and dresser were on the right and a mini cupboard on the left of it.

Taking smooth swinging oscillations of it while her legs swinging lightly and her eyes strictly fixed on the front wall as if she was staring at it though the matter of fact was that she was in deep thinking.

"Trrr....Trrrr." sound of phone ringtone echoed and kicked her out of her thoughts.
She hunted for her phone on the hammock and found it lying in her lap.

"Amjad." She read the caller Id and picked up the call.
"Hello." Amjad started lowly.
"Hello." Naima replied after a moment of awkward silence because no matter what since their divorce and Maria's mental breakdown they had been going through loads of guilt on their impulsive decision and silly attitude.

It was undeniable that the major culprits behind Maria's condition were these two people. But the worst part is that some things can not be reversed just like their relationship and Maria's condition. It was never a piece of cake, Maria had gone through a scary roller coaster of emotions since the day they parted ways and murdered their daughter's well being with their own hands.

They were murderers, indeed. They did committed a murder, one where no blood flowed, no wound was seen, no murder weapon was found and no witness was present but the pain was felt which only she could feel, cries did echoed but sadly no one could ever hear those except her, the wound was there but on her soul not on her body, there was no witness to the incident except God.

"I called to check on Maria." He said and she blinked sadly.

"She's doing fine," She answered and took a deep breath.
"Apparently." She finished.
"I wish I could fix her." He replied in a low tone, almost broke down crying.
"I wish we could." She added with a tear drop sliding down her cheek bone while she heard his suppressed sobs.

***
The very next day......
Under the huge dome of an exquisite and lavish residency hotel, right behind the aesthetic glass chandelier and beside the pots of wild flowers, walked in him dressed in way to informal attire.

He wore a pair of grey loose jeans with half sleeved blue shirt with it's collar untidy and whitish grey sneakers. He walked into the elevator but as he noticed  much crowd there so he turned towards the staircase and took the stairs until he reached third floor.

He then with stampeding steps and enthusiastic mood moved into the ally. He read the room numbers excitedly and finally stopped at a door numbered as 1205. With a cunning smirk on his face he rang the bell roughly.
"Diingggg.".

He could already someone walking towards the door with cautious steps and waited there eagerly for the door to open. The door opened revealing Sana, she peeked around and saw no one outside the door so she stepped outside and felt someone caught her waist.

"Afzaal." She exclaimed and he pulled her inside the room while she closed the door.
"How did you know it was me?" Afzaal cribbed as she turned her face towards Afzaal while her fragile waist still in his soft grip.

"Because I know you," She replied and laughed at him carelessly while he admired her.

"So how come you came here." She asked him while he rolled his eyes.
"I missed you," he stated and they broke apart. They took the nearby couch.

"And I am confused. I need some inspiration to figure out my case." He finished while rubbing his tired red sparkling eyes.
"What happened?" She asked him in the most comforting manner, she ever could.

"Recently I had a session of  therapy with Maria. She talked about few drastic and I must say horrifying events of her life," he took a deep breath and she kept looking at him.

"Every thing was perfect except, she related to be as some "Ria". I believe this Ria can help me figure her out more deeply." He finished as he ran fingers of his both hands through his hair and took another deep and calming breath.

"Hmmm. Any idea who's Ria?" She asked as she laid her elbow on  Afzaal's shoulder, which previously rested on the couch back.
"No." He replied.
"Her family might know who is Ria." She suggested and he abruptly stood up, fished out phone from his pocket and dialing a number walked towards the balcony while Sana followed him, clutching his left hand with her soft finger intermingled with his fingers as he talked on the phone.

***
Time: 7 pm
"Greetings." Afzaal greeted Amjad and Naima, who out courtesy stood up and replied.

Amjad moved forward and shake hands with Afzaal while Naima gestured moving her head.
"Thanks for making it here on such a short notice." Afzaal apologized and gestured them on taking there seats.

"It's okay Dr. You called us, is everything alright?" Naima asked Afzaal.
"Yes nothing serious but very important." He answered as he crossed his fingers all together and turned up to meet their gazes.
"What is it about?" Amjad asked curiously as he knelt forward towards the coffee table.

"Few days back I conducted a  therapy session with Maria, it went fine except one thing. She related me as a person named "Ria". I need to get in contact with Ria to get to the root cause of Maria's health issues. I believe she will prove as a great breakthrough for her case." He narrated and noticed them being amazed as he uttered each word.

They looked at each other in shock and Afzaal observed them.
"I don't know any Ria." Naima proclaimed, which sounded immensely shocking to Afzaal because he knew that Maria is not a secretive person and as she lives with her mother, she would know something about her, at least.
"Yes there is no Ria in our friends and family. I haven't heard anything about Ria from Maria." Amjad told him and the shocking look on Afzaal's face increased.

"Are you sure?" Afzaal reassured.
"Yes I know all her friends, There is no Ria." Naima confirmed.
"Then who could she be?" Afzaal said.
"It could be any college fellow of her or maybe some online friend." Naima suggested.

"Can you check her phone?" Afzaal asked them.
"Well okay, I will check." Naima replied.
"One more thing," Afzaal uttered and they turned their heads towards him.
"I need you to tell me Every thing about her childhood and teenage," He added and straightened his back and coughed his throat clear.

"I mean everything, Every weird and usual habit of her. Each and every shocking and normal incident that involved her." he finished and un crossed his fingers.

"She has been a shy girl, an introvert. Not talkative." Amjad started.
"She was our first child hence was really attached to both of us, she has been a perfect daughter, a perfect student..."
"She always preferred to stay in her room especially," Naima stopped for a moment.
"Especially during the course of our divorce. She was really disturbed. Naima added.
"And what happened after the divorce?" Afzaal asked.

"She stopped talking for some time. As time passed she turned pale and one day she got a panic attack." Naima said.
"Doctors told us she is in major depression so for few months we stayed together and she recovered well. Then we again moved out." Amjad recited.

"Any specific habitual change?" Afzaal asked.
"Umm yes. She is not good in kitchen. I remember she used to get hurt by knives very often on arms, feet and once even on cheek." She told them.

"And" Afzaal moved on.
"She developed a fear of dark. Like not only light less rooms but dark bright color clothes like red, black,  dark makeup, sharp neon colors etc." Amjad added.

"Hmm I see." Afzaal replied as he filled his journal with the information he just received.
"Thank you so much. " he said to them.
"No it's totally fine Dr." Amjad replied.

"Dr, we are really looking forward to see Maria, completely cured. Is she going to be fine ever or not? Naima, asked as she felt a out pour of deadly emotions through her full of sorrow heart.
"I am trying my best, Miss Naima." he answered her as he leaned towards them.
"We hope so dr Afzaal." Amjad added and Naima controlled her sobs.
All of them stood up and were about to leave when Naima said "What time it is?" While looking at her wrist watch and phone simultaneously.

"8:30 pm." Amjad told her.
"Your watch stopped working I guess." Afzaal commented and Naima forcefully smiled.
"No actually something is wrong with my watch and my phone. It is two hours back." She replied annoyingly as she worked up the  time on her phone

"How come?" Afzaal asked as  he checked his email on his phone.
"I don't know. It happens sometimes all the time showing machines start showing wrong time. Though thanks for correcting it." She thanked and left following her Amjad also left the hotel lobby.