STAR CROSSED

30.

'You are you are fine going alone?' Anaya asked me one more time as she stood with me at the bus station waiting.

'I don't know what's going on there and I cannot put more lives in danger anymore' I mentioned to her. One entire week had passed since I last saw Maaz and the last time we spoke is when he told me he was at his uncle's house that was six days ago. After that he didn't call me or answered any of my calls, I tried calling Miraaj but his number was unreachable. I knew something had happened, I had to find out for myself.

'If something happens to him, I swear to God...'I whispered, feeling chills down my spine as I finally saw the bus coming in our direction.

'Have faith, I am sure it's going to be fine' She attempted to assure me, but her voice was hesitant as well. I could not think of a single good reason why he would not answer my calls. Every time I thought of it, I imagined him in trouble or even worse. I looked at Anaya worryingly and she embraced me.

'Call me if you need anything, I will try my best to help you in any way that I can' I heard her say.

'Thank you for being there for me during the last couple of days' I mentioned to her as we parted, and the bus stopped in front of us and the passengers started to board.

'You take care of yourself...I'll pray for you' She yelled from behind and I waved at her after sitting near the window seat. I tried to take a deep breath, but my chest hurt due to all the crying and misery I suffered from in his absence. The ride back to the place which only took things that I held dear to me was hard as it was but once I got off the station, I felt anxious thinking about how many times I attempted to escape this place and now I was here willingly.

I could remember my way to Maaz's uncle's house even in my worst nightmares. It was crazy how we are wired to remember the worst of the worst and best of the best, whatever happens in between, our mind dpes not store those memory that well. I remembered deaths more than what I wore or things I had, and I remembered the best moments with Maaz, which were only a handful but everything that happened before was just a blur for me.

I walked from the station to the bazaar and then through the small alleys until I reached the main road, I saw his uncle's house from where I stood but could not get the courage to move forward. The horrific things that happened there left me in such a trauma that all the nights I spent alone, I dreamt of it. But I had to go, not for myself but for the man I loved.

I noticed some people watching me, so I picked up the pace and walked quickly over the house. There were no guards this time when I stopped in front of his uncle's house. I knocked on the door but did not get a response. I tried calling Miraaj after knocking the door a few more time but had no luck. I went to the neighbour's house to find out if they knew anything.

'Yes' A teenage boy answered the door eventually after I remained in front of their house and kept ringing the doorbell.

'Hi...I am trying to get a hold of someone from Arsalan's family...do...' Before I could finish, the boy was pushed to the side and an elderly woman stepped outside to deal with me.

'Hi...I am...' I started.

'We don't know anything' She spoke before I could even finish.

'I am...look I really need to talk to someone from their family...it's an emergency' I hurried.

'Another emergency' She said with a strange tone.

'What do you mean...another emergency?' I stared at her and the boy who was watching us from behind.

'What's going on?' I yelled this time, not caring if I offend her. I didn't come all this way to not be able to find him or get some answers.

'There has been a death in the family' She told me and I stepped back in horror. What was she talking about?