It was nearing nine pm, which meant the lucid ground keepers were going to start their checkup and Laila was sitting with packets of drugs in her lap.
This was so wrong.
Brutus had texted her that Haidar was still on grounds, which meant he was gonna drop by any second. This was a double trouble moment. She quickly shoved the packets of Valium back into the side table. Stepping back, she glanced at the site, making sure there was no evidence to trace her presence. She unhooked the keys and locked the door from inside. Opening the window just enough for her to jump out, she climbed the sofa. The PA's office was on the ground floor, so jumping wasn't an issue. After safely landing, she tied her shoelace. The sound of footsteps reaching the building startled her. It must be Haidar. She sprinted across lawns as fast as she could.
Laila turned around to check why the voice was still vibrant. A hooded figure was chasing her. This was it. She was going to die on grounds without graduating. A body tackled her down and dragged her across towards a bamboo tree. She kicked her legs up in resistance. She couldn't scream because she wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. The large figure silenced her before unmasking from behind the hood.
"Why are you running away without returning the keys? Are you crazy?"
"BRUTUS!? I THOUGHT YOU LEFT."
"Left? Why would I leave? Didn't I text you that Mr. Zakirov was still on grounds?" He softened his grip, trying to comprehend the girl's actions clearly. "Why did you jump out of the window? No wonder I had to chase you. I thought you were ditching the prank. Or worse, ME!"
He gently picked her up, helping her hide behind the tree better. She was breathing heavy, eyes protruding as if she had encountered a dead soul. A gush of wind struck her senses back as she escaped the boy's embrace.
"I have to go. I can't stay here." Laila argued. They had settled a deal that Laila would spend the night in Kazan's dorm rooms. It was also late for her to drive but the girl was persistent. She escaped his clutches, throwing the keys at Brutus to keep.
She had to tell someone.
The drive felt uncomfortably long. Every second made her feel like someone was stalking her. Just one second late and she was gonna be dead. Laila did not wait before barging in from Ali Raza's door.
"Dorogoy! I thought you were already home. What's wrong?" His concerning eyes somehow sent a wave of relief. When she hugged Abu tight, she was safe. It took her a while, but she narrated him the entire episode without censoring anything. She couldn't risk losing his trust. Not now. Not ever.
"I want you to send a search party in his office tomorrow." She demanded. Ali Raza was in a dilemma. Being one of the members on board he could send a search party, but that also meant admitting his goddaughter trespassed the university grounds, breaking into an administrator's office.
"Laila, you don't have proof. You can't just accuse someone without proof."
"So you don't trust me." Laila sighed, her eyes glistening.
"I trust you because I know you. They don't. Besides, how will you justify you finding out?"
He was right. But if accepting her involvement meant she could make sure Haidar's secret stash of Valium was exposed, then that's a risk she was willing to take.
"I'll do it." Blyad.
The next day a search party stepped on the grounds of Kazan University and the news never traveled so fast. Ali Raza was completely against this step as it meant risking Laila's and his reputation. But her commitment towards this issue made him feel helpless. He couldn't say no.
A team of five members led by a tall woman walked through the old doors. It had been fifteen minutes since the search party began its work.
They found nothing.
The cupboard had been ransacked, books trampled from their shelves and yet, no drugs were found. There was a packet of a clove-flavored Dun-hill which Haidar claimed was his. Since the grounds provided its staff and students with a smoking zone, the cigarettes weren't diabolical. But that still did not change the truth. A search party was summoned on the accusations of illegal drug extortion possessed by a staff member which was done by a student. And they found absolutely nothing.
Something was in the air of Kazan. The situation was awkward and Laila's heartfelt empty.
"This is demented! You believed a student who broke into my office late at night over me. For all we know, this is some sort of sick prank." Haidar muttered, voice flat. "Just because she is under your guardianship doesn't mean we can overlook this matter, Ali Raza. At least you should know better."
Ali Raza cleared his voice and Laila turned to him, her gaze fading into something softer and menacing. She felt ashamed. Her Abu was being questioned, and it was her fault.
"I am not lying. I know what I saw. There were zip lock bags filled with Valium, not in vials but packets." She spoke softly. Haidar eyed the girl, a subtle smirk forming.
"This is exactly what I meant when I said you were an imbecile, ignorant child." The girl clenched her jaw, waiting for a response from her godfather. She hid behind his back, tugging his blazer slightly. The man immediately responded.
"Now now, enough fingers on my goddaughter. Besides, if you want to punish someone it should be those club students who ragged her. Vas you know Laila, she'd never-"
"Enough." Mr. Vas entered the office room. He had been informed about the situation and had to step out of his ongoing lecture. The man was wearing a striped blue shirt topped with a red bow tie. His sleeves were rolled till his elbows, expressions a little distressed.
"I am so sorry you had to come here without prior notice ma'am." He addressed the woman leading the search party. Dismissing the troop, he guided his way towards Ali Raza.
"I want to believe her Raza, but there is no evidence that my PA has drugs hidden in his office. This is a serious accusation. Miss Akhmetova, please come to my office after you make an official apology to Mr. Zakirov. Ali Raza, I suggest you wait for her back home, not here."
Well, this is it. Laila is officially fucked.
GLOSSARY:
Dorogoy- my love
blyad: Fuck
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The truth About cypher ✓
Mystère / Thriller"You were supposed to enjoy your last year as a college student not a thug with bounty over your head." . . . Laila had a life which was picture perfect. A student at Kazan University, she worked her way up. With good friends and a God Father who lo...
