"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today."

Alia's POV

You know the time when everything's going awesome but then suddenly something happens and You just don't know what to do, like you are stuck up between choosing whether to do as your heart is saying you to or do what your logic's analyzes tell you to.

Should I tell Asia about it or not? Was the question, and the need to just decide was killing me, beside the contradiction between my logical mind and my emotional heart wasn't helping at all.

Basically this is what happen, I received a message from my cousin the moment I woke up for dhuhr and all my hope vanished in thin air as I read the message and I was struggle to hold on tight to even the mirage of hope.

Two weeks before coming to the resort, I've heard Muhammed bhai talking to Imran bhai about some death shot's prison escape and how Asia's life is at risk and stuff like that tho what I heard wasn't clear and I could only grasp bits and pieces of their conversation but that didn't help my worry in fact it increased it even more.

I was actually confused in the beginning and after a week or so of anxiety and worry, I let it slide and thought that I might've misheard their conversation 'cuz I've never heard of the name 'death shot' before, who the heck even keeps such a lame title let alone name, beside if he had anything to do with Asia then we all would've known, or so I've thought, but when I was walking past Asia's room the night before our departure to the resort, I overheard the conversation between Asia and Hooriya, and that's when the realization downed on me, that the one who has escaped the prison is the one who killed Asia's parents.

I tried composing my anxiety and leaving it in the Hands of Allah and enjoy the events ahead, which was working fine up untill now.

"Death shot has escaped from prison and the entire police department is searching for him and as for your question, he is super dangerous. According to the little information I managed to get out of my husband was that, He handles some really bad business of the biggest mafia gang and is an important person in the underworld. Don't ask me what type of business because no matter how much I tried my husband wouldn't let out a single word about it hmph." I read the message again, before typing a reply.

"Dude, I know you are newly wed and can't keep nagging him about his work related things but that's why I gave you as much time as you asked for and this is all you could collect smh, I really need to know where he is suspected to be right now and what could possibly be his next move. Just try your best please." I pressed the send button.

I don't know anything about Asia's past, how she ran away, how her parents got killed and about her siblings. She mostly talks only about good memories and never about the dark chapters of her past life. Though Hooriya and Muhammed bhai were the ones whom she has shared most of her past with. I never gave it much thought, because I know whenever she broke down, it was mostly either Hooriya or Muhammed bhai who would come to her aid, whereas me and Afifa would mostly used be with our cousins from our mother's side at their place as we all were in the same classes and that made studying easier and fun.

We might not have spend a lot of time together as young teens but that doesn't mean me and Asia aren't close, if anything, I love her a lot and she is really dear to all of us, except Ruqayya di obviously, and to think of her life being at risk, shakes me beyond what I could imagine, and as I couldn't ask anything about it to my brothers, I had to find a way and that's why I asked my cousin who got married recently to one of the officials from Muhammed bhai and Imran bhai's department.

Though anxious about everything, I mustered up some strength to get up and freshen up as we would be leaving for Agra in few hours.

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"How long are you gonna take to put all that bags in the van"

"I am trying to adjust them properly"

"Ajwan, where is he?"

"Where is Ali?"

"All the kids are already in the big bus."

"Let's hurry up, we need to go and prepare for the wedding as well"

"Haven't we already arranged for the wedding planner and catering?"

"OMG, why isn't everyone in yet?"

"Chill we have enough time." The bride's Dad said to which all the rush calmed down a notch.

"Why u so chilled all the time" the bride's mum chided.

"Why you standing here looking like a fool?" A not so amazing voice whispered behind me.

"Why are you such a fool?" I retorted and walked towards the bus.

"Why are u always so sassy?"Zeeshan asked.

"Why are you always so stupid and lame?"

"Why are you answering in questions?"

"Why are you even questioning?"

"Can we-"

"Zeeshan let's get in the other bus." Zeeshan was cut off by his brother, I assume, who also dragged him along.

"He looked like Suleiman, didn't he?" Afifa asked once they were out of earshot, staring at their retrieving backs.

"No idea, let's just get in the bus and get going for Agra, I really just want to get away from here." I said, and obviously it had double meaning to it, which no one understood.

"What do you mean?"Hooriya asked questioningly.

Or so I assumed.

"Can't wait for the destination wedding." Aasiya said instead of me.

"Exactly." Afifa said with so much enthusiasm that it kinda irritated me, maybe it's because of my not so excited mood and the anxiety.

Instead of showing any excitement or even trying to fake it, I just got into the bus without a word and sat on the window seats at the back.

Everyone started getting into the bus once everyone were sure that their luggages and everything else was in their respective places.

"What's wrong with your mood?" Aasiya asked concern evident in her voice.

"Nothing, just tiered and exhausted." I replied and I could see that she didn't buy it but still remained silent about it, letting it slide and simply nodded.

"Then sleep now." She suggested to which I nodded and turned my head towards the window I closed my eyes to relax a bit but my thoughts were filled with anxiety and worries.

It's definitely going to be one long journey ahead.

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Assalamu alikum guys.

Jazak Allah khair for being so patient with me and my book, love u guys a lot.

Let's just say I was so overwhelmed that I updated on the day I said I would ❤️

I hope you guys liked this chapter

I will try my best to update at least once a week (Monday mostly)

Sorry for the short chapter though 😅

Adios Amigos

Fee Amanillah