I think the hardest part of losing someone,
Isn't having to say goodbye, but rather
learning to live without them.
Always trying to fill the void,
the emptiness that's left inside
your heart when they go.
-sd.

________________________________________

'Zara!' Eliza shrieks bounding towards me and enveloping me in a crushing sweaty hug, 'I was wondering if you were still alive.'

I roll my eyes at her even though she can't see me.

'You stink.' I laugh as I pull out of her hug.

'Working out babe, check these flabs - abs covered in fat!' She grins at me.

I wave at Maaz as his car recedes out of the driveway after dropping me.

'We have been out of food for two days now surviving on cup noodles and fruit. You are supposed to be taking care of us while mama is away.' Eliza rebukes me.

'You are a grown-up Eliza, you can attempt to cook.'

'Do you want this beautiful house to be razed down to ashes?' She gestures towards our home batting her eyelashes at me like a toddler.

'I cooked for you last weekend.'

'Seven whole days ago!' She opens the door to the house.

'Today, I will cook enough to last until seven whole days.' I laugh.

Eliza sits atop the kitchen table with her legs hanging off the edge while I chop, sauté and marinate different dishes. Maaz was right, I feel better hanging out with Eliza. The past weeks of stress are momentarily forgotten. Eliza is eager to fill me up about school. I find myself smiling as my baby sister narrates incident after incident.

Four hours later I think I have made them enough food to last a week. I wrap it into small boxes and put them into the freezer.

'Is that good enough?' I ask Eliza wiping my hands on the kitchen table.

'That's splendid, let me send a picture to Ziyan.' She grins.

Maaz and Ziyan return together from work in the evening. We dine together, the house feels empty without my parents.

'Feel better?' Maaz asks me in the car on the way back home.

'Yeah, I do. Thanks.'

Maaz is contemplative on the drive, he drums his fingers on the steering wheel deep in thought. His eyes are on the road but his thoughts are far.

'What is it?' I ask curiously.

'How are your parents?' He asks.

'Uh.. good? Dad said he owes you big time for the trip.'

'It has been ten days since they left, would they mind if my dad joins them?' He asks.

'Definitely not. Dad would love it.' I say with confidence.

The automated gate slides open after Maaz punches in the security key. Henry is not at the door. He must have fallen asleep. I haven't been helping him with the kitchen garden lately. My eyes search the patch but it is dim to make out if our labor has borne any fruit.

A dark figure is leaning on our door frame, a black cap is pulled over his face covering it. The porch light is not switched on and I fail to make out who it would be.

Maaz pulls me behind him, protectively and I roll my eyes at him. His eyes inspect our visitor. Recognition sparks in his eyes when they fall on his shoes.

'What are you doing here?' Maaz releases his protective stance finally allowing me a full view.

'About time you got home.' Arhaan grumbles picking himself off the ground and dusting his pant.

'You could have informed.' Maaz replies.

'You could have picked up my phone.' Arhaan retorts.

Maaz pulls his phone out in confusion, he gives a guilty smile, 'It was on silent. I didn't notice.'

'Why doesn't Henry have keys to your house.' Arhaan complains again, stretching his legs. Maaz twists the key and the door swings open.

'I don't give out free keys. I appreciate my privacy.' Maaz says.

'Can I please get some tea.' Arhaan looks at me.

'Sure.' I smile at him.

'There is something I wanted to show you regarding the papers you gave me last week.' Arhaan turns to Maaz. They both head inside presumably to the study. I hear Maaz murmur a response.

I head to my room to change after keeping the kettle to boil on the stove. I knock the door before entering, both men look at me. Arhaan comes to me and takes the tray from my hand, 'Thank you!'

He places the cups on the trunk shaped coffee table. Maaz takes his seat on a log seat, sniffing his tea. He prefers coffee.

'Maaz wants to confess.' Arhaan says cheekily.

My heart skips a beat wondering what kind of confession this is. I look at Maaz curiously, he is glaring at Arhaan.

'It's nothing.' He waves his hand brushing it away. I keep staring at him.

'It is about other day, the glass incident.' He exhales staring at his cup. 'It wasn't an accident. Someone pushed me into a cracked glass door. I am not sure if it was deliberate but it seems like it. But not definite.'

'What he means is someone deliberately wanted to harm him.' Arhaan adds in simpler words.

I had already suspected as much studying the wounds. Still it is shocking to have my wild thoughts confirmed.

The doorbell rings taking us by surprise. Maaz looks at me with concern.

'Are you expecting someone?' Arhaan asks.

'No.'

Maaz hurries to the door as the bell resounds again. Arhaan and I follow him.

Maaz's eyes widen slightly before he schools them into indifference. The visitor is hidden behind the door frame. Arhaan stands before me hindering my vision. Or is he doing it on purpose?

'Come in.' Maaz says after two minutes of staring down at the visitor.

I'm shocked to see Aylin enter our house. Her mousy brown hair is all over the place. Tired bags circle her sleep-deprived eyes, her usually painted nails are chipped off.

'How did you find our address?' Maaz asks her harshly. She glances furtively around the room, her eyes straying from me to Arhaan then Maaz.

'I went to your office first. The location was in the documents you gave when you came to Smile. But she... Leila said you weren't in yet. I convinced her to give me your address.'

'Damn Leila.' Maaz fumes under his breath.

My slow mind catches up with my thoughts and I plunge on her, 'Where is Lisa?' I scream.

Maaz closes the front door locking the four of us inside the house.

'That's why I'm here.' Aylin says.

Maaz comes to me pulling me away from Aylin, he puts his hand around my shoulder as if he wants to shield me from Aylin's words.

Aylin's eyes dart around the room. She focuses on Arhaan, 'I need to speak to you both alone.' She says.

'You can say it in front of him. This is Arhaan, my close friend.' Maaz says.

Aylin looks at me, her eyes are lowered she almost seems apologetic.

'I'm so sorry.' She covers her face in her hands and begins to sob. Arhaan sighs in exasperation.

'You came to say sorry and make a display of your tears?' He asks sternly.

'No.' She sniffs.

'I lied to you.' She uncovers her face and looks at me.

'Bravo. I know you lied to us. We know Lisa wasn't adopted.' Sarcasm coats my voice.

'Then where is she?' Maaz asks calmly.

'I don't know...' She breathes.

'Damn it woman...' Arhaan says with frustration.

'Lisa wasn't adopted, she was kidnapped from Smile in the middle of the night. We haven't been able to trace her yet.' She confesses.

'Kidnapped?' My voice sounds strange.

'Yes. We couldn't find her one morning. She was there at night when I checked, but in the morning I couldn't find her. Kate, Ashar and I scoured every inch looking for her.' She fidgets with her fingernails.

'Haven't you informed the police?' Maaz is the voice of reason.

'I wanted to. Amaro said it would bring bad reputation to Smile. He said we would try to find her ourselves.'

'And did you?'

'No, she's still missing.'

'Why come to us now? After all this time?' Arhaan asks.

Aylin's eyes refuse to stay in anyone of us. They keep flitting over the room.

'Aydin...'

'He dumped you.' Maaz interrupts understanding dawning in his eyes.

Aylin and Aydin were a thing? I wonder. And Maaz knew it?

'Yes... yes he did.' She says to the floor.

'And you came here to spite him.' Maaz says.

'He was the one stopping me from speaking up. I felt guilty as each day passed with no news of Lisa. If not the police I wanted to let Zara know but Aydin did not agree with me.' Aylin says.

'What do you want from us?' Arhaan asks.

'Nothing. I only wanted to relieve my guilt. I feel lighter already.' She says.

'You feel lighter?' I scream plunging towards her once again. 'After God knows where Lisa is and what you have done to her!'

Aylin shrinks back to the door her eyes darting towards Maaz.

'What kind of person are you? You left a little girl who was under your protection! You are preying on someone else's husband! What else do you do?' This time she gasps, her lips open wide and her eyes stare at me blankly.

'What do you mean?' She seems genuinely lost as to what I meant.

Maaz reaches me and pulls me away from her before I reply. Meanwhile, Arhaan reaches for her, he unlocks the door and gently drags her out the door with him into the darkness.

'Why did you do that?' I snap at Maaz as he closes the door.

'I have a feeling she doesn't know Harry is married. That too to my sister. You know how Harry is, for all we know he maybe using her.'

'Instead of assuming, we could have asked her!' I say exasperatedly.

'Zara! She already is broken, did you see her state? This wasn't the time. What we did was show her a little kindness.'

'She doesn't deserve it.'

'Don't ever say that. Everyone deserves kindness, no matter how rude they are to you.'

'I hate it when you talk sense.' I snap at him, my anger towards Aylin directing to him.

'Calm down, it doesn't do you good to be frustrated or scream.'

'Why can't I be frustrated? Why can't I scream for no reason?' I say though deep down I know Maaz is right.

'It isn't normal.' He looks at me keenly.

'Fine I'm abnormal now what? Mental asylum? Ok, I'll pack.' I fume.

'Do you want me to help?' His playful smirk taunts me. I storm off inside.

I draw the curtains apart and peer onto the lawn, I don't see Arhaan or Aylin. Perhaps he took her home. I begin to feel a little guilty for yelling at Aylin, maybe I should have been softer to her. She did look broke. And I didn't give her a chance to explain either.

As expected Maaz follows me inside after a minute.

'Are you packing?' He asks with a smile.

'Ah so you want me to leave?' I tease him back. He rolls his eyes.

'Shall we go to bed?' He asks.

'I don't think I can sleep even if I tried.' I reply. 'Things get further muddled each day instead of clearing out.'

He ponders over my words. His dark eyes portray his conflict, his head hangs low while his fingers absentmindedly roll up his sleeves. I assume he is not going to respond but then his eyes clear and he looks sharply at me.

'I think it's story time.' He says but his tone is hesitant.

'Huh?'

'Let's go to the study.' He leaves the room abruptly still deep in thought. Outside the door to the study he is waiting for me.

'This is the safest room in the house. This door has a retina scanner.' He points at a darker patch on the plain brown door in front of us, what I had thought to patterns in the wood is in reality a small scanner. It is well disguised.

'Only opens for you? Like Aladdin's cave?' I ask with a smile trying to lessen his hesitancy.

'And you.' He takes me by surprise. 'I never planned on keeping things from you Zara.' He explains seeing my expression.

'But why install it?' I ask.

'Partially for security but more of a fancy on my side I think.' He grins.

The door swings open under his hand. The dark interiors light up when they sense our motion. Maaz toggles with the switches to brighten the room.

'I think it is time I tell you what happened two years ago.' He turns to me. I settle down on one of the log chairs after taking a cushion and placing it on my lap. Maaz brings over a small blanket covering both of us as he sits down beside me.

I had been burning to know what Maaz has kept from me, why he was there at the time of Numair's accident, what had Numair meant when he said to trust Maaz in his letter.

Now that the time is here I dread what he is about to say. It is like bungee jumping, you know that you are tied to a cord and that you wouldn't get hurt yet you fear as you stand on the precipice of the towering cliff, afraid to fall, afraid to let go, afraid to take that exhilarating leap. Because once you fall there is no going back.

***

A/N : Aloha!
So there... things are about to get serious from now on! The next two chapters as promised are going to be in Maaz's pov about what happened two years ago. The chapters are set two years in the past, don't get confused!

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