Dedicated to booohh because of many reasons. One of them being that she is an amazing writer. You guys should check out Palstewinians. It is such a cute book. I finally finished reading it, and it is seriously the best book ever. The other reason being that the quote (below) was in one of her chapters...and it really struck a chord of my heart because right now I'm going through some family issue, and this quotes just happen to across my eyes. You really are a great author and a person, too. ♡♡♡

'When you're going through something hard and you start wondering where Allah is, just remember the teacher is always quiet during a test.' -Nouman Ali Khan

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Chapter Thirty

Nightmare Dressed Like A Daydream

(Maahirah)

I know I had predicated that once in the comfort of the four walls of my room, I'd bawl my eyes out since my Test didn't go that well. Well....however, when I'm in my room, I'm a total differnt person.

I, happily, make abulation (wudhu) and get ready for my prayer. While praying, I only concentrate on my prayer. When done, I raise my hand for Dua and Subhan'Allah a wave of calmness takes over me and I feel relaxed then ever. I know that I worked hard on my Test, and even if I don't ace, Allah (SWT) will have better plans in store for me, because He is the ultimate planner.

Folding my prayer mat, I sit on the edge of my bed, and wear my sneakers. Boots are just not my type. Walking up to the dresser, I tie my mop of hair in a ponytail before rolling them in a rough bun. My attire consists of official Elton dress: dark green pants and jacket, unerneah the jacket a black shirt and a light green hijab (headscarf).

I turn of the lights, and exit the door. Just when I close the door, and turn around, I come face to face with Fadiya and Jules.

"Hey girls," I smile, brightly. "How was your test Jules?"

She shrugs."Uh...it went okayish kind of okay."

"What about you?" Fadi asks.

"Um, I do not know," I sigh.

"Aww, darling, you did great. I just know it!"

"Fakhir's British accent is so rubbing on you. I so don't like it," I taunt her.

Jules barks out a laugh. And, Fadi she firsts scowls and then smiles, mischeviously.

Uh-Oh.

"Well, we do live under the same roof so I suppose a little dose of my husband's attitude and accent should be absorbed in my body." She smirks. "Unlike you I don't run around scared of my husband. Let's face it, you can't speak a single sentence without stammering. "

My face flushes red. Sometimes I hate hate my best friend for being so observant to my so obvious self.

"Oh, God, look at her bashful face." She guffaws.

"Fadiya.....you have embarrassed her too much. Give it it a break!" Jules says in between her laughs. "Where are you off to?"

I open my mouth to say his name but But I quickly clamp it shut. Saying Aayan's will add fuel in Fadiya's humorous mind.

"I'm just hanging around with someone who is definitely not Aayan. Psst, why will I hang around with him?!" I give a dramatic wave with my hand.

Fadi and Jules exchange a look that says she - is - just - too - obvious.

And, before anyone of them can make fun of me, I dash away from them.

Girls!

My internal clock tells me that I'm late so I waste no time in rushing down the stairs.

Midway, I meet Janette, the nurse. She looks so frustrated.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Maahirah, darling, this flight of stairs has drained me out. The lift's broken, you know."

And, with this, she is off, leaving behind a puzzled and inquisitive me.

She is lying. Anyone can see that!

My mind tells me to follow her. But, my heart, it yells at me that Aayan is waiting for me. So, for the first time ever, I listened to my heart.

When I make to Mum's office, unsurprisingly, Mr. Aayan Aslam, has his finger tapping on the glass of his watch. An annoyed expression plastered on his face.

Oopsie!

"You're a very punctual person," He says, sarcastically.

I give him a sheepish smile.

He flicks me as cross my forehead, again.

"You're abusive!" I pout.

"We've only ten minutes. Make sure you utilise them!" He turns around and swipes his card making the door open.

I follow him inside, frowning. "Won't they find out you got in?!"

"No. Cards are only responsible for unlocking and locking the doors. And, our schedules are etched in them. That is it. Right now, I'm free so I can do whatever I want."

Ohhh!

"Anyways, let's get started." He says.

Aayan walks to the desk and asks me to check the chest of drawers at the far end of the room.

Sighing, I pull open the first drawer to find it loaded it with files and folders. The second one is also the same. I know I should check them, but, my brain tells me that they are just records of people leaving in Elton.

When I check the third and final drawer, I expect it to contain files, however, on the contrary it contains papers. I scowl. Mum is a very organised person and seeing a mess like this is a rare thing.

I randomly pick up a paper. It is A4 size and someone has sketched on it.

A perfect E is beautiful drawn in a cursive, stylish way. It is enclosed in a small square. Surrounding it are weapons. No doubt, this is the representation of Elton.

Still eyes glued to the paper, I call out. "Aayan,"

Within seconds, he is beside me. I hand him the paper. I watch him as his eyebrows narrow at the paper and his eyeballs running wildly across it. How his chiseled jaws are clenched in pure concentration. It's then I feel something stir in the pit of my stomach, and I feel somewhat sick as the butterflies are freely fluttering inside.

"Hmm. What is this?!"

"Huh?!" Stupid mind. Concentate on his words and not on his looks.

"Hey, see there is a pattern!"

My smart answer,"Huh?!"

He brings the paper in between us. Our shoulders touching. I inhale a whiff of his cologne. The butterflies turn into horses as they run like a thunder with loud stomps. I place my hand on my stomach, afraid that Aayan will hear it.

I follow his finger as he guides me to the pattern. He is also saying something, but my brain has clogged completely on me.

"What do you say, Maahirah?!"

Huh?! I snap into reality when I hear my name.

"Um, uh...it could be a possibility but But I don't know," BecauseI didn't hear a single word that you said.

He nods. Pulling out out his cell phone he takes a picture of it.

Just when I'm about to get a differnt paper, I hear intake of a sharp breath. I whirl to face him.

"We have only two minutes before Aseer gets in her!" A horrific expression plastered on on his face.

My expression...well.......... they mimic him.

Aayan throws the paper in and closes the drawer with the heel of his shoe.

He grabs my arm and pulls me across the room. The door getting far away from my sight.

"The door.."

"We are exiting through...." He looks at something above the table, on the ceiling. I follow his eyes to find them glued on.....an ..air - vent.

I look at a smirking Aayan.

Before I can say anything, he is helping me stand on the desk.

Oh God, he cleared the desk when I was checking the drawers!

Aayan is beside me, too. He stands on the balls of his toes, reaching for the vent. He digs his fingers in between the cage and hauls it up. A rusty air seeps out.

"C'mon," He drags me forward. Placing his hands on either side of my waist, he lurches me up. I quickly grab the ledge and pull myself up. Aayan pushing my legs. When I'm in, I don't even look around as I concentrate on pacing down my heightened heart. My cheeks are still red as Aayan comes in. I crawl moving back to make space for Aayan. He latches the vent slowly and then he slithers past me. I give a final glance through the vent, to to find Mum and a head of brown hair before following Aayan.

I can't believe that we are escaping through air ducts. Never in my life I thought I'd be doing this. But something.....something tells me this isn't Aayan's first vist as he skilfully guides me through the dimly lit path.

"Aayan,"

"Hmm yeah!" His voice is muffled.

"How many times you have been here?"

He replies, shortly. "Many times," I can sense a smirk on his face. I just can.

"You mean, you've been snopping around my mother's back?"

He laughs. "Yes, Cupcake, I have been doing this. This is how I found out about you."

"Cupcake?" My mouth blabber the word out. Rude!

"Yes. Cupcake. Your new nickname! Like it?!" As he swerves left, he tilts his head to right to cast me a look.

"No," I scrunch my nose in disgust. That is too chessy name.

"Well, too bad, I like it. It suits you completely and utterly."

I'm about to ask him how a name such as Cupcake would suit me, but, my voice dies in my throat when I see something smoothering and crawling on the the wall next to me. I suppress a scream as I push myself and collide with a back wall. I squint to find a big, red ant (or fire ant) poking its pair of antennae at me.

"Aayan," I whimper as I recall my grade eighth science teacher's lecture; Unlike many other ants, which bite and then spray acid on the wound, fire ants bite only to get a grip and then sting (from the abdomen) and inject a toxic alkaloid venom called Solenopsin. For humans, this is a painful sting, a sensation similar to what one feels when burned by fire and the after effects of the sting can be deadly to sensitive people.

Am I sensitive?

"Yeah." He says.

I point my pinky on the small beast. Scowling, Aayan comes back and narrows his eyes at it.

He stumbles. "Jeez. We have a great problem, Mrs.Aslam. Don't we?"

I nod, like a wimpy kid. What is with him and name calling?

"Oh. Cupcake. I shall rescue you to safety. Close your eyes."

"Huh?!" My eyes stuck on it. It is only few inches away from my ankle.

"Close your eyes and give me your hand."

Almost reluctantly, I perch my eyes shut and place my hand on his. Instantly, he pulls me and the side of my body slams into into his chest.

"You can open your eyes." He whispers too close to my ear.

I do and I meet his eyes. My heart has quickened once again.

"Look above you."

Frowning, I lift my head to find the ceiling of air ducts split open from the centre and divide like a flap. I gasp as the beautiful sky mocks at me.

"Wow."

"Subhan'Allah!" Aayan says smiling.

I get off from his arms and and place my hand on the edge and lurch myself out. Cold air nips on me. I sigh with relief.

I get out of the cramped place and sit on the brick, red slanted roof. Aayan is beside me.

We both are silent just enjoying the soft wind brushing past us. The sky is dark grey as if it is about to snow.

"You build it yourself the flap thing?!"

He let's out a low chuckle."No. I discovered it."

Somehow I feel like Aayan brought me here for reasons.

"Hey Cupcake." He says to get my attention. "Listen." He pulls out a dark blue wool hat from his hoodie's pocket, and places it on his perfectly styled messy hair. "Um, I haven't made anything about our marriage public yet. I mean, I won't until you are ready."

"Oh," I choke out.

"Yeah. Not until you graduate, it'd be a secret."

Graduate? "Will I go back?"

"Yes, hopefully soon. You still are on vacations, right?"

I nod. "Till the second week of January," I pause as he nods his head. With a hat on, he looks so handsome. Few streaks of his hair pop out of the corner and fall on his forehead. Normally, it'd annoy me but on him it doesn't because I find it rather attractive.

"I want to ask something," My voice is too quiet when I say after inspecting his hat. He looks at me, raising his eyebrow.

"The people who attacked me, who were they? Wiltonians? Your enemies?"

"Yeah,"

"Why?"

"Because everyone believes that you posses something that will end this feud."

I think for a minute."But, you guys, say that you are hiding here and they don't know about it!?"

"That is very much correct." He sighs."You see, our headquarters in underground. The portion visible is only the ground floor which is too worn out and life doesn't exist on it. At least, this is what people say. The only way to exit or enter is the card. If you don't have a card, you can't go alone."

"The other day there was an ambush..."

He chortles. "Someone is too eager today."

My answer, I blush, of course!

"Ah, I like it. Yes, an ambush was there and miraculously killed Fabian, too. They entered in because the lift was left opened that night due to black out. And, because of black out, the numbers got visible and anyone could have had readthe level numbers with a torch light. Unfortunately for us, when Wiltonians enter the hugely spaced elevator, the electricity came back and BAAM we were attacked."

"Oh, so you mean to say in the presence of electricity, only Ground level shines and to make other levels visible we've to use a card. And, that there is life too outside the building and people are allowed out of the Elton headquarters are allowed to come in and out. And, no one can kill anyone unless they cause a scene."

"Yep," He smiles. And, for the first time I notice a small dimple on his right cheek which comes only in sight when you are really close. My eyes bulge out. Close? Are we that near? I look down to find only an inch apart. Somehow, I should move back but I don't. I enjoy the heat radiating off from his body.

I clear my throat. "This is amazing technology. Who designed it? I mean the base of it?"

"My father," His voice is clipped.

"Where is your father?" I don't look at his face as my mouth speaks the words out.

He is looking ahead, at the birds. "How much do you know about me?"

"Umm," I think. My brain formulates nothing. I grimace. "Nothing?"

He laughs. "Well, let's start it then." He takes a deep breath. "I was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. We left England around the time I was six somewhere near Inayah's birth, and shifted to New York City. Competley different countries located on different continent. Mum and Dad used to go for their jobs from morning and they used to return after Asr. We had a babysitter. Anyways, I got discoverd by an agent at the age of thirteen. Due to my increasing popularity, Mum quit her job and started homeschooling all five us. She used to accompany me to my tours. So, when I was fifteen, around midnight I got up because of uneasy queasiness to find my parents arguing. I don't remeber their exact words but I do remeber that Dad wanted us to move to Elton, and Mum was against the idea. I didn't know what Elton was at that time. My Dad saw me and embraces me into a hug, telling me how proud he is of me. Before I can ask him anything, our main door bursts open. Men in veils enter and start firing, openly and blindly. Dad communicates with Mum, eye to eye, and I'm yank into her arms by Dad. As he distracts the five intruders, she pulls me along the stairs and wakes up my other siblings. We flee out of the window to Elton. That was the last time I saw my father." Towards the end, his voice break and my heart tightens. He clears his throat.

"Dad worked for the cause of Elton. He laid down the foundation of underground building."

"He sounds an amazing person, Aayan!"

"He was, wasn't he?"

I put my hand on his hand, and give it a squeeze. I need to assure him. Return him the favour of being there with me when I'm on the verge. I need to show him my gratitude.

I lay my head on his shoulder. He puts his other arm around my body and jerks me closer to him. I feel a tinge of elecrcity jolt down in my body.

"Maahirah. Kathy doesn't hate you. She is just going through some hard time because her son, Justin is held captive in Wilton."

"Oh. I hope they reunite."

To my surprise, Aayan doesn't say anything. I frown. He is usually a well - wisher.

"Hey. Look up."

I raise my head head to feel something plop down on my face. I beam.

Small, white flakes leave the mercy of the clouds and rain down on us. I squeal. First snowfall.

Sigh. This reminds me of home. However, this part of the planet feels like home too much now.

>>>>>

Late evening, I'm posed in front of the mirror staring at the mirror. My dark brown hair fall perfectly in waves inches down my shoulders. My turquoise eyes brighter than ever. I'm wearing a blue floral dress shirt on dark black jeans. Mum gifted me this attire. I can't believe that I'm saying this but I do look beautiful. Masha'Allah. All praise is due to Allah (SWT)

Suddenly, there is able loud bang on the the door. My heart jumps to my throat. I'm pulling on my jacket. Tieing my hair in a bun, I quickly wrap my hijab on my head. When I open the door, a worn out and scared Fadiya pulls me away.

She hauls me down the long flight of stairs. All the while running and sprinting. We emerge out of the backyard of Elton. And, Fadi is tugging on the door at at the right side. We are outside into the open as we go through the gate.

Across from us, the there's a building. I raise my eyes to find a small, quadrangle billboard sign that says:

Elton Local Hospital

I feel my heart pumping wildly in my chest.

"Fadiya, what is wrong?!"

"Ruqqayya, Mrs.Aslam. She in ICU."

Ya Allah.

I rush past her and get into the building
There is no reception. Only a door.

I walk in through the door. The environment is quite pressing and depressed. I look look around to find Aayan seated with Inayah's head on his shoulder. Fakhir on his other side. The twins are pacing. Destiny and Hope are whispering to each other. And, Jules she is staring at the ICU door.

Fadiya is already at Fakhir's side. I also make my way to Aayan and sit next to him.

He looks at me as if trying to recognise me. When his brain registers who I'm. He let's his guard down and I see emotions flickering in his eyes.

I lock my eyes on him. I can't assure him. Because I dont know what is going on behind the door. Is she gonna be alright?! Has she given up on her life?! Or is she battling for it!?

Al we can do is pray to Allah (SWT) to make it easy on us.

Two hours pass wit only Duas. Somewhere in between, Hope congratulates me and Jules for passing the Test. She tells us that we will get our cards in in two days.

Even such a big news couldn't lift my mood. Despite his pain, Aayan smiles at me, praising me.

The door opens and Mr.Brackson steps out. Everyone jumps jumps on their feet.

"Boys and Inayah and everyone else," He begins, grimly. I can hear the thunders of my heart in my ears.

"I'm afraid there is no good news. Ruqqayya is uncnscious right now and it is crucial situation. She is diagnosed with Cardiorespiratory Septicaemia."

>>>>>>>

This disease was something which was the reason for my grandfather's death.

Anyways, Salam guys. I hope you all read this this authors note.

Sorry for the delay. I have my exams and preparation is all I do nowadays. Pray Pray for me.

And my practical exams are starting from 28th May and they will end in the first week of June.

Basically it means
I am gonna go on hiatus. Yes :'( Do not give up on this story. I left it on the cliffhanger to keep you guys on an edge! :p

I I wrote this chapter on my mobile so please point out any errors.

I have to go school tomorrow give an exam. Pray for me. It is almost midnight here

INSHAAALLAH I will reply to your beautiful and lovely messages and comments tomorrow.

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Goodnight (Zzzzz)

Wardah ♡♡♡♡

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