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“Life is about taking chances. What is the use of living a life in which you don’t take any chance? Take a chance and wait for its outcome. Maybe the result will be fruitful, or maybe  it might be unpredictable, but at least, you will learn a lesson” Me

Chapter Twenty One

My Decision

(Maahirah Furqaan)

I follow Inayah. She somehow doesn't use the staircase or the elevator. She uses strange and weird paths. Her hand is clasping mine as she mutters something under her breathes.

This strange secret hallways are lighted by chandeliers in the form of light fixtures are located at every  intervals

"This is the secret path to every room in this building and of course, the exit. When someone says 'Blue-Code' during an emergency, it means that you've to use this secret passage."

"How do you know where you're going?"

She stops. And underneath the torchlight, I see her lips twitching into a smile.

"Secret!" She winks.

I roll my eyes."Okay!"

We continue our journey to her mother's room which Allah knows is where.

After full fifteen minutes, we're in a hallway which has the tube lights which makes me sigh in relief. At least, now I'm in a civilization.

Inayah, straightens her shirt and sleeks her hair with her palm. "First room on your right!"

I swallow, hard and nod."C'mon!"

She guides me towards the room. Circling her hand, around the knob, she looks at me.

I bite my lip. The door itself is giving the scary vibe, and for a second, I formulate a plan to turn around and walk away. Before I even start pondering over it, the door pulls open, and Inayah jumps back, startled.

"Inayah?" Aayan's voice meets my ear. I, immediately, snap my head in his direction. His eyes meet mine, and I'm tempted to wrap my hands around his neck and strangle him to death.

"Maahirah? What are you two doing here?" He is asking his sister as he closes the door softly behind him.

"I want to see Mum!" She whispers.

Aayan swallows hard. His Adam's apple bobs up and down. He pinches his eyes close for a second before opening them.

"Mum is sleeping. She needs rest, Inayah."

"But....I didn't see her the entire day." She moves forward to overtake Aayan, but, he's fast. He blocks the door with his arms and pushes her back, slightly.

"Aayan. I just want to see her. Please." Her eyes are moist.

Aayan kneels down and pulls his sister in a hug. My mouth nearly drops open in shock as I realize what is going on! Their mother's condition is far too critical than Inayah knows. I, awkwardly, stand there, watching the two of them hug each other. Inayah sobs hardly against his torso while he pats her back, and whispers comforting words in her ear.

I feel like invading their privacy, so, for the second time, when I think of turning around, the door is opened again, and this time a set of twins walk out.

Both of them have shaggy black midnight black hair. Grim looking expressions. One of them looks at Aayan and Inayah, and the other one looks at me. 

"Hey!" The one staring at me says.

Pressing my lips in a tight line, I wave my hand.

"You must be the legendary 'you' everyone keeps talking about. I cannot believe I'm alive to witness you." He wipes an imaginary tear lingering on his cheek.

"Err?" I glance at Aayan for some kind of help but he's watching his brother with amusement, and Inayah too is smiling. It's then when it finally kicks in that he was trying to make his sister forget this grief.

"Hey," I play along. "I've no idea what you mean by legendary 'you' so I'm just going to say nice to meet you!"

He bows. "I’m Haazim, and that," He points at his twin."Is Haaziq, my so-darn-serious twin!"

I nod. Haaziq, simply, smiles at me.

"Aayan, Fakhir wanted to see you," Haaziq nudges his head at their mother's door. "We can take Inayah from here." 

Aayan nods. "Sure, I'll see you guys in an hour in the Training Centre, and Haazim for God's sake don't be late."

He pokes his tongue out."When am I ever late?"

Aayan glares at me. And, Haazim puts his hand in the air. "Sorry, dude. Chill. C'mon Inayah, let's take you away from the party spolier."

I smile as Aayan flicks his brother across the forehead.

"Aayan, promise me, that I'll see Mum after you're free." Inayah looks at him, enlarging her already big brown eyes.

"I..." He closes his eyes."....promise, Inayah. Now, scurry along." 

Haazim grasps her hand and pulls her away. Haaziq stares at Aayan with his eyes narrowed and his fist clenched.

"Coming Haaziq?" Haazim calls out when he is around the corner.

"In a minute." He calls back.

When they disappear, Haaziq turns his glare towards Aayan."How long do you think you will hide from her?"

"As long as it takes."

"Oh, really?" He laughs, nonchalantly.

"What is your problem?"

"My problem?" Haaziq nearly yells. "My problem is that why don't you get it, Aayan? She's fourteen years old. Capable of hearing the truth. When she finds out the reality, it will break her more. Why don't you get it? Why do you always have to act so superior!??!!"

"Keep your voice in-check, Haaziq. You're two years younger than me. You do not control me." Aayan clenches his teeth.

"Two years, yes, and yet, I've got more sense than you!" 

It happens in three seconds. Just three seconds…

Aayan's fist connects with his brother's nose which knocks him down. Blood showers out of his nose and Haazim pushes himself up and charges into Aayan, thrusting him into the wall. I blink my eyes as Aayan peels Haazim off from him.

When I see the blood trickling down onto the linoleum, I snap into action. I put myself in between the brothers and shove Haazim back, slightly.

"Stop it, both of you." I cast an angry look at them. Aayan doesn't meet my eyes. He straightens the collar of his hoodie while shooting daggers at Haazim.

"Hold your nose," I order Haazim. He does.

The door swings open and Fakhir steps out.

"What the hell happened here?" He whisper-barks.

 "Nothing. Nothing at all. As usual everything is fine." Haazim says sarcastically before stalking off.

I stare at his retreating silhouette.

"Aayan, what did you do now?"

"I punched him," He admits, arrogantly.

"Why..."

"Save it," He slaps Fakhir's chest and walks away.

I close my dropped jaws. What on Earth happened to him?  Why the sudden personality change? It's like his old-self is back again. 

"I'm sorry about him. He tends to get...."

"Arrogant, self-centered, short-tempered. Yeah. I know." I say.

He smiles."I'm Fakhir."

"I know." I nod. "I've seen you before!" I avoid adding 'in my dreams'.

"Oh, great!" He says. "Do you want to see Mum? She's sleeping!"

"No, I don't want to disturb her! Umm, but I might need your help!"

"Sure."

"Can you guide me to my mother's office?"

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Her office is plain with a desk and a chair and a cupboard.  The walls are painted half-white.  She’s sitting on the chair, staring at a file opened in front of her. She has her head in her hand as she wipes her gaze over the words written.

“Um?” I clear my throat.

She looks up. “Maahirah?” Her voice is raspy and thick. Closing the file, she leans back in her chair. “Yes?”

“I was wondering,” I sit on the chair across the desk. “That I’ve decided to stay here.”

She stares at me for good few seconds. “What?”

"I want to live here!" I say loudly, maybe just to convince myself or maybe her.

She doesn't say anything.

The truth was that curiosity is seeping in every part of my body. I needed my answers and I got them, partially -- but I did get them. A chance like this will not ever come back again. Maybe I'm mumnapped -- kidnapped by my mother, however, I'm pretty sure that a mother will not harm her kid not matter what happens.

This place Elton is a new phase or a chapter in my life, already sketched out in my fate and what is stopping me from taking a chance. Nothing. Maybe a self conscious part of my brain, but, do I ever listen to it. No. Never.

"Yes, I've decided that I want to stay here!" I repeat more to myself then her

.She gets up and envelopes me in a hug. "Welcome to Elton, my child!"

I don’t hug her back. Is taking this chance worth it!

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-MidnightWhisperer