CHAPTER FOUR

I Think I'm Gonna Have Heart Attack

(Aayan Aslam)

'Lies and secrets they are like cancer in the soul. They eat away what is good and leave behind only destruction.' - Anonymous

14th January.

I bow a little as I give my final goodnight speech for today. I thank the audience for showing up to the show tonight. As always, I have to impress the fans that they were my favorite crowd. The girls scream which is only muffled by the earpieces that I'm wearing. Waving, I back out from the stage, and clamber down the stairs.

Backstage,my manager and good friend, Joel Wald thumps me on the back. "Great show, man. You nailed it."

I nod my head and let him speak whatever, as I sling away the electric guitar from around my neck.

"I need to go, Joel." I interject to all that brewing unnecessarily out of his mouth.

"WHAT?" He quickly runs behind me as I take quick strides to the dressing room. "What do you mean?"

"I need to go home. My family is missing me."

"You can't leave like that."

"For a week, I do not have any show. No concert. No signing. Nothing at all."

"Exactly. That is the point." Joel begins, already panting trying to keep up with me. He is stout and short. "You need to rest your voice. Enjoy a week in Maldives or somewhere. I'll book you tickets and a hotel room....."

"Joel, for God's sake, I don't need a vacation for the last time." I cut to right.

"Yes, you do. You are depressed and it pisses me off. If you go home, you will be more shitty as ever."

I sigh. "You know, I appreciate your concern for me, and thank you so much. But, my family needs me ever. So, please let me go." I stop beside my room.

Joel runs his hand through his hair. "Fine. Jeez you are desperate as shit to see them. I will let you go. But, I swear to God, if you don't return before 21st, I will personally kill you."

I chortle. "Thank you, dude. Yes I won't embarrass you in front of the labels."

                                                    **************************

The next day, at 3:30 PM I'm standing in front of the Elton headquarters. My heart thumping in my chest, as I remember the last time I was here, she was here with me. In her mind I was a good man, but now, probably I'm the bad guy.

Oh Maahirah, if you only knew.

I swipe my card on the elevator and seconds later, it comes to life as it recognizes my card from the computerized data. The doors open and I set in. Pressing the level 1, I lean back as the lift springs to action and then it's roaring deeper into the ground. 

On Level-1, as I step out. I hear a shriek, and I look up to find my only sister, Inayah coming out from Aseer's room. Her hair pulled in a tight bun. She seems taller and maturer. Gone was the trace of a small girl, who dependent on her brothers for every need. I see a woman; a strong independent woman.

She doesn't throw herself at me, but instead stands politely in front of me. Her cheekbones tainted red. She holds the file to her chest and dances on the tip of her toes. Somehow, this reminds me again of her. 

"You're back." Inayah states simply. "Aseer wasn't joking when she used you might pay a visit."

"Yeah. I didn't have to work so I decided to see you." 

She clenches her teeth, looking away. Then, I see that she's holding her fists tightly that I can see her knuckles turn white. I move closer, and grab her hands. 

"Inayah, what's wrong?" I ask her slowly.

She casts me a look filled with venom and anger. Up close I see there are tears pooling in her eyes. "Oh, stay away from me." She pushes me with full force away, but, I hold her from her arms. 

"Tell me. Now." My brotherly instinct kicks in that she might be hurt by any of our brothers or worst by any other boy. "Who has bothered you?"

"You."

Her this accusation makes me blink. I stare at her. "What have I done to be blamed like this?"

"You and Fakhir were in contact, and not once you thought to call me."

I sigh in relief; for it isn't something huge that I'm being accused of me. It's her sisterly love that has sparked up after my departure. Just that.

I free her arms. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't be in contact with everyone. I talked to Fakhir for a minute barely, and I always inquired about each one of you. I knew you all were healthy."

She narrows her eyes at me. "You do not have time for anyone."

"You know, that's not true," I say. Even though I know it's the bitter truth.

"Oh shut up." She angrily wipes her tears. "I hate this person you have become in just a month. You're selfish who only thinks about himself. You, I'm sure, have made Maahirah's life a hell too."

Something about her name sets a nerve on fire. I glare at my sister. "Look, Inayah, I didn't come here all the way from Boston to hear all this bullshit from you. I don't give a damn to what you hate about me. I'm here for a business so let me be!!!!" I bark the words out on her as humanely as I could.

This time, she lets her stand fall as her big blue eyes let the tears run freely down her cheeks. "Fine. Be that way." She sobs and runs away from me. Her boots thudding loudly in the empty corridor.

Angry and annoyed at myself, I punch the wall and kick my foot in the air. I'm frustrated to even notice the pain shooting up my knuckles. I've let my freaking matters get the best of me and here I broke a second heart.

A female clears her throat and softly says. "My office, Aayan." 

                                                              ******************************

When I enter Aseer's office few seconds later, she's seated on her desk chair and looking at the barren wall. 

"Please sit down," She rolls her chair to face me. Her eyes have sunk in to their sockets. Her cheekbones sticking out. She has grown weak and fragile. But, even then there is a beautiful smile on her face. It's then I understand that something else besides worries and tensions of Elton and her daughter, something else also has made an effect to her deteriorating health.

"Do you need an ice pack?" She gestures at my bruised knuckle.

I turn a shade of red, as she has witnessed my tantrum. "Uh, no, it's fine."

"Hmm. As you say." She stands up, and walks over, placing herself next to me on the settee. 

"You know, sometimes life puts you in a situation not because it wants revenge but because, it needs to teach you a lesson. Allah (SWT) never burdens a soul more than he/she can bear. He never tests us to bring out the worst of us. All He wants, is to know to what extent you will go to please Him. All He asks from you, is patience and duas, Aayan."

"I know," I whisper so slowly. 

"Then, child, why did you show such behavior to your sister?" 

I take a deep breath. To me, after my mother's death, she became the motherly figure that I have been missing. But, yet to be witnessed like this is embarrassing thing. I put my head in my hands.

"Jason Brackson had a talk with me about you and Maahirah. Is this what is bothering you?"

"Majorly." I admit. A day before yesterday, Mr.Brackson called me and gave me piece of his mind which should make me ashamed but instead it pisses the hell out of me. I lash out on him. So needed to say, things ended ugly.

"And, minor role?" She questions further.

"I don't know. Life, maybe."

Aseer sighs. "Aayan life is a test as I said earlier. But what happens between you and Maahirah is somewhat my concern since she is my daughter and you, my best friend's son." She shakes her head. "Both of you, are living like you don't miss each other. I have no idea why did you drop out of school even though, you were capable of providing her better security than Anderson. And, she by not calling you, again and again, is thinking that she has done a favor by giving you space."

"I'm not going to say over and over the same thing about giving a chance to each other. Now, I'll be a bit stern and straight." 

At the condescending tone, I look at her. She has her eyes pivoted to the wall across from us, and to my utter surprise, tears roll down her cheeks.

"Aseer, you okay?" I ask her.

"Aayan," She takes a deep breath and turns her face to me. It's firs time I see defeat, as if she is just suddenly tired with all the weight on her shoulders. 

"I've found answers almost. I've been able to solve the puzzle of this mysterious Elton and Wilton's brawls. It's not simple but not difficult either."

"Wait, you know something that might help?" And, since three weeks, I feel hope burning within me. 

She nods. "I know a lot, dear. But, I won't be sharing with anyone."

I frown, the little hope abruptly extinguished. "Why?"

"What I'm about to tell you will stay between us two, me and you and when the time is right, you should reveal it to the third person and that is Maahirah." She pauses. "Maahrah has gifts that girls gave it to her on her night of departure from Elton. I made sure to alter these gifts and leave clues in them without the girls knowing. As far as, I'm concerned I do not think that Maahirah has even glanced at the gifts."

"So, you want me to steal them?" 

Aseer chuckles and flicks me on my head. "Idiot. I want you and Maahirah to look over at them together." 

"But, now you said me that it will stay between us." I scratch my head with my fingers, confused. I haven't had a proper sleep for days and I haven't eaten anything from the last seven hours. So, don't blame me if my brain cells are processing things slowly.

"Another secret; I've stage three Pancreatic Cancer. I have been warned that my life span has been reduced to a very low time. They haven't guaranteed anything but all I know is that I won't be tasting old-age."

I stare at her shocked to  find such a big revelation. No wonder she has grown frail this must be the treatments taking toll on her. "I do not know what to say," I swallow hard. How will I break this to Maahirah?

"Allah knows best, my dear." She smiles, and despite the pain I can see the Noor illuminating her entire face. "Except you, Hope and Dr.Brackson no one knows anything. I want you to keep it this way."

"That's wrong to Maahirah you should tell her." I say, gritting my teeth.

"I'll but not just now. When I tell her about my disease, I want you to unravel about the mysteries and clues, what I told you few minutes ago. For now, I want you to resolve the conflict you two are having and snoop around the clues that have been lying around. You will find answers in Elton, in Maahirah's house and in her memories." Then, she looks right into my eyes. "Maahirah has a gift. Penetrate into her soul and find it out."

I swallow hard. Why haven't I had a heart attack already?

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BAAM! Done with the chapter! God, I feel so terrible about this chapter. Lots of talk. Lots of mystery. Haha. Ingenious right?

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What do you think is Maahirah's gift? Huh?

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