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Chapter Seven

It All Comes Tumbling Down

(Maahirah Furqaan )

17th January.

As soon as I enter the lunch room, Ellie waves excitedly at me. I roll my eyes. It seems like all the time she had her eyes on the doors to note down my entry. I make my way towards them. (Dua, Ellie and Grace.) 

When I open my mouth to thank her for my lunch tray. She dismisses me with a flap of her hand.

I glance at Grace, who shrugs equally confused for our friend's "So, this year Prom theme is Disney.I'm so excited. "

Grace rolls her eyes. "Disney theme is like so third grade."

Ellie and Dua shriek.

"Shut up!" Ellie.

"You just did not say that." Dua.

"Whatever."

"Oh Grace, it is a beautiful theme. Magical. Mystical. Enthralling."

Ellie hugs me side-ways. "Yes. Baby. "

We are in the cafeteria which is bursting with excitement  as soon as the Prom Committee announced the theme. Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors along with Seniors are as much excited as if they are also graduating.

Dua, Grace and Ellie blend well with the buzz but I don't.  An uneasy feeling dances in the pit of my stomach. Like something is lurking in the corner, waiting to claw its tendons into my skin. 

I shudder.

"......oh God. I wish that Mom lets me loose on the prom." Grace grumbles. "I hope she forgets her curfew."

"Of course, she will." The ever-energetic Ellie pumps her fist in the air. "The prospect of Prom is to feel independence days away, and.....hey Darren."

I whip my head around to find him standing with his hands behind his back.

"Hi girls." He says  a little too shyly.

I with my hands gesture urge him to speak louder.

He clears his throat. "Um, Ellie can I talk to you?"

Ellie who is busy chewing fries, looks up startled and spews out the contents of her mouth. "Me?"

My eyes widen. How unlady like.

"Yeah, um. I was wondering that you're one of the cutest and prettiest girl in the school, and I know that the 'date' is announced couple of hours ago but I was thinking:" He pulls out the single red rose and offers it to her. "Will you, can you go the prom with me?...as....my....date?"

Ellie gapes, her hands on her mouth. She is staring at him. Darren looks at me nervously. I wink as if to say wait-for-it.

Then, she gasps. She snatches the rose from him and flings into his arms, making him stumble, but she is squealing. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes."

I stand up and clap along with the whole cafeteria  hooting, whistling at their cuteness.

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

It turns out Ellie is ecstatic on the whole Darren Anderson thing. She wouldn't stop talking about him throughout the classes as well as on the way home.

"God, Maahirah, I really hope you come to the Prom. Try talking to your parents, for me." She leans in to the seat, hugging her bag to her chest. "I want us to be there together enjoying the last moments of high school. That moment will be special, and it will lose its meaning if you miss out."

I grab the gear stick, and bite my lip. "Oh, Ellie, I haven't talked to my parents yet. I'll trying convincing them. Okay? Don't be sad." I squint at the rear mirror. "Ellie, do you think that car is following us?"

She snaps her neck. The black and red striped Bugatti Veyron slows behind us. I have this feeling that it has been stalking us since we drove out of school.

"I can't see the driver." She sits properly and looks at me. "And. No. I don't think so, Maahirah that he is tailing us."

I nod, distracted and turn left. I expect the car to do the same, but it doesn't. I exhale the breath out I didn't know I was holding.

I stop my car in front of her house, leaving the engine on. She picks her bags, and pushes the door open.

"Wanna come in?"

"No, I've to go. Mom's waiting. I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiles. "Uh-huh. Later then."

"Later."

She shuts the door, waving at me.

I turn on the radio, and let the soft music play. My heart is thudding in my chest, because I'm sure
that I'm being followed. When I hit the road, I let out a shriek as the Bugatti appears again. A lump forms in my throat. I press on to the accelerator trying to race away from the sports car, which is useless strategy as my car isn't matched to that.

I should have had never taken this downtown road.

I scream, when the car overtakes mine and cuts in, stopping in the middle of the road, blocking my path. I slow down, making the tires drift against the friction. My car halts, and the door to that sports car open. Amidst of the dust and smoke, I see him clearly, getting down of the car.

I'm already high on adrenaline, and when I see him near so, my heart gives a wild lurch. Bile rushes to my throat, and my tongue gets tied.

He walks towards my car, dusting the dirt off from his shoulders. And, before he reaches me, I step out and take the stand against my car.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS OUTRAGEOUSLY FELONIOUS BEHAVIOR? YOU CAN'T JUST RACE WITH SOMEONE AND THEN STOP THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD."

Aayan removes his shades, and leans in to me, making me cower back. His eyes are red and anger flashes in them. "You dare shout at me, Miss Maahirah?"

"I can do whatever I want." I push him.

He grabs my hands and binds my wrists together with his one palm. "No, you do what I say!"

I bite down the whimper to the pressure of his fists around my wrists. "You mean nothing to me, leaving me no choice of being your dog."

Aayan lurches me forward, shaking me. I let out a cry of protest. "You're so wrong. You're my wife, and you do as I say because that is what good wives do; listen to their husbands. As long as you're in my Nikah, you're compelled to do as I say. "

"I never wanted to be in this spiritual bound." I struggle with my hands.

"Aww, too bad. You are stuck with me." He flicks me on the nose, freeing me.

I rub my abused wrists and just as the circulation begins in them, Aayan seizes my arm and pushes me into the car. Pain lurches in my back, and I scream.

"Will you stop being so harsh?"

"Not until, you listen to what I've to say: good and clear. You're coming with me."

"With you?"

"To Elton."

"What?" I push him again, and in answer he presses onto my arm. "No."

"No to what?"

"I don't wanna go with you."

"Again," He tsks-tsks. "I didn't give you an option. I told you the final decision. Now," He hauls me towards his car.

I try to break free, but his hold on me is strong and he's adamant to manhandle me today.

"God damn, Aayan, I'll scream if you don't let me go this second."

A sneer forms in the corner of his lips. He stops and pulls out a gun, pressing the magazine to its place.

"Shout, baby. Shout as long as you want. But I won't take a second in plunging this at your head." To prove his point, he fires right at my toes. I screech, jumping back.

"Now, good Wifey, in the car." The body of the gun glitters in the sun, making me surrender to him. I sit in his car. He slams the door shut on my face. Seconds later, he is on the drivers seat.

"Seat belt, Maahirah, and the door is child locked, so don't even think about escaping."

I fumble with the belt.

He curses. "Really? You can't even put on belt?" Leaning in, he pulls the belt and snaps it lock. "There." He breaths on my face.

I look away.

He starts speaking in his mobile. "Hey Dean. Man, there is a car at downside lane, can you take it with you to the garage? I'll take it from you in few days. Oh, wow. Cool. Thanks for doing this, dude." He hangs up.

"You planned this all?" I ask as he starts the engine and presses the accelerator, speeding away.

"I'm in no mood to chit-chat now. We will talk when I want to, and that's not right now." He replies, curtly.

"You kidnapped me, physically assaulted me and then manhandled me and I can't even know the cause of it?"

Aayan looks at me, and rolls his eyes, but doesn't say anything.

"Stop the car. Aayan."

He shuts me up with his gun.

"What do you want?" I squeak.

"Patience, Miss Maahirah. Let's be at least 3000 miles away from your hometown."

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

Done. Done. Done.

I'll update the next chapter on Wednesday. <3 Keep your eyes peeled.

What do you think will happen now? Aayan kidnapped her. Wowowowow!!!! <3  What will happen in their land now?

Thank you to everyone who reads and votes and comments. Means a lot to me. Please comment below.

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Good day.

Wardah <3

PS: I've presentation to make. :'(