I bottled up my heart and threw it at the banks of numbness.

Here it has no right to be free.

I sat in the library reading a script. It was about a women and man in a blissful relationship. The thought contradicting me, I held it against the table and moving across my sight fell upon the locked cupboard with the nailed cloth covering the metal plate.

I walked beside and dipped my finger inside the cloth. I peeped in.

I entered another finger in the cloth and the side of the cloth suffered a slight tear. I pressed, the cloth finally slit open and the Metal name plate stood naked:                                         'Mrs Liya Arae Hareem Elahim'

I stared the name with wonder. Written in cursive calligraphy unlike the other name plates.

I touched the glass cupboard and I couldn't help myself trying to open it. It was locked. There were several books inside, mostly journals. The height created awe in me.

I heard footsteps proceeding, I caught the edge of my skirt and stood behind the door.

It was Al-Wais. He marched inside and his sight alarmed by the edge of the torn cover immediately. He quickly fixed the muslin cloth but with failure. He traced the craving with his fingers and sighed loudly. His head fell. Then he rose in a moment. He called for a servant and asked for the work to be done right away. He looked around. I hid holding my breath inside my lungs.
He left the room.

*_*_*_*_*_*

I held away flame and the collected it for roasting the marshmallows. They were delicious. I saw the opportunity close to right to ask Mrs Kasheefa about Mrs Liya. When the room was quite and empty.
I asked "Who is Mrs Liya? "

She stood like statue and her appearance altered.

"I don't know Miss " she lied.

"Please Mrs Kasheefa " I pleaded.

"Do not get into the matter" she warned me and walked away.

The mystery was making me restless.

A few days later.

The weather changed for the numbers but it was always cold. The breeze was wild and the air thick. I saw the sun set into the purple sky. Fateh demanded a new toy from my father on phone. I demanded that he brings me new clothes however Mrs Kasheefa has sought me a dress or two but I wanted something from my father, to reclaim him.

When the evening dissolved skilfully under the dress of the dark. I took a stroll in the hallway, little did I know to my dismal that the power would be lost. Now I stood under the roof in some balcony on some floor, in complete darkness, no moon in the sky only the sight of white freckles on the background. I stood at a side. Scared of the dark. Scared of the unknown. Scared. I closed my eyes. The dull nightmares chased,  hands on my waist,I opened my eyes. Dark is bad. The lights should be back. I slowly stepped ahead but in the depth of the room,further inside,one could not even see his own feet or hands. Frightened as I was. I stopped at one point and chanted protection.

From the opposite direction, I small light emerged. A candle progressing towards me. I sighed relief.

The candle in one hand and one hand that I could not see but guarantee was behind his back, incandescent light incandescent fragrance Al-Wais stepped before me.

"I suppose you could have been afraid so I thought I should seek you myself"
He spoke electrifying me with the sparks of his voice.

"I.... I was... "

"You should follow me" he said and moved.

But a few steps taken, I was stumbling on my skirt and stepping under the carpet. I was walking Indeed like a just-learned child.

He turned to me. "There's very little lighting beware"

Then he gazed down at my face. I was shy to meet his eyes. But I can tell formerly that he must have been looking handsome, he always does especially under his own lightings, incandescent.

"Careful Miss Naaz, step on my foot prints" he said.

Now, he walked backwards, slowly like a walk at beach, with fuller feelings and more pleasant actions. I walked tracing his foot steps,my eyes fixed upon his. His eyes lit with the incandescent inconvenience. Shining all the shades of gold.

One step he took back, one step I took forward. Embracing the trace of his footprints. The entire moment my eyes lost into his, my heart sitting in silence adoring the scenario. One step at a time. Slowly. Slowly.

When we descended the stairs,concern sprouted in me "Don't walk backwards on the stairs Al-Wais "

He smiled.

My head with my eyes bowed.

He took a step nearer. My heart fumbled.

He most carefully took my loose strand of hair and returned it behind my ear. Careful not to touch his flesh of finger to the skin of my face. Careful. Careful because he hasn't forgotten, careful because he cares.

I blushed, a sixty shade of Scarlett.

The lights bolted bright and we both had to to shut our eyes but wasn't it beautiful......the darkness....

I opened my eyes and smiled bravely to him.

He opened his eyes but he missed me. He rather took a turn bluntly and walked away.

I caught the edge of his sleeve.

"Tea?" I asked.

"No thank you Miss Falaq-Naaz " he said and ruined me.

*_*_*_*_*_

"Tea? " Mrs Kasheefa asked me.

"No thank you, I just had one. Had Al-Souffian been served? " I replied.

He hadn't and I had to take the tea to him. He was in the living area. Smoking as usual. With a rose in his pocket mingling with the odd smell.

"Al-Souffian?  Tea" I placed the powder blue tea cups.

"Darling, aren't they? "

"Huh? "

"The cups?  Pretty, aren't they? "

"Oh yes, they're exotic "

He drowned himself in the smokes. I coughed. To which he looked at me irritated.

The fogs of his cigar rolling like a blanket and wrapping him in it's hold. A place where he looks secure and content  but little does he know, these tricks don't wait for you. They run out too fast.

"when will you stop Al-Souffian? " I questioned him sighing.

"when I would die Falaq-Naaz"

"it is an atrocious habit. It affects not only your health but also your mental being"

"I know"

"Why are you punishing yourself ?"

"I am not. I do it because I like it"

"would you do it in front of your Father, your mother-"

He jerked straight into the chair.

"Your mother? " I repeated. My head recalling Al-Hassan's concern for something about Al-Souffian and their mother.

"Shut up Falaq-Naaz! " he conquered me with his aggressiveness.

"I am sorry but I hope all is well between you and your mother" I said with good will.

"oh shut up I said!  I do not want to talk about her! "

I pulled myself up. He is her mother after all. From the view point of a child who has lost her mother he has no idea what he has.

"why not! " I battled.

He calmed. He inhaled the venom silently and twitched his mouth.
He scratched his brows. Every moment took it's turn. The smokes revolving around him.

"I do not want to talk about my mother Falaq-Naaz. I do not like to talk about her because she is a bad woman. She is extremely vile and I abhor her. I scorn her very being. Do not ever mention her to me. Ever. I warn you" his pitch rising with every word, his eyes turning red and skin hot. I gulped. I do not have any dare to make the storm rise, to make Al-Souffian angry.

To my rescue, Al-Wais entered the room and covered the boiling man with himself and ordered me to leave with I was extremely glad to execute.

Mrs Elahim. What did she do?

The puzzle was mixed again. The maze more confusing. The secret more guarded. Curiosity as a result more stronger. I saw a particular fear in the servant when Mrs Elahim's name I associated. In the brothers I could not dare bring her up. With Mrs Kasheefa,she like everyone else was extremely secretive about the topic.

I knew if anybody could help me with her case, it was only one. The King.

A\N: I hope you kind reader aren't bored. There is not a wide section left. This book would nearly be coming to an end. I've decided to break it into two. (or not, I am a slow writer you see) All I hope is a favour from you all to tag three or more people you think would love this story. Your help is much appreciated. Also for every vote and feedback my heart swells with love for y'all. Thank you so much. I hope you can catch the language of hearts.  Tell me if it is hard to understand, I would alter it for you.
Talk to me?  What else?