Chapter thirty six

"Thank you so much, Zara. I'm almost close to where Aunt sent me too. See you at home then"
"Insha Allah" Zara replied back pressing the end button.
"Excellent"
"But don't you think she has some sort of plan." She ushered again.
"Don't worry. I am working for her and Amir decided to hire me by paying me a double amount. I'm working for Amir without her knowing. Her plan was me to pose as Raheela's boyfriend and when you do as she requested of you, then on our way to Raheela's place, I will threaten to hurt Raheela is you don't follow my orders. When you do, we will go to the deserted place where she would be waiting for us, and then she will hold you up so that you won't be able to attend the Walima. To cut things short, she wants to make sure you and Fawwaz's marriage wouldn't take place" The guy explained. Zara, Fawwaz, and Sumayya stared at the guy in surprise.
"What will she gain by doing that?" Sumayya uttered.
"Well because she wants Fawwaz so that tells why she's doing that?"
"What is all this?" Sumayya retorted again. To say Zara is shock will be an understatement. She did know that Minal has a problem with their relationship but why would she stoop to that level just to separate them.
"That means she wants to kidnap me right?" She finally muttered after keeping quiet for a while.
"Exactly. We have to act accordingly. We will go in your car and the rest will be following behind us. So we have no time to waste" Zara's eyes went to Raheela who was quiet all along.
"What of her?" She points to the not so strong girl.
"You have nothing to worry about she's with us. We just have to make sure she's safe and sound as you can see she's still weak" Zara let out a small okay.
Just as she turned to leave, Fawwaz called her name slowly that reaches her ear. His eyes held worry and hope in them.
'Be careful' he muttered and she replied back with an 'I will be back' and just that little gesture put both of their hearts at ease. Both went on their way, ready to put an end to Minal's acts.
~~
"How long am I going to keep driving? We've been driving for like twenty minutes now. We have to get back home before ten and now it's almost 9:30" Zara ushered glancing at her phone screen.
"Drive some more, you see the corner there?" She nodded in answer.
"We are going to get in that corner. She just alerts me that she's already there" the guy explains. She doesn't even have time to ask his name as they were focused on getting to Minal.
"When we reach, make sure you put on a frightening expression"
"Worry not, I'm good at acting. We should just pray she won't get suspicious of us"
"Yeah". After five more minutes of driving, the car came to a halt in front of a clear space. No living soul could be seen in that place.
"Act up now. I will alert them when it's the right time to show themselves" Zara did as he requested her. He pulled out a knife.
"Fret not, it's just for show" Zara let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. knife is not an object to play with. They walk ahead through the deserted place that was eerily quiet stopping at a medium wooden crack door. He indicates with his eyes to open the door. If Zara has to be honest, then she wouldn't lie about her heart beating in its ribcage as she enters the not so bright room.
"Go in" the guy exclaimed which made her flinch in return. He does know how to act. A chair was being pulled out for her by him and he slightly nudges her to act up.
"Who are you? And why did you bring me here?" She seethes when her butt lands on the rough floor. He let out a smirk
"Welcome to your new home. Very soon you will meet your new owner"
"I don't remember belonging to anyone" she throws back with an equal smirk. A smirk both of them know as a way for their communication.
"Well, today you will recall". A loud laugh Echo through the whole place followed by her presence. Minal.
"Wow, who do we have here? Mrs. Fawwaz Abdallah" she mockingly uttered. Zara's eyes widened as she stared at the woman standing in front of her. Her surprise wasn't because of seeing her but how she's confident about breaking them apart.
"Are you surprised?"
"What is all this Minal? Why did you bring me here?" Zara implored.
"So simple. You've been kidnapped and by me. You won't be able to leave this place. Oh.." Her eyes suddenly widened as she leaped forward.
"I forgot, you're supposed to get married to Fawwaz right? And that wedding wouldn't be able to take place"
"What made you so sure that the wedding won't take place?" Zara began with fury in her eyes which shows how angry she is.
"Because you won't be leaving this place anytime soon, so your parents will be looking for you and all the wedding things will be on hold. Splendid right. I will get my Fawwaz" A smile graced her face as she uttered out.
"Let me make one thing clear to you, my marriage with Fawwaz will definitely take place and it will be right in front of your eyes. You will witness the Imam pronouncing us husband and wife and you won't have anything to say. That is my promise Insha Allah" Zara spitted feeling every nerve in her body brave. The rest should be getting inside anytime soon. Why are they taking long.
"You know, I like your braveness and also your naïve ness. You fell into my trap exactly the way I wanted you to. The man here is not my cousin's boyfriend. He's working for me. And-" Zara's next word stopped her in her tracks.
"Your fake cousin right?" A chuckle escapes Zara readjusting her sitting position in such a way that she sat comfortably.
"What do you mean?" Minal asked her eyes suddenly squinting.
"Where is the brave Minal now. You think you can act smart with us right? You think we don't know what you're up to. Mr man, you can call them in" She commanded. Minal leaped forward and crouched down to her level, her jaw clenching with anger.
"Don't you dare play tricks on me, I'm much more evil that what you think of me" she remarked grabbing her cheeks in a harsh manner and what she felt next is a rough slap on her face. Before she knows it, she was being pushed to the wall.
Zara stared at her straight in the eye with a look of scorn in them. "I am Zara, daughter of Abdallah and I won't tolerate anyone who messes with me. I can order this guy here to beat the stupidity out of your body and there's nothing you can do but I'm not evil like you."
"Acting brave are you. Ben, why are you still standing. Tie her up". She let out but the guy didn't move an inch rather a smirk appears on his lips.
"You.." She started when suddenly her eyes went behind Zara where Amir, Fawwaz, and Sumayya stood throwing daggers in her direction.
"Surprised?" Amir started trekking towards them.
"I recalled warning you that you shouldn't do anything but you still went ahead. What part of the warning did you not understand? Why can't you accept the fact that Fawwaz will never be yours? He and Zara are destined to be together. There's nothing you can do to stop or break apart what Allah has planned to happen. I thought you will heed to my advice but I'm wrong. No heart is the same."
"Exactly Minal. What makes us different from you is that we have good morality and thinking whereas you are only clouded by selfishness that you cannot differentiate between right and wrong. Had it mean, you heeded to Amir's advice who knows maybe you would've gotten yourself a good and reputable man but instead you decided to chase someone who does not belong to you and will never be" Zara urged, her grip loosening from Minal's body who stood rooted to her spot staring at them in wonder. She couldn't open her mouth to utter a word, she was powerless at the moment. She thought her plan will work out not knowing that not everything goes according to your plan or heart's desire.
Zara and Amir gave Fawwaz some space as he also walked up to her. A look of anger on his face. He couldn't believe she would stoop so low just to separate Zara from him.
"You really disappoint me Minal. I imagine you as a kind and sensible person. I took you to Zara's house because I trusted you and your character but I didn't know you came here with an intention. Let's take for instance you did succeed. Do you think I will love you back? Do you think I would forget about Zara and marry you instead? Then you're wrong. Zara is the first woman I fell in love with and she would be the last woman I would ever love. Nothing will come between us except death. So get that in your head and focus on getting yours."
"What Amir, Fawwaz, and Zara said is all true Minal. I don't know you that much but I think you can do better than all this act that will not bring anything to you but pain. Embrace your destiny and leave your life. You might not know what will happen tomorrow" Sumayya interjected. Minal stared at the people standing in front of her. Even after what she attempted to do, they still advise her.
"I-" she started when Zara cut her off.
"You don't have to say anything. What we only want from you is to leave this place and stay out of our lives. That will be your punishment from us and what you attempted to do today will not leave our mouth. Meaning we will keep it from our family. Why? Because today is a happy and important day for both us and our parents."
"Let's leave here. Mom is already calling me. They must be worried." Fawwaz chirped in.
"Think about what we said. I hope our little advice will move your heart and you will do what is right and good for you. Allah Hafiz" Amir ushered. They all turned around together with the guy who throws dagger in her direction. Before they open the door, she was already slouched down on the floor without any once of strength in her body
The moment they are out of the area. They drop the guy named Ben and Raheela at the bus station.
"Thank you so much for the help" Zara ushered.
"It's nothing. I was being paid for my job" talking of job, Zara glanced at Amir with a kind of look that shows 'You will explain to me later'
"Bye Raheela" they watched as the two got into the bus before embarking on their way too.
"I can't believe Minal will stoop so low" Fawwaz ushered.
"Well, everything is in the past. We have our future ahead of us." Zara and Fawwaz share an eye lock and offered each other a smile. A smile that shows their love for one another.
"Alhamdulillah," she muttered.
~~