8. MYSTERIOUS GIRL

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over New Downtown. Murad’s day had been surprisingly smooth, the board meeting ending with a success, and his interactions with colleagues amicable. As he drove back to his mansion, he felt a rare sense of contentment.

The mansion, with its grandiose architecture and luxurious interior, was both a refuge and a reminder of solitude. Murad parked his car and entered the house, the silence almost deafening. He decided to make the most of his evening and attempted to engage in something productive. He wandered through the sprawling rooms, trying to recall hobbies that once brought him joy.

He moved to his study, a place filled with books, documents, and memories. As he looked around, his eyes fell upon a dusty box on the top shelf. He pulled it down, revealing old journals he had long forgotten about.

Murad sat down, opening the first journal. The pages were filled with sketches, notes, and reflections. He smiled at the familiar handwriting, the words bringing back faint but black and blurred memories. Flipping through the pages, he stumbled upon entries about a mysterious girl with no name. Intrigued, he began to read more closely.

~~

"Met her again today. She's different, intriguing. There's something about her eyes, the way they reflect thoughts she's not willing to share. We talked about the universe, dreams, and everything in between. I wish I knew her name. And the best thing was she didn't asked about me being a mute."

~~

Murad frowned, trying to recall the face behind these words, but all he saw was darkness. The more he read, the more captivated he became by the descriptions of their encounters. He frowned hard on the last sentence. He was mute before? What the broccoli was happening with him? He thought and turned pages, shaking his head.

~~~

"She mentioned a book today, one I've never heard of. She always leaves me with something to ponder. I think she sees through my façade, understands more than she lets on."

~~~

What façade? He thought but the only answer he got was darkness. The entries continued, each one painting a vivid picture of someone who had left a deep impression on him. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember her face or name. It was as if she was a ghost from his past, haunting the pages of his journal but eluding his memory.

Murad's frustration grew, but so did his curiosity. Who was this girl? Why had she been so significant to him that he had documented their interactions so meticulously? The mysteriousness of it all intrigued him, giving him a sense of purpose to uncover more about his past.

~~~

"Today, she asked me about my dreams. I didn't know how to answer. For the first time in a long while, I felt understood. She's like a mirror, reflecting parts of me I didn't know existed."

~~~

As he read on, Murad found himself deeply immersed in the journal, the hours slipping away unnoticed. The mansion's silence was now filled with the echoes of his written thoughts and the presence of this unnamed girl who had clearly meant so much to him. Hid uncle has gone to the West City for another meeting he won't be back before three days. Murad had no choice but to be stuck with his another assistant.

Closing the journal, Murad leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. He realized that perhaps this journey into his past was a necessary step in finding himself again. The mysterious girl represented a piece of his life that was lost, but now he was determined to rediscover it.

Feeling a renewed sense of purpose, Murad placed the journal on his desk, intending to continue his exploration another day. He glanced around the room, the grandeur of the mansion now feeling less like a prison and more like a treasure trove of memories waiting to be uncovered.

As he prepared for bed, Murad felt a sense of anticipation for what he might discover next. The day had ended on a good note, and though he couldn't yet recall the girl's name, he was determined to piece together the fragments of his past. For the first time in a long while, Murad felt a spark of excitement about the future, driven by the mysterious allure of his forgotten memories.

~☆~

The car glided smoothly through the bustling streets of New Downtown, the city lights casting a kaleidoscope of colors through the windows. Taliya sat in the passenger seat, her gaze fixed out the window, while Haroon drove in silence. The tension between them was palpable, hanging thick in the air.

As they approached Taliya's penthouse, Haroon finally broke the silence. "So, why did you ask Murad for a ride? You know he’s...complicated."

Taliya turned to him, her eyes narrowing as she raked her hands through her hairs. "Why does it matter, Haroon? He offered, and I accepted. End of story."

Haroon gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white as he minced his teeth. "It matters because Murad isn't just any guy. He's got a lot of baggage, and I don't want you getting involved in his mess."

Taliya's jaw clenched as she took in a shaky breath. "I can take care of myself, Haroon. I don’t need you—or anyone—telling me who I can or cannot accept a ride from."

Haroon parked the car in front of her building and turned to face her. "It's not about controlling you, Taliya. It's about looking out for you. Murad’s world is filled with complications and secrets. You deserve better than to be dragged into his issues and you already ended things with him."

Taliya sighed, her frustration evident. "I know he has his problems, but that doesn't mean he’s a bad person. Besides, it was just a ride. Why are you blowing this out of proportion?" Her words were harsher as she huffed out ignoring the last sentence but it left a scar on her heart. Haroon knows about Taliya and Murad's history but not everything.

Haroon shook his head. "Because I care about you, Taliya. And I don't want you getting hurt. Murad’s history is a minefield, and I don’t trust him."

Taliya's eyes softened slightly, but her resolve remained firm. "I appreciate your concern, Haroon, but I need to make my own decisions. Murad might have a complicated past, but that doesn't mean he’s a danger to me."

Haroon sighed, running a hand through his hair, as his muscles flexed under his tight shirt. "Just promise me you'll be careful. That’s all I’m asking."

Taliya nodded, her expression softening. "I will, Haroon. But you need to trust me to handle my own life."

With that, she stepped out of the car and walked towards the entrance of her penthouse building. Haroon watched her go, a mixture of concern and resignation in his eyes. As Taliya disappeared into the building, Haroon couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that Murad’s presence in her life would bring more complications than either of them could foresee. He could feel his fingers itching to stop her but he gulped down his feelings with a sigh and fixed the gear to turn around the car.