9. FALL

The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, gently nudging Murad awake. He lay there for a moment, disoriented, the remnants of another restless night lingering in his mind. The familiar fog of his amnesia clouded his thoughts, making it difficult to recall the events of the previous life—or any day, for that matter. Frustration gnawed at him as he struggled to piece together fragments of his past, but the harder he tried, the more elusive the memories became.

Deciding not to dwell on the void in his mind, Murad pushed himself out of bed and dressed in his jogging attire. Physical activity often provided a welcome distraction from the constant mental struggle. He laced up his running shoes and stepped out of his mansion, the early morning air cool and refreshing.
Nodding to the watch man he exited his mansion with set off at a steady pace, his feet pounding the familiar path that led from his backyard to the tranquil trails behind his house. The rhythmic motion of jogging helped clear his mind, allowing him to focus on the present moment rather than the haze of forgotten memories. He followed the winding trail, surrounded by tall trees and the sound of birds chirping, until he reached Rose Peak. He didn't really know why he was here, but his feet did a good work in making feel relived.

As he ascended the final incline, the first rays of the sun began to peek over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape. To his surprise, he saw a figure jogging ahead of him, her silhouette distinct against the backdrop of the rising sun. As he drew closer, he recognized Taliya, her graceful movements blending seamlessly with the natural beauty around her.

Taliya noticed him approaching and slowed her pace, a friendly smile spreading across her face. "Good morning, Murad. I didn’t expect to see you here."

Murad returned her smile, his usual guarded expression softening. "Morning, Taliya. I needed to clear my head, and jogging seemed like a good idea." His hands moved lazily as he suppressed the urge to yawn.

Taliya nodded, falling into step beside him as they continued along the trail. "I understand. There’s something calming about this place, especially at this hour."

They jogged in companionable silence for a few minutes, the tranquility of the surroundings creating a peaceful atmosphere. As they neared the peak, Murad sighed with a frown.

Taliya glanced at him, her eyes filled with empathy. "You seem off," she drawled out the words binding her hands behind her back.

Murad sighed, the weight of his amnesia heavy on his shoulders. "Its nothing." He waved her off and shrugged his shoulders, feeling the embarrassment of not remembering anything gnawing out his heart.

They reached the top of Rose Peak, where the view stretched out before them, bathed in the warm hues of sunrise. The city below was just beginning to wake, the hustle and bustle of the day still a distant hum. Murad took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over him.

"So where did you studied?" She asked breaking the thick silence. Murad didn't felt disturbed by it but Taliya surely felt it chilling in het bones.

Ashamed, he bowed down his head as they stopped.

"I don't know." He signed with his shaky hands as he slowly began to hyperventilate.

"Murad, Murad," she called him loudly as he stumbled over his feet and fell on grainy ground all out of breath. He tried to breath, to take in all the oxygen from the atmosphere but he couldn't. The more he tried to breath deep the more his breath making him fell limp on the ground. Taliya panicked and sat beside him, hesitation morphed on her face, as she thought how to console him. Slowly, she panicked his back making her turn around and grip her wrist, from the other hand he silently showed how to help him out by rubbing his back. He rubbed her back making her nod at him and rub his back, feeling her emotions tightening into a lump. Blinking her eyes, she bite her lips hard and focused on the ground below them.

Her mind clicked reminding her she carried her water bottle with him, taking the small bottle out from her pocket she thrusts the bottle in his grip making him nod his head at her. Opening it with shaky fingers, he chugged down the water, emptying the bottle. Feeling better, he breathed deeply and closed his eyes, thanking her with his hands.

Taliya smiled, her eyes reflecting the golden light of the morning sun. "Anytime, Murad."

"I am sorry, I pulled you into my mess," he apologised with his eyes dull and gazing on ground.

She lend out her hand to him making him look at her than at her face. To corners of his lips quirks into a smile as he bowed down his head and stands up with her help.

They stood there for a while, side by side, watching as the sun climbed higher into the sky. In that quiet moment, Murad felt a flicker of hope. He might not remember his past, but he had people like Taliya who understood and supported him. And perhaps, in the midst of his amnesia, he could still find a way to move forward, one step at a time.

"So what's actually your job, I mean do you do make up and stuff. I don't really know about fashion, actually." He signed as he drawled his eyes up and down her figure taking the all black sweat shirt and pants.

"Make up isn't only fashion," her eyes widened with bewilderment shining in them as they jogged back to their way.

"I design clothes for people. The most comfortable, casual yet elegant. I design them with utmost sincerity and care. Those aren't only clothes but my feelings about my passion." She rambled making him smile softly at her. His eyes widened seeing her jogging to the wrong way. He signed her to be aware of the bushes behind her. But, she was so into rambling that she didn't even notice his furious gestures and fell hard into the bushes.

The sky moved into her sight and she frowned feeling the ground slipping beneath her and Murad reaching out for but it was too late, she was already into the bushes.

Shaking her head in confusion, she stumbled on her feet, standing up and glared at him, "why didn't you tell me?" Her voice hardened. The easy going demeanour vaporizing into thin air.

He raised his hands and signed slowly, but she cut him off.
"How could you let me fall? What if we were at the peak a d I have fallen from there? Would you let me fall just like I-" she stopped as he pulled her harshly into his arms. His sincere eyes gazing into her jet black eyes.

"I tried to tell you, but you ignored my gestures. I am sorry for being a mute. But, I wasn't given a choice before snatching my voice." He explained with his hands, intensely staring at her.

She knew he never lied, his eyes screamed sincerity and she knew he would never lie. Even the old Murad never lie to her, no. Old feelings came back crashing hard onto making her take a step back.

He signed again, making her breath hitch. Murad himself didn't knew why he signed those words, it just came out naturally like the wind engulfing them. Taliya felt her eyes welling up with tears as she took a step back and turned around walking away from him.

Murad so wished for his voice to be back as he saw sauntering away from him. Bowing his head he cursed himself in his head feeling helpless to not have his voice. Raking his hand through his hairs, he sighed and lazily walked back to the exit with a sour expression plastered on his face. Twisting his mouth, he thought about Taliya. He just couldn't run behind her, she was nothing to him then why did he signed these words to her?

Taliya closed her eyes as she gasped for a breath feeling her tears burning in her eyes. Twisting her lips she leaned on a tree binding her hands behind her back. His gestures hitting her head like a brick making her clutch her eyes close tightly.

"I would never let you fall." His expression plastered in her mind making her curse on herself.

"Why Murad? Why? Why did you came back?" She questioned into thin air as her warm tears fell on her cheek.