Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 16
I felt guilty about not telling Sobia about
what happened with Farid. I just didn’t
have the guts. The entire way back, I felt
worse and worse because I could see
Sobia and Rafay both glancing my way
throughout the ride wondering why I
was being such a depressed soul. After
trying to get me to talk, just like
everyone else, they gave up and I was
happy that they did. I was not in a
condition to say anything because I had
no idea what was going to happen once
I reach home.
Sobia’s car stopped front of my house
and I got out to pick up my stuff from
the trunk.
‘Thanks for the ride and I’ll see you on
campus next week Rafay’ My head felt
like it was about to blast any second. I
really needed to sleep.
‘Yeah I’ll catch you next week, it’s good
we had a learning week off before
exams starts’ Rafay responded, he was
being polite as usual. But Sobia still
didn’t say anything and I don’t blame
her. I was being a jerk to her the entire
way back.
‘Ummm yeah okay well I guess I better
go them’
I started walking towards the door, but
before I went inside Sobia called me
from behind.
‘Hey, look I don’t know what’s going on
and why you’re not telling me but I am
really freaking out’ Sobia was really
worried for me. Before I could tell her
about my mother’s job and Farid’s offer,
I had to speak to Ammi.
‘I know, I am sorry I was such a jerk.
You are right something is wrong but I
will try to fix it. I will tell you …I just need
some time. I hope you understand. Sobia
you are like me own sister, and it’s not a
secret or anything. I just want to take
some time off. Don’t worry about me
okay? You are engaged now, have fun
with Rafay and his family. They are great
and don’t worry about me please’ I held
her hand and squeezed them assuring
her that everything is going to be okay.
Although my heart was telling me
otherwise.
‘Okay, I won’t get worried but
remember this Laila, what’s done is
done and you can’t change that. Accept
it or else it’s going to keep you worried
for a long time. I know you don’t to hear
this from anyone, but you are stronger
than you think’ We hugged each other
and I felt a lot better.
When I got inside I could my brother
and my mother from the living room.
When I got inside my mother was lying
down on the sofa and she had medical
plaster stuck on her head. She was
having another migraine.
The only two people in my life were
looking so helpless that I couldn’t stop
my tears. One by one tears started
rolling down my face but I didn’t want
my family to see me like this. I wiped all
the tears away and plastered a smile on
my face and walked inside the living hall.
‘Asalam O Alikum’ I said in the most
cheerful voice.
‘Aray Walikum Asalam meri beti’ My
mother got up from the sofa and
embraced me in her arms.
Sabir also joined us and started crying.
‘Oh Sabir, don’t cry. You’re a big guy
common’ I hugged him again.
‘Baji…thank god you are here. You
know…’
‘Laila you just got here, go freshen up.
Sabir go and heat up some food for your
sister’ My mother blocked him from
saying all the things I was afraid of
asking myself. I wish he would have said
something.
‘Ammi, why aren’t you at work?’ I asked
her to see if she’ll tell the truth.
‘Ah…I am having headaches so I am
taking some days off’ She excused
herself and went to her room to pray. I
took the opportunity and went straight
to the kitchen to find Sabir.
‘Sabir come here’
He hurried toward me and I took him
back to the living room where we sat
down so we keep an eye on the stairs if
Ammi come back down.
‘Okay what’s going on?’ I asked him.
‘Ammi said not to tell you anything’ He
looked down on his hands, avoiding eye
contact.
‘I know she got fired’ With that
comment, Sabir looked right at me.
‘How did you know?’
‘I just know. When did it happen?’
‘Couple of days back Baji, when she got
home from work she didn’t say anything
but when she started praying I saw her
crying…then when I asked her over and
over again she finally told me, but she
asked me to not tell you anything
because you already have a lot going on.
Ammi is applying and calling different
places but they are hanging their phone
on her and the landlord came the other
day too, the rent was due last week but
she didn’t have enough money so she
had to sell her bracelet’ His voice started
shaking.
My heart was breaking piece by piece
with his words.
‘Yeah, its okay you didn’t tell me
anything and we’ll keep it that way
okay?’ I asked him and he shook his
head.
‘Go heat up my food, I’ll go change and
come back downstairs’
I went to my room with my entire
luggage and took a nice hot shower. It
didn’t make me less worried but it
definitely relaxed me a bit.
I checked my phone and saw there was
a message from Farid. I had a bad habit
for keeping my phone on silent that I
didn’t realize that he messaged my
today.
I began reading….
Farid – Hey, I hope you reached home
safely, it’s real shame that we didn’t get
a chance to go over my offer again. I am
stilling waiting for answer. Tick tock
dear your timing is running out .
I hated his guy.
And I hated the fact that he migt be
right. His family is capable of destroying
me and we don’t stand a chance against
them.
I took a deep breath and started typing
my reply.
Laila- My answer to your offer is yes.
And with that I lost all my pride but
managed to gain some happiness for
my family. I just hope I made the right
choice.
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