Previously...
3bdulla
Me: “But I still don’t understand.
Who are you trying to protect Asma from?”
She checked the limo form again and
impatiently tapped her four fingers on the table.
3awash: “Okaay, we still have a lot
of time. Let’s just start from the beginning.”
Me: “A lot of time for what?”
3awash: “To take Asma as far away from here as possible.”
______________
3awash
Me:
“Years ago, there was a man who worked
for baba’s company, Mahmood, I believe his name was. He was a middle class guy
with one daughter, and was very loyal. He worked his way up promotion after
promotion, until the time came when baba thought he was ready to be his
partner. But it never happened.”
3bdulla:
“Why?”
Me:
“Some say because they had disagreements
on the contract, others say that there was a matter of honor at hand, but no
one really knows. Baba would never talk about it, and we knew better than to
bring it up.”
3bdulla:
“So then what happened?”
Me:
“It was very serious, so serious that he
got fired. The guy had problems finding a decent job that paid as high as
baba’s, and his family suffered financial problems. Then he took a gamble and
opened a business with what was left of the money he had saved over the years.
He ended up being successful, and is now one of the major businesses that
compete with baba’s company. Ironic la? But I’ve heard rumors that for some
reason he blames baba for all his misfortunes in the past. He is an angry man
who will, at some point, want…”
I
simply stared at him. It looked like his mind was trying to put a few puzzle
pieces together.
3bdulla:
“How does Rashid fit into this?”
Me:
“He is like Sul6an’s brother, he’s always
had his back. And not to mention an excellent source for finding information.
So when Sul6an randomly mentioned this story one day, Rashid decided to look
into it without Sul6an’s knowledge.”
3bdulla:
“And what did he find?”
Me: “He suspected that Mahmood was plotting
something against his rival’s daughter.”
3bdulla:
“Don’t tell me…”
Me:
“Yes, Asma. This is the last thing I will
ask of you. Get her out of the country and just let me deal with it.”
I
didn’t expect him to agree. I thought that he’d need some serious persuasion to
see that the best idea was to take Asma away and stay with her rather than try
to get personally involved.
3bdulla:
“Excuse me.”
I
simply nodded. I knew better than to say anything, for I knew that it wasn’t
easy for him. He took out his phone. Perfect composure as usual, but his fingers
shook as he dialed the number.
3bdulla: “Asma, yam3y a3’ra6’ich bser3a,
we’re leaving. Bashilich 3gb sa3a.”
***
Asma
I
felt dizzy, my eyes droopy and my vision blurred. I tried to lift my head, but
a jolt of pain shot bullets through my brain, and my head fell back on a hard
surface in my failed attempt.
“W a5eera nashaity…”
I
looked up and tried to focus on the blurred figure talking to me, but I felt
like I was in a dream, and only just awakening; my mind was half awake and half
unconscious. The problem was, I woke up from my world of serenity to face my
nightmare: reality.
Me: “What’s going on? Where am
I?”
“One step at a time. Just focus on staying conscious for
now.”
My
vision started to slowly return to me, but the dizziness didn’t fade with the
blurriness of my sight; it only worsened. I felt like my head had been banged
on the wall a thousand times in continuous torture.
Me: “Where’s Nouf? Why am I
here? I didn’t do anythi-”
“Ufff I have no patience for brats. You deal with
introductions. I’ll check on any recent progress.”
I
heard footsteps, some drifting away, another ascending towards me with a
rhythmic click-clock sound. Heels? I opened my eyes completely, my sight
almost fully recovered, and then I saw her. My jaw dropped. Was this who I
thought it was?
Me: “Alia?”
Alia: “Hello Asma. Let’s
talk.”
To be continued…
