Beneath Guarded Hearts - 61

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…