HER

32

Laila's life was full of tragedies. Haunting nightmares, dark daydreams and a deadly past. One she tried so hard to leave behind yet found its way back into Laila's life. So when she found herself staring at words scribbled on paper in her hands, she cursed the moment she was brought into this world. 

"If you think this all has ended, then you have big surprise waiting for you ahead. Girls like you don't deserve a happy ending."

Faris took the letter from her hands and tore it down to pieces but the words still echoed in her mind loud and clear. Faria and Moiz stood there shocked as Laila slumped down on couch behind her. Eyes trained in her hands as the words repeated in her mind again and again. 

Nothing ever ended. It always came back again and again just when Laila though she could have her chance at happiness. Just like how it did right now. 

Faris sat on his knees in front of Laila, his heart screaming in agony looking at tired look in Laila's eyes. He took her small hand in his large one putting them on his chest just above his heart. A place only reserved for his wife whom he loved to heavens and back. 

"I think we would come back later." Moiz mumbled before sneaking out of room with Faria following behind him.

"Look at me Laila." Laila didn't move an inch. "Janan." He put a hand below her chin and lifted her head making her look at him.

"Do you think it will ever end Faris?"

"Of course it will end love. We will end this together, with our own hands." He paused and stared into her eyes. "I will stand by you till the end and if you want, I will stand just behind you and watch you burn every single thing down to ashes that ever dared to hurt you. I can promise you that."

"The note-" Laila started but was immediately interrupted by a very calm looking Faris.

"-was one of dirty little trick of whoever wants  to scare you and if you get scared, you are letting them win very easily.

But he was anything but calm.

"And we don't want that, do we?"

He was beyond furious.

Laila shook her head in negative. A single tear slid down her cheek and her husband kissed that tear away. Just like he always does to her worries. "I feel like a fucking damsel in distress." A humorless chuckle escaped her lips.

"Then let me be you knight with shining armor." Faris smiled at her cheekily. "I will fight all the evil away for you."

Laila smiled looking away from him and a relieved sigh escaped Faris' lips. "Go to room and have a rest. I will be there after finishing some work, hm?"

"Okay." 

He kissed her cheek again and stood up pulling Laila with him. Sending his wife to their room, he made his way to servant quarter.

A lot was needed to be done and he had very less time.

* * *

"Did that person looked anything like a postman?" Faris sat on chair in front of a badly shaking woman, the same servant who gave the letter to Laila. The security guard appointed to main door stood beside the shaking woman, eyes down  and beads of sweat dripping down his face.

"N-no sir."

"Did the envelope looked anything like it was delivered through official services?" He asked again keeping his eyes trained on the servant.

"No." The shaking voice again fell against Faris ears making him close his eyes and curse his servants for their stupidity.

"Then what should have you done?" His voice so low, so lethal, quite a contrast against his calm features.

The servant remained silent.

"I fucking asked you something." His voice turned loud making the servant flinch bank in panic. "You should have asked for his name and called me there."

"I had no idea sir. Forgive me, I won't make same-"

"Yes you won't make same mistake again because you wouldn't be working here anymore."

"Sir-"

"You shut up. I will deal with you later. Do I pay you to sleep on duty? How the fuck did he passed by you without you knowing?"

"Faris." Ansar's voice boomed behind him. "Did I teach you to talk to servants this way?"

He stood in doorway of quarters. Suppressed anger quite visible on his slightly wrinkled features as he made his way towards his son.

"Baba-"

"No matter what Faris they are older then you." He ushered the servants to leave them alone.

"Sorry baba."

"This is not how I raised you, then what happened to make you talk like that son?"

Faris stared at his feet, his hands clenched and unclenched by his sides, anger still there but the respect for his father overpowered. 

"Someone's after Laila again." He murmured, eyes still on feet.

Silence followed, a long tormenting silence. A long intake of breath on behalf oh his father and Faris looked up at him. "Do you have any idea who it might be?"

Faris shook his head.

"What about that boy?" Something burned in Faris' heart at the mention of him.

"I don't think so."

"How can you be so sure?"

That made Faris flinch, a look of hesitation on his features before he spoke. "I might or might not have done something to force him away from this country."

Faris tried not to think about all the blackmail material hidden in a folder inside his laptop, neither the illegal methods that him and his friends had to use to get access to it.

"Faris."

"Yes baba?"

"What did you do?"

Faris facepalmed himself, a long sigh and slumped shoulders. "We can talk about it later. Please baba, we have more pressing matters at hand."

Ansar rolled his eyes at his son. "I was just saying you should have done worse." 

Faris should have seen it coming. Ansar had always been quite possessive about Laila since she was born. Maybe because he saw her as his own child not having daughter of his own. Or maybe he always had seen Laila alongside Faris, whether like his daughter or daughter-in-law.

Who cares, at the end of the day Ansar loved her more then her own Father, always thought better of her then her own father and always had a mind of bringing the child in his house.

But now his daughter was in danger again. The girls whom his son loved to heavens and back and who would do any thing to keep her safe. Even if it is killing someone with his bare hands.

And Faris thoughts were no different.