Strings Attached

~Chapter 12~

"Hiba must've told you that we, as in your Aunt and me, are going to London tomorrow around noon," he says. That's news! Hiba didn't tell me anything of the kind. But I refrain from telling him so. Instead, I mumble something incoherent which he takes as a yes, and I'm left to digest the information. Two days alone with Hiba, and that devil spawn Ayaan! I hope I don't turn paper thin with torture.

"I have some urgent business to attend to and your Aunt's mother isn't well. So, we've made a joint trip of it." I don't know why he's telling me all this.

"It's a two-day trip. And although a maid would be coming to look after you all and cook, I want to ask a favour of you, child." A favour? And of me? God! This is gonna be heavy, I'm sure of it. "A...a favour, Uncle? What about?" "It's about Hiba. And Ayaan, but mostly her. I want you to try and keep her out of mischief for me. If you see her her doing anything bad, just inform me. Can you do that?"

Is he really asking me that? Hiba hates me with all her life! And if she finds out I'm being recruited to snoop on her, she'd behead me. Literally! I can see my fate in front of my eyes very clearly and it's suddenly made my mouth go dry... but he's not finished yet.

"I know she should be answerable for herself now; she's nearly eighteen! But I don't trust her much," Uncle Jabbar admits, and my eyes go wide. So he knows. "I don't think I've been a good father at all. And when I see you, child, I think how blessed Ali is that he has two obedient daughters like you and your sister." He has no idea! "He may have lost a great deal, but he has found so much more, Masha Allaah." Okay... ?

I feel embarrassed now. He seriously has no idea how bad we are at home. But I thank him nevertheless.

"Do you know Uncle, she's not so bad," I say genuinely. "She has a way with animals. And she keeps her kittens very well fed. And that's not all, she's kind to the other animals too. Just the other day, I saw her dressing a wounded street dog. As for me, I guess I wouldn't even think twice before leaving it to die," I end my little speech, reiterating on her innate goodness by comparing myself to her. 

Because it has come to that. Dadi was right. Uncle Jabbar has started drawing comparisons between me and his daughter; mayhap he was doing it even before I came. Most likely, it hasn't gone down well with her. And I'm very sure it's the root cause of all the hate she exudes when I'm around.

"Maybe if she had a bit of this sensitivity and goodness for humans too, things wouldn't have been so bad," Uncle reflects after a pause, and I nod silently. "Every year, she's progressively degrading herself. I've tried all I could. I've sent her to a boarding school for a year. I even made her stay home for another. Nothing really seems to work. She always finds a bad crowd to mix with, wherever she goes. Or finds reasons for me to remonstrate with her."

I pity the man. Here he is going grey over his daughter's misdeeds and there she is, going around without a care in the world. And I resolve to help him, whatever may come off it.

"It's only a sign of my helplessness that I'm discussing the failings of my own blood with a stranger – forgive me for calling you that -," I nod that it's okay, and he continues, "but I've to accept that I've come to this. There's no other choice but to ask someone for help. Will you help me?"