HER INNOCENCE TAMED MY MONSTER

CHAPTER 41

After the dinner, Alizeh gave Nani ma her medicines and bid her goodbye, promising her to come back in the morning. When she left, Nani ma changed her clothes and offer her prayers and recited Quran, making dua for both of her children, she wiped her tear stained face and put the Quran back on the shelf and sit on the bed, holding Maaz's cold hand in her warm ones,

" I don't know Maaz, what happened back there, what made you like this but the only thing I know is that you are not this weak you are much stronger, I just want you to gather yourself and try to solve this problem, if you stay like this you won't be doing anything for yourself neither for Areesha, just try to get over and start to think practically, what if something happens her, she is out there all alone and you know this world, she can be in danger, don't you remember what Saad told you about Jawed, how cruel and dangerous he is and I am sure, after Alex's death he will not sit back, he must be planning something against both of you," she paused a minute, still no response from him,

"Don't lose your hope Maaz," she said and kissed his forehead again and walk back to her bed, beside Maaz's bed, she looked at him for the last time and drifted to sleep.

Nani ma woke up by the sound of a cry, she slowly opened her eyes and saw Maaz sitting on the floor beside her bed, crying, holding her hand in his, she sits up and gather him in her arms, gently caressing his back while he cried on her lap,

"It was the same night Nani ma, same dark night when they came into our home, Mama was making dinner for us, me, papa and Shahzaib were sitting in the lounge, I was showing dad my test result, he was very happy to see my A grades, when they break in into our house, they took papa to his study room and killed him while arguing on something, Mama hide both of us near the kitchen cabinet and asked me to keep Shahzaib safe and quite, she promised me to come back, but she never did after I heard another gunshot, I was really terrified and had no idea what to do, Shahzaib was crying constantly in my arms, he was asking for Mama and I was trying to stop him crying loudly, but unfortunately those murderous heard him and pushed us out of there I was still holding Shahzaib like my life depended on it, they laughed looking at us and one of them kicked me hard in my stomach, I groaned in pain but didn't let go of Shahzaib, they started talking about something and it was the last thing I remember when one of them hit me hard on my head, when I woke up from the blackout, I felt that cold sweeping through the whole body, my fingertips were turning blue due to it, I tried to get up but I was tied with ropes, I look around for Shahzaib and saw him lying few feet's away from me on that road side, he was shivering badly from that cold, it was dark out there and very difficult to see in that darkness, I crawled to him trying to bear the dreadful pain in my whole body and tried to stop the tears from my eyes, but remembering that what happened to my parents made me cry harder." He paused for a second and continued,

"when I reached him, he was very cold and his lips were turning blue, he was still crying for Mama, I tried to reach for him but that Jawed dragged me back harshly, I landed on my aching back, I lifted my head and saw him holding Shahzaib and placed a revolver on his forehead, he asked me about the money and some confidential files which papa has kept safely, I didn't know where papa has kept them, I only told him about the money, but they beat me when I didn't tell them about those files, I told them several times that I didn't know, I pleaded to them to let my brother go, but they stood there evilly laughing on us, they beat me again till I didn't have an energy left to move my single muscle, I was bleeding heavily but I didn't care for it, the only thing that matters to me was my little brother who was not moving, he was mumbling something under his breath, I tried to listen to him, he was calling for mama, I slowly placed my hand on his cold cheek, I told him to stay with me, I assured him that everything will be fine, but that Jawed and other men came back drunk and pushed me away from Shahzaib once again, he cried when I let go of his hand, he looked scared like I was at that time, Jawed plopped down and hold my face, he asked me again about those files but I replied him same that I didn't know, he slapped me hard, I don't know what happened, they all starting shouting on each other and pulled out their guns, pointing at each other, they were fighting and it was the only chance for me to escape them, I crawl back to Shahzaib and asked him to untie me, with some effort he untied my hands and I picked him up and tried to ran, but that pain was too much for me to bear, I was weak, tired, thirsty and bloodied, but I didn't stop, I keep running when I heard a gunshot, I clutched Shahziab's hand tightly and move faster as I could, but those bastard shot again and this time they shot Shahzaib on his leg, he cried out in pain and let go of my hand, I get down and tried to pick him up when I got a blow on my face, I fell on the ground but didn't waste any time to get back to Shahzaib, who was lying there unconsciously," Maaz stopped and sobbed for a while,