Strings Attached

~Chapter 15~

"Why did you act so shamefully, then, if you were so worried about your dad? That too under my roof!" His voice has risen to a hoarse boom, and I can feel dread in my very bones, lest he hits me. His anger is at a fever pitch. I don't know if I'll be able to come out unscathed.

That video must've been clearly doctored. Hence the reaction. Because originally, I'd pushed that goon away. It was dark at that time, so it must've been really easy replacing me with someone else in that part of the video. And it seems to me to be hopeless, coming out of this fix.

"If you've nothing to say in your defense, then get out!" My feet remain glued to the floor, somehow. Maybe I should try defending myself. But the thought flies out of the window as soon as his voice shatters the stifling silence once again.

"I swear, if you stand there a minute more, I'll physically throw you out. GET OUT this instant!" Uncle booms harshly. And I feel like digging a grave and slipping into it for an early death. I've never been insulted or scolded so.

"Uncle please," I implore in a small voice. "What now?!" he roars so loudly that I flinch, emitting a frightened whimper. Even Hiba has visibly shrunk and become somber, trying to slowly inch out the door without getting noticed.

"I promise I won't show you my face ever again." I'm surprised at my bravado. "I'll...I'll go away from here for..forever, but please don't call Abba." I put every ounce of emotion into my voice when I say 'please' for a hundredth time, my voice wobbling pathetically at the end. I'm pretty courageous tonight.

Something deflates inside the man at my plea, and he plonks down onto his desk chair, visibly tired. Maybe he sees the sincerity in my eyes. Whatever it is, he seems to have cooled off a little. Taking his head in both hands, he tells me in a leaden voice to get out, for the last time, which I do reluctantly. I fervently pray he doesn't call dad.

My head hangs heavy when I come out of that library door. It holds great significance for me. This door opens to where I was garbed with trust, and closes to where I was stripped of it. Oh, and it took my dignity too, with the turn of the key. That's just the final straw.

"Go rot in hell!" I hear Hiba's hateful jibe and also the snicker that follows it, but I'm too tired to look up, let alone confront her. How can she live with the guilt of not only committing the wrongful act herself but also framing someone else for it? I guess the answer to that is beyond me.

I'm in a stupor. I keep looking out the window from my room (or rather the room where I've been allowed to stay in this house), unblinking, a sheen of tears blurring my eyesight as a consequence. I keep looking in a direction, my mind numb. And then I slowly realize what I've been looking at, all along.

It's that boy's house, the goon's best friend; I know now. For the first time in my life, I feel like destroying the picture perfectness of someone's life, or more like, someone's house. How about I throw a stone or two and break the glass? 'What would that accomplish?' my inner voice asks me. Nothing at all... I answer myself.

Sigh.

_____

I've been on the verge of running up to Uncle Jabbar and telling him everything so many times, it'll be silly to start counting. I just want to clear myself any way I can. I'm desperate to clear myself. The accusation is pricking me like a thorn.

But I can't do that by telling the truth. Because if I do tell the bitter truth, first, he might not believe me; second, he'd ask me for proof. Because if Hiba has a glaring proof of my misconduct, I'd need one too to counter her. And I don't have any.