Strings Attached

~Chapter 15~

Third, even if he believes me and keeps Hiba away, she'll still be with me in school. And I don't want to face her wrath alone, with all her ardent followers around.

So, how about some half-baked truth? One that clears me and yet doesn't reveal her secret. I'm thinking of acting on that when surprisingly, I hear a small knock on my door. Nobody has bothered to come check on me or even call me for dinner, and it's already 11. Hence the surprise.

I open the door unwillingly, only to see little Ayaan on the threshold, looking up at me with innocent eyes with something akin to sympathy swimming in them. Or maybe, I'm seeing too much.

"Baba is calling you, aapi. He's in the library," he tells me softly, and I nod, wondering what he wants from me now. He keeps standing there expectantly, probably gathering courage for something.

"Here, eat this quickly and go," he suddenly says after a while, bringing out a jar of homemade cookies from behind him. It's only now that I realise he was hiding something behind his back the whole time. However, his thoughtfulness and generosity blinds me on account of a gush of tears. And I swoop him up in my arms.

"Won't your mum get angry, huh?" I ask him playfully. And the little guy shakes his head, grinning. "If you don't tell her, she won't." Oh my! He's smart. "Achha! When she finds the jar empty, what then?" I cross-question him, only to get another smart answer in return. "I'll tell her I ate them all." I drop a quick kiss on his right cheek.

"Thank you so much, Ayaan. You're a real gentleman!" I tell him earnestly. He gives me a toothy grin, reminds me to eat up quick and then runs away as quietly as he came.

_____

"I'd give you a two-minute window to speak... at the end of which you'll only be listening to me and not interrupting in any way. You understand?" Uncle asks me the moment I'm allowed into his haven. I've nothing left to do but nod my head in answer.

Two minutes. That'll be enough for making up some stories and mixing them with the truth, right? I hope so. I haven't lied in a while, so I feel a bit nervous. But I need to come up with something that seems likely, else he'd catch me, and I'd ruin the chances of redeeming myself.

"You can begin now."

"I...I've nothing to say Uncle-," Here, I raise my head, only to see him quirking his brow disappointedly, and realise that it's not helping, so I finish hastily, "-except that I'm innocent. And..and the boy... he's only been a nuisance to me ever since I arrived." I clench my teeth angrily, cursing Daniyal internally with every breath I take.

"When the Pizza guy went after delivering our order yesterday, he found the chance to get in. He must've been nearby... his friend lives across the street. He was drunk most probably, I think.

"I was taken by surprise, so I couldn't do anything at first, I realised it too late. But I pushed him away as soon as I did, I promise you Uncle. Please, believe me. I've already beaten myself up enough about it."

Tears slip out of my eyes by the end of my declaration as last night replays inside my head again and again. And maybe, that's what softens him up a bit. Because a minute later, Uncle Jabbar tells me that he does believe me.

"Who was that boy?" he asks me, his tone angered. "I... he's a local businessman's son. And very rich, from what I've heard. Uncle, please don't go searching for him," I earnestly plead, my voice thick with emotions. And the man lets out a long sigh.

"Fine, I won't. But I cannot keep you here, anymore. I'm sorry... you'd have to go. I hope you'll understand my dilemma," he says, not unkindly, prompting me to nod my head. "If you're worried about your dad... don't be. I won't tell him." I thank him quietly.