Enigma

Chapter 18: Shadow of a Doubt

20th December.
3 pm.

Three days had passed and the fog had disappeared both from their lives and the town. This morning, the sun shone brightly above the mountains and the people of the town finally got to work.

Roshanay was discharged the day after she collapsed in the middle of the street. The reason was hidden from her parents and Kabir, with great difficulty but somehow they did not let their cover blow. And Aryaan, well she could not lie to him, and as expected his reaction was furious but all was handled now.

The blossoming lilies outside her bedroom window had perfumed the whole room and now if you look from the window, Murtaza and Roshanay were normally having some time together because the doctor had still prescribed her to take a break and spend some time at home so all of them were giving her time as much as they could.

"Get married, Murtaza." After laughing their heart out, reminiscing memories, she finally said what she wanted to say since a year.

This sudden suggestion caught him offguard and then he finally said,
"Why this motherly advice, Inspector?"

"Come on now! We all want to see you happy. Stop wasting your life like that, and from what I am observing, you badly need to see a therapist." She spoke softly.

"Therapist? Do you think I've gone mad?!" His voice was low but his eyes filled with all the anger and grief.

"No. Ofcourse not. You just need someone to talk to. To let out this guilt that you have been carrying with yourself. Please. Here." She handed him Dr. Anamta's card. "She's my friend. I told her about you. If you have time, please go see her and also think about my suggestion." She patted him on the shoulder.

He wiped off his moist eyes and got up, "I'll be off now. Take care, Rosh." Giving her a side hug, he strode towards the door.

"How far will you run from this?" Her voice was laced with grief.

He stopped but did not turn around, hiding his tears. Without an answer. He was as quiet as the air. Because he did not know himself, how long was he going to carry this on. 

She could still see him from the window of her room, wiping his tears away, starting the engine of his car, he left. Murtaza was his friend for the last 8 years. How could she live seeing him like this?

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6 pm.

"Asmara, you are the girl who drove me head over heels in love with her, the girl who I wanna spend my whole life with, the one who I have wanted dearly. I love you and I always will. Will you marry me?"

"Aw pftt! She'll probably sleep while listening to this!" Kabir groaned standing in front of the mirror, the ring in his hand.

It was not late after that night that he finally decided to propose her. It was the right time and he knew it. Despite everything that he had been busy with, this was important. But the practice wasn't going quite well, let alone finding the perfect occasion to propose her. He wanted it to be perfect in every way, which is why buying a ring from the most expensive jewelry store was his first priority, aside the weird thing that happened there.

The waitress who worked at the
View Cafe was now working at a jewelry shop and when he tried to have a chat with her, she ignored him and put another shopkeeper to his assistance. He did not himself know why but he waited for that shop to close and saw her leave on her bike, also snapping the number plate on his mobile. She was shady, really shady.

While he pondered on it once again, he heard a sudden knock on the door. It was his dad.

"May I come in?" He smiled.

"Sure." Kabir sat down, his dad sitting with him until his eyes landed on the ring.

"Woah! What's this?" His eyes were glistening with excitement.

Kabir smiled, "I am going to propose Asmara."

"Oh, son! I am so so happy for you. But I know what you are thinking, and I have just the right occasion for you to propose her on." He smiled.

"Really? What is it?"

"Its the 70th Anniversary of MountView this Sunday and we are throwing a huge party for the whole town in the TownHall. You can take her somewhere in private and talk to her." He patted him on the shoulder.

"Oh yes! How could I forget? Dad I am so happy, you'll see. Its gonna be epic!" Kabir stood up, a jolt of excitement hitting him.

They say your words are listened by everything existing in nature, as if they are getting recorded. Everything fades, but words remain. His words were memorized by nature. Little did he know that the night he thought to be epic was going to be the most obnoxious night of their lives.

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Yours Truly,

Haniya Asif.