•Fahad•
This is the second time I see tears in Fatima's beautiful eyes.She is so soft-heartened.I can't find any word to say to her because I can never feel the pain of losing a father.Alhamdullillah! My father is alive.I somehow manage to say,
"Don't be sad.Everyone has to go soon or later."
"You are saying this ?" She says wiping her tears with a tissue I handover her.
"Why? Can't I say it ? "
"You...are such a stupid ! " She says while smiling a little bit on her mouth.
I don't feel bad because she calls me stupid but I am happy because I made her laugh.
The waiter comes with our order and place two plates of sandwich in front of us.Then two cups of coffee.
"Thank you very much,"
Fatima says to the waiter.The waiter stares at her strangely and so I.Because here no one say thank you to a waiter.
"DID you said 'thank you ' Miss?" waiter asks.
"Yeah,any problem?"
"No,you are such a nice person,miss."
"Why? Didn't I only thanked you?"
"Yes,you did.But people hardly say that to a waiter like me."
"No,they should.You are helping us.Like you are our friends.So I again say,Thank you ! "
The waiter leaves smiling widely for the strange but so much heart-touching behavior of Fatima.
"Really .....you,are different."
"No more praises.I just did what Every man should do."
"Yes,got it ! "
"Now eat the food."
She says Bismillah louder so that I say it too and then we eat our meal.Looks like she likes it.
"How's the coffee?"
"Mashallah,but how can you drink this same thing 3 times a day?"
"Like you can say your prayers 5 times a day ?" I say with a smirk.
We are eating the food when I notice a little boy crossing the footpath.I notice him walking but giving a blank step and he is walking like giving a gap between his steps.Suddenly I recall the diary's puzzle.I think that we can arrange the letters that way!
"Yes,I got it!"
"What?"Fatima asks on my sudden moment.
"The diary's puzzle!"
I quickly get the diary out of my bag and I open the last page of it in front of Fatima.
"Look at the letters.There are some bold letters.It may be the First letter of any word."
She opens the diary and flip it's pages smoothly.
The diary's page shows:
W T H H A E T T I R S
T U H T E H D M E U T
S E T C B T E I R V E'
S E N V A E M A E L ? E
D.
Allahu Akbar
(In Arabic)
"So?"
"If we give gap one letter and arrange them?"
"Let's try."
Fatima and I look at the page very carefully.
"Yes ,it's giving a meaning!"
"Alright,let me write it in my notebook."
She gets a small notebook inside of her bag and also a pen in her hand.
"You say the letters,"she orders like a officer.
I don't mind it and I start saying the letters as she writes.
After writing the letters I look at her notebook.It blows both her and my eyes.It says,
"W H A T I S T H E D E T E C T I V E'
S N A M E ?
"Fahad."
"Fathima."
"Wait,we should not say our names.I mean it doesn't mean our name.Or it may.Oh I can't find ! " She says raising her hands in the air.
"Yes,it doesn't mean our name.Maybe there must be a detective whom the killer is finding ? "
I And Fathima both get confused.I place my chin between my fingers. She looks at the sky with blunt eyes.
"What else can be? And how will we find it ?"
"Wait! Why don't we visit the neighborhoods of Mr.Rahim? They might know or notice something!"
"Why didn't I get it before! Let's do it!"
I and Fatima both rush to the car and again we go to the victim's house.
"Let's start from the right house."she says.
"Okay,but I prefer left."
"So let's go left."
"No,we can go right."
"Just stop it.Come right."
I walk behind her like a robbot.We reach the house which is just next to Mr.Rahim's house.We click the calling-bell and a young girl opens the door.
"Hello,we are here from the DDUK to ask something about Mr.Rahim,your neighbor."
"Wait a minute please."
she goes inside saying that and she comes back with another woman.This family is also Muslim.We recognize them by their clothes.
The woman gives salam to Fathima as she has recognized her by her hijab.
She replies and welcomes us inside the house.
"Sorry we have to hurry."
"No problem,you can ask straightly what you want."
I am about to ask her,
"Did you see anyone that day in...."
She stops me saying,
"Wait,let me give you some snacks."
"Thank you but we can't.We are doing our job."
"No,you have to.Farah ! Bring some snacks for the guests."
"I hate this ritual of forcing people to eat just for showing some politeness and modesty",
I whisper in Fatima's ear.
"No,you should be grateful of it !"
She whisper back.
"You are talking like my mom!"I again whisper.
" Your mom is better than you ! " She says so.
"What are you doing ? Is there any problem ?"
"No,no we just want ask some questions and we don't want to bother you," Fathima says nodding her head.
"Ask ! I am ready."
"So..." I try to say when she again starts.
"Your husband is very matching to you"
she says to Fathima with a smiling
Face.
Fathima and my face turns red and we look at each other's face then at the woman's face.
"You mistook!" we say loudly and together.
"He is just my partner in this case.We are solving it.Aunty, please let us finish it as soon as possible.I promise we will come someday to talk to you."
"Oh I am sorry.I really wanted to welcome any guest more nicely."
"Don't be sorry.We need your help."
We sit in a couch in the living room of the house then I start asking.
"Did you see anyone weird going to Mr.Rahim's house that day?"
"No, I just saw the newspaper giving boy giving newspaper in their house."
"Did you ever noticed him acting strange before his death? I mean did you talk to him before death that day."
"Did he mentioned his friend's name or the visitor's name?"
" No,he didn't."
"Is there anything else you think we need to know?"
She starts crying and saying,
"Yes, I just want to tell you Mr.Rahim was a pious person.You must find his killer soon and...."
"No worries ,we will find that killer Inshallah ! "
"May Allah bless you!"
"Okay now we will leave, thanks for helping us."
"Hey, can you wait for sometime?" She asks me pointing her eyesight still on me.
"Sure, anything to say?"
"Oh I guess if you are a Muslim or Christian?"
"Oh I am a pure Muslim.Now we should leave."
"That's good.Wait,did you see my daughter,Farah?"
"Yes ,we did.I guess she opened the door , isn't it Fatima?"I say looking at Fatima.
"Yes,she is so nice." Fathima smiles weirdly curving her lips.
"Oh you are a intelligent girl.Do you think she will be perfect for your friend?"she expresses smiling to Fatima.
"Sorry....I don't get it."Fatima says.
My face turns pale.What is this woman thinking on earth?
"Let me tell you, I am looking for Muslim boys for my Farah.I mean for her marriage."
"Sorry aunty,we seriously have to go now."
I somehow escaped from there holding Fatima's hand and grabbing her out of the house.
"Why are you being the grandson of Iblish?"
"What? You think I am the grandkid of Iblish ? That woman was trying to fix my marriage with her daughter !
How crazy she is!"
"Why ? I mean she is beautiful and.."she mokes me with a horrible smile and I get irritated.
"Let me tell you,wait" I try to get her when she steps out.
She says smiling,"You didn't even let me give salam and say goodbye ! "
"There my whole life was being threatened and you are caring about salam?" I say with a much angrier look.
"Hahaha , Sorry, hahaha, really sorry.I can't control ! That woman without knowing any whereabouts of you was trying to get married her daughter to a fool like you!"
"What did you say? Funny ,right ? Laugh as much as you can ! " I shout at her.
"No,no I am really sorry ,I went overboard ! "
"That's why I hate neighbors!"
I kick the ground.And I realize that I have slipped my tongue to a great extent and now I have to face something horrible!
"What? Don't forget.I Am Your Neighbor!"
"No,no I didn't mean you !"
"You meant neighbor ! And that is Me! Now I am not going to spare you."
I close my eyes and close my face with my hands and then I open it when I see that Fathima is not in front of me.Then I turn back when I see that she is coming from that crazy woman's house and the woman is saying thank you to her.
"Oh Almighty Allah ! Tell me, why did you go there again?" I worry to death.
"Nothing.I just gave her your landline number so that she can contact your mom about your and Farah's....."
"Are you nuts? I mean how could you?"
"Revenge!"
"Seriously? Do you know my mom?
She will not wait one second to say yes ,because she is also a crazy ! "
"You can't say like that.No worries.You still have a chance.She will call at 8 pm at night.You can't prevent your mom from taking the phone."
"Allah is really Kind! But you....." I try to say when she starts walking ignoring me.
"Wait I am not finished!"
Some people stare us weirdly near the
House, I ignore their gaze...
Hey guys,In this chapter there is only Fahad's POV. During writing this chapter I enjoyed a lot!
Did you enjoyed?
Vote and Comments are always wished.
Allah Hafiz ❤️❤️❤️