Chapter 14

Yushraf's POV

What is the essence of life, when you don't have anybody in this world to save you from what you're going through!

The only person I had was Reedah and I didn't even know how she was doing. I really felt bad for leaving her in such a terrible state of mind on that fateful day, but I couldn't do anything to stop it from happening.

I wished l was able to console her and assure her everything would be okay, but no, I failed to do so. She had not even visited me since the day I was imprisoned. Maybe they did not allow her or worse, something bad happened to her.

If anything happened to my sister I would never forgive that stupid girl for the rest of my life. I promised to make her regret ever knowing me.

"Mubarak, I am afraid something has happened to my sister that why she hasn't come here to check on me." I voiced, concern written all over my face.

"Yushraf, stop saying that. Nothing bad will happen to her. It's just that you are over thinking. Even at night, you don't sleep. You're always thinking. Please just have fate that everything in life happens for a reason. It will all become something you will laugh about one day, believe me." Mubarak assured.

"Uhm, I just hope so, Mubarak. Life has been tough enough on us." I remarked.

"I know it is, but it will be worth it one day. Be patient." He smiled.

"It's already getting late. let's sleep and hope for something better tomorrow."

"Yeah, I will sleep, but only when you tell me your story, Mubarak. Why are you locked up here? I'm sorry if I'm prying in your privacy, but I really can't suppress my curiosity, because you seem innocent and always cry in the night when no one is awake and try to brighten up your mood when others are around you. Why?" I asked, curiously.

"Yushraf, you won't understand. It's better to see me like this than to know the darkest secret behind my smile. Telling you is of no use, because you will also think the same like others and leave me just as many people did."

"I know some secrets are the treasures we keep locked deep within the souls, to keep our hearts safe from betrayal, but at times, it's good to share it, to have some relief, because keeping something to yourself is like a burden that keeps getting heavier with time." I said, trying to make him understand my point and to open up to me. "I promise not to leave you no matter how bitter your story might be. I won't judge you. I will forever be in touch with you. Trust me for once Mubarak and I promise not to leave you." I smiled, reassuringly at him

"Thank you, Yushraf. I promise to tell you now. Everything started when My step mom planned an arrange marriage for me with her cousin, Nusaiba. My dad also agreed to it, because anything my step mom said it was what my dad did. I told them I was not interested in her and besides, I was not even ready for marriage, but my step mom insisted just because Nusaiba said I was the only guy she's going to marry. She didn't give a damn whether I loved her or not. I told her clearly I will not have anything to do with her after all she was a spoiled brat that doesn't even know the value of anything in this world. She claimed to have everything she asked for and I'm not a toy she could request for, I didn't like her even for a moment, because she always acts very childish." He paused for before proceeding to tell his story. "But my step mom still insisted to the extent that she moved in with me. My step mom even turned me to her driver, just to make me change my mind, but I made a vow not to ever marry her, even at my last breath. She's not my type at all.

"Then suddenly, something happened the day she asked me to take her for shopping, which I clearly declined. I asked her to tell her driver to take her there, because I had better things to do than taking her shopping. She stormed out of my room and told my step mom everything I said. I hated her presence a lot. my step mom said if anything happened to her in future, I will be held responsible for it. I was very broken that even if I disliked her, I will never wish her dead, no matter what, because ever since I lost my mom, I have known the pain of death I missed her a lot _wallahi_ and I wish I can bring her back to this world, but death is inevitable.

"The next day, Nusaiba was rushed to the hospital, after she got into an accident and was on life support. After the surgery, she never opened her eyes again. The doctors told us she was in coma and might forever be like that, because chances of her waking up was not even up to thirty three percent. When we went home, I heard a knock on my door and when I opened the door, I saw policemen. My step mom kept shouting I'm the one and that they should just arrest me, because I'm the reason why that girl is in coma." He swallowed the lump forming in his throat. Then continued.

"Yushraf, ever since then, my dad never set his eyes on me again. it has been five month now that I have been here with no help, but luckily for me, she is not dead, just in coma and I have fate that one day the truth behind that accident shall be exposed." He smiled, confidently.

"Right now, I have a friend who is a lawyer. He is helping me investigate the truth behind this case." He informed, his lips quivering as he did and he blinked his unshed tears away.

After narrating everything to me, he wiped away his tears. I felt really bad for him, because I knew the pain of being accused of what you know absolutely nothing about.

At that moment, I feel ashamed for always thinking I was the only one with problems. I never knew someone else's story was more bitter than mine.

"Mubarak, I'm deeply sorry for what you have been facing. Indeed you're really bold to be in this condition and still smile like nothing happened. May your mom's soul rest in peace. "

"Aameen. Thank you."

"Yeah, Yushraf, you can hide a lot behind a smile, a broken heart, shattered dreams, longing desires. Smile is a curve that can straighten out a lot of things you feel at given moments."

"Indeed, you're right, Mubarak. But your step mom must be evil to make you face this hardship all in the name of that lie Nusaiba uttered that day."

"Yeah, she is. I never knew she hates me that much, until the day she accused me of causing the accident, so that she will die, but she didn't. You know, I'm always praying for her to wake up one day." He hummed and heaved a sigh. "I guess we can now sleep, now that you have heard my story. I'm very tired."

"Alright, we should...and thank you for telling me everything."