ʜɪꜱ ɴᴏᴏʀ (ʙᴏᴏᴋ #1)

35. ᴜɴꜰᴏʟᴅ

SHIFA SALEEM

Tanisha signalled me to follow shahid who exited the room. I mouthed her "what about those" and she replied with "I'll take care of them, I'm here. You can trust me. Go ahead." I thank her and followed Shahid who left Nahima's apartment. I saw his figure in the dark, he was standing in front of Ishan, speaking.

When Ishan noticed me he left and Shahid turned to face me. Then we took a stroll for a bit, and while i stood to his left side, I said "You did your best, Shahid."

This time, he was quiet. I tried to look him in the eye, but it was impossible because of his height and he was averting my gaze. I could see that he was biting his lip tightly to contain himself. "You know, It's ok to cry if you're sad." At last, he turns to face me and says, "Huh?"

A single tear escaped from his right eye, made my blood freeze. But his face was still emotionless. He touched his right eye, and stared at his hand in which there was his tears. It was as if, he saw the tears in his eyes for the first time. His face was shook after realizing a single tear left from him. The sight made my heart break into million pieces.

How can he not realize when he was crying? How could a person hold up all those emotions and still look emotionless.

He lowers his head, more tears streaming from his eyes. Tears started to spill on his pants. I give him a back pat. Oh God! I wished i could hug the hell out of him right now, giving the best comfort ever which i could've given him. But- I can't touch him until we make it halal. And also since he is non-mehram.

I pat his back shoulder stating "It's ok, I'm glad she finally reunited with her real family. Also I'm glad that you didn't lose hope in your lost-sister. I'm glad you could finally find her."

He kept weeping as a sob left from him, i continued patting him trying to calm him down. "I was sitting outside ICU, When Ammi went to buy us food around that time, I was hoping, my sister inside ICU would wake up and see me first where i could finally tell her 'We made it just as we promised each other'. H-However, i had to use washroom so i did. There was nobody in the ICU when I returned. Docters rushing here and there. 'Sorry to let you know but your sister has already passed away!' A nurse said to me."

Another sob left from him, as i continue patting him. "It's ok....you found her, it's ok" I try to comfort him. "I didn't know when they put my little sister back; when Ammi arrived, all I could do was stare at the ICU with another lifeless body. Her body was wrapped in a white sheet, and they stated that she died from a virus rather than being abducted. Thus, nobody-not even my parents-was allowed to come close to her lifeless body. We were unable to attend to her or perform any funeral rites, such as Ghusl Mayyit, Janazah (funeral prayer), or even bury her and allow her soul to rest in peace; all we could do was pray for her. Nothing we could do about it."

This made me tear up along with him, How could anyone do that? Oh Allah, I'm grateful to you for giving Shahid a strong heart! even after what he went through , his face doesn't even show any of those expression. Normally, we could tell from a glance that someone was depressed or going through something. Oh god, this man, he seemed to control all of those things like a carefree soul. But deep down, he was drowning in an ocean, only if i could help him get out of that ocean...

"W-While i was staring at my sister's corpse, i noticed her hand, the girl who was laying lifeless in that bed seemed to have no nails, while on the other hand, i noticed my sister having a bit of a long nail the day before we were kidnapped. I-I told this to my parents, but all they said was 'S-Shahid, she is with His Almighty Allah, you have to get over it.' And they consulted me to a lot of psychiatrist. Deep down i was sure the body that layed on the death bed, wasn't my sister."

"Following many years of investigation, Ishan offered his assistance in cracking the code. Arif, the CEO of the same hospital where my sister passed away, assisted us in obtaining access to that document without the doctor's consent. When Ishan used his skill to crack the password, the truth was revealed. That document showed a different blood type for the body; it was not my sister's blood type. And it appeared that the bodies were switched. I didn't know Uncle had a secret child until recently, and It turns out to b-be, he was the one behind everything." He states.

"Oh God!! What kind of person could hurt members of their own family?!! Isn't he your uncle?" I inquire. "Yes he is, but my father and uncle are not actual siblings, they are step-brother's." He replies.

He takes a deep breath, "I'm sorry i couldn't open up to you until now." He says staring at me, our gazes locked into each other while tears running down in both of our eyes. "That's not a problem, because you opened up to me. That's all matters." I reply smiling.

"Oh god!!! How did i find this perfect gem. Thankyou Shifa." He says and breaks down eye contact when i lowered my gaze. I was sure my face is a mess right now, from all the tears as well as blush which might have formed by now. He chuckles thanking me again and again, i smack him across the head ordering to stop thanking me any more.

"Let's go, I'll be back after i buy some food with Ishan. Also Abu will be coming from Abudhabi, He is already on his way. I have to pick him up and don't tell this to them. You go ahead." He says and i walk into the apartment promising i would seal my mouth in this case, i turned around to see if he had already left, but he was there, standing looking at me smiling, and waving me off with a 'Go on!'. I chuckle at his interaction and get inside. Aunty and Nahima are over crying so much because it was okay with them here. They are merely talking and laughing right now, but tears remained on their face.

Right after getting into her apartment, i look over at the side window to make sure if he went, and i could see him getting in his car and driving away with Ishan.

"How did it go with him?" Tanisha asks "He is ok now." I say infront of my friends and Aunty. "Where is he sweetheart?" Aunty asks, "Oh, he went to buy some food." I reply.

"How was he dear?" Aunty asks, "He...cried." I reply. "H-He cried???!!" She raised her voice shocked. I was confused, and my friends looked the same as me as we ask aunty what's wrong with that.

"H-He never cries infront of anyone. Especially infront of me and his dad, he never once cried after losing his sister!" she says. He never did? How can a kid never cry infront of others? I meant does that mean, he let me in his life. A wave of relief swept over me.

"I'm glad he felt safe around you while crying, No matter how many times i sobbed, the tears never left from him. I believe the last time I witnessed him cry was when he was five years old while fighting with his friends. Not after that." She says, breaking into a smile.

After an hour doorbell rings, as tanisha goes to answer the door. It was Saif uncle followed by Shahid. Saif uncle, Nazia aunty and Nahima started sweeping now, all sobing into each others arm apologizing to Nahima for what she went through and mentioning it was all their fault.

Tanisha and I gave them some space while Shahid hands me over the food he had purchased, we arranged the food in the dining table.

~Hehe, Hope It was a good one!~