Uncertainty. A word that never existed in Azlan Shehryar's dictionary. His mind had always been clear about things. Certain. Absolutely sure. The reason he was at the acme of business world. But, now, this woman was compelling him to venture back to the memory lane and brood if what he thought was really what it was? His mind was nothing short of daze these days. He couldn't fathom between right and wrong.

For the first time in his life he was facing this kind of trouble. All because of that woman. That damned woman who was making him question his conscience he had switched off the moment he had decided to torture her; to inflict every ounce of pain on her just like she did on that person. He wanted her to go through the same agony. Same anguish. He hated her. God, he hated her so damn much.

But what about his analyzing personality that could easily give him the vibes? And this woman was nowhere even close to his perception of her. Her stance screamed of purity. The way she cared about people around her. The way she loved Ayyan who wasn't even her own flesh. The way she had gotten all wrecked up for Raina. He didn't know if it was a façade or not. But, it felt real. So real. All those emotions. Everything about her was real. Then, how can someone so devoting and caring can commit such a heinous thing? Was there something more to what he had been fed with?

Raking a hand through his disheveled hair, he flipped out a cigarette from the box, the orange flame of which was the only fleck of anything closer to light in his study room, completely bathing in the color he was filled with from within. Even the sky tonight was an obsidian canvas with no light, whatsoever, as if mocking him of his soul which was nothing but a black hole. Dark and empty. With no emotion. But the question is; did he really not have any emotion?

Toxins soared within him as he revelled in the rings of smoke. Smoke was good. It was killing him. Something he had tried to do on his own but never succeeded. Who would believe that Azlan Shehryar, the top teir business man at the pinnacle of his life was so empty from inside? So broken and bruised.

This can't go on like this.

He shot up from his chair and stood by the window. When this woman was away from him, she was all he could think about. And now when she was back here, her actions were messing with his mind. Diverting him from the path he had so passionately carved for her to go through. But, now, he wasn't being able to act upon it. Not with her being around him, at least. He had to send her away. As far as he could from him. Yes he had to. And he would.

******

bachay

Abu

Abu

maa

Abu

******

Sahab

******

He had made up his mind to ask her to go back to hotel. And this time he was going to act upon it. Definitely.

His eyes shone with steely determination as he knocked on the door but it slid open instead as it wasn't locked from inside. And the scene that unfolded in front of him rose goosebumps through his entire being as uncertainty swept through him once again.

Prostrating in the power of Allah, her forehead was leaned on the prayer mat. Adrenaline rushed through him as it left him in bundle of contradicting thoughts. The sight in front of him was serene yet chaotic. A beautiful enigma. So pure yet conflicting. How can a person like her pray?

Turning her face from one side to the other, her hands raised up in dua. The hue of light streaming from the flap of curtain shadowed the beast within her, heightening the pureness. The only adjective to describe that beautiful yet wounded soul.

No one had ever messed with his head like this woman did. He was both awestruck and startled.

Her hands trembled and lips wobbled as if about to cry but her eyes, they were devoid of any such emotion. Sunken deep back. This woman was a complete mystery for him. A closed book. Even when she could, she was holding her tears back. He had seen her crying for Ayyan but when it came to herself, she never did. Was it her conscience that was dead or what she committed was actually right?

"Sir!" Her voice pulled him out of trance.

"Huh?" His back ramrod straight.

"Is there anything you need?"

"No." He staggered. "I was just passing by and caught you praying so thought of telling you to fold the mat a bit from the corner. It prevents Satan from praying."

"Oh, but I'd love to see you pray." She mocked.

"Lame." His jaws hardened.

"Yeah, I have to keep the receiver's level of understanding under consideration while hauling a comeback, too, you know." She folded the mat and put it on the stand.

"I don't know if anyone has told you this but you speak way too much. Correction: blabber." He deadpanned, crossing his forearms on his chest.

"I don't know if anyone has told you this but you boss around way too much. Correction: slave around."

"Well, I am your boss." He tilted his head to the side.

"Not in this house. Here, you're just a nuisance for me." She loosened the dupatta around her head. "Now get off my way. Unlike roaming around and intruding in others' rooms like you, I have important things to take care of."

"And what that 'important' thing might be." He raised his eyebrows. The hint of contempt wasn't hidden, neither did he try to.

"Something REALLY important." She said with a straight face. "Now get off-"

"Safa, come'n dude!" Raina's voice seeped through the door as she entered. "You took a break for ten minutes. And now it's been fifteen. I swear I'll resume the movie if you don't come right now."

Her jaws dropped to the ground as her stomach gave a sudden lurch. Pouting, she looked at Azlan's animated form with smirks scraping through his face.

"Important it is. Very important." Throwing delirious looks her way, he turned around and vanished out of sight.

******

The writer is dead after writing such a long ass chapter. Apologies for any grammatical error.