The Bends : Chapter Six

Aden wakes up in a sudden when he heard the front door was open. He sat up on his couch and there he saw Zhorif enters their home. Zhorif was surprised to see Aden was still not in bed.

"Why are you still up? Are you waiting for me?" asked Zhorif with a grin. Aden was half awake and suddenly he remember Maya was in his room.

"Zhorif, there's something which I think you ought to know." said Aden.

"What is it?" asked Zhorif as he sat on the couch and remove his socks.

"It's Maya. She's here in my room." utter Aden.

"What? What the hell is she doing here in our house?" yelled Zhorif furiously.

"Shh...can you keep it low? Ilhan brought his friends over again..and she needs protection.. I can't just let her be victimised." exclaimed Aden hoping that Zhorif will not get too angry about this.
"Look here Aden, I don't care if you wants to be a hero or what so ever. But have you ever reconsider about me? If you don't care about your life but I do! Do you know what you have just did had actually jeopadised my life? Have you ever think about that?" cried Zhorif again as he begins to raise his voice.

"Zhorif..I know..and I'm sorry..but I can't send her back to them..!" protest Aden.

"Aden..I don't give a damn alright...because I know Ilhan and his friends capabilities of hurting people. Alright..she can stay just for tonight..by tomorow morning she got to go. But if you insists that she should be kept here...then you can pack your stuff and leave..About your rental I can fully refund it." cried Zhorif as he headed towards his room and slammed the door shut. Aden begins to fall in dilemma. Zhorif was right..he never thought about Zhorif welfare and all he cares about is Maya..but what can he do...he felt helpless. Just then his room door was open and there stood Maya looking solemn and guilty.

"Zhorif is right...maybe I should go." utter Maya as she headed towards the door to leave. Aden catches hold of her hand and look into her sad looking eyes. Maya looks away and tugged her hand away. "I really have to go." cried Maya with tears in her eyes.

"He will hurt you again..and I can't let that happen." utter Aden uncertain about how he feels now.

"It's almost dawn, and I'm sure he and his friends has gone." replied Maya and this time she's determined to leave. Aden had no other choice but to let her go with a heavy heart.

It was his first day working in that cafe and he was train by one of the senior staff there. He learns and graps the knowledge and skills of a waiter pretty well much to his senior amazement. And soon he begins to resume his duties as a waiter. It was his third week now. He does his work very well and was promoted to a cashier in short period of time. One day while he was doing the closing of the counter suddenly, someone had enters the cafe and to his dismay, it was Ilhan and his hooligan friends. Aden continues with his counting of cash of the day when one of Ilhan friend's approch him and bang the counter top.

"Hey! How dare you show no respect to our leader?" he yelled. Aden just ignored his nuisanse and continue updating the accounts.

"How ignorant are you?" he yelled again as he held up his hand to hit Aden.

Aden caught hold of his wrists and twisted it to the other side. "Don't try me!" said Aden calmly.

This time Ilhan stood up and walk straight towards him. "Let me warn you...don't show your arrogance towards me...if you want to live." cried Ilhan as he points his finger towards Aden's face.

"You are a coward. You feel great because you had your dogs backing you up and futhermore, you are a wife beater. You call yourself a gangster..huh! A real gangster will treat woman with respect unlike you." replied Aden sarcastically while he remove his apron and roll up his sleeves.

"You ask for it." cried Ilhan as he held out his knife and tries to stab Aden with it. However Aden was quick enough to avoid the blow and defends himself with every Ilhan's attack. The rest of his gang however begins to terrorize the cafe. They turn the tables and breaks the chairs. Most of the coffee cup has been smashed much to Aden's horror. Aden managed to grab Ilhan's knife from his hands and threw it under the cabinet where it was beyond his reach. However Aden begins to feel fatique and Ilhan took this as an advantage and kick him on his tummy and chest. Soon the rest of his friends join him and beats Aden up until he was sub-conscious.

"Next time, stay away from my wife..got that." screamed Ilhan and then he left with his friends. Aden hold on to his aching body and look around him. The cafe has definately been damaged and he knew that was the end of his service at the cafe.

It has been a week now, and soon it will be the first holiday semester. Aden had decides to spend his holiday back home. He look at the bruises on his face and a small cut on his lower lips and he begins to feel anxious as he knew his mum bound to drill him with all shorts of questions about them. For a month he had not heard and seeing Maya and he begins to feel worried about that. He swept his fringe away from his eyes and stood up. Then Aden took his camera and headed towards the front door and left. He climbs up the stairway which led to the rooftop and decides to take some shorts from the roof top around the city area sunset. The street lights begins to light up the old building around that area and cars keep on buzzing through and fro as everyone was rushing back home. He took those significance sceenary as it was such a contrast from his hometown which was so peace and beautiful. Suddenly from his lens he saw Maya was standing at the edge of the roof top with her hands covering her tearful face. Aden was frantic cause it could be a suicidal act and Maya was about to attempt to it. Aden crept towards where Maya was standing and he could hear her soft sob. Thankfully Maya was not aware that Aden was already so close to her. Without hesitation, Aden grab her and pull her down towards him.

"Let go of me..please let go." screamed Maya while she hit and slap him on his face as she did not realised it was Aden who had caught hold of her.

"What you are trying to do is foolish." cried Aden and Maya was stunned when she realised that Aden had safe her from the suicide.

"You should just let me go...! I can't take this torment anymore..I can't" cried Maya as she struggle herself away from Aden's grip. Aden knew if he let go, she will definately ends her life there and he's not going to make that happen. Suddenly Aden notice some burn cigarrettes marks on her neck and chest. Some part of her body and face was bruise and there's a cut at the corner of her terror eyes. It really breaks his heart seen Maya had to suffer like this.

"He let them attack me..Aden! He don't care..!" cried Maya tearfully. Aden could not believe what has been said and he pull her close to him and hold her with all his might. 'I must do something..I must." thought Aden to himself.

"Alright..I will help you..but you have to come with me. We have not much time therefore we've got to leave tonight alright." said Aden as he caress her soft dangling hair and looks straight into her eyes..with hope and enlightment. As they were about to leave the roof top, suddenly they saw Ilhan and his ruffians mates were coming towards them. Aden and Maya felt sure they were trap and there's no way they could run or hide.

Ilhan smile with an evil grin and yelled. "I have not done with you yet Maya...and so are you pretty boy."

Aden stand on his guide and was ready for a fight. Ilhan instruct two of his members to make the first attack..however Aden was quick enough to defend much to Ilhan's anger. Ilhan grip Maya's wrist and roughly bring her close to him.

"So this is your prize huh?" he shouted.

"What kind of man are you...allowing his wife to be treated that way?" cried Aden "Opps..are you a real man?" continue Aden again sarcastically. Ilhan was furious upon hearing that remarks from him and he pushed Maya to the ground as he draws out his knife and charge towards Aden. Aden was quick enouch to avoid it again however he twisted Ilhan's palm and the knife had eventually stab Ilhan himself while he was struggling to get his palm free from Aden's grip. Aden blood frooze as he saw Ilhan was holding on to his bleeding abdomen. The rest of his friends panic and ran leaving Ilhan, Aden and Maya by the rooftop. Aden had no other choice as he took off his shirt and cover the stab wound to prevent Ilhan from bleeding till death.

"Maya, call for help quick." cried Aden. Maya rushed down the stairways and tries to seek help but unfortunately to no avail. Everyone seems to know Maya is Ilhan's wife and they refused to help. Suddenly she saw a gentlemen coming out from his car and Maya's knew he was a stranger in this remote city.

"Please sir, please help me..someone got hurt on the roof top." pleads Maya as she held on to his hands in desperation. He looks at her bruise and the burn cigarettes marks on her body and he knew she needs help.

"Led me the way." he says. Maya nodded and together they both climb up the stairs and finally they reach the roof top.

"Aden." he was shocked to see Aden was trying his best to prevent more blood gushing out from Ilhan's stomach.

"Dad." cried Aden and from the way his father looks, he was horribly shocked and dissapointed.

"No Aden! This is serious. Cops need to be involved. We can't have Maya place in our home, it's against the law." cried Adam and he refused to abide to Aden's pleas.

"She's a victim here dad. Can't you have some mercy on her? She needs our help." exclaimed Aden as he was not giving up.

"It's not that I don't want to help but this is something which can actually drag us to court or who knows to prison..and worst still..she will definately ruin your future Aden..can't you see that?" cried Adam again in disbelieved.

"If you can't then I shall find my own way." replied Aden as he walks away from his father feeling angry and dejected. Aden walks towards his father's car as Maya was waiting for them in it which was at the hospital parking lot.

"Come on Maya, let's go. Cause I know there's someone else who will help us." cried Aden as he took Maya's hand and walks away.

"Aden wait. Alright, she can come with us but she needs to stay at your uncle's Zaki apartment for the time being and we shall see from there where it will goes." said Adam as he can't bear to watch Aden walks away from him like that. Aden and Maya's spirit lights up and they can sense some hope. The trip towards Zaki's apartment was not too far off from the city which Aden was staying right now. Adam makes some quick phonecalls to Zaki to seek his permision and Zaki agrees to help and he will be on his way. After they had reach their destination, Adam told Maya to rest in one of the room.

"Thank you sir..please forgive me cause I have cause so much trouble to you and your son." utter Maya tearfully.

"You have your rest now alright and don't worry about that." replied Adam calmly with a smile. Maya nodded and then she looks at Aden before she headed towards the guest room to have her rest. Aden watches her until she was out from his site. Adam notice this and he smiles.

"You can't get your eyes of her are'nt you? Well, it's no wonder you seems to be so determined to help her." cried Adam.

"I don't know dad..I just feel that I have to do something to safe her..to protect her." replied Aden as he looks into his father's big brown eyes behind those glasses. Adam saw so much love in his son's heart for Maya..it was just he was not ready to project it out..maybe could be fear of losing her. And seeing Aden just like seeing Zaki..such a spilltting image those beautiful hazel brown eyes, his nose ...his mouth.

"Dad you are staring." cried Aden with a grin.

"Oh! A habit which I can't dismiss...that's why your mum fell in love with me." cried Adam with his darlie grin however deep in his thoughts the fear of Aden knowing that Zaki and Sarah were actually his biological parents is tormenting him now and then.

"I'm quite surprised that you came over to visit me at my rental home cause I intend to go back to our hometown for my holidays." said Aden as he makes some drinks for him and his father at the kitchen.

"Well, I just come to check on you and this had happen.." replied Adam shaking his head as he frowns and felt concerned.

"How's mum? I hope she does not have to know about this or else she just might freaks out." exclaimed Aden as he place the cup of coffee on the coffee table.

"She's doing fine...yah you are right. She can't know about this yet. Once everything seems settle that we can break the news. Your mum can be overly protective about you." replies Adam."And I can understand why" continues Adam in his thoughts.

"Yah how's Aleeya..still biking around on that race track?" asked Aden with a smile as he remembers clearly during one of the conversation which they had on the phone few days ago and how Aden had strongly protest against it..and both of them ended up in silly arguements.

"It's my fault Aden, I should not have encourage her but if I were to restrict she might rebel and do something else lot more worst than what it is right now." replied Adam solemnly. Aden knew how his father had felt about his sister, but somehow or rather the way his father had tries to comply to every Aleeya's needs seems to be too much.

"Dad, You have done your best. I hope Aleeya will discover her self rather then losing herself." replied Aden worriedly.

"That's what I fear most. She definately got your mother's charm and wit...she got your mother's stubborness too." continues Adam again.

As they were both engrossed in their conversation suddenly the door bell rang. Aden stood up to open the door and it was Zaki...his uncle. Zaki smile upon seeing Aden.

"Thanks uncle..for your help." utters Aden.

"For my nephew anything." replies Zaki as he joins Adam by the dining area and begins to discuss about Maya situation which will determined her future.