The Bends : Chapter Two

The dark clouds beginning to be hovering in the night skies and the moonlight was almost been hidden by it. The deserted road was visibly lit by the dim lights of the street lamps. Aleeya speed off along the deserted road as she headed fast towards her desired destination. She look at her watch and she knew she was already been late. Pressing harder on her speed accelerator she manouvered her bike and as she was reaching towards her location, she saw there were many more bikers which had apparently was getting ready for the grand race.

"You are late." shouted one of the race usher as he handed her the hand band. Aleeya took the hand band and bind it on her right arm as she rode off to her lane which was given to her. She look on to her left and right and it seems she was on the fourth lane. She breath in deeply as she look upon the narrow road ahead of her and she knew she going to win this. Altogether there were six racers including herself. The sound of the thundering bikes could be heard so loud and it shows how much excitement of pleasure they were getting. The race usher held up his pop-gun and then within seconds "Bang!"

They speed of just like the dolphins swimming fast against the current. Aleeya hit on her accelerator and speed off cutting two other racers in front of her. The adrenaline which she felt was unimaginable whenever she involved herself in this kind of motorbike racing. It was a dangerous two lane road with so many curves. The road it seems has not been used by other road users as the signboard has been left to rust on the side walk. And the traffic light needs to be repaired as it was not functioning. However to Aleeya this was the best lane ever. She manouvered her bike gracefully along the curves and cutting more racers ahead of her. Few more laps and the five thousand cash cheque will be hers.

"One more biker ahead of me..this should be easy?" thought Aleeya confidently. True enough she came close to the only biker which was five feet in front of her and sway her bike to her right and then speed off to her left and leave dust on the racer's face. Aleeya grin her darlie smile as she pass through the dark alley and headed towards the finishing point.

"Invisible Arrow does it again." wailed the racer usher on his mike..and the thundering of hand claps and whistle almost deafening the remote area. Aleeya gets off her bike but her helmet was still remain intact on her head as she does not want to be recognised and only want to be known as 'Invinsible Arrow'. She rush over to the prize giver to collect her cheque. After exchanging some brief conversation she rush back to her motorbike and hit on her accelerator as she needs to get back home soon.

She look at her watch and it was almost half past ten." Great! My dad sure going to screw me for being late again." thought Aleeya to herself as she ride pass the dark lane. As she was riding smoothly along that deserted road suddenly she saw few other bikers were following at her back. Aleeya look from the side mirror and she knew this is trouble. She was determined to get away from those bikers and hit on full blast on the engine's bike however the biker was not going to let her off just that easily. Then two of the bikers cut through her lane and stop abruptly infront of her. Aleeya had no choice for to slow down and stop or else she will be crash onto those bikers. She stay on her bike and turn to look around. Where can she ran too...? There were three more bikers standing behind her. She get off from her bike and prepare herself for a fight. Clenching her left and right fist against her chest and was on the guide for any attacks as she was confident enough to give few blows on their faces...thanks to her father's teachings. The rest of the bikers laugh as though they were mocking her.

"Get him!" cried one of the thugs unknowingly, Aleeya was actually a girl as she still had her helmet on her head. Two of the thugs came attacks Aleeya with their fist, however Aleeya was quick enough to avoid that blow but they received some from her instead. Aleeya grinned and usher them to get up and fight her if that's what they insisted. The two of the thugs and joined by the other three rushed towards her and a fight break out between them. Aleeya was quick and fast enough to resists few punches..however she lost her focus when one of the guys pull off her helmet and kick her back causing her to fell forward on the ground. The thugs was shocked to see that the person who had cut through their ring leader in the race was actually a girl.. a very young girl indeed. Aleeya was losing her breath now as exhaustion begins to drain her strength away. She stood firmly on the ground and remain on guide.

"Wow... a chick. Better still!" cried one of the ruffians as he dashed towards her with his fist. Aleeya managed to avoid that blow but she miss the second kick on her tummy and sank on the ground. The two other guys knew that Aleeya will soon be tired out..hold on to her arms and force her to stand.

"What do you want from me? It's a fair race..and I won it." cried Aleeya looking intensely at her attackers.

"Winning twice in a row...something fishy going around here." said one of the thug as he begins to rub his hands on her cheeks and smile coyly. "Well we can have some fun here." Without second thoughts Aleeya spit on his face. The ruffian wipe the spit off his face and then he raise up his burly hands to strike her on her face. Suddenly, another biker came along and he got off his bike joining with the rest of the thugs. Upon seeing his arrival, they make way for him to came forward towards Aleeya and Aleeya realised this must be the leader of the pack. Aleeya struggle with all her might to get off from the man's grip but she was not strong enough.

"Thaqif...it's a she.." laughed one of the thugs as he point his finger towards Aleeya who was looking intensely towards them. Thaqif the ring leader, took off his helmet as he came closer towards Aleeya and look directly into her big brown eyes and he smile. Aleeya stared back into his dark set of intense looking eyes with full of anger. Then Thaqif grip her cheeks as Aleeya begins to struggle to get away from his hands.

"How old are you? Aren't you too young to be involved in this kind of illegal racing stuff." utter Thaqif coldly.

"Why do you care?" replied Aleeya sarcastically.

"Let her go." instruct Thaqif much to his gang surprised.

"What? But we got you a prize even better than the money." cried one of the ruffian.

"I said let her go." ordered Thaqif again. His men followed his order and released Aleeya's arm. Aleeya ran pick her helmet from the ground and put it on and ran back towards her bike.

"Bunch of loosers!" yelled Aleeya.

"Get out from here..before I changed my mind." replied Thaqif coldly. Aleeya presses on her bike engine and speed off heading towards her home. She look at her watch and it was almost half past twelve. "I'm dead." thought Aleeya to herself.

Upon reaching the front gate of their home which was set on top of the hilly view, Aleeya scanned around the window lights which was still being lit on and she knew either her dad or her mum were still awake or worst still, both of them were not in bed. Aleeya park her motorbike by the side of the wall and took her keys as she begins to unlock the front door. Her tummy and some part of her body feel a bit aching due to some blows which she had received from those hooligans.
"What time is it now Aleeya?" asked Adam scornfully looking intensely into her eyes.

"I'm so sorry dad..my bike stall halfway through my journey and that's why I'm late." replied Aleeya.

"Don't lie to me Aleeya. I called one of your school mate Ratna and ask her about the school assignment which you claimed you and your other buddies need to submit was untrue." continue Adam and he was certainly unpleased with his daughter's behaviour. "The truth Aleeya..where have you been?" cried Adam.

"Alright..since you want the truth..then I shall say it all out. I meet up with some of my other bike riders friends. I took up motorbike racing." replied Aleeya as she folded her arms around her chest. "And I've won twice in this race."

"What did you tell me Aleeya? Have not I've been feeding you well enough that you need to get yourself involve in this kind of illegal trade?" shouted Adam looking angrily towards Aleeya. Zaharah walks out from her bedroom and look at both her husband and daughter been tension with one another.

"You want the truth dad..and now I'm telling you the truth..but why was it so hard for you to accept it?" yelled Aleeya as she rushed towards her room and slammed the door behind her. Adam can't believe by her daughter's sudden change in attitude. He looks sorrowfully at Zaharah as she came closer towards him. Zaharah reaches out her hand and touches his face.

"Let me handle her alright." utter Zaharah as she smile faintly.

Aleeya, threw her helmet on to the wooden floor and kick the empty basket across her room. She slamed her body as she lays down on her bed. "Ouch! Damn it." cried Aleeya as she hold on to her left rib due to hard kick which she received from one of the thugs. And then she took the cash cheque which she had won during the race. She sat on her bed and then she pull out a drawer from her bedside table. Aleeya took another cheque which she had won in her earlier race and looks at it. And then she took another envelope which was address to Zaki's Welfare And Ophanage Organisation. She place the two cheques inside the envelope and carefully seal the envelope. "If only you are here uncle Zaki..you will understand." cried Aleeya with tears in her eyes. Just then there was a knock her door. Aleeya quickly place back the envelope into the drawer and push it in. "Yah." cried Aleeya as she wipe her tears off her face. Zaharah enters her room and joined her as she sat on her bed.

"Aleeya, your father got to do what he has to do because he cares." said Zaharah as she held on to her daughter's hand.

"Mum, he don't trust me. I know..and all he cares and listen to is Aden." utter Aleeya as she turn her attention to one of her paintings.

"Aleeya..that is not true. You know how much your father loves you. Each time when I starts to nag about you..he was the one who will be so defensive about you." explained Zaharah as she tries to calm her emotion down. "He's heartbroken because ....you hide things from him..and this racing things is serious. And futhermore we does not want you to get hurt. Aleeya you are still young and you still got lots of bright future ahead of you." continues Zaharah lovingly. Aleeya looks at her mother and hug her with all her might. "I'm so sorry mum." cried Aleeya in her mother's arm.

Aleeya tossed and turn on her bed but she just could not shut her eyes to sleep and the worst thing tomorrow she needs to attend her classes. At last she sat up on her bed and look her graffti paintings which she had hung beautifully in her room. And then she stood up and walks out from her room as she headed towards the verandah at the back of the kitchen. She was surprised cause the verandah's dim light was not turn off. As she steps onto the verandah, she saw her father was sitting by the porch staring straight towards the magnificent hilly view. Aleeya walk closer towards her dad and sat beside him.

"Dad, I'm sorry for being untruthful about my recent stuff..I was just afraid that you might freak out if you know about my racing thing..and it's kind of illegal too." cried Aleeya as she stare at the wooden pole.

"Aleeya...I know I've not being fair to you...for blaming you about this whole deal. I remember when I was about your age..I do rebel against your grandpa and he does freaks out. And you want to know why? Because I lie about the course which I've have taken during my college years. I used his money and got myself into the art class instead of the businese studies which he thought Ienrolled myself in." said Adam as he looks at his daughter with full of love inside his heart. Aleeya turns to look at her father and a smile broke on her pretty face. She notice his father still looks good even he is in his mid age now. She knew she got his eyes and the colour of his hair.

"Seeing you is just like seeing myself back in the past." continues Adam. "I can't be your best daddy in the world but I'm trying."

"I know...same goes to me...I'm not perfect.." utter Aleeya.

"But you are unique....and I love you." continues Adam again as he pinch her nose. "So when is your next race?" asked Adam playfully.

"Oh dad..are you serious about this?" asked Aleeya as she grin coyly.

"Try me..I'm on..just name the place and time..I shall be there..just don't tell mum." said Adam with his darlie smile on his face. Aleeya giggles upon hearing his remarks.