The Bends : Chapter Eight

The road was rough due to the old tar which has not been replace and it seems this lane was seldom used as the dried leaves from the trees begins to shed and cover almost part of the deserted road. However those large trees which has been left to overgrown had actually act as a shield for Aleeya against the scorching of the sun rays as she ride along that single narrow lane. After passing through the tight lane, then the road begins to lead her to another path which headed towards the local lake. From far ahead she could see the magnificent scene of the vast lake which was beautiful laid side by side with the green hills. Aleeya slow her bike down and then she stop and park it by the side of a tree. After she get down from her bike and remove her helmet, she walk towards the edge of the lake and sat by the rock while looking solemnly towards the serene view. She could hear the sounds of the chirping birds and the rustling of the wind blowing against the tree branches making them bend to and fro. And then she picks up some of the pebbles from the ground and begins throwing each one of them into the lake and each time the small ripples had disappear against her pebble she threw more further ahead. And then she took a rock and threw that into the lake making some loud splash sound much to her content.

"Wow! You sure going to kill all the poor living creatures at the bottom of this lake with all your pebbles and rocks." cried a voice much to Aleeya's surprised. Aleeya turn to face who could that possibly.

"How did you find me here?" asked Aleeya as she looks at the sandy ground and swipe her feet making rough patterns of her shoe tracks on the soft sands.

"Well I have my ways." replied Thaqif as he walks closer towards her and sat by her side.
Aleeya rolls her eyes and then she focus her view of the lake. "So you have been spying on me?" asked Aleeya.

"If you want to put it that way." replies Thaqif again with a smile. Aleeya looks at him and smile faintly.

"Did your boyfriend dump you?" asked Thaqif with a grin on his face.

"I have no time for all that kind of stuff." replies Aleeya with annoyance in her voice.

"Trouble with your parents?" asked Thaqif again.

"Why are you being so nosey? You disappear from my life as I've tried calling and looking for you despite I've been scolded by you on the day when I've paid you a visit, and now suddenly you just came to find me here and asked me all this kind of question." cried Aleeya as she stood up and walks away from Thaqif. "Why?" asked Aleeya as she turns her attention towards the lake again.

"Because you meant something to me." utters Thaqif shortly.

Aleeya turns to look at Thaqif dark set of eyes and shakes her head. "Cut the crap!" she replies.
Thaqif smile and said calmly." That's what's makes me drawn to you. Your character."
In the end Aleeya breaks into a smile and sat by the rocks again. "If only some people could see through me that way." exclaimed Aleeya as she begins to think about her parents and then she felt her tears begins to well up in her eyes again.

"Aleeya, maybe you have been too hard on yourself. You are trying to grow up too fast and that's why your parents kind of worried sick about you." utters Thaqif again much to Aleeya's surprised cause he was made unknown for all her troubles but yet he seems to read them through her mind. "You are lucky..you have a family..you have got your mum and dad, unlike me I only got my mum to rely on to."

"How about your dad?" asked Aleeya curiously as she looks at the dark tattoos on his right arm.

"He never cares about us. He left me and my mum when I was only ten and never came back. I could remember how my mum needs to struggle and works extremely hard to keep us survive. She works seventeen hours almost everyday, being a dishwasher, a cook, a factory worker just to make money and support me for my schooling. It took a great toll on her until one day she feel ill and that was during my last year of my high school period. I knew I had to forsake my dreams of becoming an architect and rejects the place which was offered to me at one of the college here. " continues Thaqif as he focus his attention towards the tiny bubbling of the lake which was due to the fishes in there. Aleeya could sense he was heartbroken despite his tough attitude.

"Appreciate what you have now Aleeya, before it will be taken away from you." utters Thaqif again as he looks at her.

"Do you trust me?" asked Thaqif again much to Aleeya's surprised.

"What?" asked Aleeya.

"Do you trust me?" asked Thaqif as he held out his hand.

"I believe you." replied Aleeya as she held out her hand to hold on to his.

"Good! Let me take you somewhere where you will definately fall in love with." cried Thaqif as he brings her to their bikes. Aleeya notice that Thaqif had park his bike near by with her very own and she felt that she must have been to deep with her own thoughts that she was not able to hear Thaqif's bike was coming close behind her without her knowledge.

"You must have been riding behind me all along..I guess..I must have been to engross with my own thoughts that I could not even hear you were coming." utter Aleeya as she put on her helmet and looks glum.

"Lucky you. What if it turns out to be someone else." replies Thaqif as he frown his eyes and looks concerned while he too had his helmet on his head. Aleeya smile sheepishly and starts the engine of her bike and soon they both begins their trip with Thaqif leading ahead.

The sky was vast with white clouds hovering above them as they both continue to travel smoothly along the narrow lane. Aleeya mind was full of questions and was very curious about this trip which Thaqif was leading her. However, the view which they were heading was simply breath taking, as the road was still connected with the lake and the green hills. Aleeya felt her soul begins to feel calm and ease with this magnificent view. And then Thaqif turn to another lane on his left and travel along the path which seems to lead them further ahead towards the green hill a lane which Aleeya had never discover before. The evening soon sets in with the cool breeze gushing gently against the thick bushes and trees. Aleeya begins to fall in love with this peaceful sight another aspiring sceenary for her passion ....her sketch and paintings. And soon Aleeya realised they were both actually headed up the greenery hills the sight which was right opposite her home. After they ride further up ahead the hill and soon they came upon the rocky site where Thaqif stop his bike and park by the road side. Aleeya follow suit and park her bike just nearby Thaqif's. They both removed their helmets and place them on their bikes. The view from on top of the hill had shown almost part of the lake which seems to flow freely by its side and together with the soft gustling wind and the view of the sun setting..it was simply breathtaking.

"Wow amazing. I can almost feel the breeze is sipping right through my skin." exclaimed Aleeya as she close her eyes and breath in the fresh scent of the greenary. Thaqif stares at Aleeya's beautiful strong features...she definately had beautiful set of dark brown eyes with long curly lashes...her nose was small but sharp and her lips were small and she had a distinctly smile which was the very unique part of her. Strange feeling of delighfulness triggers inside Thaqif's soul...was this love? Aleeya slowly open her eyes and soon she realised Thaqif had his eyes on her. Aleeya looks away from his intense stare but she could sense that Thaqif is walking closer by her side. Her feet stood frooze on the ground with her hands hang loosely by her side. Slowly she turn her attention at Thaqif as she looks at his intense but amazing dark blue greyish eyes a rare sight which she had never come across and she felt sure Thaqif was not born as a local but he had some kind of a mixed decendant propably a mediterrinean blood. She cannot deny the fact that he was a dreamy looking guy. After knowing about Thaqif's struggling with his mum to meet their ends meets then Aleeya realised the reason for Thaqif's been involved in all this negative activities....to get fast cash for his mother's ill ailment. Thaqif lovingly wrap his arms around Aleeya's slender body as he still had his eyes focus on her. Aleeya had never been embrace by any guy friends before even though she mixed around with them pretty well. Surprisingly, she felt good and secured being in Thaqif's arm and soon she had her arms around his tough but slim body too.She knew it sounds kind of silly to fall in love just by hugging but the sense of not wanting to let go begins to bloom in her thoughts. Another thing if her parent find out about her being involved in a relationship with a guy with tattoo on his arm, she bounds to be grounded and received more repriminded warnings. However deep inside her thoughts Aleeya felt sure that Thaqif was not a bad person...he had become what he is due to his past circumstances. But Aleeya going to change that. Thaqif is only twenty such a tender age to let his life astray and she's going to help him discover his inner self and make him realised that there's something more that he can do rather then destroying his life and future.

"Thaqif you know I can't promised you anything about our relationship because I might never know what will my future be laid upon me ahead." utter Aleeya looking straight into his eyes. It was'nt that Aleeya was afraid to commit, she just feel that it is the best thing to keep things slow as what it is right now.

"I know. But I want you to know, you do meant something to me. No matter what the future might hold upon us, I will always be there for you as your special friend if you want to put it that way." said Thaqif as he brings his face closer towards Aleeya and kisses her lips. Aleeya quiver and she felt awkward and Thaqif could sense that.

"Let me take you back home." said Thaqif as he caress her long fringe away from her brows.

"I'm not going back there at this point of time." replies Aleeya as she looks solemnly.

"Where will you be heading too at this hour?" asked Thaqif worriedly as he looks at his watch and it was almost half past six.

"I will be fine. It's somewhere safe." exclaimed Aleeya with a smile as she carress Thaqif's face. Aleeya walk back towards her bike and put on her helmet.

"Let me ride along with you." requested Thaqif as he too walks back towards his bike and had his helmet on his head.

"Just sent me off to the main road and then I shall continue my journey from there." said Aleeya as she starts her motorbike engine.

"Alright." replies Thaqif shortly but he still feels concerned about Aleeya's safety.

"Hey! Don't give me that kind of sober look. Believe me I will be okay. Alright I shall call you once I've reached my destination." replies Aleeya. "Just remember me in your prayers alright."

Thaqif gently touch her face and nodded. And soon he ride along with Aleeya until they had pass through the main road and that's where Thaqif had to let Aleeya move on with her journey towards her desired destination.

The dark sky begins to show it's greatest sign of night fall going to sets in soon. Visiblity of their room was strongly lit by the lighting of their home. Adam look at the note which Aleeya had written and place it on her mother's dressing table. Zaharah stares at her coffee cup as she begins to feel uncertain about Aleeya's plan of staying over at Zaki's apartment during her school holiday. Aleeya knew her uncle will be at his apartment as he wanted to help Aden deal with his massive problem. Adam place the note back on his coffee table and took off his glasses and place it by the side of the note.

"Where did I go wrong Adam? I keep on asking myself this question. Why was it so hard for me to communicate with her recently? It was not like this before...she used to be so different. She listens to me and will stay away from things which was unpleasing to me." asked Zaharah as she looks at the greyish blue round carpet under the dining table.

"It was not only you Zaharah, I'm partly to blame for all this. Maybe we did not listen much on her part as we did not give her a chance to explain to her needs and likings." continue Adam while pinch the upper bridge of his nose and close his eyes as he frown. "I found this in her wastepaper basket. It's must have been the pamblets which she has been so keen to show us this morning." utter Adam as he hands the pamblets to Zaharah.

Zaharah took the crumple pamplet which Adam had managed to uncrumple it and begin reading it's content. With tears flowing on her cheeks she nodded. "Racing is like a great source of aspiration for her and I had simply cut her off like that. I just don't want her to get hurt..she's risking herself by getting involved in this kind of extreme activity." continues Zaharah.

"She knew what she is doing..cause I believe in her." utters Adam as he held out his hand and carress Zaharah's face."There's something else special about our daughter which I think you ought to know." said Adam as tears begins to form in his eyes. Zaharah looks astonished towards Adam and came closer towards him and asked.

"Something special, please tell me Adam, what has she done?" asked Zaharah as she could not contain her doubts and curiousity about her daugter's deed.

"All those paintings and scketches which she had done for the last few months, she sold them to one of the painting shop at this area and part of the money which she get from her selling, she had contributed them to some of the charity organisation here." exclaimed Adam as she held Zaharah's hand.

"Praise to God...my girl got that big heart from you and I was so blinded with my own self ego and pride that I can't see my princess is the real gem afterall." exclaimed Zaharah in between sob.

Adam pull her closer to him and embrace her. "We need to learn from each other...it's okay to make mistakes...cause at times due to this mistakes humankind would learn to self-reflect and challenge himself to undo all the misdeeds. Zaharah...our daughter may have my big heart but she got your strong-will, confident and determination which I seems to lack off." explained Adam again as he wipes Zaharah's tears off her cheeks.

Aleeya looks at her watch and it was almost quater to eleven when finally she had reach her uncle's apartment. She took off her helmet and carry her bag pack as she headed towards the front door. Aleeya suck in the air as she felt anxious and nervous. All the explanation which her uncle bound to question her about all this running away. She gather her courage and rang the bell. Aleeya looks at her clothing as she felt glad she had her tight jeans with her tight fitting black metal t-shirt on or else she will be warned by Aden again about her dressing. As the door was open she was not expecting her brother to be the one welcoming her.

"Aleeya! What are you doing here at this late hour?" asked Aden as he looks worried. He could not believe his sister had simply risk herself for travelling all the way from their home to their uncle's department. "You can always call me to fetch you, if you wanted to come." cried Aden again as he allows his sister into the house.

"I have no time to explain all this now, maybe tomorrow. Where's uncle Zaki?" asked Aleeya as she phase around the house craning her neck while searching for Zaki.

"He went out with auntie Nadia to the town for a while as he needs to settle sme things over there." said Aden.

Aleeya notice that her uncle repaint the apartment. It used to be pastel blue with white wall but now the colour has been change to bright green with a tinge of sunny yellow. However Aleeya realised this apartment desperately needs some spring cleaning as dust can be seen collected against some of the photo frames and the display cupboard. "You came here bringing all the dust?" asked Aleeya with her darlie grin.

"Yah right. The dust is waiting for you to be swept." replied Aden with a grin. Aleeya took her helmet and playfully gently hit Aden's tummy. "Do you want some hot chocolate which I have made some just now?" asked Aden.

"Yah sure! You make the best hot chocolate ever..I can remember that." cried Aleeya as she walk towards Aden room and swung open the door.

"Aleeya wait!" cried Aden but he knew he was too late.

"Stay away from me..please don't hurt me." whimpers Maya in the dark as she struggle in between her blanket. Aleeya was shocked turn on the lights.

"Woah! Woah! I'm not going to hurt you." utter's Aleeya and she was more stunned cause this strange girl has been restrain with all her four limbs by her bedside. Aleeya could not believe her eyes, it seems the girl has been suffering so much and she felt Maya has been ill-treated with all this tying up.

"What did you do to her Aden?" yelled Aleeya as she confronts Aden.

"We have no other choice." cried Aden sadly as he to can't bare to look at Maya straight into her eyes anymore.

"You are not helping her...it seems that all of you are killing her instead." snapped Aleeya as she dashed towards Maya's bedside to remove her restrainers.

"Aleeya, please don't do that." said Aden intensely.

"I can't watch this." retorted Aleeya as she pull Maya's blanket away from her body and what a shocked she had with what she had seen. Fresh razor blade cuts could be seen almost all over the part of her body, her arms, legs and tighs. "My God." cried Aleeya and she covered back Maya's body with the blanket and then she stare into Aden's tearful hazel brown eyes.

"We are trying our best to help her. That's why uncle Zaki and auntie Nadia need to go to the town area to get some painkillers and drugs to make her calm down. Maya looks petrified and fear was written all over her face.

"How long has she been suffering like this?" asked Aleeya stepping out from the room as she could not have a second look at Maya's pain and torment.

"Auntie Nadia had assess her this morning. It seems this is not the first time that she has been brutally attacked...she had been through this torment even before I've known her. It is just that she shut herself away and make herself numb away from the reality of the fear and the pain. From all the previous attacks, she took it just like a horrid nightmare..but only after I step into her life..soon she realised that this is not a nightmare but the real torment which she has been going through. Aunt Nadia says that I had eventually makes her wake up form her dead self and make her realised that this is real." utter Aden sadly as he felt a tinge of sorrow and guilt. " I can't help it but I felt like this is all my fault."

"Aden, none of this is your fault. You have rescue her...that's something which I'm quite surprised myself. I know she's horribly traumatised..but I believe Aunty Nadia will definately come out with a solution to make her get through this." explained Aleeya as she was determined Maya will be able to overcome this.

"Thanks Aleeya." utters Aden with a smile. "And now you, why with all this bag pack?" asked Aden concernly. Aleeya sat on the couch speechless. She brings the mug with the hot chocolate which Aden had prepares and took a few sips. "Alright, if you are not telling I shall have to call mum and dad for an explanation."

"Everything seems to be about you." replies Aleeya. Aden place his mobile on the coffee table as he looks intensely into Aleeya's brown eyes.

"Aleeya, you know that is so untrue. Our parents love you." cries Aden as he look concerned.

"Nothing I've done could ever please them..I was a big mistake for them. What do I have to do to make them see right through me..without feeling guilt with lies and deception?" utter Aleeya with tears in her eyes.

Aleeya, they are worried about you because they care. " explained Aden.

"Suddenly this hot chocolate does not taste great." utters Aleeya as she place the cup on the coffee table and stood up. She walk towards the kitchen and sat on the stool which was place by the island.

Aden looks at the half full hot chocolate and took it in his hands. And then he stood up and walks towards the kitchen and place the hot chocolate infront of Aleeya. "No matter how much milk and sugar which I've add into this hot chocolate..but if the drinker could not open up it's taste bud and taste the sweetness joy of this drink then it is pointless. Same goes with ourselves, no matter how much love and concerned which we were bless and spill out to us, but if we were so blinded with our own pride and never ever once admit the mistakes which we have commited then I guess we had eventually push away that sweet blessing and all we could taste are bitterness, sore and hatred. Think about it Aleeya." explained Aden and then he walks away. Aleeya stare at the mug and then she begins to cry in silently. Aden sat on the couch and continue reading his mail from his notebook. And then he turn to face Aleeya and he knew she was crying. Aden shut his notebook and went towards Aleeya again. "Care to explain to me why are you running away?" asked Aden calmly as he sat opposite her.

"Because I've been too ignorance with my own fault." replies Aleeya as she had her eyes focus on her mug.

"Saying that our parent loves me more than you..that is so untrue...I'm sure you know that. I know mum can be quite jumpy too..but she got her reason for being that way. She cares too much about us...especially with you." explained Aden again. Aleeya looks at her brother with tears falling of her cheeks. Aden held out his hands and wipe her falling tears. "You look like a baby crying like that. Better get that tears off your face or else our uncle might think that I have mistreated you." said Aden again with a grin.

Aleeya smile in between her tears and then she finish up her hot chocolate. "You still make the best hot chocolate ever."

It was almost half past two, but there were still no sign of their uncle and auntie. Aden took a peep at Maya and he saw that she has fallen asleep in between her sheets. Aden recalls that morning after they had their breakfast, his auntie Nadia had took her back into her room and then Nadia begins to ask Maya about her family background and her previous history. It all started pretty well as Maya slowly begins to open up until the point of time when Nadia asked about her first aquantaince with Ilhan, that's where Maya becomes numb and speechless. Nadia stop her councelling and told Maya to take a rest for a while. After Nadia step out from her room, Maya had went into the shower room and that's where she begins cutting herself with the sharp razor blade. Nadia went back into Maya's room as she had left her pen by Maya's side table. Suddenly she heard soft scream and whimpering that came from the shower room. Nadia knocks on the door but the screaming grew louder much to Nadia's fear. Aden and Zaki ran into the room and could sense that something was not right, Aden kick open the shower room door as Maya had locked herself inside it. What a shocked when they saw Maya had used the razor blade and begins making deep cuts into herself. Aden and Zaki ran towards her and hold on to her arms however Maya becomes more frantic and turns aggresive. Aden and Zaki struggles to get hold of her while Nadia quickly took the blood stained razor from Maya's grip. Aden and Zaki had to drag her out from the shower room while Nadia took the restrainers which she had brought from home cause she knew such things do happen and restrain all of Maya's limbs. And then she took an anethesia and jab her with that on her arm. Maya's screaming was deafening but they knew they have to do this to protect her from aggravate herself even further. And soon the anethesia begins to took control of Maya's aggresive behaviour and was subdue by it. Aden bring the blanket further up towards Maya's body and then he left the room letting door to be half open. As he came upon the couch, he saw Aleeya took had fallen fast asleep on it with his pillow. Aden smiles and shakes his head. And then he took his blanket and cover his sister with it.

Aden walk towards the window and look at the full moon which was beaming it's beautiful rays of light. The night sky was vast with the glorious star sharing it beams with the moon. It is such a beautiful sight. Suddenly Aden felt faint and cough frantically.

"Aden are you okay?" asked Aleeya as she sat in the couch and looks worried towards her brother.

"I'm okay, maybe this dust has been collecting in my lungs." replies Aden as he tries to hide the pain on his chest while he cough. "You go back to sleep alright. I'll be fine." explained Aden again. Aleeya looks at Aden for a while and then she lay back on the couch and tries to get back to sleep as she could sense that Aden's coughing surely got nothing to do with the dust...there seems to be something else.