Zaharah stood by the peeling wall of Sarah's home as she feel uncertain about her own crumpled emotion and she just could not find the right word on where and what to begin with.
"Please have a seat." offered Sarah. "I shall make you some drinks." continues Sarah as she limps towards the kitchen.
"Sarah, please don't bother." exclaimed Zaharah as she remains standing while she held on to her palms tightly. "It's about my son." begins Zaharah as she held on to her tears from falling on her cheeks. Sarah was apparently taken aback by those words and a tinge of hurt and sadness came upon her but she can never blame Zaharah for her cold and tense attitude towards her. "He's ill." continues Zaharah. "He had this rare blood disorder...and it's fatal." utters Zaharah sadly as she breaks down and had her back against the wall. Sarah came closer towards Zaharah and held her close in her arms....her heart was breaking too.
"Isn't there something could be done to help him?" asked Sarah as she brings Zaharah towards her couch and usher her to sit.
Zaharah comply as she sat beside Sarah and held on to her hands. "Fate has definately been playing this circling games among us." cried Zaharah. "No matter how hard we have tried to conceal the truth....but yet, we never expected things will turn out this way...for all of us." utters Zaharah.
"Why did you do it Sarah? Was Aden such a big mistake to you?" asked Zaharah in a sudden motion of anger and displeased, as she released her hand from Sarah. Sarah eyes welling up with tears of sorrow and guilt as she watches Zaharah stood up from the couch, walking towards the bare window which was slightly open to let in the wee morning breeze to sweep into Sarah's home. "In order to survive, he need a bone marrow transplant and either you or Zaki are his only hope." utters Zaharah as she peers through the window looking at the site of the dilapilated concrete building which seems to be vacant right opposite Sarah's apartment. "If you want to do some good deeds for this son of yours, I guess this is the time for you to prove it." exclaimed Zaharah as she headed towards the front door. "We shall wait for you at the local hospital..if you have make up your mind on these." said Zaharah before she left and headed straight towards the stairs with teary eyes.
Sarah remains seated on her couch as she watches Zaharah left by the door. The coldness of the night breeze has definately plays it's part of adding more solemness inside her breaking heart. Knowing the truth that her long lost son, is just within her grasp was such an agonizing pain which she has been enduring and conceal it deep inside her heart....a child which she used to detest and refused to accept...was the child which now she's in desperation of wanting to embrace and hear him call her mother. It hurts...being punished this way...she felt just like a small pebble on a shore..being swept and hit hard by the tidal wave.....pulling it closer towards the vast cold dark ocean. Is this the retribution...the karma which she was set upon to gain for all her terrible sins and misdeeds which she had committed.
"You have to take full responsibility of this child which is growing inside of me." cried Sarah as she move her step closer towards Zaki who seems not really listening to her pleas of desperation.
"What makes you think that this child is mine? asked Zaki sarcastically, as he drew his arrow with his bow as he carefully aim the target which was thirty feet away from him. The sunny morning rays had cast it's brilliant ray's of glow against Zaki's ash brown hair and brings out the colour of his hazel brown eyes. "The father, it could be anyone." continues Zaki as he pulls the string of his bow and shot his arrow straight towards the target, as he smile with satisfaction for his magnificent aim.
Sarah came closer towards Zaki furiously, as she could not believe Zaki had actually not wanting to be responsible for his misdeeds. "You rape me! You have taken full advantage of the situation on that day!" yelled Sarah as she fight back her tears not wanting to let it fall, not in front of this arrogant and unmerciful man.
"But you still came back for more." utters Zaki with a cruel grin. He took another arrow and string it up on his bow.
"I thought you love me?" cries Sarah as she clench her fist on the collar of her blouse.
"Love? Huh? What makes you think that I'm going to fall for a cheap girl like you?" replied Zaki scornfully. "Who's willing to betray her own fiancee and slept with his elder brother instead? And you want to know the reasons why....why I came to you...because I want to see Adam fall..I hate him. So you are the best bait that's available...well I used it." continues Zaki as he looks intensely with darkness in his blackened heart.... straight into Sarah tearful dark set of eyes.
"You son of a bitch. How could you?" wailed Sarah as she rushed forward towards him and hit him with all her might with her tight clench fist. Her tears fall soaking her cheeks.....her hopes and dreams was crash and cruelly taken by Zaki's colourful but empty words of promises.
Zaki took an arrow and roughly tugged it under Sarah's chin. Sarah was shocked and fear run down her spine..chilling her courage off from attacking him further. "Don't push me Sarah! You are nothing to me...now get out off my sight!" cried Zaki cruelly. Sarah was left with no other choice but to walk away...weeping tearfully. ...as she headed back towards her car. However along the way out from the garden, she saw Adam. Sarah quicken her pace as she enters her car and drove off.
Knowing her family name has been smeared by her own stupidity, Sarah decides to move out and disown herself from her them as she can't hide the guilt and sin which was growing inside of her. Her dreams of becoming an architect was crushed, cause she knew with her mere income, it will be just like chasing a falling star from the horizon skies, which seems not leading her to anyway..but back on the dried barren ground. It was simply not a silver spoon for her to get by with this new unwanted life growing in her...and she hates it..hates it to the core. The thought of abortion had always ran through her confused and darkened mind...but during that present time..that procedure would cost her a bomb. Her salary which she gained from her present job as a clerk in a local trading company was gone along with the rent....and adding together with her heavy drinking and cigarettes. Finally after Aden was born in a local hospital, that's where her state of life begins to get worsen as the sight of Aden was just like a vermin...a terrible plague which she just could not get rid off. Not even once she would let Aden had a taste of her milk...not ever. All this while, she had literally let her next door neighbour looks after his welfare as she pays them a fair amount of money for their service..that's how she put it.
This routine carries on until Aden was about three years old...but, one day and opportunity strikes that would turn the table back to where it belongs for Sarah....with a condition Aden was not to be part of her plan. In the midst of her poverty and lowly life stricken condition...someone had actually notice about her plight...he was the owner of the trading company which she was employed. Due to desperation of running away from this unfortunate life which she's leading, she accepted his marriage proposal without thinking twice....without thinking about Aden's life and future. Aden was a great barrier for her to gain that once in a lifetime opportunity. She stared coldly towards Aden while he seems to be enjoying his wild imagination moment with his mini toy cars.....when suddenly there was a knock on the door. It was late evening and Sarah was not expecting for any guest at that point of time. She was taken in by surprised, cause it was Zaki who had apparently, been erased off from her life for almost three years....came back and stood by her doorway. Sarah was about to shut her door, however Zaki was strong enough to push it back open as he walk straight into her home.
"So this is where you live now?" asked Zaki as he phase around her living room with his nose high up in the air. Sarah stared at him coldway....with anger and hatred. "Is this yours?" asked Zaki sarcastically, as he points his finger towards Aden who begins to give him a wondering look.
"Just what the hell do you want from me now? Haven't you gloat with joy now..seeing all this?' asked Sarah as she inhale her cigarette and stub the cigarette butt in an ashtray which was place on her mantle place.
"Look, I'm here to amend all the misdeeds which I've cause you." trails Zaki as he came closer towards Sarah and caress her dangling dark hair from her brow.
"Keep your hands off me." cried Sarah as she pushed his hands away from her face and walk away from him, however she was not quick enough as Zaki roughly tugged her hands and pushed her against the wall.
"Don't pretend to be a saint with me...Sarah! I know....you have finally managed to find yourself a bucket of gold....but with this burden hanging around you...it seems to be unfair for your upcoming plan isn't it?" exclaimed Zaki with cold and intensity from the tone of his voice.
"My problem..got nothing to do with your life now...so just leave." cried Sarah as she struggles from Zaki's, firm grip.
"I have a solution for your unwanted problem...if you willing to do it...well for yourself." exclaimed Zaki again with a smirk grin on his face.
In the midst of her struggle, however she begins to regain back her lingering thoughts and the urgency of wanting to know more about Zaki's plan has definately drawn her, "Spell it out." utters Sarah as her curiousity acts up on her pondering mind.
"Adam....he can be your saviour." exclaimed Zaki as he spell out his evil wicked plan of destroying Adam's and Zaharah's marriage.
Sarah walks back towards her room and lays on her bed with her eyes wide open. "Aden,would you still accept me, after knowing what I had actually did to you?" cried Sarah as she begins to wept tearfully all alone.
"Aleeya......Aleeya..please listen to me. I swear....it was not my idea at all...for spilling out this matter to your mum." cries Thaqif as he chase Aleeya while she walks further away from him and not wanting to listen to any of his reasons.
"Let go of me...let go!" yelled Aleeya, however her hands was held on firmly by Thaqif.
"Get your hands off from my daughter!" cried Zaharah as she stared at him coldly with full of anger. Thaqif slowly released his grip and sadly let Aleeya ran back to her mother. He watches them leave in their car when suddenly his mobile phone rang.
"I'm sorry for leaving abruptly...and foul our plans." replies Thaqif as he listen further throughout this conversation. "I shall be back again in a week time."
Zaki came alone and not bringing Nadia along with him, as she was needed to be with their twins. It was almost dawn, when Adam and Zaki had finally arrive at the hospital as they both walk along the corridor in silent. And then they saw Aleeya and Zaharah was sleeping on the chair which was place outside the ward, with Aleeya lying her head on Zaharah's lap. Zaharah wakes up when she heard those familiar footsteps approaching them.
"Adam, you have just arrive." exclaimed Zaharah and then Aleeya wakes up too and she was surprised to see her uncle was standing by her father's side.
"Aleeya, why don't you go and wash up...I need to be alone with your dad and uncle just in a while." utters Zaharah with a smile. Aleeya nodded as she stood up and headed towards the washroom which was located not far from their seats. " I managed to locate Sarah." said Zaharah as she tries to sound as calm as she could.
"You did?" asked Adam with a sigh of relief, however Zaki's hidden guilt and intensity begins to form on his face....as he tries to look away from Zaharah's intense stare. "But how?" asked Adam in wonder.
"God has plan this perfectly well for all of us...to see and learn from the past mistakes...and to set things straight again, against all the bends of this twisted lane." replies Zaharah. "Through Aleeya...Thaqif is her other son...which she had with her ex-husband."
"God Gracious!" exclaimed Adam while Zaki remains tight lip about this new findings which certainly was another blow to his past sin.
"No matter what the outcome might be, Aden must never know that he is my son." exclaimed Zaki and unknowingly, Aden had apparently stood by the doorway with Maya by his side.
"What the hell, did you just say?" asked Aden scornfully. "Tell me?" he yells as he came forward towards Zaki with a clench fist.
"Aden, please calm down." exclaimed Adam as he tries to console Aden by pulling him away from Zaki. Zaki was remoseful and heartbroken seeing his own son's....his flesh and blood had shown so much hatred towards him.
"Don't tell me you and my mum..?" trails Aden as he back off slowly....and then he ran feeling dejected and heartbroken. Tears came falling from his eyes as he ran straight towards the stairways and climb up towards the enclose roof top.
Maya was about to follow suit but was stop by Adam, "Let him clear his anger first...there's no point explaining about all this matter now, cause he will not listen." Maya stood firm on the marble floor but she had her sight still focusing towards the stairs. So many unclear things and matters were encircling in her mind..was it true..uncle Zaki and auntie Zaharah had an illicit affair. And soon Aleeya came out from the wash room looking confused as she heard the commotion while she was washing her face by the sink...and seeing the solemn faces of everyone..she knew there's trouble.
"Mum, dad what's going on?" asked Aleeya and then the elevator was open and there stood Sarah with her son Thaqif by her side. Aleeya becomes more confused after seeing all this funny kind of union..what does Aden's plight got anything to do with them. "Mum, please tell me....I need to know?" pleads Aleeya with tears in her eyes.
"Aleeya.........Aden is not our son." begins Adam with a tinge of sorrowfullness of the tone of his voice.
"Dad....you meant...he's....." trails Aleeya as she shakes her head in disbelief. "After almost twenty-three years...both of you had keep him in the dark about this serious matter. How could you? Both of you?" asked Aleeya as her sadness had evolved to anger.
"We have never expected things to turn out this way." exclaimed Zaki as he wept tearfully with his palms on his face.
"Uncle Zaki....are you his father?" asked Aleeya as she came closer towards him and brings his palm away from his face.
"This is all my fault Aleeya, all the sin and the terrible deeds which I have done in the past..I had pushed him away...not wanting to accept him as my own...due to my own selfish act and self interest." utters Zaki solemnly. "I pushed this blame towards your father instead." wept Zaki.
"Zaki, bro..that's all in the past..so we should just leave it all behind." console Adam as he held his hand on Zaki's shoulder.
"Where is he?" asked Sarah with Thaqif standing behind her. Apparently, it seems Thaqif has already knew about this whole situation.
Aleeya's shocking look was clearly written on her face as soon she begins to figure out...Sarah is Aden's real biological mother. "You are his mum?" asked Aleeya as she back away from her and then she looks at Thaqif in disbelief.
"Aden is my half brother." utters Thaqif however he had his vision stared sternly at Zaki as he knew Zaki was partly to blame for all this twisted situation.
Zaki caught Thaqif's intense eyes stared hard at him however Zaki pushed his courage as he slowly approached towards Thaqif. "Please forgive me Thaqif."
Thaqif looks away from Zaki's eye. "Please go to my mum." utters Thaqif....he seems to understand the guilt and fear which Zaki was having right now...the similar mistake and unforgivable sin which he had committed.
"Where's Aden?" asked Sarah as she tries to avoid Zaki's intention.
It was almost sunrise, as the night skies begins to give way it cold darkness to the morning sun rays. But the warm rays does not seems to heal....Aden's betrayed and confused soul. Aden sat on the cemented floor with his back agaisnt the wall as he wipe his tears off anger away from his face.
"Aden." cried a familiar voice...as he turn to face towards the one who had gently called out his name. Aden slowly stood up...with a surprised look on his battered face of heartbreak after seeing that face.
"Auntie, what are you doing here?" asked Aden as Sarah took a few more step closer towards him and reached out her trembling hands gently caressing his cheekbones. In a twist of uncertain emotion and doubts was beginning to unfold itself, as the answer was there..there standing right in front of him. That voice...that touch....he's unheard cries, his pain...being pushed, dragged...those terrifying voice of Adam...arguing with this woman....that strange painting shop. "No! Go away....Stay away from me...!" yelled Aden as he pushed Sarah's hand away from his face. "You are not my mother....you never wanted me in the first place....you left me woman..left me alone.....feeling so lost and confused. I remember very well now....!" cried Aden as he step away from Sarah and refused to listen to any of her unspoken words and reasons.
"Aden, please don't do this to yourself son....! Don't punished yourself for the mistakes which I've made." pleads Sarah as she persist herself of wanting to calm and soothe Aden's furiosity.
"I'm not your son..you are not my mother. My mother is Fatema Zaharah....my father Ahmed Adam...!" wailed Aden...pushing her hands away from touching him.
Sarah becomes alarmed when she saw blood came out from Aden's nostril...he's bleeding. "Aden come back with me...you are not well. Let me bring you back to your room." pleads Sarah worriedly as Aden's nose beginning to bleed profusely.
"Stay back." cried Aden...his voice becomes hoarse and the pain on his chest begins to consume his strenght.....making him lost focus on his state of mind. Suddenly his vision becomes blackened and his head seems to feel heavy....and in just few seconds he lost conscious much to Sarah's fear.
"Aden!" cried Sarah.
"The glorious rays of the morning light, was hidden by the dark clouds hovering above the vast skies.... soft drizzle of the blessed rain begins to make it's way falling swiftly downwards towards the dried barren land....will this blessed rain be giving it a new life to form again..or will it eventually destroyed this barren land itself and flood it without mercy...with it's torrentious rain fall? At last, the land was victimised by it's own hope...crushing it self worth and betrayed by it's vows." With tears in her eyes, Maya place back the dried leave which Aden has beautifully laminate with a plain thick plastic sheet as a book mark off Zhorif's journal.
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