The Bends : Chapter Twenty-Nine

Adam's, half unfinished paints and unwashed paint brushes..together with the palates with some blotch paints, still remains on them, was left untouched for exactly three months. The unfinished painting of Aden's and Maya's engagement potrait, was left covered beneath the blanket. Aden sat on the floor of his late father's working room, as he stared hard towards their family potrait. As he looks at his watch, he knew he had to get back to his campus. He picks up his helmet and his bag before he headed towards the front door and left for his destination on his bike. It has been his routine since Adam and Zaharah has passed away, early morning he had to be ready for his classes  the local university which ends until late afternoon and then he needs to rush towards his late's father's trading company as he needs to assist with the accounts and some other task there....until late hours at night. The pressure has been hard on him...as he could feel it was kind of tough for him to carry all this responsibilities on his shoulder. At times, he just wanted to break down ....and ran away..but what will happen to this family then? His real father Zaki, do came over occasionally to help out with his studies and his task at the company, but Aden knew..he could not impose on his father too much, cause he has his own responsibilities which he needs to handle. Zaki, heart breaks when he realised, all this toll has been taking too much on Aden's mind and spirit...those smiles and laughter was just a shield....a veil to cover and hide his true pain.

Maya step out from the cab as she paid the cab driver the fare. With her trolley luggage on her side, and her bag pack on her back, she stood still as she looks anticipating towards Aden's home now. Tears well in her eyes, just the thought of that....however she plucks up her courage as she dugs the house keys from her dress pocket which she had carefully kept...and begins to unlock the front door. The emptiness and the solemness could be felt sipping right beneath her thoughts and soul. The liveliness of this home, has been cruelly taken and demolished but was replace with so much emptiness and sorrow. Maya knew, her mission now is to bring back that lively spirit into this home...no matter what it takes. She place her luggage and her bag pack on the floor of the living room, as she slowly phase around the home. She knew Aden must be in school at that moment ..and so is Aleeya..who was now a medical student in a college. There were dust lying almost all over the place, the couch and the carpet was left unvacuumed, the home furniture was accumulate with more dust....clothes mostly Aden was strewn all over the couch. It was absolutely a total mess. Maya picks up his clothes and went towards the laundry area. More surprises coming for her as she saw...a full brim basket with washed laundry only waiting to be hang and dry....and another two baskets with unwashed laundry. Maya place all the dirty linen into the washing machine..adding in the detergent and softener as she turns the machine on. And then, she continues to hang up the washed laundry onto the railings and hangers. Next, she came into Aleeya's room....her paintings was seen strewn all over the floor, some of the palates was broken and some of her perfume bottle collection was smashed to pieces. Maya shudders upon seeing this....Aleeya was extremely heart broken and in such a remorseful state. Maya took the broom and the dustpan as she sweep the dust and the broken glass pieces away. After Aleeya's bed was make up and some of her things has been properly place and kept, next Maya went into Aden's room. More clothes were strewn on his bed and his closet was seeing half open....some of his notes and books were all over his desk....his laptop was left on as Maya saw the flickering of the stand by mode light was still on. His camera and some of it's memory cards was left bare untouched in his display cupboard. His bed was unmade as the blanket was seeing roll up and tugged against the wall. It seems that Aden was always in a rush. Maya could understand why......cause it is not easy to handle all this within one hand...one shoulder. Maya tidies up his bed and next she file in his notes and re-arrange his books against the books stand. Next she picks up his dirty clothes and dump them into the laundry basket. Maya decides to change into her normal routine plain white dress as she felt more comfy..in them as she needs to do a lot more...cleaning up this home.

It took her almost the whole day, when finally her cleaning up operation was done....that's what came into her mind...as she smile to herself...with content after seeing the house was clear and back to what it used to be. However that satisfaction soon replace with a tinge of sadness, as she saw her very first photo, which was taken with Aden's family being hung nicely in a dark chocolate toffee frame just above the mantel place. A beautiful momento, which Adam had describe while Aden hung up that frame, the day before Adam, Zaharah and Aleeya left this home before that unfortunate day.

Maya, brushed her sadness away as she looks at the clock on the wall and decides to prepare some dinner. Thankfully, there were some unopened sausages and fresh salad with a bottle of mayonnaise left in the fridge. And soon, Maya set herself with the preparation of dinner. After all was done, she makes herself a cup of coffee and decides to take a rest at the veranda..sitting by the porch....looking and enjoying the vast magnificent view of the green hills. Soft gushing breeze sweep gently against her skin and her long dangling hair. 

The night sky soon begins to fall in and Maya knew...either Aden or Aleeya will be back soon. Suddenly she heard the front door was unlocked. "Aleeya." it was Aden...he was back. Aden was taken aback and was surprised, as he saw the mess of his home has been clear up...and the nice scent of sweet lavender essence oil has been set alight......bringing back the sweet scent which his mum had always loved.  Maya step out from the veranda, as she walk pass the kitchen and headed towards the living area. Aden was stunned as he saw Maya stood by the living room....and the emptiness which he had felt......was soon replace with new hope and courage as he came closer towards her and embrace her with full of love and grace. "Thank you Maya for doing this." exclaimed Aden with tears in his eyes. It is a heartbreaking moment for Maya....seeing Aden in such a sorrowful state. Maya realised Aden had becomes thinner and he had grown a bit of goatee on his chin.

"We can do this together..all right." exclaimed Maya with courage and determination.

"How about your studies and your bond at Thailand?" asked Aden worriedly.

"I've spoken to your aunt about my temporary absent for my upcoming thesis....but she's fine with that." trails Maya. "In fact..I just can't bare to be away from you...in this kind of situation. My physical being is there...but my soul and spirit is here....with you." utters Maya as she looks straight into his eyes. Aden broke into a smile of enlightment and joyfulness upon hearing those lovely words from Maya.

"How's Aleeya taking it..nowadays?" asked Maya while they were resting at the veranda after their dinner.

"I don't know how am I going to put it....I sense that....she hates me." exclaimed Aden sadly as he hung his head with his eyes shut.

"Aden, maybe you are just being sensitive." utters Maya as she sat closer beside him and held her arms around his shoulder.

"She refused to speak to me...and she has been avoiding my presence....and that's hurting me. Cause I have been trying so hard to talk to her and just be there for her...but, she takes it as though I'm not valid...I'm invisible." utters Aden solemnly. "I'm tired Maya....I really am. At times, I just want to pack my stuff and leave..but I just don't have the heart to do so...just the thought of my parents.....even though I was just an adopted son...but the genuine love and compassion which they have given me..that had prevent me from doing so." exclaimed Aden sadly with tears streaming down on his face. "I feel the lost too....I feel it...and it's painful." continues Aden as he held on his palms towards his face as he begins to sob uncontrollably, Maya realised Aden was in a binge of breaking down.....he was still grieving. She held out her arms and brings Aden close to her as she caress his hair and gently rocks him in a comforting and soothing manner.

"Oh! Shit! What happen to this house?" cried Aleeya as she stumble around the living room, smelling of hard liquor.

Aden move away from Maya's embrace as he stood up and walks away, as he headed towards the living room. "You are drunk again." exclaimed Aden sternly.

"Stop your preaching...all right! Just get out of my sight." utters Aleeya sarcastically as she fumbles towards the kitchen...when suddenly she saw Maya. "Hey..you are back?" cried Aleeya as she stumble towards her almost losing her balance. Maya was quick enough to grab her hands..and then she gently embrace Aleeya with tears in her eyes. She just could not believe a bright girl like Aleeya could end up and destructing herself in this kind of manner. Aleeya held on to Maya with all her might...when suddenly, she just let go of her embrace abruptly...with a mocking smile as she headed back towards her room.

"Your school calls me again...telling me that you have been skipping few lessons recently." utters Aden intensely.

"Don't act brotherly to me.....you are just an adopted son..remember that!" replies Aleeya in such a spiteful manner.

"Yah, you are right..I'm just an adopted son....but I have a responsibility here...a responsibility over you. A promised which I have been trying to keep for our father's sake." exclaimed Aden.

"Adam is not your father.....! My father and my mother is dead..thanks to your little bro...!" yelled Aleeya. "At least, you still have your mum and dad to hang on too...but I have nothing.." cried Aleeya tearfully.

"Aleeya, you still have us....you still got me..!" cried Aden solemnly as he can't believe to received those hurtful words from Aleeya.

"You don't have to stay....just for pure gratitude. In fact, just the sight of you..is just like a sore to my eyes." screamed Aleeya...as she took her helmet which she had earlier slammed onto the coffee table...and headed straight into her room...shutting the door with a loud bang.

Aden, stood froze on the ground with tears of anger and disappointment in his eyes. And then without speaking any words, he took his helmet and his keys from his room as he headed towards the front door.

"Aden, where are you going?" asked Maya with concerned. However, Aden ignored her and left with his motor bike. Maya stood still by the window as she watches Aden rode off his bike, until he was out from her sight. It's simply breaks her heart seeing Aden's anguish and his inner strength being crushed and crumpled by someone whom he always had cared and loved genuinely. "How could Aleeya, have the heart to say those hurtful words? How could she felt so deeply in doubt towards Aden affection and love towards her...has she forgotten, how Aden had stood by her side and even willing to sacrificed his soul when Ilhan had almost got her?" thought Maya to herself as she looks intensely towards the door of Aleeya's room.

Without second thoughts, Maya went straight towards Aleeya's room and opens the door, "Do you really meant with all those words which you had said to Aden?" asked Maya as she came forward towards Aleeya's bed.

"Maya, just stop giving your sermons to me all right! My head is heavy and I'm damn sleepy now...so just go!" exclaimed Aleeya as she pulls her blanket to cover herself.

Maya was not going to settle herself with that kind of irresponsible reaction from Aleeya, as she roughly pulls Aleeya's blanket away from her.

"What is wrong with you?" yelled Aleeya looking annoyed and unpleased.

"You should asked yourself with that question?" replies Maya sternly with a frown. Aleeya was taken aback seeing Maya's intense doe eyes staring hard towards her.

"Look Maya, I have nothing against you, so please don't try to create one with me!" warned Aleeya furiously as she sat up on her bed.

"Why are you pushing yourself away from everyone?" asked Maya as she refused to barge from Aleeya's room.

"Because, none of you understand how I feel...none of you could ever care less about my lost and how this has been affecting my life." replies Aleeya tearfully.

"I guess you are right, no one could ever understand you but yourself. Only you feel the lost but no one else. You are the only one who needs to carries and drags this burden of enormous responsibilities on your shoulder, half of your morning, you will spend your time in school and then the rest of the day till late night...you will be at your late father's company....settling the task and duties there. Back at home, I've seen it all, how well you have kept this house." utters Maya and then she decides to leave Aleeya all by herself in her room.

Aleeya stare towards Maya's back until she left and her room door was close again. Aleeya shuts her eyes...as the soberness begins to enhance her remorseful...inner self. She looks at her bracelet which Aden had given to her, as she had been wearing it eversince Aden's and Maya's engagement day. "If I didn't care less about Aden, then why am I still wearing this bracelet?" asked Aleeya to herself as she begins to cry silently....she felt confused and uncertain about herself......she felt lost.

The scent from the lavender essence oil which Maya had place inside the essence burner, slowly begins to fade away. Maya looks at the ticking clock on the wall and it was almost quarter to three in the morning. She peep through the window, anticipating for Aden's bike to drive in back into the front porch....but to her dismay, there were still no sign of him. Sleepiness begins to empowering Maya's mind. She tries to keep herself awake, by listening to some music from her mini laptop....but it seems, exhaustion had overcome her as she soon felt fast asleep on the couch with her novel open and place on her tummy with it's pages face down.

Aden stood at the front door step of his home....the anger which he had felt earlier has been replace, with regrets and unexplainable sense of rejection....the feeling that he had not done enough for this family...and the promises which he had made with his late uncle Adam begins to entwine in his remorseful thoughts. He shut his eyes, as tears begins to form in his eyes..but he slip in a tinge of courage in his dejected soul as he unlock the front door and enters his home.

The front light of the living room has been turn to dim mode, as Aden enters his home. He looks at the clock, it shows...dawn is setting in soon. Aden pushed his fringe, which has started to grow longer now away from his brow as he walk towards the mantle place and place his house keys into the small bowl. When suddenly, he realised that Maya has been sleeping on the couch in the living room. As quietly as possible, he came closer towards her and carefully remove her face down novel from her tummy and place it onto the coffee table. Aden smile lovingly just seeing Maya....it seems Maya's present has bring in some sense of courage, light and belonging in this home. He held out his hand and gently, caress her hair away from her sweet, innocent face. Aden turn off Maya's laptop which has been switch to hibernate mode and place it too beside her novel. And soon, Aden stood up and walk pass his sister's room....those words which Aleeya had spoken to him, had definitely kills his spirit, of wanting to pass through this bends....the urge for him to turn back to where it all begins......like how it used to be....hearing his parent's laughter and Aleeya's jovial side...it seems impossible. However, before he enters back into his room to get a blanket for Maya, he just could not get Aleeya off from his mind. "No, I must never give up on her. No matter what, she is still my sister...and I am responsible for her." thought Aden to himself as he crept in slowly into Aleeya's room. Her paintings and sketches has been thrown all over the place. Aden stood down and picks up all those beautiful, magnificent pieces and place them neatly onto her desk. As he walk closer towards her side, suddenly he saw Aleeya was clinging onto a piece of her painting in her hands..as she let it rest by her side. Aden took a peep at that particular piece, and he realised....it was a sketch of him and Aleeya....a scenario on her birthday it seems. Tears well in his eyes cause he knew....his sister do care. Aden walks away from her side, as he intends to head back towards his bedroom to get that blanket...and also to do his morning prayer....a task which he had long time forsaken.

"Aden." called a meek voice..it was Aleeya. Aden stop by the doorway....wiping the tears off from his face before he turn his sight towards Aleeya. "Aden, all those terrible words which I have spoken to you....I swear...I did not meant it." utters Aleeya with tears in her eyes. "Please don't leave." exclaimed Aleeya.

"This is my home....where possible can I go to." utters Aden with a smile of enlightenment. "We are family....so we will dealt with this together...all right." continues Aden. Aleeya nods her head with a smile....a smile of new life and a new found spirit.

After they all had do their dawn prayers together as a family and taken their breakfast, Aden and Aleeya had gotten themselves ready for school. "Aden, let me ride you off to your campus. You have not been sleeping enough...so I don't think it will be appropriate for you to be riding your bike." offers Aleeya. Aden smile as he nods his head in agreement.

"Take care Maya, we will be back soon." utters Aden before he left together with Aleeya.

"See you later....babe!" exclaimed Aleeya with a grin. Maya smile as she stood by the front gate until Aleeya's bike was out from her sight.

"Thanks Aleeya." said Aden as he get off from her bike.

"What time will you be off so I could came by and get you?" asked Aleeya.

"It's okay Aleeya, today my classes finish earlier before twelve in the afternoon. I shall took a cab...or a bus. Anyway thanks." exclaimed Aden.

"If that's the case, then after my classes, I shall go ahead towards the painting shops to sell off some of these paintings." said Aleeya as she re-adjust her helmet. "Then you can spend more time with Maya." grin Aleeya cheekily. Upon hearing those remarks from Aleeya, Aden playfully tapped Aleeya's helmet with a smile. Aleeya left on her bike after Aden was away from her sight.

Along her way towards her college, suddenly she received a message from her mobile phone. Aleeya, go ahead with her journey and decides to ignore the beeping sound from her mobile phone. Aleeya, swayed her bike towards the right lane as she enters the parking lot which was located nearby
her campus and yet again she received another beeping sound from her mobile phone. Aleeya was left with no other choice, but to read those written message. "Please call me." She was surprised as that number was unfamiliar. Aleeya tries to recall that number, however she just could not think of anyone. Aleeya decides to give that person a call right after her class as she turns off her phone. She took her bag pack and her thick file case which consists of her latest paintings and sketches as she rushed towards the stairways..heading straight towards her classroom.

It was almost late evening when finally, Aleeya had arrived towards the painting shop...and this time round, the shop keeper was there as she seems to be deeply engrossed in a conversation with someone.

"Hie Sally." exclaimed Aleeya and she was surprised cause Izrey was there too.

"Hie Aleeya, I was waiting for your call." cried Izrey as he turns his attention towards Aleeya.

"So that number belongs to you?" asked Aleeya as she came forward towards the counter and place her file of paintings onto the counter top. Sally looked pleased with Aleeya's new arrival of art pieces as she has been waiting for these new pieces for almost three months. Izrey nodded with a smile as he join in with Sally, admiring most of Aleeya's magnificent works."What's so important until I've received few messages from you?" asked Aleeya as she tries to avoid his dark but expressive eyes staring at her.

"It's about my request few months ago remember?" asked Izrey as he came closer towards Aleeya and stood beside her.

"Currently, I'm concentrating on other things." replies Aleeya shortly as she backs away from him....not wanting to get any closer.

"I'm sorry about your parents." utters Izrey solemnly. "I knew about this from the news." Aleeya remains silence with tense look written on her face. "Your father's spirit and dream must go on." exclaimed Izrey again. "I've pass through Adam's Eye, just few weeks ago....it will be such a waste if Adam's Eye to remain shut." continues Izrey with concerned in his tone.

Aleeya shuts her eyes as she tries to fight back her tears. She took in one deep breath and injects a slight courage as she looks straight into Izrey eyes...which seems to be telling her lots of different tales behind them. "Why do you care?" asked Aleeya tearfully.

Sally who was so engrossed updating Aleeya's art works inside her logbook, stop abruptly as she turns her attention towards Aleeya and Izrey. "I need to check on my new stock...Aleeya's here's the cheque which you have agreed on." utters Sally as she hands Aleeya the cheque before she left towards the storeroom which was located at the back of her shop.

"I'm sorry....if my words has cause some remorseful emotion in you." exclaimed Izrey as he place his hand onto Aleeya's shoulder.

Aleeya pushes his hand away, "Don't try to call me again." exclaimed Aleeya as she took the cheque from the counter top before she left.

Izrey was not giving up of letting Aleeya go just like that. He ran towards the door and decides to give her a chase. In just an inch, he managed to grab Aleeya's hand and pull her close towards him. "I do meant well." exclaimed Izrey. "Let me help you...in this. Together we could rebuild what your father has left." utters Izrey with determination. Izrey held out his hands as he gently wipe the falling tears from Aleeya's cheeks.

"All right, but give me some time....anyway I need to discuss this with my elder brother before we can move on with this new venture." explained Aleeya at last. "I shall call you, one of these days." explained Aleeya again as she gets on her bike and put on her helmet before she rode off back home. From the side mirror of her bike she could still see Izrey was standing on the kerb as he watches her left.

"A mirror reflects the outer form of an element, but not the inner traits of it......the overall truth the deformity, which the element had secretly conceal rooted deep within itself...and a reflection of a crack mirror, changes the image of that element....but not the secret beauty essense of it all." Aden place the dried leave book mark onto that page as he close Zhorif's journal.

It is sure such a comforting sight....seeing his sister was back to her jovial and chirpy self again.....a beautiful remembrace like their late father Adam....as he watches her with a smile..while she begins to talk and laughed along together with Maya. Seeing Maya, just like seeing a new spirit which has been blown into her soul.....a new found strenght and courage which she had gained from his mother...Zaharah. And for himself....he knew he was blessed....he was not alone anymore.