Chapter 24: "Behind the Lies"

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First draft: March 2018 (It's strange how I wrote some of this more than two years ago. . .)

Zayn pulled up a chair and sat next to her. Salma stiffened, nervously eyeing their proximity. Zayn pretended not to notice as he grabbed the jug and a clean glass, and fill it up.

"Drink up," Zayn advised calmly, pushing the glass towards her.

Salma did not move.

"Snob told me about you feeling pressured to make this work," Zayn began gently, "and that one of the reasons for that is because you think it's unfair to me?"

Salma didn't say anything as she wiped her tear-streaked cheek on her knee. Zayn sighed.

"Bee, I know the wrong I'd done to you and I know what I was getting myself into when I demanded a second chance," Zayn said. "I've hurt you and it takes time to heal. My outburst in the morning - It was a mistake. I'm willing to wait. And even then, you don't owe me anything."

Salma sniffed, wiping her eyes dry again. His words were suspiciously familiar. Did the two Green Coats, or at least Spogmae, catch up with him after all?

"I seriously don't blame you for anything because I simply can't," he continued. "You're bound to not trust me or feel uncomfortable in my presence, let alone wanting to have a relationship. I'm surprised you're even letting me have another chance!"

He noticed Salma glanced at him uncomfortably. Zayn smiled.

"I know of your predicament, but you do realize I'd have helped, with or without you giving me a chance, right?"

Salma said nothing. Sarah had told her everything that Zayn knew. He thought she was a target of a powerful politician's games for his personal interests, but he did not know of her ancestry or the Zamarud. To him, her father was the son of a popular personality, and the politician wanted to gain her father's support, and thus the public's, by forcing a marriage between Salma and his grandson. Zayn also thought the Green Coats were only protecting Salma because they disliked the politician. Salma had relaxed a little knowing that he knew how serious a threat marriage to her could be to his life, but wondered how Zayn would feel if he knew the truth about her ancestry, and the trust of the Zamarud bestowed upon her.

"I know it doesn't seem like it, because I made a demand to have a proper nikkah, not just a forged one," Zayn continued, "but I made that demand partially because I'm shameless and greedy and wouldn't, for the life of me, skip on an opportunity to have you, and partially because I found out you were not comfortable with the previous arrangement. But if you are second guessing it, I can talk to your dad and --"

"No!" Salma suddenly cried. "No, that's not fair on y--"

Salma bit her tongue, but it was too late. Zayn stared at her, dumbstruck. She turned away from him, her heart beating madly against her chest. She had just said it to his face now.

Great!

"Okay," Zayn swallowed, feeling a strange happiness engulfing him to realize she actually held a soft spot for him. "In that case -"

"I still don't trust you," Salma said, thinking it was essential to put it out there; not give him false hope. "I don't mean to be rude but that's just --"

"-- not possible for you right now," Zayn finished for her, feeling a bit deflated. "Like I said, I understand."

Salma felt horrible when Zayn's smile faltered.

"I'm willing to give it an honest try though," she muttered softly as if to make amends. She knew each of her statements was in conflict with the previous one but that's how she felt. Conflicted.

Zayn chuckled at her need to protect herself, and yet her innate habit of not wanting to hurt.

"How about you don't?" he suggested.

A heavy weight settled in Salma's stomach. She turned to him, surprised and unsure.

Was he thinking of quitting? Did she just mess it up for her dad --

"Forget about giving 'us' a try, forget about who's being fair to whom and all that," Zayn continued. "How about focusing on one problem at a time?"

Salma still look confused.

"First off, you need this water in your system," Zayn picked up the glass of water and handed it to her. Salma contemplated on removing her niqaab, but then decided not to. She was already uncomfortable; she might as well not make it more awkward. Pushing her veil to the side, she drained the water, letting it soothe her nerves.

"Look, Snob's right," Zayn began again. "There's a lot of bitter history between us. Lots of distrust on your part and lots of work to be done on mine. How about you take a step back? Stop thinking about us in terms of the nikkah; as a couple, a pair. Free yourself of that pressure, then look at me and tell me, who am I?"

Salma was perplexed by the sudden question.

"I - I don't know," she said, bewildered and avoided his gaze. He was someone who had hurt her in the past and she wouldn't want to see his face again if not for the mess she was in --

"Try again," Zayn's voice cut through her poisonous thoughts that she'd rather never voice. When she did not reply, Zayn answered for her. "I'm someone you don't trust. Someone who's hurt you before. Someone who wants to apologize for what he'd done and wants to make it up to you. I am someone who wants to start afresh. Do you?"

Salma stared into his golden-brown eyes, looking earnestly into hers. Once more, his presence overwhelmed her. He was too close . . . and yet, this time, she did not feel the walls caving in on her. Her mind stayed focused on the present, on their conversation. Something about the look in his eyes made her feel less panicked and anxious.

"Yes," she whispered.

Zayn's heart skipped. Try as he may to stop it, the smile still made an appearance on his face.

“Then let’s start building that trust, shall we?” he asked, getting to his feet.

Salma's heart geared back to an overdrive. She almost leapt out of her seat and away from him but he simple picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. If he had noticed her sudden discomfort, he did not show.

Control yourself woman! Salma scolded herself.

"Tomorrow, before class, meet me by the coffee house," he said.

Perplexed Salma watched as Zayn gave her a small smile and left.

***

February 17, 2021

Salma found herself trapped in a tight hug the moment she opened the door to enter the house.

"Salma, ya Allah! Shukr Alhumdulillah, you're safe!" her mother cried. "My girl is safe!"

"Mum, I'm alright," Salma reassured her mother, hugging her back. "I'm alright."

"You almost got taken away!" She sniffed. "They almost had you - you let them --"

"It's alright, mum!" Salma emphasized, pulling away she grabbed her shoulder. "Look at me, it's all good. We're safe!"

"We are, Alhumdulillah, we are!" She wiped her tears. "But you have to stop playing with danger like that! You have to be careful!"

"Mum --"

"It almost ended with them taking you away!"

"Mum, listen --"

"Don't ever do that again!"

"It was planned!" Salma tightened her hold on her arms. Her mother was panicking too much. She led her to the couch and made her sit down. "Mum, everything was under control right from the beginning, trust me. I was just to play my part. Dangle my legs to the shark. Everything was planned. Burak and Spogmae were watching the whole time."

"And for what?" her mother asked. "What purpose did such an adventure serve?"

Salma shrugged. Come to think about it, she had not really thought about it.

"The Green Coats got information about their movements and contacts," Salma replied what she recalled as their objectives. "Also, Agha Gul's sudden attack to take me away was averted, wasn't it?"

"At the cost of him almost getting successful in his plans!" her mother cried frantically.

Salma saw Asim coming down the stairs in her periphery as her mother continued freaking out. He looked horrible. Pale, and an obvious lack of rest evident around his tired features. The siblings exchanged a quick salam.

"It was mere luck that you made it out of their trap alive and safe!" Her mother cried. Asim perched next to their mother. He put a comforting arm around her. "The Green Coats are crazy people. The plans they make are anything but normal! And even with their supposedly foolproof plans nothing is guaranteed!"

"True but --"

"Mum's right, Salma," Asim added quietly. "It may sound like an adventure when you get in on it but there is too much risk involved. The other side is just as skilled and cunning. Toryal could have easily upped Spogmae and Burak."

Salma said nothing, knowing that if it weren't for Zayn, then Toryal probably had Burak and Spogmae covered - even though they denied it.

"You know your aunt made the same mistake and now look where she's stuck?"

Salma's eyes flitted to and fro between her mother's, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

Her mother took in a shaky breath.

"She got trapped by the games of these spies and agents," she said, wiping her eyes. "Long before she knew it, she was in too deep with no way out. She's still trapped."

Salma's lips parted in surprise.

"But . . ." She glanced at Asim. "How?"

"Farhiya was the baby of the family." Her mother sniffed. "The one we spoiled and dotted upon. A true niyaazbeena. After Maajana and Baba, she literally grew up on Hurayra's shoulders. She was his shadow. Always trotting after her Lala Jan, chatting away about nonsensical things. He used to her Cheenjé."

"Cheenjé?!" Asim asked with an incredulous laugh.

"Why would he call her a caterpillar?" Salma asked, just as amused and incredulous.

"He was funny like that." Alley smiled ruefully.

"Weird," Salma whispered, amused.

"A beautiful tornado," her mother continued with painful sadness in her downcast eyes. "When he disappeared, Farhiya totally lost it. Baba's loss was already too much to bear, and then Hurayra was gone. She could not function normally. She couldn't eat, couldn't sleep or think of anything or anyone but her Lala Jan. She only responded to, or talked about him. Other than that, the little baby was just a statue, shedding tears for her brother."

Salma felt her throat tightening. Her mother paused to wipe a fresh set of tears away and collect herself.

"In the madness that followed, they got a chance to strike," she continued. "Maajana, being the guardian of the Zamarud, was busy trying to sort out the affairs of the state. She never had time to grieve the loss her best friend and soulmate. She had to fulfill Baba's cause. I was moved from one place to another at random. We were targets. We had to disappear and stay separated. Without proper attention, Farhiya's grief consumed her. I and Maajana did our best to spend time with her but it was not possible. The moment we fell short, they were quick to fill the space. They had gotten in contact with her and fed her lies. Her Lala Jan was alive and well, she was told. She was lured in by messages from him, but to meet him, they told her, she had to become one of them. One of the Tor Gul. She was advised to marry Zaryab Gul. That way, they said, she would be able to sneak out with him and see her brother.

"Nobody got the wind of the trap that was laid for her right under our noses. People were worried about her mental health, arranging psychiatrists and counselors. She kept inquiring about Hurayra but nobody realized how desperate she was and what lies she had believed. Young, traumatized and naive, she thought she would just have to agree to this marriage till she met Hurayra. Then, once she met him, he would help her out. Little did she know of the games that were being played. . ."

Her mother's voice cracked as she silently cried. Salma didn't know what to think anymore. Her and Asim exchanged a disturbed glance as they tried to console her mother.

"Their tongues are sweet, their hearts dark and intentions manipulative." Her mother sniffed. "I can't blame Farhiya for getting trapped. No one, no matter how sharp and intelligent, can understand and outplay them in their games. They're cunning and evil. They plant a seed of a doubt and then they keep watering it. That's how they weave plots around people. They're not someone to underestimate or engage with, Salma."

Salma let out a breath. Her mother grabbed her arms, forcing her to look her in the eye.

"Promise me, Sally," she said, her eyes raw from crying. "Promise me you'll never partake in anything like this ever again. They're agents. They're not normal. They can't think of people's lives being more than a mission - a target. I wouldn't even trust your father with something like this!"

"Mum, relax," Salma forced her words, taking her mother's hands into her own. She felt tongue-tied. "I understand what you're saying. The circumstance made me take part in the action. Honestly, with dad around, I prefer him taking the wheel. He's better equipped to deal with them."

Her mother released a breath, calming down a little.

"He is," she muttered, wiping her cheek. "I worry about him so much. Allah be his shield."

"Ameen," the siblings muttered, their expressions etched in grim lines, eyes downcast and minds in a mess.

***

January, 1st 2021

"Where've you been?"

Zayn closed his eyes in frustration, his hands around the door knob tightened. He should have known. Her incessant calls and the text he received just before lunch break should have been an indication. Her sister clinging on to him throughout the day may have kept her at bay on the campus but at home, she always acted like she owned the place, and him with it.

Heaving a sigh, he turned around to see the agent perched on his chair by the desk.

"What?" Zayn asked, placing his phone and notepad on the drawers next to his wardrobe. "Your dogs aren't able to sniff me anymore?"

"Stop talking smart!" the special agent snapped. "It's a serious matter! Where were you?"

Zayn did not reply as he pulled his beanie and placed it atop the notepad.

"Were you with Salma?" the agent cocked her head, a brow raised. Even her years of poker-face training could not hide how ruffled she was with not knowing where he had been.

"And if I was?" Zayn scoffed.

"Where?"

"None of your concern."

"Zayn --"

"Out of town. We went on a trip."

"A trip?" Alex's eyebrows shot to the heavens. "Last I checked she wanted you rotting behind bars. When did she start going out with you?"

"Again, none of your concern."

"Harris, that girl's shady as hell!" Alex lost whatever cool she had been trying to display.

"Hell's not shady, it's burning mad --"

"This is serious!"

"Just saying."

"She's not normal folk," Alex continued. "She went off radar. All the agents knocked down. Information blackout. No trail. She went missing and you with her. And then she just appears out of nowhere. Do you know how dangerous that is?!"

"No," Zayn replied carelessly tossing his bag aside.

"She's not what she appears to be. I put you up to find it out and you just disappear with her? Tell me, what's her deal?"

"Why would I?"

"Excuse me?" Alex narrowed her eyes.

Zayn turned to face her.

"I've been doing your bidding, playing fetch for you --"

"I returned every favor, Harris."

"Right, so what's in it for me this time?" Zayn raised a brow.

"I put a foot down between those bars you almost slammed shut on yourself," Alex reminded him.

"And?" Zayn challenged. "What good did it serve me? Let's not forget why I did that, shall we? I got a criminal record for you and now I'm tied down to a girl who thinks too highly of herself!"

"I didn't see you complaining when you embarked on this mysterious trip?"

Zayn shrugged, giving her his back and started taking his bracelet off.

"If I have to endure it, I might as well enjoy the ride."

"In return for information!" Alex reminded him.

"No, no." Zayn faced her again. "My time spent with her is not a reward, Alex. It's a pain. If I am going to get a response out of her for my pleasure then that's just me working hard on earning her trust. It's not your credit. What do I get in exchange for information?"

Alex fixed him with a hard stare but when Zayn did not to falter, she gave up.

"The sum, as discussed previously," she said halfheartedly.

"I want a raise."

"Five percent."

"Twenty or nothing."

"Harris!"

"I got bloody married to her!" Zayn cried. "Twenty, or nothing."

"You are piece of shit!" Alex spat angrily.

Zayn smirked.

"Trained by the best." He teased then cleared his throat. "Anyway, what's going on? Other than her disappearance during our rendezvous what else is fishy about her?"

"Someone's busy screening her out from me," the agent said. "I need to know if it's her friends or foes. I could be wrong in my analysis about it being her friends and she could end up dying."

"You're saying?"

"Her dad," Alex said. "He visits the Sthooriy embassy a bit too frequently. Also, that Agha Gul guy. He visited them again just a few days ago. I need you to find out what's his deal with them."

"They have some distant relation, Alex. It's old news." Zayn said, shrugging out of his jacket.

"The relation is close enough for the rumored drug lord to visit them again and stay at their house for days?" she asked rhetorically. "That makes them POI without her getting off radar all of a sudden."

"I see," Zayn agreed, thinking Alex's words through. "Couldn't be her dad though."

"How come?"

"I've done business with him," Zayn replied. "His company is real. His friends are the one you want to look at."

"Friends?"

"Drop the paycheck, I'll give you names."

"Harris, I swear! Don't test me!" Alex snapped.

Zayn shrugged and tossed on his back upon his bed. He smiled and crossed his arms under his head when she started grumbling profanities and picked up her phone. Ten minutes later, Zayn parroted what he knew.

"A powerful politician?" Alex said shrewdly.

"Could be this Agha Gul," Zayn said. "They had trouble with him before."

"Could be." Alex bit her lower lip thoughtfully. "You took one of my files from archives on him, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Zayn said. "Passed it on to her. You said she'd jump into my arms with that?" Zayn looked at her from the corner of his eye, his tone ridiculing. "I'm still waiting for that to happen."

"I miscalculated." Alex said stiffly.

"You were also wrong about her melting into a puddle if I reported myself," Zayn prodded.

"Clearly, they already knew the contents of the file," Alex ignored his taunting remark. "The information was of no use. Which consolidates my suspicion that they are not normal folk."

"Or it was of no relevance to whatever their personal familial affair is," Zayn replied as he turned his gaze back to the roof.

"I doubt it," Alex disagreed. "What else? What about Atif Rahman's friends?"

"We were accompanied by this guy, Burak Tufan," Zayn said. "I think he's --"

"A Green Coat," Alex finished. "Half Turkish, Half Sthooriy. The Bureau has known him for a while."

"He's tight with Mr. Rahman. Was around the whole time."

"I see," Alex's brow furrowed. "A body guard disguised as a friend. Clever."

"He's pest. If you put a bullet in him, I'll consider it half my pay."

"Why? Did deary beloved have eyes for him?"

Zayn scoffed.

"Eyes? She was all over him. Smittened by a married man. Imagine!"

"And did it hurt your ego?" Alex teased.

"Makes it hard to spy for you if I have to compete for her attention and affections." Zayn rolled his eyes.

Alex got serious again.

"Where did you guys go to?"

"Some wooded area, on the outskirts of Forkhill town, by the cliffs," Zayn replied. "They had a cottage there."

"Purpose of said trip?"

Zayn turned to her to find her watching him closely.

"Can't say," he said. "Me, they told it was to break ice between the two of us after what happened."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Did you do two break the ice?" Alex asked.

"Started off horribly, but after the Turkish pest was gone." Zayn grinned at her. "I got a kiss out of it this morning!"

"Well, well, well."

"We have a date tomorrow," Zayn smirked. "Tell you what Alex, I have that girl wrapped around my little finger."

He wiggled his pinky. The agent's reaction was minimal. Calculating.

"And yet I see you worried." Alex said shrewdly. "What's with the fake enthusiasm?"

Zayn deflated. Crap! She was good at reading him.

"Whatever makes you say that?" he tried to lie nonetheless.

Alex scoffed.

"You think I didn't notice your demeanor when you entered the room?" she asked. "Stiff shoulders, tensed body language, strained eyes. Not to mention you look like a ghost. That trip was anything but a win for you. The bags under your eyes tell me your nights were spent alone, days even lonelier."

Zayn turned away from her.

"I prefer it that way."

"Do you now?" Alex raised a knowing brow. "Or do you prefer it the way it went this afternoon? A kiss on the cheek. A promise for a coffee hangout tomorrow?"

"You're too nosy!" Zayn scowled at her.

"You told me all that yourself --"

"I never mentioned coffee!"

"Your text in that group chat with her friend did."

Zayn closed his eyes. No matter how many times she did this, he still found it annoying.

"But you're still stressed?" Alex said again.

"Imagine her clinging on to me like your sister." Zayn sighed. All traces of his earlier excitement gone. "That's the stuff of my nightmares, Alex."

A short silence followed. Zayn didn't look away from the ceiling to see how Alex was taking this. He felt his earlier fear crawling into his gut again.

"Keep up with the hot and cold," Alex said after a while as she prepared to leave. "If she can't decide whether you're serious about her or not, she'll keep her guard up."

Zayn got up to his feet too.

"But if I end up in a Lenny-like situation again," Zayn warned. "You better hope to God I don't go knocking on Skyla Walker's door."

Alex flashed him a sarcastic smile, patting his cheek.

"Just focus on not falling in love with the Sthooriy girl, sweetheart," she retorted, "because that's the line we need to establish."

Zayn slapped her hand away.

"I know where to draw my lines!"

"Of course," Alex smiled. "Let's just hope your lines aren't drawn over my assignments."

Zayn grabbed her arm stopping her from leaving.

"We haven't established any boundaries this time," Zayn said, his tone serious and eyes hard. "I do as I please and renegotiation is a clause open at all times. I'll get you what you want, but she remains out of bounds and when I want to, I back out regardless."

"Interesting point to remind me of," she muttered as her eyes dropped to his hand around her arm. Zayn let go. "She's still out of bounds after everything that happened?"

"She saved my life. I'm not one to forget favors, Alex," Zayn replied. "You, of all the people, have known and exploited this fact about me the most."

Alex swallowed, heaved a deep breath and then nodded.

"I'll keep my word to you," she replied. "She stays out of bounds."

Zayn relaxed.

"Renegotiation stays an open clause and you back out whenever," she continued. "However, I expect solid information. Get me that before either of you began with the heartbreak drama."

Author's Note:

As usual, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!! 😱😱😱

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