Dedicated to @abihaimran96  for taking a liking to the story and adding it to various reading lists of her own in spite of the fact that it hadn't been updated since November last year... :)
Anyway, I've a lot to say people. I haven't updated since a long, long time and I know you all are very angry with me. I just lost faith in writing more to this story coz my computer crashed and I lost most of my stuff. I'm thinking of re-writing my chapters once again, and I'm shaping them up from the beginning.
I've changed a lot of things. For instance, a gang, 'Blue Gang', to be exact, figures quite a lot in the story (you'll know more abt it when u read), Zahra has another next-door frnd, Rajani, who is Sri Lankan (I figured she had to have something closer to home to keep her comfortable in a strange land and nothing's better than a frnd, ryt?) I've introduced some of Laura's past too. And, her enemies don't know Zahra is the girl they're after yet. This detail was irking me a bit coz the Mystery Man can't afford to wait to catch her, he's doing his best to get to her.
Also, the 'somewhere in the whole wide world' has been changed too. And, I've changed things  bit between Zahra and David.
And lastly, I take time in whatever I do, because I seem to find fault with all that I write. So I need all the support I can get while I straighten my stories out. Your support would mean a lot to me.
A big thank you to everyone who has waited patiently for me to update all this time.
Remember: This chapter isn't completed yet. I updated coz I couldn't wait ;)
LASTLY, Ramadan Mubarak everyone!
PLZ VOTE + COMMENT + SHARE + ENJOY
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A sense of foreboding hung over the city that day. It felt as if it was closing in from all sides. To Zahra, it felt closer... even more so than ever before. It was always just an arm's length away, ready to suck you into its deepest, endless gorges. But it's nearness was far scarier now... it was beyond stifling. Going about every day with her usual optimism seemed like a trial to her when things didn't seem to look up after days and days of coal-black skies.
Or maybe it was just her room that was closing in instead of the entire city. It was turning out to be a hellhole for her. She'd mostly kept to it after it had been raided ruthlessly. The police were still onto the investigation. They suspected it was the handiwork of the same 'Blue Gang' that had gripped the city since the last nine months or so. She was a little skeptic about that though.
The gang didn't really specialize in vandalizing private properties. They were more into abductions and scaring people, as almost everyone knew by now. But Zahra hadn't told the police about her late night rendezvous with a member of the gang. If, he was a member at all, that is to say. There'd be a streak of interrogations, if she did. And she wasn't up for anymore questioning.
Besides, Zahra herself wasn't sure that he was one of them. The way he'd threatened answers out of her, it felt somewhat personal. As if whatever he'd wanted, it had to do with her only, which was pretty spooky in itself. Also, he was onto something, like he had a mission. That gang wasn't into missions or personal vendetta from what she'd gathered so far, it was more random and 'roguish' than anything else. She wanted to carry out a few investigations of her own, find out what she could from around the area where she'd met him that night. It was a long shot, but all that she had to go upon. Maybe the owner of that diner could help. If only she'd seen that man's face.
Saying that she was scared would be an understatement. She was paranoid. Maybe a little too paranoid than others. She was sure if things went this way for a bit longer, she'd totally lose it. She had every reason to. There was a fierce gang weaving its way into the city and striking fear into the hearts of people. And it only targeted girls her age. Her situation wasn't helping either. Every day, someone new was on her trail.
And the fact that the police force hadn't been able to get to the core of the group yet, was disturbing, at the least. Plus, she was now alone; a perfect prey. Her next-door neighbor, Rajani, and her colleague from the Office, Jennifer, were just about the only people whom she could call her friends, but they had their own lives to live. And she wasn't exactly a kid that they'd help her sleep at night.
Moreover, she'd had absolutely no contact with her parents since more than a week ago. Was it normal not to go over the board when you were barely able to contain your mind from wandering? Mayhap, it was her long undiscovered forte. She should've been proud, but it wasn't really a season for celebration. However, as many friends she made, howsoever many online 'Lonely and Lost' forums she joined, it was just her in the end. She against the world, against her fate, against every prejudice and against every challenge as it came.
Even today was no different. Waking up from a disturbed sleep, Zahra allowed herself some moments of cheerful meditation since the sky had cleared, in contrast to the last three cloudy days. It was in these times when she felt herself at ease, that her thoughts of 'him' returned to haunt her. She wished to see him again, just once, to mend their hastily broken comradeship, but she had little hope for it. Whatever it was, it was keeping him long, and she was sure she wouldn't have a glimpse of him for a good few months. How she had come to miss that spiteful man was beyond her. David Walworth had done nothing but take pleasure, for the most part, in making her life wretched.
She had witnessed a vast change in his manner towards her in his last days though, before he had put up a deliberate vanishing act upon her. It seemed almost too surreal to be in his good books for once. And not just that, apparently, he held some degree of affection for her too! It made her blush and feel special in spite of herself. What was she, a mere, lowly, boring and highly conservative employee to him, in comparison to the polished, perfected and seasoned professional woman he was always surrounded with. And to hold her in the light of something more than just acquaintances by he himself, was nothing short of a marvel.
It was highly improbable she'd accept him though. The way he'd made his advances upon her, it was not at all worthy of a man like him. He was reckless, impulsive and everything he shouldn't have been on that occasion. And at once, she felt disgusted with him, and abhorred him like she'd abhorred no other. She couldn't keep up with her heart; it went from one emotion to the next with such great speed that she felt dazed by the effort.
Suddenly, she saw a flash of lightning and heard a thunderstorm from the heavens above. Probably, God was not very happy with her line of thoughts at such a divine time when the sun was just about to wake up. She was giving in to wishful thinking when she should be doing something worthwhile, like praying. And just like the turns of the weather, her mood turned from sour to delightful, to sour once again. Not for the lack of faith in her religion, but for the way things kept going in a circle, never once leaving the da**ed chain of misfortunes.
And for now, when nothing worked, entrusting her worries to her Lord seemed like the most ideal solution there could ever be, when it should've been the other way round from the very beginning. But thinking wouldn't do; the time she'd wasted couldn't be brought back to her, just like that. Actions! Movements of the arms and the legs were needed! Making haste, Zahra at once got up from her bed, did her ablution and prayed to the Lord to bring her troubles to a closure, and as per ritual, checking her phone for any misplaced calls or texts from her parents or friends, she was almost the same mechanical 'Zahra Fatimah' everyone knew, once again.
"How are you doing today, Zahra?" Rajani asked, just as she saw her leaving her apartment some four hours later. The way she pronounced her name, it always reminded her of Mr. Walworth Jr. For him, it was always, 'Zara Fatimah, bring me my coffee!' 'Zara Fatimah, alter this minor, yet ghastly, detail in your report.' 'Zara Fatimah, do be sensible and punctual for once!' It seemed that he always found fault with her.
What was with her and thinking so much about him, today?! She was lost for a good few minutes, and only came to her senses when she saw someone, or Rajani to be more precise, wildly waving her hands in her face to get her attention. "Sorry, what were you asking? I was thinking about something, and didn't pay attention." "Just like you to get lost in thought!" The girl humped indignantly, but then added, "I only asked how you were doing. You told me someone was following you, and I don't like the way you always deflect my questions concerning your safety as if it were a trifling matter." She was very much displeased with her. She was being a sincerer friend than Zahra ever gave her credit for.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, but I'm fine and I'll surely inform you beforehand if anything untoward happens to me," Zahra replied softly. "Wow! You're definitely something, you know that? How would you know something bad is going to happen to you? Do you have sixth sense or what? It's impossible to deal with you!" Rajani ejaculated with so much energy that their fellow early-bird residents of Aurora turned their heads to glance at her. The girl gave them a droll look and then returned to staring frigidly at Zahra. "Well then, what am I supposed to say to you?" she asked in return. "Nothing. Just... just stay safe, okay. And don't go out alone or take shortcuts while walking back from your Office." Zahra nodded obediently, telling her to take care in return; she could do little else.
There was this girl, going out of the way for her safety and well-being, and here she was, keeping things from her. She hadn't told her anything about her apartment getting ransacked, and her consequent meeting with a hoodlum with possible links to the gang; who happened to have her things in his possession for any outrageous reason possible under the sun. She didn't want Rajani to go out of her mind distressing over her.
She didn't want anyone to worry for her anymore. It almost killed her when they ached due to her. She was well acquainted with that feeling ever since she'd figured out she was ill-omened. She didn't bring good to anybody who made her worries their personal concern. Sometimes, she wondered what her purpose in this world even was. She was not destined for even a remote kind of greatness, she was sure. What then, was she doing, increasing the load of this world and stretching its capacity to its upmost limits?
After saying goodbye to her friend at the intersection, and keeping her gloomy thoughts to herself, Zahra trudged on towards her own duties. How... delighted she'd been to come here! Everything seemed brand new, everything had a sparkling gleam to it. How she'd drank every scene that passed in front of her eyes! How childishly ecstatic she'd been! Only to realize it wasn't at all what the city presented itself to be. She'd misjudged it all along. It was a trap, a well-thought, perfectly-laid and an immaculately designed trap. Once here, you had no passage to the outside world. She now realized the worth of her home soil. Ever inviting and unassuming, a place of freedom it was, her land. She could do little but endure it here. Endurance was all that was keeping her from flying back home. Endurance, and the conscious reminder that her parents, rather her guardians, needed the money she made.
Nevertheless, she reached her cubicle, and switched on her laptop to begin assorting her tasks for the day. She was just getting started with her spreadsheet when there was this nagging feeling at the back of her mind once again; the feeling that something didn't seem right, as always. She threw her paranoia to the wind and began to concentrate on the task at hand. There was a deficiency of motivated, efficient people here, she'd noticed. Maybe because they weren't given pushes in the right direction every so often. And the fact that people were discouraged to intermingle with each other during working hours could be one major disappointment too.
She wanted to change that. But, it was necessary to consult her HR Manager in the matter. Granted, she wasn't very chatty or social herself, at least she felt pretty comfortable if she found people she could connect with. And that was what the people here, wanted. A livelier, more congenial environment, to keep the flame alive, to remain motivated to be loyal and be of service to the organization and the community at large. The account holders had lost their trust in the Bank. Anyone will, if they found their money was being wasted on inefficient employees and into, mostly, unproductive channels. The investments hadn't reaped much great results for the company, and it hadn't sat well with its customers.
Zahra felt the weight of her duty and wanted to give it her best, but the more she got riveted to her work, more the hindrances were created for her. So long as she stayed away from her job, the better it was for whoever it was behind all that was happening. And just as she was trying to concentrate on nothing but what lay in front of her, her phone rang. She thought of a few choice words to say to the caller, but when she saw the ID, she was surprised.
"Hey, Laura, how are you? Haven't heard from you in days!" she told her, immediately accepting the call. "Tell me it's really you on the phone and not an impostor, Zee!" Laura strangely replied with an urgency in her voice. "Of course, it's me, L! Why would you think otherwise?" Now her senses were slowly waking up. "Uh... thank God! Tell me, have you been accosted by any of the Blue Gang guys? The ones who were so much on the news about the time when I was leaving for Paris?" the girl replied with a few more strange questions from the other side.
"I know what the 'Blue Gang' is. And to answer your question, no, I haven't been accosted by them in any way, thank goodness! But why are you asking me this from a continent away? Have they reached you too? Should I be afraid?" She was panicking now. "Very!" was the short answer heard from the other end, uttered in such grave tone that it made Zahra shudder in spite of the warm weather.
"I don't know what to do Zee, I'm so scared! I... I didn't want to scare you too, but I've got no other option. I just have to tell you!" Laura replied with such deep emotion that Zahra felt herself on the verge of a breakdown too. "Please, don't talk in riddles L. Tell me what's the matter!" she pressed her friend for details as her lips quivered in trepidation.
"They... they're not random rogues, Zee. They're after a certain girl. A girl... with a mark on her right waist, to be exact." And the moment she heard those words, they chilled Zahra to the very core of her heart. She'd suspected she was connected somehow, after the way that man had recognized her that night. And the pieces were slowly falling into place. But, what was he spouting about a diary?! She was sure she had no diary in her possession that could be of significance to anybody.
"And... how do you know that?" she inquired quietly. "They came to me." "What?! How? When??" was all Zahra could utter incredulously. "Apparently, they are keeping an eye on all arrivals and departures to and from Trapeze, in the last few months or so. They must've found me in the list too."
"There was a man at my door just the other day," Laura kept on saying. "Told me he was a Government Official. Seemingly, there's been a surge of illegal immigrations into the country since the last six months." With a shock, Zahra realized there was the same pattern here too. There'd been quite a few phony Government Officials knocking from door to door, making up stories about illegal immigrations and asking for everyone's legal identity documents. Especially of the girls' who'd recently come to reside in the country, as long as twelve months ago.
The Chief Commissioner of Police had warned about such people in his last press conference about a month ago. He'd clearly stated that there'd been no proven evidence or data of such kind, and it was all a hoax to trap young girls. He'd dubbed it as a trafficking case with profound conviction, but to her, it didn't seem like that at all, now. Why would they release the girls merely two days after abducting them, then? Most likely, the Chief Commissioner didn't have the answer to that.
"He just wanted to check my passport and other legal documents I'd brought with me." "And did you... show them, I mean?" Zahra asked, already dreading her answer. "Of course, I didn't!" the girl replied with energy. That made her breathe easy, a little. "Do I look like I'm living illegally to them?! They can ask my employers if they want. I'm a respectable citizen, earning my bread legally, and I told that idiot that, loud and clear! I even showed him my appointment letter, but he didn't listen. And that was when I started to sense something fishy."
"But... then how did you connect it to the Blue Gang?" Zahra asked, confused. "Just wait a while! I'm coming onto that. Anyway, when I refused to budge, he whistled to two other of his men and they advanced towards me with guns in their hands. They... they told me to remove my top and let my p..pants down to my waist--,"
"Stop, Laura! If you feel uncomfortable telling me all that, then please don't trouble yourself. It's not worth going through it once again," Zahra told her friend, silently crying for her. "No, Zee, I... I want to finish this narrative. I want to tell you everything. Just don't interrupt, I'm fine. Okay?" "Okay," she responded quietly, wiping her tears.
"After I refused to comply to their order, they held me and drugged me. In less than a minute, everything had gone black in my life. When I came round, I was in some kind of a dinghy interrogation room, and I had my pants lowered a little, enough to show the mark on the left side of my waist. I don't remember how long I'd been out for, though. A man was keeping guard at the door, and besides him, there was not a soul to be seen. And then immediately, the lights went off. Two people came inside the room, I don't know how they looked coz I couldn't see them, but they must've been bulky, and I couldn't help shrinking back. Suddenly, one of them shone a torch in my face, making me go blind momentarily."
"The other man told me to push up my top and lower my pants a little more, so he could see my waist clearly. The same insolent order. And once again, I refused. He laughed for a minute but then coming closer to me, he took hold of my jaw and kept turning my face from one side to the other. He looked at me even more closely after snatching the torchlight from the other man's hands. And then, after some internal reflection, he told me I was a great piece in the worst way possible." Here, Laura's voice broke, but she persevered and went on. "He checked both sides of my waist afterwards. I couldn't help shrinking away from him every time he came close. He was reeking so badly of alcohol, you know." She laughed dryly at the memory.
"He was confused. He kept muttering 'left or right', 'left or right' under his mouth and coming to a decision after more than ten minutes of examination, he told the other man I was not the one. It was a relief for me, for the time being, at least. The other man came forward and stuffing a blue piece of cloth in my mouth, he drugged me once again. That was how I recognized the gang."
"But the drug wasn't strong enough. Maybe, they didn't give me a strong dose on purpose, but I managed to stay awake in the entire car ride. I couldn't gather anything though, except the two singular facts that the Blue Gang had followed me to France and they had let me go fairly earlier than usual."
"I felt they were coming closer to their goal, you know, because it didn't take them much time to dismiss me. Certainly, there was something fishy going on. And then I'd made the connection. You really need to be careful, Zee." She knew it was very much impossible that she could be the girl they wanted, but she seemed to be ticking all the boxes. She even had the mark, and on the right side too. "My troubles certainly aren't over though."
"That man has taken a disgusting fancy to me, I guess, for he keeps coming back. I recognized him by his frame the very first time. He's following me everywhere, Zee. He even cornered me into an alley one day and felt me all over with his fu**ing filthy hands." Zahra couldn't help but tightly shut her eyes close at the information. "Told me he'd make me rich, if I went with him. I barely managed to escape, Zee," she heard Laura say, but she couldn't help thinking how Adel had been to her not many months ago. "I don't think I'm safe here anymore. I don't know what to do, I'm so da** scared!" Laura shouted exasperatedly, ending her speech. "Please, be safe," Zahra pleaded to her friend after a few minutes. "You too, Zee," the girl replied and the two fell silent after that.
"I think... I'm gonna go back home," Laura said, breaking the silence, and sighed tiredly. "What? To Minnesota??" Zahra asked incredulously. "Yeah, where else?" "But, you know your father isn't exactly... 'fond' of you, L! How will you face him?" "I wouldn't have to face him. I'll live with my Aunt and be careful to not let him know that I'm back in the States, unlike the last time." She knew very well what had happened the last time. He'd dragged her away, against her will, by her hair to live with him. She didn't want her friend to face that ruthless drunkard's wrath again.
"When are you going, then?" Zahra felt a sense of déjà vu, asking that question. It was very much like when she'd left Trapeze. The situation then, wasn't so bad though. In fact, it was the contrary of what it was now. "I've been talking with my Aunt. She wants me to come back. So... pretty soon, I guess," Laura replied, unsure. "Don't forget to text me your Minnesota number then. And in the meanwhile, take care, alright?" Zahra ordered, and perceiving someone coming to check upon her, immediately ducked her head. "I've gotta go now, bye. And do call me before you leave," she whispered. "Fine, I will. Bye," the girl replied and hung up.
Listening to such worrying news, Zahra's appetite for work was almost completely gone. All that she desired was to hide deep inside a hole and come out only if the situation turned for the better. But, for now, a refreshing cup of coffee would have to do.
At an unknown location
The Mystery Man is perched on a chair in the same dark cellar with four of his followers positioned strategically around the room. A worn, old and haggard Zareena is slumped on the floor, her eyes drooping close every few minutes. "What do you want from me now?" she asks the man with a sneer, hate resounding in her voice. "Give her the phone Zeke," the Mystery Man orders one of the men, and a cellphone is produced and handed to the lady.
"What do you want me to do with it?" "My! My!! You're dumber than I thought, woman!" he chuckles in disbelief. "I don't believe that you've no idea what you're supposed to do with it." "I won't do anything you say, and that's that! Even if you kill me for it." "Oh no! Certainly I won't kill you. I'm better than that, you know."
"I'd just.... wring you to cough your answers out, with a little blood to splash some color into my dreary life," he answers dramatically "You'll go to hell!" the woman shouts hoarsely. "Oh, I will darling, and no mistake. But I'll drag you with me as far as I can, to be sure." The man throws her a self-satisfied smirk. But immediately, he changes his stance. And a sudden chill settles inside the room, making its way into the hearts of everyone except the man himself. "Now, call your daughter."
"I will never!" Zareena pronounces with vehemence. "It seems like a game to you, doesn't it?" the Mystery Man asks the woman, his voice sinister and full of suppressed anger. "You know very well I will find her eventually, and the consequences won't be very nice when I do." "Then find her on your own." The sound of a sharp smack echoes throughout the whole dungeon and from the impact of the blow, the woman is sent crashing into the wall behind her. Her head is split from the impact and she begins to bleed, before long.
"You're too full of yourself, aren't you? Call the girl, I tell you!!" the man bellows, angered beyond reason or comprehension. "Or it won't end good for you." "You can hit me all you want, but I will never do as you say!" Zareena tells the man with clenched teeth, clutching her head as tears of agony stream out of her eyes. "What the hell!! The audacity of the wretch! So... you won't call her?" The woman shakes her head.
"What's the use when you've already sent your men to search our house?" "I'm an impatient man," he answers simply. "I can see that." "Do shut up!" And another alternative strikes the man's mind, and after giving it a brief thought, he shouts to one of the men to bring the young girl down. "She isn't very good with numbers, I tell you," Zareena informs him. "You keep your filthy mouth shut. No one asked for your input."
The young girl, or Avantika, is brought down with two men on either side of her, escorting her forcibly into the room. She is in a little better state, if not same, as the old woman. The moment her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, she catches a glimpse of Zareena and her blood-smeared hands, and a gasp escapes her mouth. "What have you done to her?!" she screams in pure rage. "Oh, calm down, you wench!" the Mystery Man retorts, gritting his teeth in frustration. "There's no need to get yourself in such a frenzy."
"I won't calm down! You don't get to tell me what I need to do!! You've no right to--," "SHUT UP!!" the man shouts, and the girl flinches in fear, but progressively shuts up for good. "You're getting on my nerves with your senseless chatter!" He rubs his forehead tiredly, but quickly composes himself.
"Now, I want you to take that phone and dial the number of your friend for us, like a very good girl. Do you get me?" Avantika is astounded for a minute. She looks from one face to another expectantly, as if to confirm what she heard. "But... I don't remember her number at all!" "What did you say?" the man asks her incredulously. "I said I don't remember her number, or any number for that matter... not even my own." "Told you," Zareena quips up, but the man ignores her.
"Ha-ha! I'm tickled by your joke. Really! I am, but this isn't the time for them. Just do as I say." "You're impossible, aren't you?" Avi ejaculates disbelievingly. "I would've typed the number for you if I'd remembered it. I've no wish to injure myself." "Good. You see, if you cooperate with me, I could let you go, without wasting your time. But you need to give me the number first." "But, I'm telling you that I do not remember her number!" the girl pressed on, now very much exasperated. "But you do, darling... you do!"
"Let me make something clear to you, dung head! I am not good with numbers, they make my head ache and I don't trouble myself with remembering any of them. So stop pestering me," Avi declares conclusively. At the same instant, a knock is heard on the cellar door. "Come in," the Mystery Man shouts, and a man gets inside. "What is it?" he asks the newcomer. "Sir, we've made a list of a few numbers. The girl's number is here somewhere," he informs him. "Not here, let's move out," the man cautions, and goes outside along with him.
"A girl in France was caught by Mr. Graham, sporting the same mark, on her left waist. She's been making a few calls, you see. And we have other numbers too." "Let's check them out, then."