CHAPTER 12 - LIES, LIES AND LIES

Two months ago

As Ahmed stood watching the truck carrying hot baked confectioneries from Cyra's building loaded with the smell of Nankhatai and khari biscuits, he heard a scream for help from within the house. He ran towards her home and found Cyra's mother lying at the base of her staircase, holding her right hip and leg, wailing in pain. Cyra, who had just woken up, came rushing to her mother simultaneously with Ahmed. Both of them lifted her up and made her lie on her bed. Cyra immediately called the ambulance after knowing her mother had fallen off the stairs while carrying a batch of returned burnt biscuits. 

Cyra's mother was rushed to the nearby hospital's emergency department, and the doctors ran a bunch of tests on her. A series of X- rays were taken, and a lot of doctors kept visiting her, each giving their input. She was diagnosed with a broken right hip and right leg bone and was told to undergo immediate surgery to replace her broken right hip. Cyra, though devastated, was relieved that it wasn't something more severe. 

Cyra had already arranged everything necessary for the surgery and planned all the proceedings and budgeting well in advance. She skipped meals and stayed in the hospital with her mother all time. Ahmed found it challenging to witness Cyra suffering alone and offered to stay back in the hospital. They took turns caring for her while the other maintained things at home. There was a lot to manage, from her mother's bakery dealings to her boutique, which had just started. 

Whenever Cyra stayed with her mother, she made sure to do her best. She sometimes ran for medicines, sometimes to get her food, and oftentimes just stayed bedside to keep her morally supported. When she went home, she contacted all her mother's business dealers and kept the business going. She would bake herself from whatever little she had learned from her mother and remained successful in keeping up with the quality and taste. She also strived to complete her designs and kept stitching all night. She hadn't named her boutique yet, but the word was already out. She became busier than ever, but she was no damsel in distress. 

The surgery went well, and Cyra's mother was shifted back to her ward. Cyra stayed until the surgery and returned home when Ahmed visited after the office. She was still drowsy and under the effect of drugs. Her pain was well controlled, but her inhibition had been totally out. She noticed Ahmed sitting near her cot and gestured for him to come closer. 

'How's Cyra faring?'

'Oh, she is coping well. Don't worry. She will do fine. Just think of yourselves now and rest for a while.'

'Ahmed, I did not want to see my daughter cry or struggle. That's why I took up the responsibility of building her career and life. But now, she must be going through a difficult phase just because I wasn't careful enough. Do you also think I am a bad mother?' Her drugs were doing the talking.

'You are the absolute best mother to Cyra. I can't think of anything bad about your parenting. But now, you really need to rest. We can do the talking later.'

'I should have gone back to my parents swallowing my pride. That way, my daughter would have had a family now. I probably made a grave mistake. Don't you think?'

'You are doing great, Cyra's ma.'

In an emotional outburst, she narrated her entire life like an open book to him. Ahmed's eyes glistened with tears. His perspectives about Cyra and her mother changed, and his respect towards them multiplied several times in his mind.

'What would have happened if something had happened to me? My daughter would have stayed an orphan her whole life.'

'Please don't say that. I will always stay by your side, with you and Cyra.'

'Ah, Ahmed. What would we have done without you? Let Allah bless you for all your kindness towards us. I hope you stay with us despite all the rumours.'

'Rumours? What rumours are you talking about?'

'Oh, don't you know? Since you came to stay at my house, there have been rumours linking you with us. Sometimes with me and sometimes with Cyra. Poor thing, she didn't know I had rented that portion to you.'

There was a stinging sensation that rose in Ahmed's heart. He felt that he was also partly responsible for what they were going through.

'I know I shouldn't tell you this. I promised Cyra I wouldn't. But.....' She shook her head aggressively though she looked deeply pained.

'You can tell me anything. I wouldn't mind.'

'I lost one of my suppliers who had been providing me raw materials for a long time.'

'What? How?'

'He believed in those rumours and asked Cyra if she would be interested in him instead of you. And you know Cyra. She showed him his place the next moment. The man lost one of his teeth, and we lost his contract.' 

Ahmed clenched his teeth in rage and muttered under his breath.

'But, Ahmed. I am not worried about all this. I am just worried about who would even marry her now. With all these rumours going around us. Ahmed....' She hesitated for a while before completing her sentence.

'Would you mind if I ask you something?' Ahmed shook his head, indicating a 'no'.

 'Will you take care of my daughter and be there for her even if I don't?' She did not utter anything more than that because even in her semi-conscious state, she knew she must discuss it with Cyra first.

'I will, and I feel I am partly responsible for all this. I would definitely be with her. All my life.'

'Ah, what a relief! I can't thank God enough for sending you to us. What would have happened if you were already married? I can only imagine.' She smiled to herself. Ahmed stayed silent without denying her. Ahmed pretended to himself that at least he did not have to lie. But isn't a truth hidden equal to a lie told?

'And Ahmed, what would your parents say? I am sorry that I haven’t asked you about them in the past'

Ahmed hesitated for a while. He was at crossroads, and he carefully chose his words. 'You are all the family that I have.' He lied.

To be continued…

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