The Missing Episodes

The Missing Episodes by Nifla HussainAli

21st Episode

I creep out of the gate making sure not to make any noise. The pains of my knee hasn’t gone away, so as the pains of my heart. If only papa hadn’t stopped momma from spitting out the truths, my problems would have come to an end.
“Baby where do you try to go” Aayamma’s voice petrify me doubling my heart beats.
“To the madhrasa” I mutter making sure not to turn back or waste a second there.
“But baby..” I almost run as though I heard nothing. I walk ignoring the pain of my knee. Delaying a minute would have spoiled my plans. I can sense what would be happening right now at Ayrah’s house. my escape would have reached momma’s ear’s now and her reaction would be the same as that of morning.
Ahmedh, you try to cause more troubles for yourself. You try to ruin their love over and over. A voice speaks from my mind not letting me to sigh in relief sensing that Ay’s house is out of my sight now.Love? Do they love me? I don’t think so, heard what Ayrah’s momma tried to say right? She tried to tell that I’m not their son but Ayrah’s papa messed up all the plans.
Wait! Did you call them Ayrah’s papa and Ayrah’s momma? this is too rude Ahmedh! The voice umps again. I don’t care whether it’s rude or not, but I said the truth right? I try not to recall the melancholic moments those faded today morning. At last they won right? They stopped me from getting to the school! But now I won. I know that I have crossed the limits and I can sense the consequences of my behavior. But as the son of Rehan Musthafa I would cross any border to save him.
I walk through the madhrasa gate with overwhelming curiosity. Meeting Mus’ab is the target of the day.
“Assalamu alaikum Ahmedh” hearing Mus’ab’s voice at the compound itself bring me a happiness.
“wa alaikum salam. Mus’ab” I run while a huge smile covers my face.
“Is your knee okay now? You run Masha Allah” he smiles running his eyes though my knee. “Why did you boycott the school today?” I struggle to answer as my words hide in the deepest part of my soul.
“They wanted me to take some rest. So what happened at school today? Did you write for the essay competition?” I ask to change the topic.
“Yes we wrote and Abeer was selected for the zonal” Mus’ab say without any worries on his face.
“What? Abeer? But..”
“Why are you not happy Ahmedh, he is your friend right?”
“Yes, but what went wrong with you. I always expected you to be the first”
“I couldn’t perform well and Amar was absent” Mus’ab says with a sigh.
“But why?” I ask narrowing my eyes.
“I couldn’t concentrate due to the incidents of yesterday Ahmedh” Mus’ab’s answer creates me a pain.
“I’m sorry” I say with a deep sigh.
“But why?”
“It was because of me right? Anyway so did you go to the library?” I ask curiously making sure that no one is around.
“Yes I did” Mus’ab says calmly as his answer makes my curiosity to overflow. “Come to my room”
I follow Mus’ab passing through the passage that passes the office while I feel hard to spend each second. Why does Mus’ab take me to his room? Did he find anything interesting? The long building painted in light green extends as we pass it. I couldn’t keep myself from scanning it. “Ahmedh, wait a second, I’ll come soon”. I stand near the fifth door as Mus’ab disappears through it. The two floor building is partitioned into equal size similar rooms. Though I wish to peep through the door I wait out feeling odd to go in without the permission. “Ahmedh, let’s go to the madhrasa” Mus’ab who adjusts his cap says me as I follow him.
“Mus’ab were you able to find out the paper?” I ask being unable to wait anymore.
“Yes, I did” Mus’ab walks through the passage as my pulses quickens.
“Wh..what was there?” I ask nervously. Mus’ab walks to a corner of the building without answering my question. I follow him while each of my breath seems hard to be passed. I try not to show any changes in my expressions when Mus’ab grabs something from his bag. It’s a paper. I go numb as he turns the pages. “Ahmedh, here it is”. My fingers tremble as I hold the paper he gives me.
News Daily 2005 June 16 Tuesday
R. Musthafa confessed
R. Musthafa who was arrested by Flower Street police while transporting weapons illegally confessed yesterday. R. Musthafa who was produced to the Flower Street court yesterday said that he admits his crime and he helped the terrorists because of money. However his lawyer Mr.Affan Razik argued that he could have confessed due to some external or internal pressures and requested the court to postpone the case. Taking these points in to consideration, the Judge Mr.Peiris postponed the case for August 16 and he also ordered the police to produce the CCTV records of the company he worked and a medical report of R. Musthafa.
“August 16?’ I mutter slowly as my heart beats so fast. Why did papa confess? Was he forced to do so? Or else did he really… No, no way he must be innocent! As Ayrah’s papa told he must have confessed due to some pressures. But who pressured him?
“Ahmedh, read this one too” I grab the second paper trying my best to behave normal.
News Daily 2005 August 17 Monday
R. musthafa’s crime was proved
R. Musthafa, the young man who was arrested with a caravan van which conducted weapons at the Flower Street was proved with crime. Although he confessed during his last call to court on June 15th, the case was postponed ordering the police to submit the CCTV footage of SSS company (pvt) Ltd, where he worked and a medical report of the accused. The medical report of R. musthafa proved that he is keeping well by physically and mentally. Hence his confession was accepted by the court and the CCTV footage produced by the police proved that the van was driven by R. Musthafa. Considering the evidences the bail was refused for R. Musthafa and the case would be recalled on August 29th for the further investigations.
“Ahmedh, I’m sorry only two papers are allowed per day. But I referred the other paper as well” Mus’ab adds not giving me anytime to feel the pain of my heart.
“Wh..what did it say?” I ask sending my tears back.
“It was saying what we know already. He was given the capital punishment” Mus’ab’s answer squeezes my heart. “If you are sure that he is innocent then I think we must help your papa to prove this.”
“Yes I’m sure that he is innocent” I know my papa Mus’ab, he is innocent!
“If so why did he confess?” Mus’ab asks the question that my mind asks me at the moment.
“I don’t know, I think we must solve that first”
“Yes you are right, Ahmedh please don’t fold the paper on that way it is an amanat. I must return as it was lent” Mus’ab grabs the paper from my hands. “Why can’t we ask more details from your papa Ahmedh?” Mus’ab’s question creates me goose bumps.
“Urgg.. No, No That won’t be right” I say not putting my tension out.
“But why?” he would be the one who would know all the details or else we must meet R.Musthafa. But that won’t be easy at all”
“Yes you are right that is not easy at all” I mutter slowly remembering the past scene.
“What? have you tried before?” I take my eyes off soon as Mus’ab’s brown eyes meets mine.
“Yes, I tried it with Abeer’s help and it failed” I take a deep breath. I miss you Abeer. Sorry for hurting you!
“Is that what made a rift between you guys?”
“In a way” I try not to recall the past, it hurts.
“So the first option is the best, to consult your papa” Mus’ab says adjusting his spectacles.
“No, that won’t be right Mus’ab” I bite my lips with disappointment. That won’t be right at all Mus’ab. We must help him without his knowledge.
“But why Ahmedh? any problems?” I feel uneasy when Mus’ab’s eyes tries to scan my face.
“No, No, I mean if he knows this we are trying to help them, he would say no you know because he might think that this might spoil studies and might cause problems. So I want to do this without his knowledge. I mean kinda surprise. You see Mus’ab I can’t see my papa becoming a loser” I say with a sigh. Papa means which papa Ahmedh? Both the papas. I don’t want both of them to become losers.
“I don’t know but okay, now tell me what is the help you need from me Ahmedh?” Mus’ab asks adjusting his spectacles. “I’m so happy to have a friend like you who tries to help his father. How nice is it to have a family” Mus’ab’s words make me to feel guilty. I’m sorry Mus’ab, but if I tell you the truth, or else if you get to know the truth will you hate me?
“Even I can’t think of a plan right now Mus’ab. I must think”
“Okay, let’s talk about this in school tomorrow. It’s time for the madhrasa”? School?But will I be sent to school tomorrow? What if they change my school? You have done a great mistake by coming to the madhrasa without their permission Ahmedh, the result would be surely unfavorable for you! Whatever the situation, I would never agree to change my school or the madhrasa! But, it’s their money you try to waste Ahmedh, who are you for them to waste their money on you!
While thousands of pains invade me, I walk following Mus’ab wiping my tears secretly not knowing what tornado would hug me when I return home. But is it a must to return? Why can’t you just stay here? Yes, I know what must be done in order to convince them. I’m not going to return home today!