And voilà we are back for a new chapter,
No, Muguet is a good person. Don't curse Muguet. Muguet has always been a psycho writer but is quite clement with SaiRat and SaiNeil in both the stories. So can't Muguet once in a while show the psycho side too ? 😳
I was so inspired that it took me only a half day to write the chapter.
Otherwise I am usually a slow writer. I am too lazy to even open Microsoft Office.
I am also quite busy nowadays. So yeah it's a miracle.
A chaotic scene but total silence and then a sudden loud « Biiiiiiiip » in Saira's head. Slowly the silence took place with different noises. She heard the frightened horse gallop away while the people were running screaming in the same direction. Saira tried to get up to understand what was going on but her hand was hurting her. She was almost about to get trampled down but Neil came in time and turned her over to save her.
« Get up, Saira, get up. », he pulled her up.
They ran a long distance before taking refuge inside a restaurant. They hid behind the counter. It was still very chaotic outside.
« You ok ? », he asked.
« What was that ? », she asked.
« I guess an attack. », he replied.
They were interrupted by a huge sound of explosion.
Naira and Shelly were stressing out. Only half an hour left before the wedding and there was no news of Neil and Saira. They kept dialing their numbers but none of them was picking up the phone. Saira's parents were standing in a corner worried. Samir's father called to inform that they were on their way to the townhall and asked when will they reach.
Meanwhile some other people took refuge at the same restaurant. All of them were more or less injured. Saira clutched at Neil out of breath. Neil held her tightly to give her the strength she needed. He knew that he was so close to lose her with this vision of blood around them. She herself was injured. There was a huge scratch on her forearm and his shoulder was also aching.
Saira's parents reached the townhall and explained that their daughter was taken by her friends for a surprise. She must be on her way to the townhall. Only ten minutes were left and Samir and his entire family started to worry. Saira's parents prayed for their daughter to reache on time.
Seeing Saira's condition, Neil tried to keep themselves away as far as possible from the group. He listened to their conversation to understand the situation. He came to know that there were two explosions and a group of people attacking with cold weapons. He looked around wanting to find a way to escape safely.
« Please, be quiet. We don't need to let them know that we are here. Please, stay hidden. They shouldn't see us. », Neil pleaded with them.
Neil and Saira found a corner to hide. He pressed her against the wall and placed himself in front of her as a shield. He would have done anything to be so close to her but not in a situation like this. He could see the fear in her eyes. He himself was scared for their lives. He didn't want to die without saying bye to his family one last time nor without confessing his love to Saira. He wanted to tell Naira that she was the most precious friend he ever had. He didn't want to die without visiting India with his childhood friend, a promise they made when they were kids. Saira looked into his eyes and prayed to God to keep them safe. She can't lose him. Not now, not ever. Her parents also needed her. She was their only one child. How will they survive without her ? Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Saira's mother called Shelly to know if she got any news from Saira or Neil. Samir who was now seriously worried for his bride kept trying her number. Everyone just hoped she was fine. The mayor agreed to delay the wedding for half an hour only as there were three other weddings scheduled just after theirs.
Three hooded men entered the place where Neil and Saira were hiding and brutally stabbed four people. Before leaving one of them spotted Neil's back. He took an u-turn and attacked Neil from the back with a knife. The heavy fabric of the sherwani reduced the impact of the cut but he groaned in pain. The man then lifted his bat ready to hit his head. Saira turned Neil around and took his place. By the time he realized what she did it was already too late. The man was ready to hit again but Neil grabbed the bat.
« Hudsy, leave some people alive. We need them to talk about us. », one of them said with a smirk.
The hooded man snatched the bat from Neil's hand and ran away. Neil blinked his eyes with a relief. By God's mercy they weren't killed. Sai's tears didn't stop from rolling down her cheeks but she was numb.
« Why did you do this Saira ? He could have killed you. », he asked angrily.
« I have my reason. », she replied.
« What reason, Saira ? You could have died by trying to save me. », he placed his hand behind her neck.
He was so mad at her for risking her life for him. He didn't know that her reason to save him was that she was in love with him. When the hooded man attacked him, her childhood friend's face flashed before her eyes who died because of her. She didn't have the force to lose the man she loved. He felt that the hand he placed behind her neck touched something wet. He ckecked his hand and saw the blood. He pulled her against him to have a look on the injury and saw that her entire back was in blood. She couldn't feel her body anymore and was about to fall to the ground. He made her sit down leaned against the wall.
« Neil go and save your life. », she said.
« I am sure there is a back door. We will leave this place together. », he replied.
She couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. She knew that she was going to pass out in the next following seconds. She didn't want him to stay with her. What if they come back and kill him ? She didn't want to slow him down also while he is outside sprinting to a safer place.
« Please Neil go. », she begged him.
« No, Saira. Not without you. », he said angrily.
« Why not ? », she asked.
« I have my reason too. », he replied.
« I beg you, Neil. At least one of us will survive. », she said.
« Shut up ! », he couldn't control his tears.
He had the same reason as her. If only she knew that just like her he too couldn't imagine his life without her. He had already decided that they will either survive or die together. He felt like a piercing pain in the chest seeing her battle to stay conscious.
« Saira, stay wilth me. Saira keep your eyes open. Listen to me, you can't die before knowing what I feel about you. Do you hear me ? You have to stay with me... », he shook her to keep her awake. « Saira... please... SAIRAAAA. I LOVE YOU SAIRA. », he burst into tears.
He hugged her tightly and then kissed her. She looked at him one last time and then closed her eyes. The taste of her lips and their salted tears gave him the strength to get up and find the emergency exit. Once found, he opened the door and checked if it was safe to go out. He came back and lifted her up while his own back was hurting.
Someone rang the doorbell and Naira ran to the door expecting it to be her best friends but once she opened it she saw Yohann standing in front of her. She let him in and introduced him to Shelly. A smile appeared on his face after being introduced as her husband but the smile disappeared as soon as he saw her annoyed face. After she explained the situation he understood that she wasn't annoyed but worried.
« We have to find them. », Naira said.
« How ? Ile-de-France is quite big, they could be anywhere. Why would Neil take her out for a surprise just a couple of hours before the wedding ? », he was amazed.
« Don't. Just don't. », she said angrily. « If you are here to insult Neil then you may leave. The wedding is anyway canceled or postponed whatever. Saira is also not here so just leave. », she added.
« Calm down, I am not insulting him. », he said.
« Please shut up. I know you hate him God knows for what reason. You always believed he is bad for her. », she stated.
« True, I believe that but I have also seen the respect he has for her in his eyes. He can be bad for her but he will never deliberately hurt her. Taking her God knows where just before the wedding was stupid but she is safe with him. », he replied. « Ok, let's go. Let's check all the places where they usually hang out. », he dragged her outside.
Begging God not to send the terrorists on their way, Neil tried to walk carrying her as quickly as he could. He could hear the sirens of police cars and ambulances. He walked two streets down and found his car.
Naira and Yohann rounded the entire city but didn't find them. She called Nick to know if his brother told him anything about the surprise. When she told him about their disappearance, Nick was worried too. Did his brother end up telling Saira about his feelings and both ran away ? No, he would never do something like this. He loved her way too much to let her endure something like this. He then remembered that he mentioned about going to Paris while dropping him off to his place. Naira and Yohann facepalmed at the same time and burst out laughing before getting back to seriousness. Their friends were missing. It wasn't the right time to have fun.
Meanwhile Shelly opened the door to let Saira's parents and Samir's family enter the house. Saira's father apologized to Samir's parents. Be it his daughter willingly not showing up or something bad happening to her, in both the cases he was the unluckiest father. He coulnd't hope that she didn't runaway from her own wedding and he couldn't also wish that something happened to her. He was either going to lose his pride and reputation or his daughter.
The Imam, a very close friend of Saira's father, who was going to officiate Saira and Samir's wedding came rushing to the house. He recited the prayer for Saira's safety.
Samir sitting on the stairs looked into space. Nassiha sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. She knew that he was completely broken from inside but wasn't letting it come out.
« I told you, there was something going on between Neil and Saira. », she broke the silence.
« BI*CH SHUT THE F**K UP. », Naira shouted returning back home with Yohann at the right time. « My friends are missing. God knows what happened to them and you are bitching about them behind their backs. Samir tell her to shut up or else I will kill her. », she added furious.
« Girls please don't fight. », Samir requested.
« For now I will be quiet but I swear let them come back I will give it back to you for calling me a bi*ch. », Nassiha warned her.
« And I swear if something happens to them then I will make you lick your own shoes. » Naira said.
Yohann held her hand and took her away. He looked at her lovingly. This was the crazy and wild Naira he had fallen in love with. Only he and his God knew how much he missed her. He was brought out of his thoughts by the ringtone of his wife's phone.
« Nick ? Any news ? », she asked.
« Check the news. NOW. », he ordered.
She cut the call and ran to get the remote control to turn on the TV. On every channel there was only one breaking news : « Terror in Paris – Three attacks by a group of hooded men ». Everyone's focus shifted to the disturbing news. The Imam and the elders recited a prayer for everyone's safety and the dead souls. They were sure now that the day was cursed for everyone. The horrifying clips of the chaotic streets and « At least twenty deaths » added to the headline made Naira go numb. She broke down on the floor in tears. Everyone's eyes shifted to her. Yohann went on his knees to console and reassure her.
« I have a bad feeling Yohann. », she burst into tears.
« I know, I know... shhhhh... let's be positive. », he said cupping her face.
« Saira... Neil... no... no... Yohann... », she placed her hand near the heart almost having a panick attack.
« Naira breathe... », he said.
« We have to check all the hospitals. », she got up abruptly and ran outside.
Yohann ran behind her and stopped her from driving. He requested her to sit on the passenger seat. Just before he could start the car Shelly came outside and requested them to tell her what they were hiding.
« They are in Paris. », Naira said.
« What ? », Shellly asked worried.
« I have a bad feeling. You know that Saira's phone is fully charged. Remember ? She charged it while she was getting her hair done. She doesn't have the excuse that her phone is dead. Neil's brother is worried too or else why would he ask me to watch the news ? It just can't be a coincidence, right ? », Naira continued.
« Yeah quite weird. Let me come with you. », Shelly requested.
« No, please stay with the family. Don't tell them anything or else they will panick. Maybe we are worrying for no reason. Tell them that as a best friend Naira is just overreacting. », Yohann said.
« Ok, done. You keep me updated. », Shelly said.
Inside everyone looked worriedly at each other. They were definitely missing out on something which only Naira and Yohann knew. Shelly went back inside and as told she handled the situation with the families. Samir sensing that she was lying, confronted her alone but she refused to tell him anything. He informed everyone that he can't wait for Saira his arms crossed. He was going to look for her. Both the fathers called the guests one after another to inform them that the reception got canceled and they will inform them about the new date in the coming days.
In the middle of the highway, Naira was lost in her thoughts. If she and Saira were friends it's because they were quite similar. They both had a conservative family but they loved their freedom. They had to balance between the culture, religion and their own way to live their lives. Saira was a strong headed person but she knew her limits and never crossed them. Her parents didn't have to fear and hardly stopped her from flying like a free bird. She on the other hand hated the limits imposed by the culture and the family. She was only eighteen when her family wanted to marry her off to an Algerian guy like her. He was seven years older than her. They were engaged for three months before she came to know that he was a douchebag and wanted to marry her only for the French citizenship. She broke off the engagement but her parents blamed her for everything. A few years later they were looking for a groom while she was still broken by the torture she went through because of that guy. Then she met Yohann and he made her feel special. She married him to escape from the family. Of course they didn't want Yohann as their son-in-law because he was a French but had to accept it later on. As an extrovert she was always surrounded by people but there was always this loneliness inside her. She herself didn't know when and how she let Neil and Saira become so important in her life. Every time she needed someone she always turned to them instead of her own family. Then there was also Yohann but she wasn't sure about him anymore. Today when she heard the breaking news she felt like her whole world turned upside down. Just the idea of losing them made her feel so empty inside. She begged God to keep them alive and safe. She needed them or else she would be alive but not living anymore.
Muahahaaa this chapter actually turned out so dark and emotional.
It was quite sad because of SaiNeil, Samir and also Naira. She has no one close other than her two best friends and her husband.
BTW I don't know why but I myself got emotional while writing that part where Saira and Neil remembered their families and friends so I really hope it touched you too. Also the friend Saira was remembering was the one who died in the car accident in case you don't remember it.
Every country suffers from terrorist attacks. Either by the name of religions or because of some crazy people. Sometimes when you watch in the news that your career field people are killed you feel like it could have been you. Sometimes you are at work and you can't leave your office because there is a psycho roaming outside with a knife so for your safety you are asked to stay in. Or when you are taking the train and suddenly you hear the gunshots... the world is filled with crazy people. All these things mentioned are my own experiences so I am thankful to God that I had my share of fears but I wasn't in the middle of it. I am sure a few in this forum have experienced it too. So I don't know if I could justify it but I tried my best to portray the emotions.
Ok, enough of my blablablah... I wish you a very happy new year.
I don't know about India but in France the year has started really badly. The pandemic is not ending and it's making everyone's life so miserable.
So happy new year and let's hope some miracles happen in everyone's life.
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
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