Possession by Laila Ali (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

Once again, there was dark all around. My arms were in the air trying to shield me. My legs were moving on their own accord. I don't know where was I going but at the same time, I knew what was my destination.

'Daniyal,' I called out once again but no answer other than my words resonating in the thick and silent atmosphere of the hallway. My footsteps clicked against the wooden floor.

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared in front of me. It was darker than the dark all around me. My eyes cried happily. I knew it was Daniyal. My legs began to move fast to get to him. But as much as I tried to get closer to him, he got more and more away from me.

'Daniyal stop.' I cried but he didn't listen and got lost away in the dark. I begin to sob. The only voice I could hear was my helpless sobbing other than that there was no voice. I didn't see that man's face but I knew it was Daniyal.

All of a sudden, someone gripped my waist and pushed my back towards his chest.

'You called me baby' he whispered in my ear.

I knew that voice!

I knew that voice!

It was Shoaib!

She woke up with a start. Her whole body was drenched in sweat. She placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath to calm herself down. Her mouth was dry and her throat parched. She took the glass of water from her site table and gulped the water down hungrily, wetting her dry throttle.

'Allahu Akbar'

The sound of the azaan struck against her ear. It was fajar's time. It's been years since she had prayed. She had no faith and belief in Allah. She used to have but not now. She used to pray but when her prayers didn't get any answer she stopped praying. She found no use in making dua anymore. She thought that whenever she would make a dua it will never be accepted. Her mind flashed back to the night before her nikkah. She also prayed then, not to let anyone throw them out of this haveli and her prayers were answered in a form that she resoluted in her mind she would never pray again.

This story of disbelief started when Shoaib used to harass her and she had no one to talk with. No one to share her feelings with. In those days Daniyal wasn't even her friend. She couldn't tell anything to her parents. She felt restrained as if someone had blocked her breaths. That was when she started to pray to keep Shoaib away from her but her prayers didn't get answered. It didn't matter how much she prayed at the end of the day he will find a way to get alone with Zahra and touch her inappropriately. She still prayed and prayed but he didn't stop. And at last, she stopped praying. Her belief in Allah dwindled and she didn't pray anymore after that.

The sky was still dark outside. A few minutes were left for the sun to rise. She was anxious about the dream but again she didn't ponder much on it and slept.