Chapter 5. Interrogation

"Oy! Shit! Did you hear everything?" The girl asked her, worriedly and she knew who she was.

Alizeh.

Roshanay smiled sheepishly, "I'm sorry,"

"Umm...its ok. But please can you do me a favour?" Alizeh asked.

"Yes sure,"

"Don't tell it to him." Alizeh told, worry laced her voice

"Him?" Roshanay aksed, eyes filled with confusion.

"My brother Moosa,"

Her lips formed an O shape. Nevertheless, she already wasn't going to tell this to him.

"I won't tell him. Don't worry. Its a secret with me," she said moving into the kitchen. "But can I ask you something?"

"First promise me again, you wont tell him anything," Alizeh genuinely sounded scared.

"No I promise. But why are you so afraid of your brother?"

"You would be too if you saw his anger,"

She felt like her heart suddenly stopped. One thing, all over the years she's been through so much pain that now she was literally scared of men. And here his anger being mentioned made her heart drop, apart from that what she judged from his appearance, the man was just too sharp and dominating. He didn't become a famous businessman just for nothing.

"What do you mean? And please can you give me some water,"

"Yeah sure," she said and moved to the fridge got a bottle of water out, pouring it in a glass handing it to her which she gulped down immediately.

"You were here for water?"

"Yes,"

"And I was for chocolate ice cream. Come lets eat together," Alizeh spoke with a smile.

Roshanay smiled at her, she found her friendly and jolly.

Alizeh brought the tub of ice cream out of freezer and sat down on the floor, the kitchen island in the middle of kitchen hiding them. Someone standing at the door wont be able to see them.

"Come you sit down too, I've brought a spoon for you as well," she told and tugged her arm, pushing her down and she sat beside her on the floor.  As now, they both began to dive into the ice cream.

"Umm.... its so tasty," Alizeh moaned with delight.

"Come on you start eating," she remarked and Roshanay took a bite.

"Thanks. But what did you mean by that?"

"By what?" Alizeh asked taking another bite.

"That I'd not want to see his anger,"

"Literally! You would not want to. Look," she took another bite and continued, "my brother is like that. He is very nice, fulfils my every demand, I just have to say and he would make it happen. He is like a father figure to me," she stated, pausing just to take a bite.

"Oh that's nice," Roshanay replied. Right now they seemed two crazy persons, sitting on the floor at the middle of night and conversating.

"Its nice but he has drawn boundaries. If like even I think of stepping out of the boundaries, you can't imagine what he would do. He is always calm, never expresses anger even though if he is raged but once you provoke him. My lady, you're done. Even he is still lenient with me and momma, I really pity his subordinates," She explained. Alizeh really seemed like a cool and friendly plus an extrovert.

But the information, she gave her about him, God knew why was making dread pool in her stomach.

"How did you end up with my brother?" Alizeh asked and now it was her turn to speak as she told her everything from A to Z but skipping the part that she belonged to a brothel.

"Oh that's interesting. You're brave my girl. You should've punched in his face too,"

They both laughed when Alizeh suddenly shut her lips asking her to keep quiet.

"What happened?"

"Someone would hear us and report me to my brother, you see he grounded me,"

"Haw why?"

"I came home late last night. Though he told me to be back before 11 I came back at 2 and I dodged the guards too. So he's pretty much mad and has me grounded but I was having this extreme craving to have some ice cream,"

"Was it for that boy you came late?"

"Yeah, I'm dating him. I love him. And Moosa bhai should not know,"

When she saw question sparkling in Roshanay's eyes, she spoke up, again.

"He would kill me for sure. He hasnt allowed to have a boyfriend but I like this boy too much. Dont tell anything to him,"

"Kill him?" Her eyes immediately got rounded with astonishment. 

What did she mean by that? She thought.

Alizeh stopped for a beat, her eyes getting widened as if she realized what she spoke. Within seconds, she maintained her composure and brought up a poker face. Nobody was supposed to know that her brother was a mafia.

"Saying it just like that. Kill him as in would 'deal' with him," Alizeh covered up.

"Oh. Okay." Her lips formed an O in understanding after getting what she meant. 

"Like I was saying, he doesn't want me to be involved in any kind of boy. He just wants me to save from the vultures out there," she continued, trying to change the topic and divert her mind away.

"It shows he cares about you,"

"Yes he is, very caring and possessive about his family. He doesn't trust the world that's why he keeps me sheltered from this world. Me and mama," she voiced out. "He says, not to trust anyone that's also the reason he has not allowed me to keep a boyfriend. Even he has never verbally told me not to have a boyfriend, his personality and restrictions are enough for me to know that what my boundaries are,"

"I'd just say, be careful. It won't be good for you if he came to know about this,"

"That's what I've been doing so far."

"Does your mom know?"

"No,"

"So when you'd tell about that boy to your brother and mom?"

"I don't think so anytime soon. It would require a whole lot of courage to reveal this to Moosa bhai. I fear I'd have to face his deadly anger and I don't think I'd ever be ready for that. I need courage and will power to do that,"

"Best of luck, Alizeh," She rubbed her shoulder.

"Thanks. And pleaase don't tell about this to him. Anyone but him,"

"Don't worry, trust me. I won't,"

"Thanks. Let's go before someone sees me. I dont want my stay to be prolonged in my room. If he saw me snucked out, I'd not be seeing sun for quite a few weeks,"

"Hahaha you're kidding?"

"I love joking but am not joking here. Now lets go, am scared." She told and was about to get up when they felt someone coming to the kitchen.

Alizeh's eyes rounded with fear when she realized who it was.

"Shit! Its him! He's coming to kitchen. I'm done," she spoke, "its his walk." she whispered, and placed the tub and both the spoons on the counter and began crawling to the other side of kitchen island.

Her heart jumped to her throat when lights suddenly turned on and it was then they knew he is here.

He moved towards the kitchen counter from the right side of the island and they hid behind the left side so they can't see them. Roshnay almost laughed, the situation was so funny.

He got the water bottle out and turned around, leaving the kitchen before turning the lights off and they sighed with relief. Soon they felt the footsteps fading away and they stood up.

"Look, run before someone comes again," Alizeh said and they hurriedly began to ran towards the stairs. As soon as they turned left, they stopped finding him standingg their, looking at them expectantly.

He raised his brows up, already demanding an explanation.

"I thought I told you not to leave your room," his voice was so serious that the giddiness Roshanay felt a while ago was replaced by uneasiness. She now understood what Alizeh meant.

"I'm sorry,"

"Do you want me to keep you in the basement?"

Roshanay's heart shuddered, he was sounding so serious. 

He didn't like defiance, it was one thing she gauged out, whether the command is short or long, he didn't like being disobeyed.

"I'm sorry," Alizeh said again, looking down, holding Roshanay's hand, trying to stop her quivering.

"Look up, at me, I'm standing here,"

And she moved her eyes up which were welled with fear.

"Where did you go last night?" He asked, "why did you dodge the guards Alizeh?" He asked.

Now it was Roshanay who was clutching her hand tightly, to stop the vigorous tremble of Alizeh's hand. She hoped, he won't know where Alizeh was last night.

"I'm sorry,"

"Are you hiding something?" He asked again. Alizeh felt like if he interrogated more, she would lose a hold on herself and her secret would be out.

"I'm sorry," her voice had gotten tremulous now. 

He sighed. There was no use pressing her much but her passing out of fear. He knew how much his interrogation troubled his sister though he still didn't use that strict tone with her.

"Go to your room and don't show yourself out until I say so. Do you understand me?" His tone clipped.

He was very angry at her. Dodging the guards wasn't a thing to joke about and he wanted to engrave this in his sister's mind.

She only gave a nod at his response.

"Do you understand me?" he asked again, wanting a verbal response.

"Yes brother," 

"Good. Now go straight to your room," he ordered and she hurriedly run past him leaving just him and Roshanay behind her, whose mouth was partly opened, after knowing how strict this man was.

As soon as he looked towards her, she averted her gaze away. still feeling his eyes burning holes. She wanted him to go away but what she was waiting for? She was about to move past him and go upstairs when she heard his voice.

"Stop," he suddenly said and she stopped dead in her tracks, turning around. 

"Me?"

"Yes, follow me. I want to talk to you," he told and walked to his study while she followed behind, feeling nervous already. She was feeling queasy and after what Alizeh told about him, she found him utterly dominating.

"Sit," he commanded, pointing towards a sofa in his large study which also had a large shelve full of books.

She sat on the sofa he pointed at whilst he closed the door.

He moved towards his desk, placing his phone on the table as he sat on one of the two office chairs infront his mahogany table and swiveled the chair to his left, where the sofa was, facing her.

"Are you good now?" His tone wasn't cold as it was just a few seconds ago neither it was warm and welcoming.

"Yes, thanks," she mumbled. 

"I would just ask you some questions and I want you to answer them truthfully. Okay?"

And she nodded her head. 

It'd be over soon. She told herself in her mind.

"So let's start...."

"Roshanay," she told.

"Yes, Roshanay. Why were those men running after you?"

"I lived in a village nearby. There were rumors around that the terrorists group had gotten activated again. They weren't rumors though. It was a confirmed news. And they were using their prior techniques, raiding different houses and collecting girls to sell them so they could get money. I thought I'd be safe until one day they came to my home. I hid myself so they couldn't stop while....they took rest of my....family members," she told, deliberately cutting the part that she belonged to a brothel.

"Which included?"

"My mom, my uncle and uncle's family," she told, her eyes moving away and he slightly frowned.

"And your father?"

"He is no more," she replied.

"How did you reach in the middle of a forest?"

"I was about to cross the gates of the village when those four men began to run after me. It was revealed that they were also one of them and said that they wanted to sell me too but I ran away and I don't know when I fainted,"

"Hmn," he nodded, his eyes getting narrowed as he looked nothing at particular, in deep thoughts. He was well aware what was happening and how did those men recognize him.

"Four?" He questioned, because as far as he remember, they were total of three men.

"Yes,"

"So your uncle provided for you and your mother?" he asked after a short while.

"Yes,"

"What's his occupation?"

"He was some businessman or something. I wasn't quite interested in his affairs,"

"His name?"

He was interrogating too much.

"Sufyan Waleed,"

"I've heard this name before," he said more to himself and she felt her heartbeat speeding up.

What if he came to know he also held a brothel where she was employed as a prostitute. This thought just made her paralysed with anxiety and she tightly curled her toes. She just somehow wanted to change the topic before he could reach the point in his memory as to know who his uncle was.

"What were you....you doing in the middle of a forest?" She asked.

"Nothing special. Thanks for your time. Within a few days, one of my men would come and take you to any of my NGO's. You can stay there and my men would help you to get a job too,"

"Oh okay. Thanks."

"Until then you can stay here. But there's something I want you to know," 

"Yes?" 

"The basement, its a prohibited area. You can't roam around wherever you want but don't go down there. Got it?"

"Okay," she replied immediately, wanting just to go away from his presence. He had those danger vibes.

"Good. Thanks for your time. Now you can go to your room," he stated, dismissively.

She gave a nod, standing up and moved towards the door. Her frargrance cursorily reaching his olfactory bulbs for a millisecond when she walked passed him and he suddenly felt nostalgic. He felt like he had had a whiff of this fragrance before. 

It had a sense of familarity.

"Wait," he said. His voice halting her and she turned around, looking at him expectantly.

That look on her face reminded him of a certain someone.

Standing up, he walked to the front of his desk and retrieved a bag which she recognzied immediately. He forwarded it to her and she walked to him, taking the bag, her fingers slightly brushing against his.

He didn't know why, he liked the touch.

"Your bag," he muttered and she just gave him a smile.

"Thank you," she replied to him before turning around and leaving the study. Her voice soft like shallow music, reaching the pit of his ears, registering her tone there.

He suddenly felt nostalgic. Her voice. echoed again and again in his ears

It had a sense of familarity.

.......

A few days passed just like that and she didn't cross his path much. She was just waiting for that man, as he told him to come and take her to his NGO. She would happily spend the rest of her life there.

While she and Alizeh became great friends. Most of her time was spent in Alizeh's room as she was still grounded so she gave her company. 

Alizeh didn't dare ask her brother when her punishment would be over, after the scolding he gave her last time. She was more than fine by having Roshanay in her company.

One thing which Roshanay noticed was Alizeh's mother. She didn't know why but she thought his mother didn't quite like her. She'd have that contemptous look on her face. Apart from that, she felt there was something weird about this mansion. One day, she literally heard screams coming from basement and she thought she was hallucinating. When she confronted Alizeh, she somehow dismissed the topic. She felt like Alizeh was hiding something. And the other day, she heard some gunshots, when she told about this to Alizeh she again dismissed the topic saying it must be someone from around, firing shots in air.

She frowned because she clearly didn't buy what Alizeh said. Yet, she had to believe what was being told her.

That night, she couldn't sleep  there was this one thing, which had been bothering her for days, she had the feeling that she had seen Moosa somewhere before too, Him or someone like him.

A deadly thought almost froze her.

What if he was one of my customer?

It was enough to make her breathless within seconds. It meant, he might know her reality. She sat up from the bed and began to pace around the room. She was still staying in the guest room which he had given her.

As more and more negative thoughts began to eat her, she felt the walls of room getting close in on her. Her claustrophbia clicking in.

That much she was afraid of revealing her true identity to anyone. It was like a black spot on her. Rather she felt like a black spot itself.

She left her room immediately and began to walk where her feet took her too. She was now standing in the middle of lounge when suddenly she felt screams coming from somewhere.

The screams.

It seemed like someone was in immense pain. 

And the sound was similar. She felt like she had listened to these screams before too.

She began to follow those screams. Now, it was becoming like a mystery to her, she was sure she heard the sounds of screams and gunshots.

Shivering, she kept on walking down the endless corridor, the grunts of the man were turning almost quiet, resonating from end of the hall. Every instinct inside her was telling her to turn around and sprint far away from the hidden truth.

But, what was a cat without curiosity?

Halting infront of the dark door, she slowly creaked it open and swallowed a gasp, seeing cemented stairs going down to basement. The hidden creepy basement in middle of lavish mansion have her dread, danger bells ringing in her ear. For once, she decided to listen to her instincts. Without thinking much, she turned around to rush to her safe space but her feet paused, on hearing deadly deep yet familiar voice from down.

Moosa.

His thoughts weren't giving her positive vibes. She had already guessed there was something shady about him. And now, his voice mixing with painful grunts of man, were giving her nothing but shivers of horror. Gulping, she stepped down a stair, then another and another until she was past the last stair and was now standing in dark cellar type place, infront of it, a wooden door, from where the hisses of man seemed endless.

Swallowing a lump, Roshanay looked through the small hole of the door, and what she saw arose series of goosebumps all over her skin.

Her heart froze with dread.