Her broken soul

Chapter 14: The Gym.

"The practice of love offers no place of safety. We risk loss, hurt, pain. We risk being acted upon by forces outside our control."

                      - Bell Hooks

Arsala's POV

This entire week has been the best, Masha Allah I'm okay now no more asthma attacks or nose bleeds. Now to how my day has been so far. Its like every normal boring day in my life. It just I'm at school on a Saturday evening to drop some stuffs at Maryam's.

The fruit basket I received from some classmate had cashew in them and I hate the fruit, I can't stand the smell. But Maryam being the weirdo she is loves them, so instead of throwing them away I decide she should have them. I have already dropped off at her place, I'm just heading to the campus store to do little shopping.

Once there I filled my basket with M&Ms, dairy milk, Maryland, Pringles, crackers, Nutella, Ahmad tea New Yorkers and famous Amos. With my already filled basket I walk over to the front desk to pay with my e-wallet. With everything packaged and handed over to me, I walk out of the store.

On my way here, I recalled I left my air pods on a table at maryam's. She stays in dorm volpi which is the closest dorm to the commencement hall. Making my way to the backdoor of the commencement hall which is a shortcut my attention suddenly gets redirected to the gym.

I have never actually been there, though I pay sport fee every semester. Sporty activities just isn't my thing, we are enemies at large. I wasn't thinking logically when I found myself walking towards the gym. A little quick look, wouldn't hurt anyone. The moment I walked in, the place is quite empty but I could hear some faint noises.

That's when I spot someone by the corner, delivering quick jabs to the punching bag suspending from the ceiling.

"That looks like Imran." I mumble to myself.

Staring at him more, those sweaty biceps had to be him. I drop the plastic bags by the corner and walk closer to him taking in his view. Who knew he was such a great boxer? That to he looks like he is already a pro at it.

"Hey." I poke him with a finger, he had headphones on, I'm certain he can't hear me.

"Not now William." He mumble out in a Swift motion of catching his breathe.

He thinks I'm William.

"Hey....its Arsala." I poke him more this time to get his attention.

He ignores me and continue jabbing the punching bag with more speed and strength.

"Hey!." I successfully removed his headphones from behind.

"f*****g stop it man!!!" He tackle me unto the floor. Hovering over me, he yell at me with him boxing gloves staring at me dead in the eyes.

"If you cause any damages to my face you are getting married to me." I move my face away from where his boxing gloves aim at.

"What..........how did you get here?" He ask, quickly getting off of me.

"Its a gym, it has a door." My voice lace sarcasm.

He literally just tackled me like I'm some taekwondo or kung fu opponent of his.

He stretch out his hand to help me up which I slap away.

"Suit your self." He ignores me and carry on jabbing the punching bag.

I stood up dusting away any dirt off my dress. "You.." I stop halfway when I notice a deep cut close to his brow.

Why does he like getting into fights?

Taking in his facial feature I have never seen him this angry before. He is taking out his anger on the punching bag, jabbing it non-stop.

"Why are you....."

"God!" He groan out before I could finish.

He grumpily took off his boxing gloves. "Why are you here?" This time his voice bears a serious tone.

"You're a jerk no doubt......"

"So why I'm an jerk?" He asks staring at me blankly.

"You almost broke my bones and cause my face some serious damages...."

"You said almost." He interrupts me.

"Well at least say sorry."

"No." He scoffs.

"I'm so mad I want to bash your head against a wall right now." I run my hand over my head wanting to pull it but its all covered.

I hate it when he gets like this but two angry people only worsen the situation.

"Imran!" I sigh deeply. "Why are you so upset? You look like you gonna kill someone."

"I don't want to talk about it Arsala, please don't insist." His voice bears a pleading tone.

He pick up his gym bag and gloves.

"Whenever you feel ready I'm here to listen." I force a smile at him.

Without uttering a word he exist the gym, for some reason I see myself in him.

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Haider forbids me from taking coffee but bad habits don't go away over night. Walking out of grab N go with a coffee in my hand and my phone on the other texting hafsat.

I need to meet up with my instructor and his office is on the 1st floor of the building. I took few steps up the stairs.

"Heyyy!" I heard a voice call out.

That sounds like Imran.

I quickly turn around only to bump into him, luckily there isn't any coffee spillage. The coffee is properly cover with a lid.

"Sorry."

All I could see is his lips moving but I'm not listening to anything he is saying. The only thing playing in my ears is the nasheed I love so much.

"Sorry what were you saying?" I took off my headphone.

"I said hi." He backs away from me.

"Oh hello." I awkwardly reply him, after the gym incident we haven't exchange words.

We both stood in silence staring at each other. The atmosphere is filled with unsaid words.

"I need to........"

"Can we talk?" He ask before I could finish.

"I need......."

"Please." He interrupts me.

This is my first time hearing him use that word. Its possible what he wants to say is really important but I need to see my instructor and I have a class in the next 30 minutes.

"Okay." I blunt out, betraying myself.

"Let's walk." He motions for me to walk down the stairs.

I walk down the stair, with him leading the way, we walk out of the art and science building through a backdoor.

"Under the shade there." He points at a big tree with bench and table under its shade.

"Okay." I nod and we carry on walking.

When we got there, we settle down on the bench. The spot has a really beautiful view for the school of law, school of engineering and the school of Business. The tree also shields away Yola scorching sun and provides a cool shade.

"The view here is so beautiful." I comment putting down my coffee on the table.

"You shouldn't be taking that." He points at my coffee cup.

"Its just one cup." Though I'm trying to justify my actions. I still feel a pang of guilt in my stomach because I promise Haider I'd stay away from coffee. Yet here I was breaking that promise.

"Why do you take coffee so much?" He asks.

I avert my eyes from him to stare at the view this spot offers. Sooner or later I was actually expecting him to ask this question.

"I don't sleep well at night so to avoid sleep sometimes I take coffee." Its not the entire truth but I told him a bit of the story.

"Insomnia........"

"Not particularly." I interrupt him before he asks anymore questions.

"What was it you wanted to talk about?" I ask taking a sip of my coffee.

"Umm.......how do I put this?" He nervously massage his neck.

"If you don't feel comfortable talking about it you don't have to right now. Like I said........."

"No...I just......"

"Imran...."

"I just really need to let you know what's on my mind. I feel like you're the only one who can understand me." He cuts me off, directly staring into my eyes.

"Okay...." I blunt out still trying to wrap my head as to why he is so restless.

"I got into a fight with my elder brother, he flew down here to tell me to come home because my dad has an important announcement to make. I really don't want to go back home I have been avoiding that for the past four years...I...."

"Imran, breath okay." Reaching for his hand, I realize I shouldn't do such. I quickly retract my hand.

"Maybe they really....."

"They just want to use me for their personal gain, I feel it in my bones." He cuts me off.

I'm seated here confused and unable to make sense of what he is saying.

"I'm really trying my best to make sense out of what you are saying. But its really hard especially when you keep beating around the bush."

He is silent for sometime probably thinking if he should elaborate more or not.

"I come from a family of four boys and one girl and I have the worst set of parent. All they do is send money, making it look like its supposed to fill the void of their absence. My dad is a complete cheat, he has cheated on my mom on numerous occasions. I still don't understand why she hasn't ask for a divorce yet, it makes no sense." He stop to catch his breathe.

"Maybe its because of the fame attached to her being his wife. Two of my elder brothers were set up into a arranged marriage despite my mom knowing they were in love with someone else. She does absolutely nothing to support any of us, she is supposed to our mom and want what's best for us but she just sits there and allow him to bargain deals with our life."

"Because I'm the rebellious one out of all my siblings they have done nothing but maybe my life miserable this past few years. Right now I have a feeling they are about to set me up for an arranged marriage. I have my life!" He groan out.

My brain is still trying to process everything he just said.

"That's one messed up family you have." I blunt out, quickly I use my hand to cover my mouth.

He sat staring at me, I just added more salt to his wound.

"Sorry, I....."

He chuckles out loud softly, something I haven't seen him do in a while.

"You're something else." His chuckles slowly fades away.

A little smile made its way up my face. Its really good to see him smile.

"I'm not going to tell you to be more rebellious towards your parent neither I'm in support of arranged marriages." I gently massage the right side of my cheeks. It still hurts.

"Because your mom doesn't support you doesn't mean she doesn't love you or your siblings. She is torn between her children and her husband. Maybe someday you'd understand the reasons for her actions."

"What then should I do?" He mumble out.

"Take one step at a time, first go home and find out what your dad has to say." I look at my wristwatch.

2 minutes left.

"You know you just took away all my stress right now and help me get off my chest." His breath taking smile made its to his face.

"Thank you so much cupcake."

"Stop calling me cupcake and you're not welcome." I quickly pick up my bag and coffee.

"Why?" He raise a brow at me. "And where are you going?.."

I'm already walking away before he complete his sentence.

"I'm having a class which I'm already late for." I look back to find a smile plastered across his face.

He should really keep smiling it suits him.

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