reasons behind the facade

chapter 2

leaving the control room with Mr. Jamshed leading the way to my utter dismay, me and Maham passed through the corridor to the other side of the academy where our classrooms were to collect our things and head to the entrance to wait to be picked up by Maham's parents since mine were not currently available as mother would be busy with Haider and father was yet to return for he had gone out of station on some work issues with a case he was . but to get there, we had to pass the principal's office for there was only one way that led to the control room and to get there one had to be granted permission by Mr. Jamshed. as the corridor ended and we reached his office, Mr. Jamshed said what I had never expected; not in the least bit. "you know, Aqsa, only your father was the one who had access back there without my consent. no one else has the power to defy my orders and wishes. I wonder why that is? he had access to matters over which only I had command. do you have to say anything about it?" he turned his head in my direction and smiled but it was not in the least comforting. I don't know why but I have never exactly liked this man and right now he had a very conspiring and suspicious kind of a smile on his face. raising an eyebrow as if his scrutinizing gaze would make me reveal all the secrets that many have tried to unravel for some years now. I have been asked this question many times before and they all say that if my father is a real man he would come out and say what he truly is and what he actually does for a living. I had put these questions in front of my mother and she said that I should never even put an ear to what they all say for it is all lies that they have been spreading and nothing more but false accusations. all that mother said made sense to me and I did as she had said. when I stopped paying attention to it all they eventually lessened and then I hardly heard anyone inquire me of anything or whatever that my father did. they all had accused of father always being involved in illegal activities and even exceeded the limits when they somehow got hold of father's banking transactions claiming him a fraud. they said that him being a lawyer was just an act one would stage to get attention off of what he was actually was doing. the matter even went to court as the ones who forced their claims on my father's credibility were themselves quite known in the society but father was still declared innocent despite the rivals' attempts to shut him down. I could never believe father doing something illegal and unconstitutional him being a lawyer and a good one at that too. still, they said father used his connections and influence to get the clearance and that this was not going to stop them.

right now, when that no longer that friendly man who stood in front of us with his scrutinizing gaze accessing us both was putting me to such an edge that even if he uttered a single word more now than I would no longer be in control of myself. I don't know how much more accusations and inquiries intended to hurt and cause more disturbance than I can actually muster. he opened his mouth to say something but Maham beat him to it. "you are not making any sense at all, sir. we do not know what you are trying to convey and to be honest, we are not even interested in it the slightest bit so if you'll excuse us, we have other matters at hand that need our attention. and before you threaten us or anything, we are no longer students of your academy. we completed the courses we came here for a month ago and were coming for the much-needed paper works otherwise we are all good to go. so, thank you for your time today. hope to see you in future in less conflicted circumstances. good day to you, sir." finishing her not so thought over onslaught of words in direction of someone who we all had respected for some time now; it all seemed too much to take in. her words instead of pacifying me put more on edge for now she had given him the clear cut idea of placing obstacles in our way so that the remaining few tasks along with the reception of our degree would be handicapped. he would probably have done it without Maham mentioning it but now it was obvious he would stall and put obstacles in our way. moreover, if he knew how to than he could use all the information he had against us making it all the more difficult for us. oh, how much I hate that man now! "before you get any further ideas, you won't be able to use anything against us. you do not know how the mind of the works. one step in the wrong direction and the consequences that you face would be the result of your own doing and you won’t be able to escape out of the pit you'd willingly create for yourself. nothing escapes the eye of those who know how to look, Mr. Jamshed so be careful. as they say, 'look before you leap' sir,” putting emphasis on the sir, "we don't know what fate might have in store for you."

we turned around, leaving a very angry and fuming Mr. Jamshed but that was the least bit of our worries right now for what was coming would probably be the more complicated. Hijab will demand explanations because according to my inference, she might have already guessed why it all happened and it all happened because of him. the root of all this mess we are now in. and all in the name of that stupid meaningless revenge. how thoughtful on the part of that so-called family member of ours.