CHAPTER 23

"You can use these." he handed me a pair of binoculars.

I quickly hung the belt around my neck and raised the

binoculars. I was a big child at heart and as I was using an

actual pair of binoculars for the first time, I couldn't help but,

smile. But when I saw his intimidating eyes as soon as I raised

it and then his clenched jaw, I immediately lowered it and

looked down.

"Done goofing around?" came his rude question.

"Yes." I replied without thinking but, I regretted it the next

second.

I wasn't goofing around.

"Observe each and every face present in the crowd, carefully."

I nodded.

He snapped his fingers and I looked up.

"Do not mess up this time, Fatima." he warned.

I nodded vigorously.

"I need words."

"I won't disappoint you this time, sir." I smiled nervously.

"Good. Now come."

"Sir."

He stopped and looked at me.

I took to his handkerchief and extended it towards him. He

took it from me and walked out.

"Attention. Everyone." the Head Mistress's voice boomed

across the ground.

"Officer here would like to speak to you." she announced and

stepped back handing him the mic.

I saw him walking to the middle of the stage. He looked

strong, powerful and intimidating. I changed the focusing

arrangement of the binoculars. He checked the mic first and

then he started.

"I would want your utmost attention." his jaw was clenched

and he looked really angry.

"A month ago, something horrible happened..." he looked

around and looked at me. I would have dropped the

binoculars, if not for the belt.

"What are you doing, Fatima? Look around." I muttered to

myself and raised it again. He gestured me angrily to look

around. I nodded and looked around through the lens.

First, I spotted the girl who had interrupted me during my

singing. She was really funny and I wished to know more

about her.

My childish heart told me to wave at her. But I knew better

than to disobey his orders.

I scanned all of the lines slowly starting from the right. There

were 10 lines in total. I didn't see anyone that looked familiar

and now my hands had started to pain. Well, I was hungry,

sleepy and sick so I had zero energy and the binoculars

weighed a ton. I pulled it down and closed my eyes.

A little shorter than I am. Eyes sunken deep in their sockets

and dark circles underneath them. Even if I did not remember

any other facial feature, I would recognize her eyes. They were

imprinted in my mind. I lifted the binoculars once again and

scanned the rest of the crowd. I saw Hajera and all of my

friends. I scanned the whole ground twice but, I could not see

the pair of eyes that belonged to the killer. I gave up after

scanning for the fourth time. I looked at officer Badr Al-din.

He was busy addressing the ground. I waited for him to finish.

"We've been investigating the matter for over a month now

and we have reached to our conclusions..." he looked at me

and raised his eyebrow.

I shook my head. He eyebrows furrowed up together in

confusion. I shook my head again. He left the mic and walked

towards me. I froze in my spot.

What did I do now?

He was in front of me in a second then he reached forward

and grabbed my arm tightly.

Were all of my nightmares going to come true now?

"You fooled me around yet again, right? You've been bluffing

all along, right? You are the murderer, right? What in the

world are you doing, girl?" he hissed through clenched teeth.

I shook my head; tears began to form in my eyes at his

accusations.

"Answer me. Answer me or else I swear I'll lock you up in a

dungeon." he hissed again.

"I didn't do anything, sir. The culprit isn't present...." I was cut

off as he began to drag me inside the building. No one could

see the commotion except for the teachers due to the barrier.

The teachers followed us.

"I did not do anything, sir. Please, believe me. The culprit isn't

present in the assembly." I tried to defend myself.

"Officer. Officer." the teachers yelled behind us.

"What is it?" he yelled and stopped in his tracks.

"We need to talk. We received a call. We have news.

Important news." the HM came forward.

He looked at me and then left my hand with a jerk. I

immediately clutched it close to my chest.

"Get inside." he ordered and the HM and 2 teachers walked

inside.

I stood still trying hard not to cry.

"Get inside." he roared and I scurried inside his room.

"Her name was Aqsa Anzar." my teacher replied.

My mind was in a daze. Still not able to comprehend the

information.

Aqsa Anzar.

I knew her.

She was my friend.

Was.

I remembered all of it now. The girl who committed murder

was Aqsa Anzar. I looked at officer Badr Al-Din. He looked at

me questioningly. I nodded.

"She was the one. She... she committed the murder." I

stuttered.

I heard the teachers gasp.

"I witnessed the murder." I added.

"So, is this why she committed suicide?" he asked the HM.

"We have contacted her parents. We will pay them a visit." she

replied solemnly.

"Please provide me with their number." he took out his phone.

I wearily eyed the surroundings.

She committed suicide.

She committed suicide.

She committed suicide.

This was all that I could think of. I clenched my eyes shut as

flashbacks and waves of dizziness hit me hard. I clutched the

arms of my chair tightly.

"Ma'am, I..." I got up feeling really sick.

"Sit down. Hold her." I heard their voices as darkness clouded

my vision.

6 years ago

"You are just goofing around. I am not playing with you."

I stopped laughing as she threw her racket down.

"I was just joking..." I couldn't complete my sentence as she

walked away.

"Hey. I am sorry. I was just joking." I yelled as she

disappeared from my sight.

She was sitting on the stairs facing the campus when I

jumped from behind.

"BOOO" I yelled and she flinched. I cackled with laughter.

"Do you think that scared me?" she asked solemnly.

"So, what scares you?" I sat beside her.

"Blood."

I scoffed.

"Blood. It's just a liquid." I mocked her.

"When you see a lot of blood you'll know." she smiled.

"I see it every night." I shrugged.

She gasped.

"What? I told you, didn't I? I watch CID every night. It's the

best serial ever." I laughed.

"Yeah, is that how you learned how to break open a door?"

she laughed with me.

"Yeah. I'll show you." I got up and walked towards the

classroom that was usually empty. The door was closed.

"Watch me." I smiled at her as I kicked the door. Naturally it

opened up as it wasn't locked.

"See." I turned to look at her but, my face paled when I saw

my class teacher standing behind with her jaw clenched.

Aqsa cackled with silent laughter as I looked down awaiting

my punishment.

I opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. I was at the

infirmary.

I picked up the glass of water from the table. I remembered it

now. Maybe, not all of it. But what I remembered was enough

to scar me for life. And, what I had recently heard had

deepened the scars.

"How are you feeling?"

I nodded as he walked in with the doctor.

In reality I felt nauseous. I got up and rushed to the

washroom. Puking my guts out had worsened the situation.

"My knee." I pointed to my left knee which still hurt.

"There was a little swelling. It's nothing serious. You just have

to follow certain activities." she smiled at me.

"Have these pain meds." she handed me the tablet.

"She can't have them on an empty stomach." officer Badr-AlDin interrupted her.

"She has not eaten for a few hours now." he looked at me.

"Sayid."

"Ah. Jamal." he sighed as I saw two pairs of hands hand him a

tray from the door. He handed it to the doctor.

I wanted to smile as I saw the fresh steaming bowl of

appetizing Falafel and Hummus. I looked at him and bowed

my head slightly to express my gratitude. He nodded back and

left me alone.

As, I munched on it I closed my eyes in satisfaction.

She committed suicide.

She committed suicide.

She committed suicide.

I sighed as those words reverberated in my ears.

Did she really commit suicide? What made her do that? What

was so wrong in her life that made her take her own life? Did

committing suicide eliminate her problems or did it eliminate

the chances of her life getting better? Was she at peace now?

Was she happy or miserable in her afterlife too?