Chapter 136 : "How much do you truly know about Ibrahim, child?"

Ava approached Professor Syed's seat, noticing him deeply engaged in a phone call while occupying the aisle seat. As he caught sight of her, he stopped mid-sentence and offered a polite gesture toward the window seat beside him. His movement was a subtle tilt of the head and a slight wave of his hand. 

She offered a silent thank you before settling into the comfortable seat. Once Professor Syed ended his call, a moment of silence settled between them.

Finally Ava asked, "Professor, when can we expect to reach Langkawi?"

Professor Syed, his gaze momentarily shifting from the window, pondered for a moment before responding. "Well, this bus will arrive in Kuala Perlis around 2 pm," he explained. "From there, we'll take a ferry to Langkawi, followed by another bus ride. Considering these additional steps, I estimate we'll reach the resort by around 4:30 or 5 pm." 

Ava nodded in understanding, a murmur of "okay" escaping her lips.

Professor Syed's eyes now fixed on her, inquired with a seemingly genuine concern, "Everything alright, child? How's your married life?"

Ava offered a strained smile. "Good. Everything is good."

She attempted to immerse herself in her tablet to read. However, Professor Syed's next words shattered her fragile peace.

"May I ask you some questions if you don't mind just like I used to ask after lectures to know if all the students understand the topic of not?"

Ava nodded, "Yeah, Sure Sir."

"How much do you truly know about Ibrahim, child?" Prof. Syed asked. 

Ava's initial blank expression morphed into confusion. "What do you mean, sir?"

Professor Syed settled deeper into his plush seat, the sun glinting off his spectacles like malevolent eyes, "I merely asked a simple question, Ava. Do you know 'all' about Ibrahim? Or do you only know what he wants you to see?"

Ava swallowed hard, "I know him. Ofcourse I know about him... Do you know Ibrahim, Professor?"

Professor Syed remained silent, his gaze fixed on her with an unnerving intensity. He ignored her question, choosing instead to press further.

"Why don't you answer some of my other questions? Perhaps then, you'll gain a clearer understanding of how much you truly know about the man you married."

Prof. Syed continued, "What are Ibrahim's qualifications? What educational background does he possess?"

Ava found herself answering instinctively. "He has an MBA degree." 

It was a detail she had readily learned during her initial research about Ibrahim at the first. The question itself wasn't difficult.

But beneath the surface, a storm of questions brewed within her. Why was Professor Syed so interested in Ibrahim? What was he trying to imply? Was he subtly trying to convey something through his inquiries? She couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to his words than met the eye.

"Indeed," Prof. Syed remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That much information is readily available through a simple internet search. But tell me, Ava, beyond the public facade, do you know anything about Ibrahim's late father?"

"I... I don't know much," she admitted hesitantly. "I just know they were close, and his father passed away from a heart attack."

Professor Syed's smile widened, but it held no warmth or humor. It was a predatory grin, "And you believed him, Child? You simply accepted that explanation without a single doubt, umm? Ibrahim told you that his father died of a heart attack, and you simply accepted it?"

Ava's heart lurched. His words sent a jolt through her, shattering the comfortable illusion she had built for Ibrahim.

"Wait a minute, sir," she stammered, her voice trembling. "What... what are you talking about? Who would lie about something like their father's death?"

Ava's mind raced back to the diary she had read, the words etched in Ibrahim's own hand stating. "I saw it written in his diary. I think.... You have a huge misunderstanding." 

Professor Syed slowly nodded, "Perhaps. But perhaps it's you, Ava, who is under a grave misconception. Not me."

Ava's mind felt like a tangled mess, struggling to process the implications of his words. She stared at him blankly. If Professor Syed was implying that Ibrahim's father hadn't died of natural causes, then what did that mean?

The logical part of her brain refused to accept the possibility Prof. Syed was insinuating. It was simply inconceivable. She had witnessed Ibrahim's ruthlessness firsthand, the cold calculation in his eyes as he took three lives in front of her.

Noooo, it couldn't be. It simply couldn't be true... there had to be a limit. There had to be a line he wouldn't cross, a boundary he wouldn't breach. Taking one's own father's life? Ibrahim could not be capable of such an act. He couldn't be capable of such ruthless cruelty, not towards his own blood. It was unthinkable...

Lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts, Ava remained frozen in disbelief. Just then, Farah, noticing Fatima instead of Ava beside her, rushed towards them. 

"Ava, what are you doing here?" Farah exclaimed. Her gaze darted towards Professor Syed, her eyes burning with a silent accusation. Well aware of his nature, she wouldn't allow Prof. Syed to manipulate or exploit Ava anyhow. It was clear to her that Professor Syed had orchestrated the seat exchange to have conversation with Ava.

Professor Syed rose from his seat, "You can take this seat, Farah," he offered, gesturing towards his own. "I'll move to yours."

Farah, her eyes never leaving Professor Syed's retreating figure, reluctantly complied. As he moved away, Ibrahim's words echoed in her mind: "Look around you, Think, Observe." She shook her head, trying to dispel the unsettling feeling that had taken root within her.

Turning back to Ava, Farah inquired, "What happened? What was Professor Syed talking about?"

Ava, still reeling from the bombshell dropped by Professor Syed, could only manage a weak, "Nothing... just some random stuff. Why didn't Noor and Mahi join the trip?"

She tightly clutched her tablet, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness. Sharing the truth about Ibrahim, especially with the uncertainty clouding her mind, felt like walking on eggshells.

Farah replied, "Mahi wasn't feeling well, nausea and all. So Noor decided to stay back and take care of her."

...

The silence of the hospital corridor stretched into eternity. Aliya Rahman and Faisal. Faisal, and Aliya sat huddled together, their eyes fixed on the metal doors leading to the operating theatre. Inside, Ibrahim lay on the operating table, his life hanging in the balance. Over four agonizing hours had crawled by. Earlier, the doctor had told a grim reality. Ibrahim's condition was critical, his internal organs – the liver, spleen, and intestines – having sustained significant damage from the knife wound and the surgery was proving to be a complex. 

Aliya's tears silently streamed down her face. And Faisal offered her words of comfort. They were tensed a lot for Ibrahim. On the other hand, Samir paced the corridor restlessly, his face pale and drawn. 

Samir was was consumed by guilt. The weight of his actions pressed down on him like a leaden weight. The memory of the accidental stabbing played on repeat in his mind. His impulsive action, his inability to think clearly in the heat of the moment, had landed his brother on the operating table, fighting for his life.

Where Ibrahim was all sharp angles, Samir was a breeze, easygoing and seemingly unburdened. He went through the motions of mafia life, following Ibrahim's orders without a peep, but there was a lightness in his step. 

Despite being younger than Ibrahim, Samir had always struggled with making quick decisions. He always followed Ibrahim blindly without asking questions. Often, his impulsive choices would lead to unintended consequences, consequences that Ibrahim would always manage to resolve. This time, however, the tables had turned. 

 The irony of the situation was not lost on Samir. Ibrahim's life was now hanging by a thread.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the red light above the operating theatre door flickered and switched off, signaling the end of the surgery. A collective gasp escaped their lips as the metal door creaked open, revealing the surgical team.

Aliya, her voice trembling with urgency, was the first to speak. "Doctor, how is my son?"

The lead surgeon replied, "The operation was successful. We managed to repair the damage and control the bleeding. Thankfully, there were no major complications during the surgery. However, Mr. Ibrahim will require extensive post-operative care and close monitoring. His recovery will be a long and challenging process."

Samir managed to ask, "Can we see him?"

The doctor shook his head gently. "We need to shift Mr. Ibrahim to the recovery room first. It will take a few hours for him to regain consciousness. Once he's stable, we can allow one visitor at a time to see him, but no more than that at a time."

A collective sigh of relief escaped Samir and Aliya's lips.