18.Aaryan

He was sleeping and there was nothing like peace in his sleep. Someone was calling his name in a deep, hollow voice that didn't sound to belong to a human. "Aaryan" he could have been dreaming, but he was well aware of the state he was in. Aaryan knew what was happening, it was that attack. He was not sleeping, but no matter what he did, he could not wake himself up. "Aaryan," it called again, and this time it was even more terrifying. Aaryan felt like his feet were floating in the air, as if something was lifting him so high.

Just like every other time he was unable to speak "Aaryan" he was scared to death now. He was still in that unknown state, but his brain was working. It had been happening to him for the past ten minutes. It was painful, the pressure, the force, was so strong that it was aching his body. Aaryan needed a way out. He had tried everything in his power, but he knew no matter what he did, it was all useless, so he thought of a way to end it. And then he tried to speak "Alla–" His mouth got ruthlessly hit by an attack, it got sealed, but Aaryan didn't stop. He tried again, harder this time, and with all the strength that was left in his body, he said, "Allah Hu Akbar," and suddenly, it all stopped and Aaryan broke out from it. His eyes fell open, heart was beating fast, breaths were so loud that they were echoing in the room.

He sat up on the bed and looked around in terror, and there was absolutely no one in his room. Even the door was locked. He was sure that it was not a human.

And he didn't know where the words came from "Astagferullah" but he just kept saying them, repeatedly as if they would save him from every danger

After a moment, he looked out of the window. It was evening, and the sun was setting. He had been sleeping for more than half of the day.

Aaryan stood up and he was still scared of whatever this mysterious thing was happening to him. It had been weeks and these attacks were still happening.

He needed to find a cure for it, and when Aaryan stood up and walked, he stumbled upon a cloth over the small table. This cloth always started over it, and he touched it a day a week, after two or three hours of lecture from his father. Even though his inner voice was screaming at him to go and pray, he ignored the prayer mat because now he was safe and there was nothing to be feared. What could hurt him in the daylight? He laughed while asking this question because the answer was absolutely nothing. So, he decided to leave the mat on the floor and went to the living room.

Stepping out of the room, he found Amara sitting on a chair with her scarf on her head. She was reciting something in a loud voice. It was the Holy Quran and she was reciting it with the translation. Soon, he heard her saying, "Whenever someone is touched by hardship, they cry out to Us, whether lying on their side, sitting, or standing. But when We relieve their hardship, they return to their old ways as if they had never cried to Us to remove any hardship! This is how the misdeeds of the transgressors have been made appealing to them." Aaryan's feet stopped, and his eyes widened as he stared at Amara. Amara had stopped the recitation, and after carefully closing the Holy Quran, she looked at her brother. "What happened?" Amara asked, silently. Aaryan flinched his eyes and jolted his head hard. "Nothing," he said, shaking his head to the sides. "Nothing," he repeated and then ran out of the house.

He was startled. It was all so strange and the question remained the same. How does a book revealed, fourteen hundred years ago know what was happening in this life? What was happening to him? Why was it happening to him?

Aaryan knew whatever this thing was, it was nothing normal.

He thought the remedy to this would be by distracting himself. Since he was going to meet Mary at Raheel's home, it would be a perfect distraction accompanied by something like gambling and a drink on top.

That was the right solution for him so he just ran to the house as fast as he could

"Slow down, Adrian, or you are going to fall," said the guard as he reached Raheel's place. "I am in a hurry," he replied, catching his breath. "Roger, did a girl come to the house today?" Aaryan asked the guard and he replied "Yes, someone came a few…" Aaryan could not hear him completing his words as he ran because Mary and Raheel were in the room alone and– he just stopped thinking

Aaryan finally reached the room, and he spotted himself with the sides of the door. "Bro," Said Raheel as he saw him drenched in sweat and gasping for oxygen. All the efforts were in vain. Raheel was sitting on the bed, and Mary was not spotted by him. "Hey, Ray" he said, hardly trying to breathe, "What's the deal with you, Adrian?" He asked, standing up. "Noth- nothing, I am well," but he never appeared like his words "Hey, Aaryan." Maybe now he was well. Mary came from the music room "Mary," Aaryan stood upright. "How are you doing, Diamond?" he asked sweetly and he was not tired at all now. "Amazing, what about you?"

"Amazing" His eyes got another level of soft. Mary was wearing a white dress and she looked like an angel. Extremely beautiful. "Ahmm, ahmm," someone cleared his throat, and it sounded like a third wheel in the room. "You guys are done staring at each other?" Upon hearing the words, Aaryan realized that Mary was glancing at him as well and neither of them rejected the accusation

"Okay, Bro, stop making me jealous. Let's just focus on why we got here," Raheel said, twitching his shoulders. "Oh, yeah, the practice" He regained his memory a minute ago, and then they all moved to the music room. "So, Mary, give us an audition," Raheel announced as he took one of the chairs, in front of the stage. "Me?" Mary said, moving a finger towards her. "Yup," Aaryan joined the teasing and sat on the other chair, and Mary took the challenge by a simple "Okay," She sounded confident. "What song do you want me to sing?" She asked, and Raheel screamed, "Your new song. I need help!" Aaryan just agreed, probably because he didn't even remember that song till now as he heard it once, when Raheel played it to him "Okay"

The music began to play, wrapping the entire room in the room like a sad blanket of broken feelings. "These walls all around me" he remembered the song very clearly now and the unknown ache it caused to his heart as well. At that time, Aaryan didn't know Mary, and now it hurt him way more than the last time. "They are making me go crazy. I want to break them and set me free, but every time I try, they fall upon me" Mary appeared not to be caring about anything as she glanced at him. Aaryan felt the tears in her eyes as if they were yelling the lines at him. "I would hate to say it, but I need help. I might not make it coz I've been in hell' and Mary was crying. Her blue eyes shined with the tears, and then she shredded pearls from them. "Stop," Aaryan said, and he was standing upright. "You passed," he said. Trying to give a high-five to Raheel, Aaryan stood in front of him. He was just giving Mary some time to wipe her tears. "She passed, right?" Aaryan asked Raheel, who was giving him a weird look. "Well," was all he said, "You are officially a member of ART." Aaryan spun and smiled widely while giving her a thumbs up. Mary smiled in reply "Well, that's an honor" She said bending her head a little. She was looking okay now

"Okay, Bro, let's see how this band is gonna turn out." Raheel stood up, and the two of them looked at him, waiting for the explanation. "Let's practice a song. Darlin' by The Beach Boys and if you don't know them then, Mary, they are–"

"Mary knows The Beach Boys too," said Aaryan because he had introduced them to her just last week. "Oh, that's what I thought. Of course Mary Christopher has to have the taste," Raheel said with a wink. "Well, I love them," said Mary, and it was surprising to Aaryan as well.

"Okay, then Arrange!"

They took the positions. Mary was in the center with Aaryan at the left and Raheel at the back, and they started "Ohh darlin'. My darlin' you're so fine. Ohhhh-hhh-hhh. Don't know if words can say. But darlin', I'll find a way. To let you know what you meant to me. Guess it was meant to be. I hold you in my heart. As life's most precious part. Oh, darlin'. I dream about you often my pretty darlin"

The three of them just got lost. They forgot everything about the pace or melody and started to shout the lyrics as loud as their voices could hold. They were all hopping on their feet, so happy and so crazy. Their laughter filled the entire room. The nights started to get calm with this building up friendship and they are all happy– at least that's what Aaryan thought.

He was trying his best to keep his mind in the moment, to stay with his friends but he couldn't feel the peace in music he used to have. His heart was feeling heavy as if it was burying deep from the guilt. Aaryan knew this thing was not what he should be thinking about, so he stayed in character because whatever this guilty feeling was, it would soon fade away.

When they finished, all of them just sat on the floor, still laughing, so tired of laughing. At least Mary was happy, at least she was smiling, and it was enough for Aaryan. After a while, Raheel stood up and walked towards the table at a corner of the music room. "You guys up for some poker?" he asked, pointing a finger at the two of them. Mary seemed to get attacked by his words "Do you guys do gambling?" She asked. It was an abrupt yes, but noticing her tune, Aaryan stayed silent. Maybe he was afraid of that question to be asked by her again. What if Mary repeated it? It made Aaryan feel uncomfortable last time and he could not deal with ot for another time"Yep, it's fun," Raheel said with no worries, and then Aaryan interrupted Mary's anticipated question "Actually, I am just not in the mood for it today, maybe we should do something else" His friend stared at him strangely "Okay," said Raheel in confusion "What about wine?" he asked, already moving to the table and this time it wasn't Mary or her question that made him stop but some words. So true, so powerful and so terrifying to him as they entered his head 'They ask you ˹O, Prophet˺ about alcohol and gambling. Say, "There is great evil in both, as well as some benefit for people—but the evil outweighs the benefit.'

"No," Aaryan denied instantly. "What the hell is wrong with you, Bro? Is Adrian Joseph turning alcohol down?" Raheel sounded as shocked as his words, "I- I am just not in the mood for it." He tried to sound bored just to make him believe in his words. Raheel was still puzzled, and before he could say something else, Aaryan spoke first. "It's quite late, we should leave now," he moved his finger to the wall clock, and it said one. "It's one?" Mary shouted, horrified, "Ye-yeah, why? What happened?" Aaryan asked. "I- should be going," Saying it, Mary ran to the door. Aaryan stood and for a second he was not sure why Mary looked terrified "We will be leaving, Ray" and he ran behind her