The clouds overshadowed the moon and a drizzle sounded outside the window. It was almost a normal occurrence in the mountains. Aghan looked up from the documents and checked the time. It was close to 5 a.m. and was just the time for the morning prayer. He got up, tidied his documents, and headed to the bathroom to perform ablution.
The shadow guards outside the window were confused.
"Why was Master working on something so serious that he even missed the morning call for prayer? He never misses it" a young black guard asked.
" Who knows, maybe something came up in the clan. Focus on your duty, It's not our place to think." the burly guard answered.
If the guards had peered a little inside the study, they would see a thick file with the title named as:
' Backgrounds of Francis and Alicia Hans' Subtext 'The caretakers of Ms. Ayla Alvan in Los Angeles'.
Aghan's bedroom was linked to the study by a door. He entered his bedroom, his face, arms, and hair still wet from the ablution. He stood on the prayer mat and offered his morning prayers. After that, he sat with his legs folded on the prayer mat and raised his hands to his face :
' I don't know how to express my feelings, my God. I never have. But I know for sure that I am blessed. After all these years, You still gave me a chance to see her again and I will protect her with my own life. Among all the other things, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me. Ameen '
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Ayla felt she had been walking a long long tunnel, full of darkness and loneliness. She doesn't even know how long has she walked, she is tired but if she stops now she will be engulfed by this darkness. Suddenly she heard a faint voice of someone calling her. Somebody was sobbing and calling her name. A man. If it wasn't so quiet, she would've missed it. Before she could focus on it, she was jolted awake by the sound of the knock.
" Miss? Miss Ayla? Are you awake? a young maid called her out from outside the room.
Ayla woke up groggily and sat up in her bed. She wanted to remember her dream but this clueless maid was still knocking.
" No, I am sleeping. Don't disturb me. " said snapped back. The maid went quiet for a while and then meekly said:
" Okay. Call me if you need anything."
Why did the voice sound so aggrieved? Calling somebody asleep to ask if they're sleeping. Truly stupid. She felt helpless.
She stood up and went to the window. The morning glow of the sun on the mountains with the slight chill in the air from last night's rain felt refreshing. Her mood today can be considered good.
Since she can't escape from here directly, she might as well play along. Retreat to Advance. This is War.
She entered the bathroom and decided to treat herself regally. The bathroom was bigger than an average apartment back home. There was a separate steam shower and a separate Jacuzzi in front of the floor-to-ceiling window which is only visible from inside out. A whole array of cabinets were designed. Curiously she went and opened one of them. Every kind of feminine hygiene stuff there was in the market was present in them.
Bath bombs, Bath salts, Aromatic oils, and Sponges in one cupboard. Face masks, Moisturizers, AHA's, and BHA Sunscreens in others. A whole variety of shampoos, body washes, and Scented candles in the third like she is some ASMR blogger. She opened the fourth one to find the distinct satin towel sets and bathrobes with silk robes. Previously she was too depressed to open any of this, or even look at them but now she fully intends to enjoy this deluxe experience before leaving.
She put on a hair mask, and a face mask and soaked in the warm water the entire morning. Young girls her age loved to take care of themselves. She has all the time and resources then why not?
After a full hour of self-care, she stepped out of the tub refreshed and wore a silk robe. Coming into her bedroom, she had to find all her stuff. At the airport, she had two big suitcases and one handbag. She had no idea where they put her suitcases. She went inside her walk-in closet and started rummaging for her stuff.
Furad came in with breakfast after knocking for a while, assuming it would be as usual. The young miss would stay huddled in bed with her drapes closed. But when she entered, there was no one in her bed, but chaotic sounds were coming from the closet. She instantly felt alarmed, afraid that young miss might want to commit self-harm in order to escape. She ran inside the closet and the scene inside made her dumbfounded.