Part 107- Memories that Hurt….

As narrated by Maariah:

Me: what do you want Aadil?

Aadil: (laughing) you know Maariah I was ever so surprised to see you with your group…so I take it they don’t know anything?

Me: what’s it to you?

Aadil: two words….Aara and Nemo

Me: please Aadil just stay out of their lives please I’m begging you!

Aadil: I did…I went home, I reformed, how was I to know that Zainab was Nemo and Aara’s friend? My parents cut me off…because of your friends! I’m not done Maariah…oh no…this is just the beginning…I’m going to deal with Aara in the way she deserves and I’m going to torture Nemo by making him watch while I torture her!!!

Me: please no Aadil please..

But he had hung up. What do I do? What if it was an idle threat? What if it wasn’t? But the guys have a restraining order against him…shit shit shit…I picked up my phone….

“Hello”

Me: Immy I need to see you please!

——————————————————–
As narrated by Nemo:

I parked outside Aara’s flat and thought about the recent ‘incidents’ between her and Zoheb…

Today more than ever, I dreaded going upstairs…today for whatever reason it reminded me of two years ago…well the bits that I did remember that is…

**Flashback**

Arshad gave me this horrible medicine to drink…it was what 6 months since I was living with Aara.

Arshad: you’ve got to drink it all up bro

Me: its frikking horrible

Arshad: the shit needs to come out of your system…please we’re right here

Me: stop babying me!!

And I noticed Aara put her head down and walk away. She had gotten thinner, she was also much quieter…I didn’t even know that it was 6 months that I was living with her!! I remember nothing…

I literally swallowed the whole cup of this stinking medicine and shoved a piece of orange into my mouth.

Arshad: good…now let’s go wait in the bathroom

Me: why do we need to wait in the bathroom?

and before Arshad could answer that…I felt a rumbling in my tummy…it felt as though something was about to explode inside me and I ran to the bathroom…it was beyond nasty!! I thought that I was going to die!! Water came out of my eyes and nose…as I vommitted what seemed like everything in me…into the sink…Arshad stood a mile back!! I gripped onto the sides of the sink as this tornado inside me ripped through my entire body…shaking me violently. This is it! I’m definitely going to die!! I closed my eyes as the churning got worse…when I felt her hands on my back…

Aara: shhhh it’s okay….(And she rubbed my back gently)

My fingers had turned blue from gripping the sink so hard and Aara took my left hand in hers and I held on tightly

Aara: it’s going to be okay Nemo…just think of your happiest memory and focus on it

I couldn’t take it anymore and fell onto the floor…she sat down beside me, put my head on her lap and ran her fingers through my hair..

Aara: shhhhhh

As I shook violently, my body in spasms and soaking wet…I clutched onto her tightly and curled myself up like a baby…it was then that I noticed the hand that she had used to support me…blue…with my nailmarks all over it…

I don’t know how long we had sat there for…but it must have been hours as I drifted off into slumber…..all I could remember was seeing little Aara infront of me…pouting, smiling, bossing me around…pulling my cheeks…and I tried several times in my dream to reach out to her..to go back to when we were younger…to start again…but she smiled and went further and further away..

**End of Flashback**

I hesitatingly made my way upstairs where the smell of Aara’s food made my taste buds do the macarena!

As I was about to knock on the door…another memory froze me to the spot…

**Flashback**

Riza: if you don’t eat..then taking all these medicines is totally pointless

Me: I know what I need..

Aara: if you don’t like this…I’ll make you something else…what do you feel like eating?

Riza: stop it Aara!! He must eat what’s there, you aren’t his maid!

Me: I didn’t ask to come here you know!!

And I flung the plate of food onto the wall and stomped off to my room…

From my room I could here them whispering…

Riza: (comforting Aara) for how much longer are you going to do this to yourself A?

Aara: (she was crying) I feel as though I’m failing him and that I’m failing myself…

Riza: heyyy…listen…that’s not true at all

Aara: maybe my mother is right..maybe the only way to help him is to let go…

Later that night when Riza was fast asleep next to me..I woke up to find something to eat when I noticed Aara sitting on the floor in her lounge and reading Qur’aan silently.

I walked up to her and sat infront of her and when she raised her eyes to meet mines…her eyes were full of tears. We stared at each other for a few seconds and I wiped her tears…

Me: I’m sorry Aara…I promise that I’m going to try

She smiled at me as more tears poured out of her eyes and started reading her Qur’aan loud enough for me to hear as I sat quietly and tried to let the words touch the very bottom of my soul…

**End of Flashback**

I could still hear the sound of her voice…even then, it wasn’t the last…from the bits that I remembered…

She always told me to put the past behind me…don’t think about it just live! Then why was I thinking about it today…

Aara: (opening her front door) Naeem Moola! I thought as much that I had heard your car..why are you day dreaming??

I didn’t answer her as my mind wandered backwards when Aara shook me!

Aara: (shaking me) are you ok?

Me: hmm

And she looked at me as if she could read my mind…as if she knew what was eating at me…

She stepped forward and hugged me tightly

Aara: stop thinking about it Nemo…it’s long buried

I didn’t answer her as I hugged her back…wishing never to let go…wishing never to lose her…although a part of me knew that she was already slipping away….

——————————————————–Author’s Note:

I am beyond sick and miserable at the moment ( wasn’t going to post tonight-please can u forward the two bottles of nutella thank u very much ;-p)

I am loving the discussions that are coming up re: Nemo, the points that ppl are making and the angles from which u are seeing things. Keep it coming:)))

Nemo’s past won’t be resurfacing for the next few posts atleast as the group gears up for their next roadtrip.

I hope to post soon إن شاء الله !

Ps: Fast Track Adz has come up with two lovely ideas incorporating some of the characters from LLD. It will in no way interfere with the storyline though. Will post up info tomorrow(sorry R, I’m in bed and too lazy to reach for my laptop*hide*)

Much Love,

Shazia