Chaos in the Canvas √

15 | truths

"I know, I know, but seriously, how do you know them?" Ali asked again and Ibrahim only worked with a small smile this time.

"I just happen to know Humna, by chance." Ibrahim paused before he constructed words in his mind for the next introduction, "And Hemayal is a relative."

Nobody in his friend's circle knew of his marriage and he wished to tell no one either - the announcement of a marriage he felt little chances of succeeding in the future was senseless and stupid; and he happened to be neither.

"Well, thank you for such an elaborate answer." Ali glared at his friend who only laughed an unashamed laughter.

"You are welcome." Ibrahim replied before calling the waiter and placing an order for a fresh tea - the old one was cold now.

"I mean, I did wonder for a second how you even knew them. I mean none of them live in the city permanently." Ali said and Ibrahim stopped for a second before shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, I have not lived much in the city either." Ibrahim replied before a thought struck him, confusing him momentarily, "I thought Humna resided permanently in the city?"

"I don't know, but she has not been in the city for almost a week now so I thought she does not stay here permanently." Ali shrugged his shoulders this time, not knowing the havoc that erupted inside Ibrahim with his words, his nerve ending setting on fire as he stared at his friend with wide eyes.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ibrahim asked, bewildered to his very core.

"What?" Ali asked, astonished at the degree of bewilderment and confusion Ibrahim's voice held - for the second time during the entire conversation.

Ibrahim silenced for a complete moment of shock and vulnerability - what the hell was happening?

"What did you just say?" Ibrahim asked, eyes wide and heart in throat.

"That how you know the women?" Ali asked, brows creasing up in absolute confusion.

"No." Ibrahim paused, a desperate one that intensified the weight on his heart, "After that."

"That Humna has not been in the city for a week?" Ali asked and Ibrahim's insides clenched - again.

"How do you know that?" Ibrahim asked, voice terrified as he released the words stuck in his throat with difficulty.

"I looked into it, Abi." Ali said, still the same level of confused as a moment ago.

"Are you sure?" He asked, this time a little hopeful, considering the fact that all of this might just be a huge misunderstanding.

Ibrahim knew the information was false - it had to be false. No other way could anything make sense; no other way would he be able to justify his actions and make sense out of them; no other way would he be able to function steadily.

"Yes, I'm sure." Ali paused before he began to explain, "You asked for the information on Saturday and when I began the research on Sunday, I found out that she had left the city. I have been keeping tabs on her ever since but she hadn't returned yet."

Ali explained and Ibrahim felt his world tilt, quake and shatter - with a sound that blew him to pieces; with intensity that tore through him and with pain that broke his heart into two. Nothing made sense anymore; no amount of sanity helped him understand the blows he kept on facing. Every single inch of him physically felt wounded and bewildered; every single thread of his heart ached.

"This is not possible, Ali. This is just not possible." Ibrahim asked, knowing that denial was his only support at the moment, his only anchor to lean on.