Chapter 15

The night fell out of stars when they walked in the small house Ally waiting for them. She seemed very week since Minha last saw her. Her eyes felt dark and out of life. Her tongue didn't seem enthusiastic and she was wrapped in Anne's lap. She was cuddling her in so she may stay at her comfortable place. Anne's eyes were teary. Her red hair combed down to her shoulder with a black hair band on her head. She was wearing a red and baby pink sweater above a blue jeans.

When she saw them come in, her silent sob turned its volume up. She wasn't bawling, she seemed shocked but her voice was low. She took Ally and walked to Taimur and hugged him, Ally in her other arm. Tears starting to sprawl though the walls of her cheek and her sob became silent again. Ally was seeing both of them and she was crying too.

It was the time. Salty water drops emerged form corners of her eyes watching the siblings broke. Even though there dad was owner of hundred factories like Willy Wonka's, his kids were still broke. Taimur held out for Ally and hugged her, kissed her and she saw him cry. Anne kept on holding his arm. She kept on murmuring 'I am sorry'.

She walked towards her and rubbed her back and shoulders, she didn't even took a glance at her and kept on silently sobbing. Anne's face was wet and she was deeply in pain.

"We need to get them insert an injection to her. It will help her-" he paused, and squeezed his socket from his fingers to control the salty tears from falling down, "to sleep without pain. Once and for all." He said. She was looking him in the eye but he couldn't. All he could see was Ally. She knew she was going to die.

"We wanted her to live with us more," he said still looking at her with his pale teary eyes. His mouth scrunched every other second and his voice would explain his heart. "But she in in pain. She keeps on licking and kicking her ass out. She keeps on crying." Ally licked his face. He smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "We can't be mean enough to let her suffer for our pleasure." He kissed the dog again. Anne wiped her tears, but they kept on falling down. "So we decided, to let her sleep finally." Taimur would have never thought sleep would ever be such a satisfying word. Minha couldn't see him crying and feeling helpless. Her heart poured out. She felt all the fire burn in her again. Her tears felt down more quickly. She could feel them bringing her skin. "It's going be to okay. It's better for her." She said, her voice quavering. "Let her go with the satisfaction of your heart that what you are doing is going to give her peace." She said, trying to soothe his emotions. Anne was sitting on the couch with Ally in her arms and her head above dog's head. As if they both were mother and daughter who were separated. Parent and a kid who were separated. More tears flamed inside her heart.

"You know what my religion says? It says, innocent ones always live in peace and luxury of life after death. Let her go, if you love her." She said trying not to bawl herself.

"You are brave, Minnie. And there is always something better in decisions of life for people who are brave." After a long time Zimal's voice whispered in her head. Tears finally raced down her face.

"You are Brave, Taimur. And there is always something better in decisions of life for people who are brave." She said mimicking the past. Taimur looked at her and she could see all she did in her own eyes 4 years back. Vulnerability, incompetence, bleakness, dread, loss, and obscurity. She could see herself reflect in his eyes feeling him. "Do what brave people do, Taimur?" She said. And he sniveled his nose, and nodded. Walked to Anne and hugged her and kissed her on her forehead. "Ally needs to rest, now." He said and Anne nodded. No bawling, no yelling, no war, no panicking. She was calm and she looked agreed. They picked up their stuff and crawled into the car.

Taimur drived to the vet institute and Sam set them in the room where Sam prepared the dog for the insertion. They waited for the doctor Morse and he came in. "You are all sure, right?" he asked one last time. Ally was on the table and Dr. Morse on the other side. Sam was on the door watching the episode. The siblings nodded.

Then the doctor brought the needle closer and slowly injected the syringe in the dog's skin. Minha biting her lower lip glanced at Taimur who looked spot now and was looking at the procedure with his same resentful eyes, as if he believed this was a dream he was going to wake up to. Minha wanted to shout to him carry his loved one until he can. Don't lose it like she did. She wanted to scream to him into to make the same mistake again, but how could she?

What was there?

All of them were losing to it their lives.

Losing the ones they love…

Being helpless.

After all, life was a game. Only for players. Man playing for its tools and losing it, over and over again.

Mistakes and mistakes. Like a cycle.

Tears screwed her eyeliner and she couldn't stop them from coming down. The helpless face of Maaz, burning down to ashes, her hands tied to the tree trunk and the flames screaming to her to help. Maaz looking at her with the look of pity. Zimal walking away. Everything curled up again. Her gut swallowed her heart. She felt crunches pushing her inside the ground. The roots stretching the loops tied to her legs. Her fierce self gave up in front of the needle which was about to prick the poor dog lying in front of her. Ready to sleep for eternity. The eyes of the strong heart of dog felt on her and she tried a smile. A feeling of bliss took birth in her heart and soothed her. She didn't wipe the tears but blinked thrice to clear her vision.

Anne had her one hand on her brother's shoulder and her eyes painful and silent, like they have ever been. Ally looked at the siblings and the tear dropped down her face. Taimur had his hands tied to the helplessness he was losing his love to.

Ally's eyes went black, she looked at her parents for the last time with a lots of sadness and goodbyes. The iris disappeared and the eyes rolled back. Doctor Morse pulled out his palm over her eyes and shut them.

They were not the players.

They were emotion carriers.

They cried over their defeat.

They were broken and weak.

They were brave, people who move on.

They were persistent, people who don't mourn.

Because the game they were playing for,

Beamed the victory they fell for.

Doctor Morse wrapped her in a cloth and Taimur picked her up in his arms. Following his lead Anne walked out. Her feat followed the footsteps when she saw Sam. He nodded as if he understood. She smiled, or tried to smile and then walked out. They took Ally out and to the small house's porch. Taimur dug a grave and then they buried her in. none of them was crying. They holded up their chins with spot look. As if this was something they already have been doing in the past. No one said a word. Anne walked in her room and locked it.

Taimur washed his hands and parked his muscles against the sofa against the cold floor. His eyes looking in some empty space. She sat beside him, close to him and rested her head against his shoulder. Both of them knew how someone needed a silent partner against their shoulder in times like these. Both of them knew how both of these things could heal. There was always more to moments like these than it seemed. Moments when you want to hide, moments when you to rewind back to the past and correct the mistake.

Both of them knew how leaving your loved ones with the faith on fate could steal all the jewels.

Both of them knew how even blood relations could be useless at times like these.

Both of them knew the night, when stars shine and moon keeps on peaking form the window, when Bavaria's breezes keep on playing with the curtains, there is nothing better than silence. Privacy with the heart but connection with the people your heart trusts.

And in the under the same sky, slumber seized Minha's mind.

When she woke up, she had a quilt over her. Her legs were crossed and her head against the sofa. The morning sun sparkled and smiled like it did every day. She stood up and folded the quilt. Walking outside in the porch, she saw him sitting next her grave. She couldn't walk near him. Instead she kept on standing there resting against the glass door she came from. He recognized her presence and shuffled his movement.

His hands in his jean's pockets, he looked better than yesterday.

"It was a gift from our mother. On my 8th birthday. Ally has been a family since then. Closer than our parents, kind than our relationships, more understanding than blood." He was saying, his eyes staring at the sky and hers staring his. "I was closer to my mom once. She was very strong. But then she moved on and we did too." He pursed his lips. He wasn't feeling secretive anymore. She could feel him playing the sequence of life in his mind. "My dad killed her." He said. No tear, no sadness. The same emotionless voice. "I hope life have better decisions for criminals. Like it had for innocents." He said. She felt him slapping her words back. Was he regretting leading Minha's advice? She waited him to continue. But he didn't.

"Innocent ones deserve best. But criminals deserve punishment in both the lives." She said. He twisted his neck and looked at her. In her eyes. Diving all in them. She looked away. "Sometimes it hard for life to say it, but we are what makes the fate." Her eyes were smiling, but her lips were pursed. "I know what you mean, and I agree. Let's get justice for innocents." He said looking at her. She pulled her hair back and her face flushed red. "Anyways, Anne has to go back. It's her new semester. She can't be absent for large number of days." He said, circling the ring of car keys. She nodded. "I am going to go back. School, you know." She said shoving her hand in her blonde hair. Taimur shook his head, "meet you tonight for the plan." And strode towards the front door. After he walked out, Anne followed him with her little bag. She wasn't there for a large number of days, of course.

Spending the school hours without Karina was the most terrific thing that could happen. Skipping her lunch break, she escaped the quadrangle and walked to the girl's rest room. Dialing Kay's number, she recalled their last meeting. How badly, Minha wanted to tell her all what was happening in her life, and how Kay busted into tears while telling her that her Gran passed away. She knew the passing away pain more than anyone. After five rings, she cancelled the call and typed a message to which Kay replied instantly.

Minha: Hey! How's everything? You okay?

Karina: Yeah, they are gone for burying her. Mom passed out last night.

Minha: I am so sorry, I feel bad for not being there.

Karina: Yeah, but I am not going to blame you. I bet your life is more miserable.

Minha: Kay, I am sorry. Can you at least pick up the call?

Minha felt guilty to forget how desperately one needs someone else at moments of blackouts. But how would she ever be able to tell Kya that she herself was at a funeral last night, nevertheless, someone she barely knew. Or someone she felt connection for in this small period of time. Her phone buzzed and she checked Kay's message.

Karina: I can't talk to you right now. Bye.

She sighed and walked to the sink. Opening the tap, she washed her face over and over again. Hiding the guilt in the water that was running down her eyes. When she cried, her eyes used to go red. Everything was ruining her life. Everything was turning her luck upside down. The investigation to the responsible head of Maaz and his friends' death was choking the life out Minha and she wanted to cry out loud. Screech the walls, scratch her head and tear apart her hair. She wanted to scream and let all the rubbish out. She wanted to cry tears of blood. But when does the world ever goes according to one's heart?