Chapter 137 : Searching for the truth.

The aroma of disinfectant filled the air of the recovery room. The private recovery room was sterile and brightly lit, with large windows overlooking a garden. The walls were painted a calming shade of blue, and the furniture was modern and comfortable. The bed was equipped with a heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, and oxygen saturation monitor.

Ibrahim had regained consciousness about half an hour ago, his body still weak and sore from the extensive surgery. His head throbbed with a dull ache. An IV drip hummed steadily in his arm, its clear fluid filling his depleted fluids. A thick bandage swathed his temple. But the most prominent bandages were wrapped around his stomach, the site of the critical surgery. White gauze, stained with the faintest hint of red, covered the area. Another bandage was there in his left arm.

Aliya had already come and gone after the visit, leaving behind a lingering scent of jasmine and a kiss on his forehead. Now, Samir sat beside him on a stool, "How are you feeling, brother?"

Ibrahim, his eyes heavy but a sardonic smile playing on his lips, replied, "It's like God wants to dump everyone's sins on me."

Samir reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "Don't worry, you'll be back on your feet in no time. Just rest and focus on getting better. Why did you have to get involved, Ibrahim? I just wanted to harm Elara slightly, so that he would come in his senses."

Ibrahim's eyes narrowed slightly. "I promised Ava I wouldn't lay a finger on Elara. Don't dwell on it, Samir. Get my phone. How's Ava?"

Samir hesitated. "She called earlier. I couldn't pick up. She doesn't know anything yet about you." 

He retrieved Ibrahim's phone from the bedside table, placing it gently in his hand.

"Earphones?" Ibrahim asked, yearning for the sound of Ava's voice.

Samir carefully placed the earbuds in his ears, connecting them to the phone. Using the secret software he had installed on Ava's phone, Ibrahim listened intently. He noticed something strange - Ava was unusually quiet. Her usually bubbly voice sounded subdued, hesitant. Skipping through some parts, he listened further, a growing unease gnawing at him. All of Ava's words seemed different, quieter, almost worried.

Ibrahim opened the messaging app and saw a detailed message from Farah. Farah had listed everything Ava had done throughout the day - what she ate, when she slept during the journey, even seemingly insignificant details.

"Samir," Ibrahim rasped, his voice weak. "Call Farah. Ava sounds really tense. Maybe because of Elara. Tell Farah to keep me updated on everything and.... to not leave Ava alone around Usama."

Samir frowned. "What's wrong with Usama? He's their teacher, I don't think he'd do anything to Ava." 

"Last night, Usama was looking at me," Ibrahim insisted, "It was like he knew something bad was going to happen. Like he was warning me silently."

Samir shook his head, "If he wanted to warn you, he would have done it openly long ago. He knows what'll happen if he tries anything with Ava."

Ibrahim let out a shaky sigh. He had made a promise to Ava. But now, lying here in this sterile hospital room, bandaged and weak, the promise felt like a colossal mistake. With Usama's cryptic stare and Ava's subdued demeanor, the promise felt like a mistake. He should have insisted, should have prioritised her safety above his word. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to trust Farah, to believe that her presence would shield Ava from any harm.

.....

 The sun, though preparing for its descent, still cast a warm glow on the sky, painting it in hues of orange, pink, and purple. Wispy clouds drifted lazily across the sky, their undersides shimmering with the sun's dying light. As the bus pulled up to Berjaya Langkawi Resort, the students stepped out and greeted by a breathtaking panorama.

Gazing out, the students couldn't help but gasp. Palm trees swayed gently in the warm breeze as if they were welcoming them.

A shimmering ribbon of sand stretched before them, leading to the vast expanse of the Andaman Sea. Its turquoise waters danced under the fading sunlight.

The resort itself was like something out of a picture postcard. Berjaya Langkawi Resort, a collection of interconnected chalets built on stilts over the Andaman Sea. Connected by a network of wooden bridges that snaked over the water, the resort appeared like a charming village suspended between the sea and the sky.

"Wow!" and "How beautiful!" escaped from the students' lips, echoing their awe. The sheer magnificence of the scene held them spellbound for a moment.

Before they could rush off to explore their rooms, Professor Siti gathered their attention. "Hello, students," she began, "I hope you all enjoy this trip and make the most of the beautiful surroundings. Remember, we're here to relax and have fun, but safety is always our top priority. If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask any of the professors or resort staff. We're here to help you have a wonderful experience. Since we arrived a bit late today, we'll take it easy and get settled in. But don't worry, tomorrow we'll be exploring the island! We'll visit the Langkawi Cable Car...."

After Professor Siti's insightful but lengthy lecture, the students buzzed with anticipation as they headed towards their assigned rooms. Two students shared each room, and the chalets themselves housed either two or three rooms. So each chalet was accommodated roughly for six to seven students.

Ava and Farah found themselves assigned to one of the two-bedroom chalets. The room hummed with the soft whir of the air conditioner. The room itself was spacious, decorated in a tropical theme with wicker furniture and vibrant paintings of palm trees and beaches. A balcony jutted out, offering a panoramic view of the shimmering sea.

Farah efficiently settled their luggage in a corner, while Ava walked towards the balcony. She leaned against the wooden railing, 

The sea stretched before her, a vast expanse of turquoise and sapphire, kissed by the golden light of the setting sun. The breeze, soft and salty, played with her loose dark hair, carrying the distant scent of the ocean. Yet, the beauty failed to spark any joy in Ava's heart. 

Farah, sensing her friend's mood, joined her on the balcony. Putting a comforting hand on Ava's shoulder, "What's wrong, darling? Why the long face?"

Ava turned to her, a faint tremor in her voice. "Maybe people behave like this," she whispered, "when they come to know something... unusual, unthinkable."

Farah sighed. Earlier, she'd received a call from Samir, warning her not to leave Ava alone with Professor Syed. Yet, she hadn't shared this information with either Samir or Ibrahim, unsure how it would complicate things.

"Don't listen to anything Professor Syed says, Ava," she advised, her voice firm. "He's not a good person you can trust."

"Good person... what does that even mean?" Ava asked, "What defines a good person, Farah,?How do we know who the good ones are? Can we buy those Good men in a store, or find them on the street?"

Farah stared out at the vast ocean, "If you're looking for good people, you won't find them just walking down the road. People are complex. No one is entirely good, and no one is entirely bad. We all have layers, like the states of matter – solid, liquid, gas. We have good, bad, and that blurry space in between where we question our own actions and choices. It's in this blurry state that many get lost for overthinking, because the world itself is doesn't always offer clear-cut answers. So there's no phrase like Good man or Good people. All are just illusion."

Ava murmured, "I want to know the truth. I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING."

She walked back inside and retrieved her phone, tablet, and smartwatch from her backpack, and returned to the balcony – the three electronic devices she had brought on the trip. Then she did the unthinkable. With a trembling hand, she tossed each device, one by one, into the churning sea below. With a sickening splash, they were swallowed whole, disappearing into the vast ocean. And the ocean accepted them without protest, leaving behind only a ripple of disturbed water and the echo of Farah's horrified gasp, "What did you just do, Ava?"

Ava's eyes fixed on the churning waves where her devices had disappeared, "Ibrahim told me to keep the phone with me always. He didn't send guards with me. Damn sure, he did did something with these devices... I want to see Prof. Syed right now."

Farah's hand shot out, grabbing Ava's shoulder. "Wait! What do you think you're doing? Professor Syed is a mad man, Ava! Don't believe his words. I'm telling you one more time. Listen to me, dear."

Ava shook off Farah's grip, "I need to know about Ibrahim. I can't... I can't accept that he took his own father's life. He couldn't be capable of something so terrible. I will die just by overthinking, Farah."

"Calm down, Ava," Farah urged, "You're not thinking clearly....." 

Ava cut her off, "I will know the truth, no matter what. I can't stay here, trapped in this web of doubt and paranoia. And I won't let these doubts and suspicions drive me crazy."

With a sigh of resignation, Farah offered Ava support. "Alright," she conceded, "but I'm coming with you."