The Truth
The whole night was silent with only the sound of small ripples in the lake. She was indeed nervous. The gray eyes silently staring at her made her heart throb. She tried hard maintain her composure and waited for him to continue.
" Let's make a deal. I will answer whatever questions you have and you will not refuse to eat anymore."
'Whattt??'
After dragging her in the pit of the night to such a magical place, he wanted to discuss her diet patterns.
She kept thinking silently. She could not trust anyone in here but also she can't escape on her own. If he truly became enraged, he might settle her right here. She has to be smart.
" Why did you kidnapp me? " she looked straight in his eyes and stared back at the man who has not once diverted his intimidating gaze from her.
Aghan looked at her and slowly showed a smile, only a slight arc. He can easily see through her tricks. Like a squirrel. But he was more amazed, that for the first time in many years, someone has dared to look him in the eye. She was still the same.
'Truly a Kalawerie' he chucked.
" You are back home Ayla. Nobody forced you. Not even once. " he replied calmly.
"Huh? "She asked dumbfounded.
"What did you just say?"
"I think the wind has gotten to your brain. My name is Layla and sure thing every kidnapper would say that I am not a kidnapper."
Was he trying to play it dumb!! Keep dreaming.
"Tashware is where you were originally born, and I don't know why you got the impression of being kidnapped. And your IS Ayla. All of our people have highly respected you. In my opinion it was just a protocol." he said with a hint of amusement.
"What the hell do you mean by that ? I didn't come here to listen to your nonsense." she said annoyed.
"And as a leader of a tribe, you're not so smart."
"Probably not much smarter than girl who gets stuck at public washroom and misses her flight." he chuckled.
" That was clearly instigates by youu You stole my ticket at airport, changed my flight destination, forced me in a car, stuffed me In a building full unfamiliar people for the entire month. Is this not kidnapping then what do you think kidnapping is ? huh?" !!!!!!!! she instantly exploded.
Layla strode forward and pointed her finger right at him. She was caught off guard by his nonchalant attitude. She actually thought he was here to have a serious conversation with her. What a retard.
'Who would dare to force you, my wife.' he smirked. Letting her feelings out was also a good start. He leaned back on the car dashboard. The clear moon was reflecting in his eyes as he stated.
" You are the one with the misunderstanding, Listen carefully."
" You lost your bag at the airport yourself, got stuck at the washroom, missed your flight, boarded the plane to Mountain valley, all on your own volition. After you reached here you were escorted very respectfully. The stuffing part is for your own security but it's temporary and you are free to roam around within the building. It Is indeed your home. You are my first cousin." he stated innocently in a matter of fact tone.
Layla was fuming. Her dull blue eyes immediately lit with fire and her cheeks puffed up. She breathed up and down and couldn't wait to tear that smirk off from that bastard's face. He was obviously twisting facts. Things were not like this.
Four weeks ago she planned to spend her summer break in Norway but at that time airport suddenly got into a chaos and she lost her luggage. The ticket got exchanged with someone at the terminal and unfortunately she reached here. Damn it. All of this because she was super depressed that didn't notice something amiss till she reached here. All of the incidents were obviously man made but she still could not refute him. It was indeed like that.
" Whose your cousin by the way ? I can never be related with the likes of you. ANIMALS ARE BETTER THAN YOU ARE!! " she wasn't thinking anymore. What mattered was not to be defeated in the battle of wits against this man.
Aghan lost his smirk and got serious and stared at her intently. Family was greatest honor amongst all the tribal culture. It will not be good if anyone else hears it.
"And Tashware? My home is in Los Angeles, where my parents and my friends are waiting for me and getting worried for me !!!!"
Their faces were inches apart. Air tousled her long hair and her cheeks were flushed. His eyes were full of her.
His eyes lost their playfulness and got serious.
"I brought you here to tell you something important, not to have this useless quibble. I don't wanna hurt you Ayla but you should know the truth about your family and should Never ever disrespect it. "
She looked at him with puzzled eyes. He looked like he was about to disclose a big secret.
"Your parents died long ago when you were very young. The people taking care of you in Los Angeles are our subordinates. You should have sensed their behavior around you. " he lowered his eyes and spoke slowly.
Layla stared at him dumbfounded. She couldn't process it. What bullshit is he saying now?
"10 years ago Mikael Alvan and Nour Alvan died in the trifle between the tribes protecting their cousin, the chief, leaving their only daughter Ayla Alvan. In their honor, the chief send you out to protect you by changing your identity." he cut her off and continued speaking.
"You... What are you talking about?? ... Noooo... how can it be like that ? My parents are completely fine in LA...." she took a step back. Despite what she said, she felt a dull pain hearing those names.
"Your registered parents in US are the loyal subordinates of Alvan family. They volunteered to be your guardians and helped us to raise you."
She just stared back him for a long time and suddenly regained her composure. She lightly ran her hand through her hair and spoke calmly.
"I see. You did a background check on me. With our status, it's not a big deal. "
" I know what you're trying to do. You wanna make me mentally unstable, cut all my roots, make me believe that there is no one waiting for me so that you can keep me here, right? And use me for whatever purpose you have and even without me resisting. What a great deal you have here, mister." she was still within inches apart from him.
"Well sorry to disappoint you. Your cheap tricks are not going to work on me!!"
Aghan knew that he couldn't persuade her this easily and stubborn that she was, he had stepped on her tail.
" Just have a perspective Ayla. Why would the chief of the biggest northern tribes would want from a little girl raised outside of his culture. Search yourself. Did you ever feel that you were missing a piece of your soul? That you didn't belong to the world you've always been living in? And was that family really yours?" He knew it would hurt her to know the truth. But this has to be done.
She looked at him unable to process what he just said but the next second she moved forward and grabbed his collar.
"I DIDN'T COME HERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR FUC**NG BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE MY PARENTS AND THEY WILL BE. YOU SEND ME BACK TO LA RIGHT NOW OR ELSE OR ELSE I WILL KILL YOU AND ESCAPE MYSELF...."
She roared and pointed a pen, she had hid before, at his neck and tried threatened him.
Aghan stood there completely unruffled. He didn't want to hurt her but he knew she had doubts about her parents long ago and it was the best outcome that she learns and believe the truth as soon as possible.
"Try" he said.
Aghan moved her trembling hand right on his jugular.
"SHUT UPP !!!! YOU'RE LYING!!" Tears started pooling in her eyes but she stubbornly held them back.
"You don't know anything!!" she said forcefully.
His face was so serious without a hint of lie, unlike his previous remarks. Aghan moved his other hand and held her back steady. She wanted to scream more at him, to tell him to get lost. Like he heard her thoughts he consoled:
"I have no reason to lie "
She looked up at him. Tears are still in his eyes. All the complains and retorts were blocked by his one sentence.
He was right. She was just an ordinary teenage girl. What benefit would it be for the leader of multiple tribes to low himself to lie to her.
Her parents used be always busy with work. They attended all the formal occasions at school or birthdays but were absent on weekends or even casual days. She attended a boarding school.
She used to think they are workaholics or just strict but in truth they were just caretakers, doing their job. Their attitude With her was not of a parent, but a servant.
Never intimate just respectful.
And she like a fool tried to be best at everything so That they would be happy and praise her.
Without breaking their eye contact he took out his phone from pocket and called someone. The voice ranged from the other side:
" MASTER! What is your command?" it was a familiar voice that she hasn't heard for months.
Her Dad.