Chapter 135 : "Take care of Ava... if something happens to me,"

Witnessing the relentless assault on his brother, Samir's own rage simmered. Blinded by the urge to protect Ibrahim, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, folded knife – a relic he always carried for unforeseen circumstances. His fingers tightened around the cold metal. The knife was bathed in the golden light of dawn.

In a split second, Samir moved towards Elara, the knife raised high. His intention was to stop Elara's madness before it escalated further. But Ibrahim reacted with lightning speed, "No Samir!!!"

 Ibrahim shoved Elara aside, effectively placing himself in the path of Samir's intended attack. The unexpected movement sent Elara stumbling back, his eyes widening in disbelief as he witnessed the horrifying scene that unfolded before him.

The knife plunged deep into Ibrahim's abdomen. A gasp escaped his lips, his eyes widening as a searing pain ripped through him. The sickening sound of metal piercing flesh ripped through the air as the knife plunged deep into Ibrahim's stomach. Time seemed to stand still as everyone stared in stunned silence, the rising sun casting an almost surreal glow on the scene.

Samir's eyes widened in horror. "What have you done, Ibrahim?!" he cried out. 

Elara was also momentarily stunned. He watched as Ibrahim stumbled back, a hand clutching at the gaping wound in his abdomen. Blood began to seep through his fingers, staining his shirt red. The knife had undoubtedly pierced vital organs. 

Did Ibrahim just push him aside to protect himself from Samir's attack? The realization left Elara reeling with a mixture of shock and guilt.

With the pain, Ibrahim reached for the knife, his hand trembling slightly. He pulled it out, a foolish act that only exacerbated the bleeding.

Elara yelled, "You idiot! Why would you do that? You're only hurting yourself further!"

Samir, rooted to the spot, could only stare at Ibrahim in utter horror. Through gritted teeth, Ibrahim managed to force out a single instruction, his voice weak and strained.

"Samir," he rasped, "don't lose your senses. Listen to me carefully. You need to remove all the CCTV footage from the surrounding area. Make sure there's not a single trace of what happened here. Do you understand?" 

Each shallow breath he took seemed like a struggle, his body fighting against the internal damage inflicted by the knife. The early morning hour, with no one around, was their only saving grace. Leaked footage wouldn't just harm them, it would jeopardize Elara's career as a police officer. Even as he felt his consciousness fading due to blood loss, Ibrahim's thoughts were for Elara's well-being.

Samir managed a shaky nod. There was no time for guilt or mourning; he had a job to do. He had to listen his elder brother. 

Elara grabbed Ibrahim's hand. "Let's go to the hospital now, bastard! You'll die here if we don't!"

He snatched the car keys from Ibrahim's pocket and, with Samir's help, carefully helped him into the backseat of the car. Elara started the engine, his voice laced with a strange mix of concern and anger as he addressed Ibrahim.

"Keep your eyes open, damn it! Don't you dare close them!"

Ibrahim, his face contorted in pain, winced with every bump on the road. The crimson stain on his shirt had grown larger. He let out a weak chuckle, tinged with self-deprecating humor, "Don't you want me dead, Elara?"

Elara, his gaze unwavering from the road ahead, replied honestly, "Maybe a part of me does. But seeing you like this... I can't help but feel a flicker of pity."

A weak smile flickered across Ibrahim's lips. "Take care of Ava... if something happens to me," he murmured, his voice fading, "Tell her... I love her... very much."

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Elara shook his head, "but I'm taking you to the hospital. What else can I do? I'm not heartless like you. Humanity comes before hatred, even for you."

The car screeched to a halt in front of the hospital. Elara leaped out of the vehicle and rushed to the backside. 

"Help! Someone please help!" Elara yelled. His cries pierced the morning air, attracting the attention of a group of nurses who were just arriving for their shift. They rushed towards the car. 

"What happened?" one of the nurses asked, her voice calm yet firm.

Elara, struggling to catch his breath, managed to stammer, "He... he's been stabbed. We need help... now!"

"We need to take him into surgery immediately. He lost a lot of blood." another nurse told. 

Without wasting another moment, the nurses sprang into action. Two of them carefully lifted Ibrahim out of the car, his body limp and unresponsive. The others wheeled a gurney closer. As they wheeled Ibrahim into the operating theater, the heavy metal doors closing behind him, Elara felt a crushing sense of helplessness. The man Elara had hated with every fiber of his being, the man he still hated, had just saved his life by taking a blow meant for him. 

.....

The clock struck 9 in the morning, and the university bus smoothly traversed through Penang. The morning sun, filtered through the tinted windows of the air-conditioned bus, cast a gentle glow on the students within. Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a tapestry of cultures and traditions. The bus meandered past colorful shophouses. Buddhist temples with their imposing statues and fragrant incense mingled with colonial-era buildings, their grand architecture showing tales of a bygone era. 

Lush greenery carpeted the hillsides, dotted with quaint villages and historical landmarks. The iconic Penang Bridge stretched majestically across the horizon.

The journey from Kuala Lumpur had been a comfortable one, punctuated by breathtaking views, lively conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter of students.

The bus company staff, also on board to ensure a smooth journey to Langkawi, had served the students and professors packed meals, ensuring everyone remained well-fueled for the ten-hour trip.

However, Ava, sitting beside Farah, found it difficult to relax. Leaning against the window Farah peacefully dozed off. Farah had tried earlier to reassure Ava, insisting that everything would be alright, but a deep sense of unease gnawed at Ava's heart. 

Ava's fingers nervously traced the beautiful design of the diamond bracelet Ibrahim had gifted her the previous night. A knot of worry tightened in her stomach. The memory of Elara's shocked expression flashed in her mind. 

Had there been a fight between Elara and Ibrahim? That, she believed, was the reason she hadn't confided in her brother about her growing relationship with Ibrahim. Life, however, rarely followed the script we write in our minds. Now, a gnawing fear gnawed at her, leaving her apprehensive about the fate of both her brother and her husband.

Adding to her mounting anxiety, her attempts to reach both Samir and Ibrahim had proven futile. Their phones remained unanswered, leaving her in a terrifying limbo. She had no idea of the storm that had unfolded back in the city, the life-or-death struggle that Ibrahim was now facing inside the operating theatre.

Just then, Fatima, one of their classmates, approached Ava with a hesitant smile. 

"Ava," she began, "would you mind switching seats for a while? I'm sitting next to Professor Syed, and he's been talking on the phone non-stop. I'm desperate for some sleep, and the other students are already sitting seats with their close friends. They don't leave their seat. I just need a quick nap. If you....."

Ava agreed. "Of course, you can take my seat," she replied, reaching for her backpack near her legs, "Let me just grab my tablet for reading."

She rummaged through her backpack, retrieving the tablet and placing it securely in her hand. A quick glance at her phone revealed 10% battery life, prompting her to take further action.

"I also need to charge my phone," she explained, holding up the device. "It's only at ten percent. Do you mind if I plug it in here?"

Fatima smiled reassuringly. "No problem at all," she said. "Just put your phone in your bag while changing, and I'll make sure it's safe while you're gone. Enjoy your reading!"

"If you need to use the plug later, just put my phone and charger back in my backpack," With a nod, Ava put her phone to charge before going to Professor Syed.