Both were uncertain.
Fazil stepped in front of Hayaat. He had forgotten that he was no longer a 24-year-old man and decided to confront the suspicious person standing in front of them.
Hayaat was guarded by him, but she was still in a fighting stance, ready to hit the man if he tried to do anything.
She had some idea of self-defense, but regardless, it was in her old body and she wasn't sure of the impact her punch would have now in this one .
"Now, now, children, there is no need to be on your guard," the man said with a smile on his face, his hands raised in front of him to show he meant no harm.
"How do we trust you, and why should we?"
Fazil said, glaring into the man's eyes.
"Hm… yes, you do not trust me," he said, pausing, thinking to himself with a hand placed on his chin. "However, is there some way you can trust me? I would gladly oblige."
Fazil thought to himself: This guy is creepy. Why would he tail us and then suddenly show up asking to be trusted? The guy clearly is suspicious.
Fazil looked at Hayaat and tilted his head, indicating that they should leave. The man seemed suspicious to him.
Hayaat seemed to understand his indication, but she still decided to give it a try. She shook her head slightly, indicating that they should stay and go along with it.
Fazil seemed to deny the idea, but regardless, he decided to go along.
The man seemed to pay attention to their little exchange, noticing every small change.
He knew it wasn't his daughter anymore.
He glared at them, thinking to himself that locking them up would have been far better. Now he knew the girls in front of him were not who they were supposed to be.
He placed a hand on Fazil's head.
"You have changed, Zara."
The sudden change sent shivers down Fazil's spine.
If he knows the owner's name, then he is someone she knew. But the recent memories did not have this person in them. Who is he? What will we do?
Fazil felt like fleeing.
"What is with this strange behavior, Zara? How long do you plan on staying angry at me?" the man said, grabbing her wrist.
Fazil thought to himself: So there's no chance that he doesn't know I am no longer Zara.
Hayaat looked at the change of events and decided it was better to go along with him.
Fazil agreed to her suggestion with a slight nod, though he was unwilling. He noticed Hayaat's trembling hands.
He wasn't the only one who was scared.
It would be best to act tough, if not for me, then for her. That man's creepy smile didn't make it any better, along with the fact that he was now holding Fazil's wrist.
The man stared into Fazil's eyes.
"Why are you afraid, Zara?"
Fazil could barely handle the pressure.
Hayaat stepped in.
"Sorry, sir. She is a little tired. She isn't angry. How can she be angry with you?"
She had no idea who he was to Zara, but for now bluffing their way out was the only option.
The man spoke in a stern voice.
"We have wasted enough time as it is. I don't have enough patience for this, so stop acting."
He moved close to Fazil and whispered in his ear,
"You are not even my daughter. Do you think I wouldn't know if someone took her place?"
"Exp 7280206… or should I call you the name given by my son — Fawdaa?"
"Now my dear, Vallarmathi, was it? If you do not want me to speak to your parents, I advise you to go back. I am Zara's father, Zayd. I would not harm her in any way."
Fazil reassured Hayaat that it was okay, placing a hand on hers.
"It's fine," he said loudly. "He is my father. You don't need to worry."
"Go home and rest. Take care of …No —" he paused midway and corrected himself, "Farhath. I will meet you soon."
Seeing nothing suspicious, the man urged her to hurry up and follow him.
Fazil followed him. When they reached the car, he saw the person Hayaat had shown him in the picture — the one who had been following them. His eyes widened.
They sat in the car.
Zayd caught Fazil's wrist once again.
"How dare you!" he shouted.
Raising his voice even more, he screamed,
"You clone! You are just an experiment, yet you dare to switch places with my daughter!"
"It was a mistake giving you freedom and letting you live under a caretaker."
"Did you think just because—"
He stopped midway.
"You are not permitted to leave, even if it was Zara who told you to."
Fazil was shaking with fear.
Who is Fawdaa? What clone?
It had already taken so long just to adjust to this dimension, being a girl, and everything else.
Since it was the three of them, he had someone to rely on. Still, that did not mean he was okay. None of them were. They were just trying to stay strong for each other.
He wanted to cry, to run away.
But it was all futile.