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Zeeniya

"I love you."

Just as the words hit my ears I felt like puking rainbows, just like Snapchat's filter. My eyes were hooked to the floor under my feet as my blood circulation increased by 70%. I didn't know whether to pretend that I never existed or hit the fire alarm.

"I love you more!" Her voice sounded sweeeter than the sheera of gulab jamun making me spat the coffee out followed by some throaty cough but it left no effect. Grabbing the fork I dropped it from the slab and that brought them out of their daze.

"Oh Zeen! I didn't see you there, I hope you won't mind." Abiha tweeted taking a bite of her museli, paying no heed to Omar who resembled an over-grown tomato.

"Of course I didn't mind. It was like watching 'The Fault in Our Stars' in real life." My sarcasm was on fleek after coffee accelerated it.

"You actually watched that movie?" Zayd, who just happened to come strolling in the kitchen asked me whilst grabbing an apple.

"Just what I thought." Omar joined in.

I nodded my head indicating a no but all three of them narrowed their eyes at me.

"I remember sniffles coming from your room a few weeks back! I knew it! You were watching TFiOS, you hypocrite!"
Zayd announced making everyone laugh except for me. I didn't correct him that the sniffles were the cries after the nightmares, so I laughed along with everyone. Even if it was fake.

My pain, my tears, my problems belong to me and there was no use of showcasing them in front everyone. Which reminds me of the incident with 'Voldemort's Apprentice', 'Cruella Deville's right hand' and 'Scar's best friend' a.k.a Aunty Rukhsana. With her being with us 24/7 and not to forget the fact that she was my Dad's sister, I kept my anger under the pillow and simply ignored her. Something I learnt from her.

"I-I-I...I got in! I GOT IN!" All four heads turned to Dani who sprinted down the stairs in his PJs, a full blown smile gleaming on his face.

"I got into Chester! Can you believe it? Wait till you hear the best part." Panting he came inside the kitchen, "I got in with half scholarship! Only a handful students were awarded with it! I'm going to Chester!" Zayd instead of saying something engulfed him in a hug and Omar copied him.

"Party tou banti hai!" I sang to Dani whose face was flushed with happiness, "Let's go to the arcade later!"

After fifteen minutes, everyone in the house has seen the library, dorm, common room, classes and football field of Chester University as Dani jumped around the house with his laptop.

Dad took his sister and her children for some sightseeing and Zayd left for work. Omar and Abiha went out to enjoy what she calls 'The Golden Period' and in a way that was great for me as I couldn't stand the PDA.

"I'm heading out with Isa, Harvey and Maha! I'll be back before Maghrib. Then we'll head to the arcade." Dani walked in once again now dressed in his usual.

"Sure! I'll ring Jason and Sid and see if Ad is available."

"Um...Zee don't call Adam...just. C-can he not...join us?" His face contorted and a few fine lines appeared on his forehead.

"Why? What's the point of celebration without Adam?" I turned around completely facing him.

After a small pause he spoke up.

"I m-meant to say...that...well he is busy tonight. I...erm...called him." It wasn't rocket science to observe the lies dripping from his words.

"Sure."

"Can I get a fifty? Please Zee?"

I took off the over-sized glasses and placed them on the keyboard finally looking at my brother who sat beside me with puppy eyes. Want to know how I know this? When we were kids he used to do that all the time, Mum would give him all my Hot Wheels after he charmed her with the puppy eyes.

"Ask Dad." I shrugged getting focused on the resume I was working on earlier.

"I'm not his favorite kid, remember?" The laugh gave away more than just humor.

"What'd you do this time?"

"Took out his car a few nights back. He didn't take that well." He shrugged getting back to his phone.

"You took out his Audi Q7? How was it? I worked on the tuning last Sunday, did it work?" Rubbing my earlobe, I asked which took him by surprise.

"It went smooth like...ice-cream. It was a fun night, we hit the beach and God I took some amazing shots! I'll show you when I get back." He sizzled in excitement which made me smile a little.

"That's great!" I put on the glasses once again and brought the laptop screen to life.

"You know I lo... I just...thanks for everything. I'll miss you..." I watched as his gaze wandered to the family portrait hooked proudly on the kitchen wall, involuntarily but we both thought the same thing.

"Keep an eye out." I gave him a look under the glasses not sounding like the stereotypical sister.

"K! And I'll go Nayal to join you know, he is an angel." His face showed nothing

"Yeah...more like Taher Shah's Angel." I mumbled to myself.

"The money?"

"You won't bother me with the university pictures and tour anymore, will you?" As soon as he nodded vigorously I said,"Grab my bag from the study." Within a few seconds he came back holding it like a puppy with a stick.

"Keep the change and please don't screw anything up. Chester doesn't accept screwed ups!" I winked at him as I slid him two 50 pounds note.

"You are literally the coolest person in the clan!" He placed a quick kiss on my head before heading towards the door but halted and spun, "And even if I screw up, Nayal can get me out."

And he was gone.

My eyes travelled between the door and Dani who was no longer in sight, a feeling took over my heart thinking about what would've happened if Nayal hadn't sort out Dani's mess. Or the fact that he practically saved her life by offering his blood. Thinking about what happened that night made her skin heat and senses baffled. Never in my twenty two years of existence I felt so secure around someone who is not family and that bothered me to no limit.

Nayal was just doing his job here. He wasn't her project partner. He wasn't an innocent tenant in his brother's apartment. He wasn't her best friend's brother. And now she wasn't sure if he was her friend anymore or not.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, hoping to put a stop the headache but it was futile. Four cups of coffee didn't make scratch so I closed the laptop and after eating some Fruity Loops I headed out.

Nayal

(I'm hearing some squeals...! )

"Can you get me another coffee?"

"Anderson?"

"Sean?"

"ANDERSON!" The call button bounced back with the same force I pressed it.

"What the f**k?" My office door slammed open showing a flustered Sean with his phone in his hand.

"Decaf, no sugar, no cream. Make it a large." Without looking up from the papers, I ordered but didn't hear a reply.

"Why are you gawking at me? Get my coffee, hurry." Once again I was welcomed by silence.

"Dude! I'm not your assistant! I was on the call with the...you know what? Leave it! You don't care." Before he could exit the room I voiced.

"I don't care about anything except for the coffee. So please."

How I missed Zeen's addicting coffee right now...Ugh!

"Then you should go over to her place and stop bothering me." He snapped at me.

My thoughts are this loud?

"Yes you are! Now I'll excuse myself I have important things to worry about. Unlike you." I snorted in reply, my eyes still fixed on the papers.

"You remember Basheer? I know you don't, just nod please. Well, he pulled some strings and found this transaction from the abductee's father to the kidnapper's account. Here." In a millisecond he rushed to his cubicle and passed me a red file.

"£10, 000? Really? Pennies for pounds. I guess that the least amount someone paid them." The list had numbers that made my head spin.

"That's why they killed his son. This is seriously getting out of hand, sir." Rubbing my two days old stubble I stared out of the window.

The morning sun peeked through the clouds in downtown London as the deafening traffic created a perfect picture. I refolded the sleeves of my white shirt that was stained with yesterday's breakfast, lunch and dinner followed by numerous cups of coffee that were scattered around my office.

"And we can never consider this as evidence without a warrant. Damn!" I slammed my palm on the desk as frustration took over me.

"Why curse on this beautiful morning, Siddiqi?" Half smiling Chief Harrison stood by the door.

"Good morning, sir." Both Sean and I greeted at the same time.

Answering us, he strolled inside the room which seemed more like a teenager's room then a man like me.

"Any leads?" He picked up the file Sean brought in.

"No, sir. It's more complicated than we thought from drug to human trafficking. We have records of abduction, rape, theft and what not." Sean filled in the Chief as I arranged a few papers and opened my laptop.

"And what about that girl? Zeendiya? "

"Mrs. Tahan used to record all tue conversations with her clients and I'm about to fetch them, sir." Picking up my coat I prepared to leave after checking Zeeniya's location.

Glad to know that she's home.

"We could've sent someone from the Undercover Department but you had it your way. She shouldn't have known about this and let me tell you it will make a great impact on the case." There was a massive disapproval in his voice.

"You think now that she knows, she will hide something from us? She is as desperate as I am." From the corner of my eyes, I watched Sean smirking.

"I mean she needs them behind the bar as much as you and I do. And I promise you she will be a great asset. Trust me." I said shaking my head.

I knew Chief wouldn't say anything to be regrading the case anymore as he turned to leave.

"I trust you with my life." I gave him a small nod as he disappeared into the corridor.

"As desperate as I am? Am I missing something?" Chuckling he once again slumped down on the couch.

"Shut up." I mumbled feeling irritated of him.

"First come love then comes marriage then comes..........." I threw the nearest piece that could crack his skull at him.

"You're fired!" I ignored the heat travelling from the neck to my face.

"You can't fire me! I'm your best friend and your si...." He stopped in the middle with all the color drained from his face.

"My si...?" I offered him to complete the sentence that was now quite intriguing to me.

"Y-your s-s-system! Your system will stopped without me!" He quickly got up and ran towards the door.

"Ta ta! Bye bye!"

Standing by the table, I cocked an eyebrow at his bizarre behavior but quickly set my head straight to meet Zeeniya.

~*~

After waiting for ten minutes, I gave up on the doorbell and turned around to leave but stopped in my tracks seeing the garage door slightly open. As I pushed the door open, both satisfaction and anger brewed inside of me. Satisfaction because I found the person I came for and anger was because of her reckless behavior. How can she act like this knowing the circumstances?

For starters, I didn't know someone could be this deaf but after seeing the white wires I changed my opinion. I picked up the screwdriver and dropped it on the floor with a loud sound but she didn't move. A small smile crept on my face as I watched her lying under her Ninja and working with some tools. To gain her attention, I dropped the small box of nut bolts and she stood up in a second. With an expression of shock, she took off her headphones and marched towards me.

Here comes the hurricane!

"What the hell dude?" In a football onesie she looked as adorable as always.

"What will Aunty Rukhsana say if she finds you cursing in her house? And treating a guest like this? Not cool, Zee. Not cool." Shifting my jacket to the other arm I walked past her to the bike.

"Niceee."

"Don't touch her. I'll chop each finger off separately." Her tone was enough to make me back off.
Raising my hands in surrender, I once again turned to her. It was clear to read her face; she was thinking about the mehndi night. The redness was a give away that it was a complete reflex action and she regretted it.

"What do you want?" She asked while wiping the grease off her hands.

You!

"WHAT?" She practically barked.

"I meant I want to talk to you about something." The sleeplessness is really affecting my brain cells.

"Talk." My inner self was slightly furious at her tone but I kept my mouth shut.

"About that....."

"Yeah! Listen whatever happened that night, forget it! Okay? Shoo shoo!" I wanted to laugh at her gestures.

"Don't tell me! Is that the only thing you were thinking for the last two days? Surprising..." My smirk was on full display as she turned slightly red.

"You are such a..." She huffed loudly shooting daggers at me, "What do you want?"

Zeeniya standing there in all her glory was a real test of my Nasf. All of a sudden all the tiredness washed away and she was to given credit. Every time I looked her, flashbacks appeared on the back of my mind. Which reminds me why I was here.

"There must be some documents and tape recordings Amal left some where around the house. All the things from her office are in my possession." All the cheekiness was left aside.

"C-come inside." She motioned me to the inner part of the garage that seemed more like a temporary bedroom. Food wrappers, papers and clothes were spread across.

"I'll get the box."

In a few minutes she came back holding a huge box and blank expression, keeping it on the table she left. I didn't have to wait for her so I placed my jacket aside and took out the contents.

"Here." Staring up I saw Zeeniya with two cups of coffee in her hands, taking mine I once again started reading a few court readings.

"All the tapes are here. A few weren't working so I had to... I don't what's it's called but I fixed them. Use them carefully." Her posture changed completely and it killed me.

"Sure. Just one thing." I rotated my head towards her, "Did your maternal family come at Amal's....her....funeral?" My voice had gone soft.

"No. They disown...." She answered in monotone but I cut her.

"I know. Just after she converted,they disowned her and never looked back. You grandfather died a decade back and your grandmother is surviving stomach cancer. Your only maternal aunt lives in Australia with her pilot husband and two daughters." The information definitely shocked her.

"How did you...?"

"I knew your mother. Very well." I said sipping on the amazing coffee that both my brain and heart desired.

Over the next two hours Zeeniya and I talked, talked about Amal, talked about her family, her job and it was surprising for me to see her opening like that. Being the only daughter, Amal had a special place for Zeeniya which she often told me. From the very first sight, I knew that she was a complete copy of her mother. It was clear that her father and brothers were too scared to talk to Zeeniya about Amal knowing that she was a part of the horrible experience. A major part of me was glad that I was the only person she could talk like that.

Why are you making me fall harder for you?

~*~

"He says one more thing and my bum will be outside in no time!" I hissed slowly in Ad's ear and continued giving a fake smile in the camera.

"Put your right hand on your waist Zeendiya." Frank, the amazing photographer, ordered in his thick German accent

"I won't!" I stuck my tongue at him followed my a glare.

A twenty-two years old girl sticking her tongue at the guy who probably worked with freaking Kim Kardasian (Abiha was flaunting about it to Jessica for the last couple of months). But to be honest he was so Wajib-ul-Qatal with all of the 'place your hand on Za-eed's arm' and 'show your left dimple' was getting on my nerves.

Flashback

"Just have a look at it ZeeBoo! It's really really really pretty!"

"Mum! I'm busy!"

"Just one look, I promise you'll like it!"

"Mum...I like football and I really have no interest in clothes!" I whined for the umpteenth time as Mum who raided my room like Bush raided Afghanistan.

Real brutal!

"Zeeniya Amal Tahan! You are watching highlights! I live with boys you know, I can tell the difference between live and highlights." The tone was deadly, something she used when she found me eating dirt.

"I'm looking! It's beautiful! Like really really really pretty! Now can I go back watching the match?" Instead of answering Mum ripped out the wire of the TV and with crossed arms smirked at me.

Giving her a sour stare, I shifted my focus on the dress that she dug out from the trunk that had stuff from Pakistan she brought last year. It was a nice change seeing Mum in something this fancy and it rocked on her. Of course it would, Mum was the prettiest lady ever. Maybe after Cleopatra. With her luscious ombre hair and sparkling blue eyes not to forget her clear milky skin unlike mine that was captured by acne.

"Your Dado left this for me! Along with there jhumkas, have a look." She handed me a pair of what seemed like huge ear rings.

"You look absolutely beautiful, jaan." Dad appeared from stairs placing a smacking kiss on Mum's cheek.

"Keep it down guys!" I quickly closed my eyes and ears and rushed to the kitchen.

Nearest place to hide!

"I'll wear at Omar's wedding."

End of flashback



The biscuit coloured chiffon hijab was securely tied in a manner that the pair of jhumkas peeked out. The dress was rather decent as compared to the last one but was long enough to drag behind me making Jessica giving me 'I told you to wear heels' look.

That was the same dress Dado gave to Mum when she went to Pakistan a year back from her death. Dad was disowned too when he married Mum but after a few months Dani was born, Dada Abbu was battling tuberculosis and my parents along with little Dani went there. Dada Abbu died in the days following and before leaving this world he forgave Dad. Then 13 years later, they went back there again minus Dani when Dado was severely ill that's when she passed on her jewels to Mum which made Aunty Rukhsana furious.

Standing in white between Zayd and Adam who were both rocking some old school black tuxedos, we looked like an Oreo. As Freaking Frank clicked away, my annoyance grew due to several reasons:

a) The food was no where to be seen.

b) The flats were hurting my shoes.

c) The food was no where to be seen.

d) Freaking Frank was treating me like a damn bride with all the different poses.

e) The food was no where to be seen.

"You look absolutely beautiful babygirl." A small smile appearee on lips after hearing a similar compliment.

"Thanks Dad." I couldn't meet his eyes so excused myself with a clogging throat.

"Zeeny listen!" Jessica grabbed me from nowhere, "Look I'm leaving with Sean please don't tell Nayal."

I narrowed my eyes at her knowingly she she dressed in the purple dress and lots of make-up.
"I knew this wasn't for the Valimah! I'm not lying to anyone for you."

"You owe me! I used to sneak you gaming station and snacks in the hospital room, you ungrateful witch!" She seethed at me.

"Okay!" I couldn't put an argument with the truth.

"I love you! Bye!" Waving at me she got out of the hotel.

~*~

"I'll come with you Dad."Holding my dress with one hand I followed Dad outside.

"My shehzadi I told you we have to settle the bill first then drop Omar and Abiha to the airport. And I don't want you to get late for the first class of your semester. Go sleep." Placing a kiss on my forehead he was gone.

I looked over to my shoulder and saw Zayd's car full which left me with only one option.

"Every other car was full, don't boost your ego." Getting in the front seat of Nayal's car I announced trying not to get impressed by his cologne.



"I didn't say anything!" As he reversed the car, he stared at me for a few seconds then back on the road.

"Have you seen Jess?"

"No!" I said a bit loudly then I should've.

"Ohkayyy." He gave me a suspicious look that made me feel guilty for lying.

Fifteen minutes into the car ride, Nayal's phone ran.

"Shit! Fu*k! I'm there! Yes! Right now!" His knuckles turned white as his grip tightened on the steering wheel.

"Ever been to a crime scene?"

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