A moment of silence for Junaid Jamshed and the 47 families who lost their beloved.

Please read the author's note at the end. Plus, this chapter has a few switches of point of views and flashbacks. Read it carefully :)

Nayal

"Taylor! Slow down! It's giving me a headache!" Ducking my head out, I yelled at my assistant who was slamming her fingers vigorously on the keyboard.

A second later she tugged her head out, passing me a glare.

Does she really forget who sign her paycheck?

A little over a week but Sean wasn't on his desk. Rumour flew around that he got into a little accident but somehow Taylor found out and since then there has been no sugar in my coffee. One part of my brain was rotting away with guilty while the other roasted in anger. A major headache pumped on the back of my head, waiting to burst out.

"Boss wants to meet with you after the break." As I walked out the door,she called out.

I'm your boss!

Grabbing my car keys and phone I answered, "Sure."

Out of schedule, I was called into the Captain's office and the conversation ran clearly through my mind.

Flashback

The strong aroma of my coffee vapoured around the room as I stepped inside. It wasn't that big for a Captain considering it was downtown but enough to hold a plain oak table, a comfy couch and most important the mini golf course. Conversing on the phone, he motioned me to sit so I did.

As soon as the call ended, he took the seat in front of me.

"I won't ask you about the case, if you're wondering. I'll just narrate this story." A part of me was relieved but the other part was scared the shit out.

"Once upon a time, because that's how every story starts." The only thing he could offer was a smile. "A young man straight out off Police Academy on top of his class put every ounce of energy in his new job. Always the first one to jump for extra shifts, never cutting anyone slack, always on time. His body was stronger than his mind. But one day, during his patrol he came face to face with a Brazilian diva. Caught shoplifting a camera and as a loyal officer the man arrested her. Me night in the lockup and everything changed. He was smitten by her beauty, her accent." I could feel where it was heading."A month of sizzling romance after they tied the knot then everything fell apart. She left him all alone like a thirsty man in a desert. It broke him into billion of pieces that he still couldn't put together." Twiddling my thumbs, I looked up why he stopped.

"You know who were they?"

"My parents." There was nothing else I could say. Once again.

"Your father got a call from the hospital, nine months later. An adorable baby boy was waiting to be picked. I still remember it clearly how you instantly cried when he held you because arm was twisted."

It was impossible for me to remember that but I still smiled.

"You know why I spent the past ten minutes exercising my jaw?" After a sip of coffee he continued.

"I don't want you to fall in the same pit as he did. She devastated your father and somehow I feel you're following his footsteps. This isn't healthy for you at least not now when you're dealing the most crucial case if your life. Don't turn into the guy your father is, learn from his mistakes. Don't let a woman weaken you."

This explains the pictures of friends and pets on his table. Also the emptiness of his ring finger.

Without thinking I spluttered the next words and got out,"Yes, Sir." 

Setting the Aviators on the bridge of my nose, I drove to the Masjid for Jummah. Zeeniya was lingering on the back of my mind for the last week. I tried telling my brain otherwise but I checked my phone every fifteen minutes. Or take a full report from the uniforms on duty, regardless the time. I felt lonely after a long time. Jessica refused to answer any of my calls or texts, Sean probably doesn't wanna see my face. Zeeniya was along the same line too.

Parking beside a pink mini Cooper, I remembered how much Zeeniya hates them.

Get off my mind, you beauty!

~*~

Zeeniya

"This is a police case. Do you have any idea what'd he gotten himself into?"

"No you don't! He's your brother, your best friend I know that! But we could be hiding a criminal in our house." The last part came out as a murmur through his gritted teeth.

"He's Adam, Dad! The guy can't hurt a spider! Let alone a guy. Or more." I bellowed, not believing what Dad was trying to convey.

"You wanted me to leave him alone in that stinky place? Let the rats and bugs eat him up? He's your son! Blood or not." I prayed that this fiasco went unheard by Adam who was snoring the last time I checked.

"Don't you dare lecture me on blood, young lady!" His eyes burned through my body and I couldn't help but distract my gaze.

It took Dad a week to find out that a fourth member was residing in the house in a vulnerable condition.

From the corner of my eyes, I watched his breathing getting unstable and his face turning red.

"Dad you okay? Dad?" I was panicking, rubbing my palm over the backside of his hand.

"Blood pressure..." With his every deep breath my heart rate quickened.

Fifteen minutes later, I sat by my father's bedside with the hypertension meds and a glass of milk.

"I'll sort it out. Please don't trouble yourself." Pushing back the salt and pepper strands from his forehead.

"I trust you." Opening his side drawer, I pulled a small lever on it's sealing that led me to a small secret compartment. Getting up with two bags of salted and roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds, I gave Dad one of my rare smiles when he cocked an eyebrow at me.

"I'm your daughter." I simply answered knowingly walking out of the room with the packs dangling in my hand.

Reaching the kitchen, I examined the surroundings as every fibre of my being reminisced Mum.

Flashback

"Zeeniya get in here this very second!" I heard the sound of Mum's yell through the heavy rain.

Being the rebel I was born, I focused on the new techniques Coach discussed today as faucets of the sky leaked.
After what felt like a few minutes, I sensed footsteps behind me. Spinning around, Mum was rooted in front of me parroting an angry woman. Scratch that, she was fuming and gave a demo by dragging me by my ear.

"Aaahhh! Mum!" My poor ear was probably ripping out.

"I don't want a water trail in my home, lady!" Giving me a stern look she went inside coming out later with a towel.

Wiping myself off, I tried my hardest not to glare at her.

Teenage hormones? Teenage hormones.

"When I prayed for a daughter, I meant a tall, beautiful, curvy girl who was obsessed with make-up, clothing or teen dramas. But look what I got! A boy wrapped in a female body!"

"Mum!" Omer came from behind massaging her shoulder to ease. She continued rambling as I switched on the TV turning a deaf ear to her.

"Can you tell the difference between cumin and coriander? No? I knew it! Kept you in my womb for more than nine months! None of the boys damaged my walls like you did with your kicks. Just for once try to act like a lady!" I snorted as Omer gave me a squalid glance.

"Yes Mum I don't like combing my hair let alone dressing up. But you know what? I'm the only girl in the soccer team and Coach guaranteed me the lead if I continued working hard. I can built a bike from the scratch. I can recognize a car's model, engine and year fifty feet away. I've won Audi Draw-your-car contest two years in a row. I don't prefer hanging out with the girls to avoid the drama guys never give a crap about. And if you aren't satisfied with that...then you should've been the mother of some prodigy child."

Thumping my feet on the carpeted stairs I heard Mum say before bursting into tears.

"I don't now why I'm letting out work frustration on her."

~*~

As soon as I heard the knock, I glued my eyes away from the game.

"You're trespassing." Paying no heed to my words, Omer waltzed in.

"She bawling her eyes out. Go give her a hug." The big brother act so not suites him.

"What if I say no?" Crossing my arms, I challenged.

"Then I say you'll regret making your mother cry. Maybe tonight or next month or decades later, by then it would be too late." Toying with the first ever Lamborghini model resting on the study, my elder brother gave me a sad encouraging smile.

Half an hour later, I found myself sitting with Mum watching BCW (Bridal Couture Week). Even though I could do a whole lot of other stuff in that time, but I'm not that bad of a daughter.

"Zeeniya baby. Life is unpredictable who know what's gonna happen in the next moment. But promise me one thing. No matter what happens to me or Nasir, you'll be the backbone of the Tahans. Promise me."

~*~

Third P.O.V
(I'm sorry if it's confusing but it was needed here)

Breeze blew and women tried their hardest to keep the abayas in place. From the corner of her eyes, Zeeniya watched a young girl around seven, chasing her flying scarf and a smile crept on her face. Then she saw him. Like a red dot among whites.

His bushy brows were still roughly arched. The tip of his perfectly bridged nose turned red so did his ears. The breeze had the same effect on his locks -dancing to it. Her heart clenched with every step he took in her direction and she promised herself not to let him take a scoop of her soul.

Don't let him fool you. His words, gestures it's all fake. He's no better than the others open-mouthed sharks.

On the other side of the street, his heart was hammering loud enough for the other person to listen. He didn't care about falling flat on his face; he just stared ahead. Trying to find anything in her deep blue eyes but he was met with nothing but abyss of darkness matching her abaya. Her face was clean from any make up just like always.

As they came closer, breaths hitched, hearts raced, palms sweated, eyes locked. From under his thick lashes, Natal witnessed his girl passing just by him.

Inches close but miles apart.

His cologne lingered in her senses. So did her mild, intoxicating scent. The white thobe fitted him just in the right places showing off the perfect set of abs and his toned shoulders. But nothing could beat the gleam in his eyes. But it all vanished, a bit too suddenly for them both. Sitting inside the car, Zeeniya rested her head on the steering wheel followed by a series of deep breaths. On the other hand Natal took out his emotions on the car. Upon nearly missing a car, he realised what he was doing. No amount of drifting or speeding would get him peace. All he needed was to get this case done as soon as possible without any delay.

~*~

Zeeniya

"Whoever did this to you, they have to pay. I'm telling you Adam I won't let this go. This is deep shit." Making an acute turn, I parked the car in front of what looked like a seemingly  normal house.

"Just....let's go back Zeeny. I'm not having a good feeling bout it."

"The injuries are getting to your head." I poked his shoulder, "No one messes with Zeeniya Tahan's best friend and gets away with it." My ego boiled with my words but I noticed Adam hesitating gestures.

"They can't be that bad." Looking around for my phone, I realised it was still resting on my bed. Darn!
"And if things go south -which I'm sure they won't, I know someone."

Whose face I don't wanna see for a lifetime and I just said it no wipe away your nervousness.

I wanted to add but kept my mouth shut.

"Stop worrying!" The sweat beads forming on his face were alarming but I tried shrugging it off. Adam wasn't fully recovered but enough to lead me to these goons. "We shouldn't be here. Let's head back."

"You remember what happened to that skinny guy, what was his name? Steven? No, Steve. Yeah Steve! Remember when he snatched your Lucky Charms?" I tilted my head in his direction.

"You poured orange juice down his shorts and announced that he wetted his pants." He said in monotone but no one could've missed the cheeky glance.

"Yes and in fourth grade science...." Adam cut me off. "You told Julio that if any of my pencils got missing you're gonna shove all of his up nose. I get that you're trying to protect me but this is different. These aren't middle schoolers." His lip was still battered and torn but he spoke fluently.

"Shut up and let's go." Taking his arm I walked to the door not knowing what the future holds. But the guttered feeling bubbling in my stomach wasn't a healthy sign.

I. Am. So. Sorry. Legit.
Forgive me guys for the late update. Like seriously guys you people are so amazing that you keep supporting me no matter how I forget to update. But these two years are the most important regarding my studies.

Only three or four chapters are left. And I'M IN QATAR GUYS! ANY QATARIS OUT THERE?!?

Allhamdulilah it's so fun! If you guys want I'll post a chapter with all the pictures of all the places I went to. Comment down below and I'll update probably tonight.