The Rich Life

32

The night was clear and balmy. Thousands of twinkling stars could be seen from where Adam and I were sitting. We had a picnic, made my Adam all by himself. I smiled at this beautiful moment we were in. He really was making an effort this time. 

"You know the only reason I brought you here is to get to know you again," He said, not breaking his gaze from the stars. 

"I mean, I know everything about you," I broke the chocolate bar and gave him half.

"I know that. It's just you've changed a lot in the months we've been apart. I'm not sure if you're still the same Amara," He tilted my face up to him, taking in every feature and kissing me gently. I sighed, in pure euphoria. 

"Well. I'm more like my Dad now apparently. Heartless and cold-blooded. I'm still practically the same, maybe all the things have matured me a lot," 

"Nene told me I was still a pathetic man-child who knew nothing about heartbreak or the real world, 3 years ago," He laughed bitterly at that thought, "I realise now what that means. I think I'm ready to stop acting like a stupid asshole,"

"Thank fuck for that. Took you 33 years old," 

"Yeah, we all have our own problems," 

"Awww don't be so grumpy," I teased.

"What was it like with Karamat? I know you didn't love him," He said suddenly. 

Ugh. The pisstake called Karamat Malik was still in the hospital with fractured ribs, broken arms and pretty much a broken everything. Dad had shortened his lifespan by a lot and he'll need a lot of intensive therapy before he can walk again If all those girls he killed weren't getting justice than Dad will dish it out himself. Karamat knew who his attackers were, but kept his mouth shut, not wanting to press charges. He had refused to talk to anyone. 

"To be honest I kept comparing everything he did to what you did. He did the most romantic things ever but I kept selfishly wishing that it was you. Karamat was good as a friend NOT a lover,"

"Thank you for making my ego even bigger. The love of my life pining away for me-"

"SHUSH!" I exclaimed, giggling, "You know I spent every night on the edge of my balcony, searching the sky for a shooting star so I can wish for you to come back," 

"Did it work?"

"No, it didn't," I rolled my eyes, "I'm just sitting here with a man-baby,"

We carried on talking, laughing and eating. I wish this moment never ends. 

🗲

We stumbled back to the house, still laughing and smiling. It was like the years that we had been apart had never been and we had just spent a day apart. Then Adam straightened up, his face automatically going back to that cold glare. I looked up to see who was here.

I think I'm going to kill myself. 

Standing there in a sky-blue silk dress, dripping in gold jewellery was Halima. Her jet-black hair tied in an elaborate knot at the top of her head, her sea-green eyes narrowed at us. I tensed. 

Okay who the hell summoned the devil. 

"Did you invite her," I hissed, so quietly hoping she wouldn't hear.

"Of course not," He replied back, not breaking eye contact with her. For God's sake. I felt that awful twist in my stomach. Not in a good way either. 

"Your father invited me Zahra," Her voice rang out, like metal being dropped, "And it is rude of the both of you to not greet me. Have you two become so shameless that you refuse to greet your elders,"