After the truth

~8~

Marwa watched Mukhlisa sip on her strawberry smoothie oblivious to the glare she was giving her. In her head, Marwa already planned the words she'd fire her twin for letting Zayad come in contact with her daughter. They were currently sitting in the smoothie shop, courtesy, Mukhlisa's tantrums.

Her heart pounded within it's ribcage and blood rushed to her ears as she glared at her brother. She wasn't angry at him for hurting her, she was angry at herself for forgiving him and feeling kind of safe sitting with him. He looked way older now, after all it had been seven years. What do one expect?

She stared at the expensive silver wristwatch he was wearing and immediately she understood that he worked for their parents, currently undergoing rigorous training perhaps, to take over the family's business. He wasn't the first son but he was the most adored for some reason.

"How have you been?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

Marwa felt annoyed by the stupid question. It seemed every dense human on earth asked her the same thing. Was it so blind to them that she wasn't fine? Because it was quite apparent since she didn't look the best.

"Fine." Came her simple reply. What else would she have said?

"Work?"

Seriously?! Now she felt like slapping him. Where was he when she needed him? Busy kissing their parents behind, trying so hard to be the favourite child when no one was even competing with him. Zayn and Zaky, their older brothers who were also twins didn't even live in the country.

"Good."

"Cool." He nodded his head, clasping and unclasping his hands.

Marwa rolled her eyes and turned to watch the news. She could take back her words of forgiving him because the resentment was there, black and deep as ever. She was only calm for her daughter.

"Imran is in town." Zayad tried again.

Marwa sighed, suddenly feeling irritated. She turned to him, her lips turned down in distaste.
"I saw him." She said in a monotonous voice. "We don't have to talk you know." Marwa gave a fake smile. "The girl's having fun with her 'darling uncle' that's all that matters."

"Got it."

Marwa felt terrible but it was better than the feeling of betrayal when he turned his back on her seven years ago.
"Are you done baby?" She asked her daughter who kept on sticking her hands into the cup.

"Yes mummy."

"Tell uncle goodbye."

"Thank you uncle Zee." Lisa hugged him. "We'll see soon, right?"

Zayad looked at his sister, hoping she said yes. His heart broke at the way she hissed under her breath before mustering up a tiny smile.
"In Sha Allah." She said instead.

"Goodbye uncle Zee." Marwa grabbed her hands and began walking towards the door.

"Marwa." She turned to her brother. "Thank you."

************
Zayad checked his wristwatch for the time. It was past three and he was patiently waiting for his big brother to show up. It wasn't clear why their father wanted him home but he wasn't feeling happy about it. Why would he need Zayn when he was here? He wanted to inform Marwa about Zayn returning home after 15 years but he didn't.
The sound of someone repeatedly honking irritated him. He looked in the rearview mirror and let out a loud hiss. He picked up his phone from the passenger seat, checking his schedule to pass the time. A knock on the window made him pause what he was doing.

"Yes." He asked, acting bored, as he wind down the window.

"Get your stupid car out of the way." The red haired lady gritted.

Zayad eyed her, then watched her fume as he slowly put up the window. He ignored her incessant knocking by putting on the radio and lightly tapping the steering wheel as she made funny faces that supposedly went with the curses that she was spewing.

Few minutes later, the girl got tired and left him alone. Sighing, Zayad stretched his hands to the back seat and grabbed the newspaper he had dumped earlier that morning. He reclined the chair and began going through the information. His fingers held the page that had currently gotten his attention and his face turned into an ugly frown.

Zayad had an immense dislike for Aaron. The guy who had ruined his sister's life and was still feeling arrogant about it. He would have yelled at the fool, even punch him, except his parents had no idea he knew. He didn't expect him to turn out wealthy and this popular while his child was just "managing."

Few minutes later, a knock put Zayad out of his reverie and his slight annoyance was covered up with an extremely fake smile. He unlocked the door for his brother to come in. His heart was racing now that he was here. He wondered what his father needed from him, for him to be here.

He folded the newspaper and threw it behind him. Zayad asked his brother to excuse him as he highlighted from the car to put his luggage in the trunk. Stupid retard. Still arrogant. He hissed under his breath.

People found it hard to believe that they were brothers. The differences in physical appearance and personality was as clear as day. Although Zayn was a carbon copy of their dad. It pissed off Zayad so much. He had worked so hard for their father to finally recognize him as his son and now stiff in the pant Zayn wants to take that away from him.

He angrily threw in his luggage and after a count to ten, slammed the trunk shut. Zayn had always been the perfect son despite his unruly behaviour. He was intelligent and smart without even trying. An annoying snob, so to say. His attitude and the way he carried himself spoke of the society he was raised in. No one needed to point out that he was wealthy because he looked, smelled and acted that way. He needed no gold or silver. Perhaps it was what annoyed Zayad. That he could never be that perfect. Not in the eyes of his father.

Rolling his eyes, Zayad got into the car with that same fake smile. He wanted to hiss but he contained himself. His brother was in a neatly ironed suit that looked really new and expensive. His wristwatch looked like a customized one as the clasp that held it together on his wrist was the letter 'Z'.

"How was your flight brother?" Zayad asked, grinning so hard. He started the car and drove out of the airport.

"You don't have to act like you're happy to see me. Your fake smile sickens me, Zay." Zayn fired, twisting the wristwatch on his wrist and with a tired sigh, he rested his head on the window leaving a surprised Zayad driving.