Burn the truth (ENG)

| 10*|

"Mira! Baby Doll!"  I held a wrapped present in front of her.  "Look what Aunt Zara bought you," I exclaimed enthusiastically.  Mira was in her baby seat and smiled enthusiastically when I gave her the present.

"Zara, you didn't have to, honey," Samira muttered and gave me a hug.

I patted her back and gave her a smile.  "Of course, I do."  I gently pulled her from me and pointed to the small box.  "Come on! Open it."

Samira helped Mira unwrap the present.  A pair of diamond earrings appeared from the box and caught Mira's attention.  "Zara! This must have cost you dearly."

I rolled my eyes and squatted in front of Mira.  "What do you think of the earrings, Mira?"  Mira clapped enthusiastically and reached for the earrings in her mother's hands.  "Look, Mother Samira, Mira is happy with it. That's what matters."

Samira shook her head but smiled slightly.  She took the earrings out of the box and put them in Mira's ears.

I kissed Mira on the cheek and nodded in satisfaction.  "It looks great on you, babydoll."  Mira chatted happily.

"Zara! What a wonderful gift!"  Samira's mother sputtered as she approached.

"Thank you," I muttered back and stood up.

Samira's mother pulled Mira out of her seat and blossomed with loving words about how much she had missed her.

I looked around us.  Children played enthusiastically in the garden, which was decorated with balloons and flags.  Elderly people were talking to each other about life with plates of food at the table.  A nice music was playing in the background and the weather was perfect.  Not too cold and not too warm.  Mira's birthday party was in full swing.

Suddenly I feel uncomfortable with staring.  I looked around casually, but couldn't find the eyes.

Inhale and exhale.

"I heard from Samira that the wedding will take place soon, Zara?"

I turned to Samira's mother and nodded.  "I have sent you the invitation. You are most welcome."

"That's good to hear. I'm happy for you, Zara. You deserve happiness."

I bit my lip and nodded slowly.  "Uhm, I'm going to have a look around. I'll be back soon."

Samira gave me a sad look and I gave her a reassuring smile.

My heels tapped on the wooden floor as I walked to the kitchen.  Various smells entered my nostrils and I closed my eyes in delight.

I took a piece of chicken from the pan and put it in my mouth.  A hum left my mouth upon tasting the flavour.  I closed the pan with a lid and removed aluminum foil from a container.  My fingers fished out a piece of meat, but when I brought my fingers to my mouth, a figure suddenly appeared and bit my fingers.  "Imran!"

He grinned and wrapped his arms around my waist.  I rolled my eyes and licked my finger clean.  "Hmm."  I nodded with satisfaction.  My fingers took another piece of meat from the aluminum tray and put it in my mouth.

Imran's eyes looked at me intensely as I chewed.  I frowned confused.  "What?"

He licked his lips as his eyes scanned my figure.  "You don't want to know what's going through my mind right now."

Oh.  I coughed uncomfortably and stepped away from him.  I turned my back on him when I peeked into another pan.  "Will you help me serve the food?"

"Sure babe."  Imran leaned his back against the counter as he stared at me.  "What do you want me to do?"

"Can you bring these trays to the dinner table? Then I'll serve the rest of the food from the pan on plates."