Heartless Love

❀ Chapter 1 ~ Pink Powder

❤︎ ZOHA'S POV ❤︎

"You got it in my eye you idiot" screamed Fawad.

"Too bad" I ran in circles away from all of the coloured dust flying around in the air. It was Pakistan's biggest festival, every year my family would come to the festival and participate in the traditions.

People would gather in the bazaar (market) and on the roads and we would all throw colourful powder at each other. I hid behind a samosa's stall staring down at my red shalwar kameez that now had yellow and orange on it. Everything was so vibrant and colourful. I pushed through the crowds of people who were running around and attacking each other with powder. My eyes made contact with my brother again.

I instantly went into defence mode "Fawad if you come near me I'll strangle you with my dupatta (traditional South Asian scarf)" I sinisterly stared at him watching his every move. Out of nowhere he started sprinting up to me. I squealed and pushed the little kids out of the way, running for my dear life. Every now and then I look behind to see where my brother was.

I was scared to death but still breathy laughs escaped out of my mouth. I put my hands on my knees and tried to gain back my breath. I could her my evil little brother Fawad's laugh but I still couldn't see him.

I ran some more and looked behind one last time only to see him with pink powder in his hand. I ducked down "hah you missed you bewaqoof (idiot)" but Fawad wasn't smiling instead he looked as if he was going to shit himself at any moment. His eyes were glued above my head. I turned around slowly.

Behind me stood a man, one I had never seen before in our area. He wore a black suit and right in the centre of the suit was now a big pink mark. I gulped and nervously laughed.

I nudged my brother to say something but nothing escaped his mouth. "sorry sir....hamara yeh iradah nahi tha (that was not our intention)" I stared down at my feet waiting for a reply.

Moments later "This was an expensive Valentino suit I expect you'll pay me money for the damage you've caused" he stated coldly. He stood in front of us dusting of the pink powder. Waiting for me to answer the question.

"W-we will pay it off Mr Petrov" I turned around to my brother....who the heck is Mr Petrov?....

I turned to Fawad "no we won't" I whisper yelled.

"Listen Mr Petrov, I don't know who you are but we won't be paying you any money. Unfortunately we don't have money at the moment" I told myself to end the conversation there but something in my mind urged me to say more "we aren't all as privileged as you and besides you are walking in the middle of a powder festival, what did you expect?" I fumed. Who does this Petrov guy think he is, telling us to buy him new clothes. I scoffed as I watched his lips tug into an amused smirk, his expression dared me to say more but nothing else would come out of my mouth. I turned my back on him. "Fucking idiot" I murmured. "Fawad go to dada jaan's (grandad's) food stall, I need to go get something" I told him.

Fawad still stood there in the same place he was when the whole accident happened but slowly he started speed walking away, far, far away. I grabbed my hair tie that fell to the floor and was about to head back when I felt a tug on my open hair. I gripped my scalp in pain. "What the hell!" I yelped. Before I knew it my head was pulled back to face the same emotionless man. "I don't appreciate you talking to me like that" he seethed. His fingers still holding a harsh grip on my hair. Ok maybe he did have emotions, just bad ones. Instantly I regretted calling him a fucking idiot.

"Let go of me you creep" He let out a dark chuckle and yanked my hair even more making me slip. He let go of my hair as I fell to the floor, he walked away but before leaving him gave me a small devilish smirk. His face was blank, there wasn't a single bit of emotion lingering in those dark, intimidating eyes of his. I got up off the floor, tears waiting to be let out of my eyes. I felt embarrassed. Tears brimmed my eyes as I look around to see if anyone had witnessed anything that had just happened. I bit my lip to stop myself from letting out tears and rushed to dada jaan's stall.

"I'm telling you dada jaan I didn't mean to, he was ju......" Fawad stopped talking when I got there.

"You are about to die" he said to me.

I gave him a questioning look. My eyebrow was raised telling him to go on.

"That's Dimitri Petrov, everyone knows him, do you ever watch the news? He's like this mafia guy and everything, he's the leader of the blak drakon a big mafia (black dragon). He can get us killed for doing that you know. Well besides I say we give you up since I did offer to pay but you showed a whole attitude" he rambled on for a whole 10 minutes before finally stopping and taking a deep breath. I rolled my eyes at him.

I was still processing the fact that I happened to meet someone who's a part of the worlds biggest mafia. Oh I'm in some deep shit now. I mentally face palmed myself, I'm such a dumbass.

I looked over at my brother who was stuffing naan down his mouth. My mouth started watering but I realised I had to get home to get ready for work. The only thing my mind was set on was that guy "Fawad? What is Dimitri doing in Pakistan anyways?" I questioned.

"I don't know probably some business with the government. I wouldn't be surprised the government isn't the best" he said carelessly.

"Fawad beta, stop eating with your mouth open before I hit you with my walking stick" warned dada jaan with a sweet smile.

"Sorry dada" he closed his mouth and got off the counter. I went up to my dada and kissed him on the forehead and Fawad did the same.

As we were walking home we had a whole debate on who was to blame "you know I blame your for ruining his suit Fawad" I said.

"No but it's your fault for ducking down" he fired back. I nodded my head "and if you give me up Fawad that means no more cheese paratha for you" I said mischievously.

He shoved me and ran back to our house. I huffed out. I got home and sprawled out on my bed, falling into deep slumber.

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"Zoha, Zoha! Wake up" it was my mum. She hurried into my room lightly tapping my shoulder. "You're going to be late for your job Beti (child). I groaned as the noise hit my ears. I checked the time and I only had 10 minutes to get ready. I hopped off my bed and sprinted to the bathroom and put on some new clothes. I have to admit no one multi tasks better than me.

I rushed into the car and my dad started it up.

I worked at Lahore's Showgirls it was a place where women danced. Some women chose to show there bodies and others didn't. I grew up in Britain, but as the years went on my family couldn't pay the university fees so I quit university and came here to help out. This was the only job available for me and it payed a decent amount.

I carried my bag inside and said bye to my dad.

The dancers gathered into a room "alright people. We have special guests in the crowd today, so don't mess this up. Zoha is our lead and everyone else is backup" said Hira and everyone nodded. She handed us our clothes. I was handed a tight dress which didn't show much of my skin but it outlined my curves. Some of the other women were handed a choli and lengha, or casual dresses.

I personally didn't see anything wrong with my job. I didn't touch anyone from the opposite gender, I only came close to them and I was modest, I barely showed any skin. But people always have something bad to pick out.

I put on my traditional desi jewellery. My long hair was let out framing my face.

The music started and my body moved to the music. Slowly but elegantly.

A/N
❤︎ Okay so that was an interesting first chapter.....I tried to make it as descriptive as possible
❤︎ I was watching this documentary on YouTube called 'the showgirls of Pakistan' and that's were my inspiration for her job has come from
❤︎I can't be bothered to translate every single Urdu word so you're gonna have to try to remember some of the translations 😭