Love, Law and Crime

Chapter 4

My bracelet is in Mina's brother's car, Ya Allah! I should call Mina...I was so engulfed in my thoughts but I was interrupted by a greeting "Assalamaleikum (peace be upon you) Aminah" said Rushda Auntie while opening the door....wow! I accidentally ringed the door bell and didn't even notice...only I could be this careless. "Waleikumassalam(peace be upon you too) Auntie" I replied politely. "Come on in, the dinner is getting ready but yeah there are snacks for you and then you can help me with the dessert" said Rushda Auntie. "Sure, Auntie" I replied. "And.. you know you can save some dessert for Amir and your mother...I had heard from your father that they'll be coming here tonight or maybe at dawn if that's the case then we can prepare something like kheer or sheer khurma, they can last for days without their tatse deteriorating...it'll be nice.." said Rushda Auntie and that was enough to sour my mood..."you know what Rushda Auntie? stop...just stop pretending that you care for me, my brother and my mummy...when it is you who has taken her place....and now you have the audacity to offer her dessert?...she's is not a poor person who needs your charity..." I said with venom dripping from my voice. "But Aminah, that's not what I meant.." she replied hurriedly. "Oh please, cut this drama short...Will ya?" I said chuckling sarcastically. "But Amin.......". She tries to say but im not having it."I said "enough!...how dare...." "Aminah!" Boomed my father's voice in the hall  cutting my answer to Rushda Auntie.
"How dare you talk to Rushda like that, when she's only been polite to you?"Said my father anger evident in his voice. "Polite...?"I scoffed "...daddy please...stop taking her side."i said "I'm not taking her side but look at your manners...she's older than you and that's how you are talking to her?....you are disrespecting her Aminah. These are not the manners I have taught you."Said my father in an angry tone. "You know what?...I'm going to my room....its better I go there." I replied angrily. "You better go there Aminah and fix this attitude of yours." Stated my father flatly. And I dash towards my room angry tears streaming down my cheeks....he always takes her side....ya Allah! Why does this happens to me?...I cried throwing my abaya and hijab angrily, the same fate with which my sneakers have met a moment ago. I put a hand on my mouth to block the scream that came from my mouth. "Ok Aminah stop crying, you are a strong girl....don't cry...everything happens for a reason...you shouldn't have talked to Rushda Auntie like that...that's against your manners and Allah (S.W.T) does not like those who disrespect elders." I said to my own self...I did hurt Rushda Auntie though...ya Allah! What should I do?
"Ring...ring..ring"
My train of thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my phone....ugh! Who's calling now? I'm praying Salat-al-Maghrib first. After I completed my salah...I checked my phone and saw that its Amjr bhai's missed call, so I called him back and he picked up on the first ring. "Assalamaleikum bhai ..." "Waleikumassalam Ammu, meri jaan, how have you been? " Said Amir bhai love amd concern showing in his voice. "Alhamdulilah, I've been good bhai..and you?" I said to bhai. He calls me Ammu and so does mummy but daddy and my friends call me Amy its weird but its OK, I don't mind...it's a sweet gesture. "Actually I called earlier to tell you that mummy and I am coming back to you." Said bhai. "Yes Rushda Auntie already told me.." I replied in a bored tone actually I'm a bit hurt that daddy and auntie knows that they are coming even before me."well, couldn't they shut their mouths for once, its supposed to be surprise as I wanted to surprise you suddenly but they ruin it. But yeah this time I'm not going back to Mumbai, I'm settling my business here in our childhood city and I and mummy will be permanently shifting. Said bhai happily. "What?....really bhai? I squealed in happiness.."Yes, Ammu really." Said bhai while chuckling and I jumped and squealed on my bed like a 6yr old kid."By the way, Where's mummy?, I wanna talk to her."I asked him. "Well kiddo, she's out for shopping, ya know for you." Replied bhai and then I talked to him for an hour then prayed Salat-al-Isha. Yes, I'm a practicing muslimah and I'm proud of myself. I'm not perfect I know but I try my best.
I'm descending down the stairs to the kitchen as my room is located upstairs. When I reached the turn in the hall  leading to the kitchen I came face to face with Rushda Auntie...come on Amy....you can dot it...just apologise...she's your elder. "Umm....I...I'm...uhh...I'm sorry Rushda Auntie..you are my elder.." I said and took a deep breath and then continue..."I shouldn't have talked to you like that...it was very wrong of me to disrespect you...I really am sorry...please forgive me." I said and released my breath which I didn't know I was still holding...yes I can be really dumb sometimes. She smiled kindly at me and replied "it's ok Aminah....I'm sorry too...I shouldn't have recommended that stupid idea of mine." "No, no, it's alright Auntie....you didn't mean any harm...I know...come I'll help you in serving the dinner and then we can make the dessert together like you planned." I said with honesty in my words. "Oh I would love your help for dinner but as for the dessert your daddy has already ordered chocolate pastries....you favorite na.., so I cancelled the dessert." "Oh that's alright....I should also apologize to daddy." I said, went to apologize to him and then we had our dinner in peace.  Amir bhai told me he'll be coming later because of some work issues and he himself will inform daddy.
After dinner I was washing the dishes when I remember about my bracelet but I stopped myself from calling as it is late and i know I shouldn't call her at this hour of night...ya Allah! Please don't let it get lost...it is very dear to me and you know it my lord.

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ZUBAIR'S P.O.V 

"Okay Mina, you go, I'll come after parking the car." I said to Mina. "Okay bhai." She replied. As I look into the rear view mirror, to check that there's nothing hindering the parking of the car my eyes caught something shiny at the backseat of my car....wait...shiny?...I stopped the car and went out to open the backseat door and my eyes land on a shiny piece of jewellery...a bracelet...a gold bracelet to be precise...its definitely not Mina's....then whose?. Then I remember that psycho girl that was sitting here in the backseat....stupid woman....she blurted out all those things unnecessarily..that was definitely wrong..who does she think, she is?...I hate the way she talked to me...It wasn't like I was hitting on her or something. What's her name....Mina mentioned it....um...yeah Aminah! She was twirling this bracelet around her wrist, I caught her doing that when I was looking at the rear view mirror.... yes it was an accident and I have no interest in looking at that crazy psychotic girl...but no doubt the bracelet is beautiful....it has charms, a rose, a star and a few more...but its none of my business...its gold though..I should give it to Mina.

ZUBAIR'S P.O.V (Present Time)

Ring......ring.....ring....I came out of my thoughts by the ringing of my phone...its my alarm for jogging. Ammu's bracelet...I wonder how could she left it here....after everything...and its so dear to her. Either way it reminds me of her....how I used to hold the same wrist on which she wears the same bracelet...my alarm rings again...oh no! Jogging!

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CITY PARK:

I am running non stop, it's no longer a jogging session I guess. Why am I running?...maybe to escape the tension of the case...who am I lying?...to my own self...huh! I scoffed inwardly....I'm running to escape her thoughts...those thoughts haunt me.
Ring...ring......ring.
I answered the call...and Furqan's loud voice Boomed in my ears through my ear pods...ugh this guy has a habit of sometimes speaking so loud..."careful buddy, my ears will be damaged..." "Oh sorry Zub...but where are you man?".. he asked in an enthusiastic voice...hmmm now I'm intrigued.."what's the deal Furqan, I'm out for jogging dude." I said to him
"Jogging..? He sound amused. "Yeah...jogging." "well the deal is that I need you to came back to the house."he said. "But why?...I feel better jogging." I whined."jogging?.. hahaha...seriously Zub?..the way you are panting clearly tells me just how fast you are running man.." said Furqan. "And Zub you only run like a maniac when you want to shut each and every thought out.." said Furqan. This moron knows me way too well for my own good...I sighed inwardly. "Yes Furqan dear, I'm running." I replied to him in an irritated tone. "Then be back in 10 mins as I'll be outside your house in 10 mins."he said."Okay but why?" I asked. I still don't get the enthusiasm in his voice. "Because Zub my beloved bro I think i have a clue about the constable receiving threats from a person." Said Furqan in a matter of fact tone. Now I get the enthusiasm in his voice..."what? And you are telling about it to me now...instead of all the crap we had talked about you should have told me this news the moment you called....you fool...ugh!...not a word Furqan, I'm coming. And now I'm running towards my house like a mad man because I would do anything to solve this case...literally and figuratively...anything.