Love, Law and Crime

Chapter 7

Flashback continues:
"Amy, Zaynab, Dia and Alia this is my mother Mrs. Arwa Ibrahim Ahmad and my brother Mr. Zubair Ibrahim Ahmad."she said gesturing towards them and I noticed that her never once made eye contact with any of us. "Assalamaleikum Mrs. Ahmad." I and Zaynab said in unison."Hello Mrs Ahmad."greeted Dia and Alia together. Mrs. Ahmad is a beautiful woman masha'allah, definitely in her mid or maybe late 40s and now, I know that how does Zubair sahab has those beautiful hazel orbs. "Waleikumassalam and hello to you too girls..and please call me Arwa auntie or whatever you girls please but don't be that formal....you all are my Mina's friend after all.."said Mrs...Ahm....I mean Arwa auntie politely..hmm...she's sweet just like Mina or I say Mina is like her mother...but why does her brother have that grim expression as always....uff...only Allah knows best. After the greetings we engage in a chat with Mina and her mother, she compliments me on my speech and said she liked my confidence a lot. In the meantime Zubair sahab excused himself...definitely feeling uncomfortable between so many girls. I can see that Mina has the features of her mother like small button nose and small chin, however, her eyes are a shade of hazel brown probably like her father, I guess and her brother has those mesmerising eyes of their mother. Zubair sahab returned and said to his mother to eat something and take the medicine on which mina replied that she had already made her Amma eat something and had also given her medication, probably to show her brother that she's a responsible person...she's like that...she once told me that she's the baby of the family so she wasn't very responsible but now she's trying to become a more mature person...masha'allah. We made small talk with them but suddenly Mina said "sorry yrr girls, my brother actually don't talk to non mahrams unless and until its for work or emergency. So, please don't mind him, he's a bit rude too sometimes....I think Amy you know that very well that he doesn't talk much as you have experienced his silence too."she finished while laughing and four pair of eyes turned towards me and for Zubair sahab I know he's trying to act like he's invisible. Great! Just awesome! Ya Allah! Help me! "But, Amy if you ask questions about court and law degrees to bhai, then it will be hard to stop my brother from speaking non stop."added Mina jokingly. I wish the ground could swallow me. Shut up Mina! I screamed in my head. "I think that's enough Minal."said her brother in an extremely calm tone but I can tell that he's annoyed too because he used her full name and she told me that her family only calls her Mina. "Stop teasing your brother Mina.." scolded her mother very politely. Is she even scolding her? I laughed in my head but Mina muttered fine and all under her breath and we took our leave. As I'm walking, three sets of eyes are boring holes at the back of my head as all three of my girlfriends are behind me. I stopped and asked them "what?!" "What Amy? Really?....you know that hot dude and you experienced his silence too and you didn't tell us just how exactly did you experienced his silence?" Questioned Alia in her reporter tone. "Eww! Alia! Yuck! That sounds so dirty."said Zaynab and we all stated laughing like idiots. "But Amy, tell us na how do you know that handsome hunk? And his eyes! Uff! So pretty, he looks like a model straight out of a magazine in his black leather jacket, black jeans and white t-shirt."said Dia while sighing dreamily. "Well....." I said while chewing my bottom lip and then told them how I bumped into him, said some stupid words and end up with him dropping me home and Mina was also present in the car. "That was a month ago and you're telling us about this now and only because Mina mentioned it otherwise you wouldn't have told us."said Zaynab, she looks.....umm mad? "Well, because it's not a big deal." I replied while sighing. "Really?"asked Alia. Before I could say anything Dia saved me by saying.."yrr let it be na....you know our Amy, she's not into guys....she'll definitely die a virgin."and they all started laughing. Bach gyi mai...(I'm saved)....alhamdulilah. Dia smiled at me reassuringly and I smiled in return mouthing a thank you, she really is a darling.
I took my phone out of my abaya's pocket and there's notification of 7 missed calls, four from Amir bhai and three from mummy. It means, they are here. Thank you so much Allah Ta'ala. Thank you so much. After so long they come back here...alhamdulilah. part of me is sad that they missed my speech but it's okay atlewst they are here. Daddy and Rushda Auntie didn't come for obvious reasons as mummy and bhai wouldn't be comfortable in their presence....especially bhai.....I don't know when will he forgive daddy. I sighed inwardly and in a cheery voice informed my friend "yrr mummy and Amir bhai......they are here."and they all squeal in delight and as for Zaynab madam, she turned into a shade of tomato.....yep!! She has a crush on Amir bhai...I don't know since when...because she never told us, we all guessed it but yeah it's definitely since a long time. I, Dia and Alia ate hooting like stupid boys. "Okay, come they are at row no.5." I told them as I saw Amir bhai's text informing me of their arrival and where they have taken a seat. As soon I spotted my brother I ran so fast and launch myself at him..his steps falter a little but he balanced himself as masha'allah he's a very strong and tall man. He wrapped his arms around me and picked me up, twirling me while still hugging me in that small space. He put me down and I said.."Assalamaleikum Amir bhai." I said my voice full of so many emotions....longing, love, care and all those emotions which a sister feels when meeting her brother after almost 6 months. "Waleikumassalam kiddo..." he replied pinching my cheeks. If it would've been any other day I would've whined like a baby over him calling me a kiddo and pinching my cheek but not today. "Ammu, meri jaan...kaisi hai tu pagal ladki?(Ammu, my life, how are you crazy girl?)" He continued, his voice showing his love and concern for his younger sister. "I'm good...alhamdulilah. I replied. "How are you giraffe?" I asked him...yes! He's tall, like 6'1 so I called him giraffe...hmm Zubair sahab is as tall as Amir Bhai...he's also a giraffe then....Astagfirullah! Why am I thinking about him..its wrong! Astagfirullah! "Couldn't be better shortie."replied Amir bhai, obviously teasing me but I'm not short...I'm 5'4 alhamdulilah. "Ammu meri pyari beti....(my beloved daughter)" comes a voice, oh so familiar with so much emotions, only a mother's voice could show. "Mummy?" I whispered while turning towards my mother and embracing her....crying like a baby.....I don't care that we are in the middle of a University function.. and I can't control my tears when my mummy is also crying. We break the embrace and I said whilst crying "Assalamaleikum mummy, I missed you so much.....so very much.....I love you so much and tell me how are you?."Waleikumassalam, my sweetheart...I'm good..alhamdulilah.........I love so much more than you could ever imagine my princess and I also miss you very much."said Mummy, she's also still crying. "And how are you by the way?" "Alhamdulilah...mai bahut achi hu.(I'm very well)."I replied crying and chuckling respectively. "Ughhh! Women!"said Amir bhai clearly feeling awkward because of this much emotions. "Shut up duffer!" Mummy and I said in unison and everyone started laughing.....even Amir bhai joined us too. "Assalamaleikum Auntie and Amir bh...." before Zaynab could finish her sentence Dia and Alia shouted in unison..."Oh my god! Suhaila Auntie....hiii...how have you been Auntie."definitely saving Zaynab from calling my brother bhai. It feels bad to call your crush bhai(brother) after all. They are hilarious. "Waleikumassalam."replied both mummy and bhai. "I'm good Dia and Alia...what about both of you?"Said mummy and I have to step back as all three of my girls embrace my mother in a warm hug. They all are very close to mummy as whenever I went to Mumbai, I took them with me too....since we've become friends. "How are you Amir bhai?" "What's up Amir bhai."asked Alia and Dia simultaneously. "I'm doing good Alia and Dia...how are you both?"said my bhai definitely not making eye contact to both of them as they are non-mahrams. He's always been a very modest guy...alhamdulilah. "w are good bhai."both of them replied to bhai. "If you ladies excuse me....umm..." said bhai while rubbing the nape of his neck. He's so nervous and uncomfortable...he didn't even wait for us to reply him or say anything and dissapper in the crowd just like Zubair sahab excused himself. Shut up Aminah! I scolded myself...Astagfirullah! Astagfirullah! All the ladies started giggling and so do I "Girls you know Amir...he's shy....don't mind him."said mummy. "Ofcourse Auntie Suhaila, we don't mind at all...we know Amir bhai.."said Dia still giggling. Both of them consider my brother like their own brother.

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I'm currently sitting and enjoying some refreshments with my friends and mummy. Ofcourse, bhai is nowhere to be foundafter providing us with the refreshments and Zaynab also gave us the pasta and it was red sauce pasta, my favourite. I'm eating my pasta contently as it's Tabeen's turn to host the function as I'm taking some rest but the end of the function is to be hosted by meand Dia and Alia are also done with their performances. Zaynab is chatting with my mother so freely and mummy is also very indulge in the topic they are talking about and the three of us....we are tired so we are enjoying our refreshments quietly, paying no attention to their conversation. We haven't watch much of the function as it consists mostly of music and all...except Alia, all three of us are not big fans of music and dancing....Zaynab and I have religious reasons but Dia just find them absurd....its funny as more than half of the young generation are indulge in music and dancing and we three doesn't even have an ounce of interest...alhamdulilah though it's people choice...who am I to judge? No one. I'm not perfect myself then why would I criticise someone else?

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"So, guys finally that's the last performance of today....please....they do deserve a huge applause, come on people...."I said amd the crowd erupted with hooting, shouting and clapping. "And now, I would like to invite our chief guest Mr..********** and our chancellor Mrs. Nira Sinha on stage to present the awards to the winners."I said my final line for the day. It's over....I sighed inwardly and went to stand next to my family and friends only to be stopped by someone grabbing the sleeve of my abaya....pulling me at a shady corner of backstage. I was about to scream but someone put a handkerchief on my mouth and fear crept inside me...ya Allah! Help me...I prayed silently.