Deceitful Hearts

Chapter 1

It was a happy day today. It's been five years after dad's accident that we were celebrating the first jouyous occasion in the family. My sister, Aimal was getting engaged to her "soulmate", as she likes to call him. I had to spend many late nights listening to her ranting about how Faiz was just the person for her. And when I couldn't take her ranting anymore, I, as a big, responsible sister, had to take the next step of talking to my mother and brother about it. 

Well obviously my talk worked since she was getting engaged today. 

The engagement venue was adorned with fairy lights strung across wooden beams, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. Tables are dressed in crisp white linens with burlap table runners, decorated with mason jar centerpieces filled with wildflowers. Since it's early in the evening soft acoustic melodies are being played allowing guests to mingle and converse comfortably. But as the night progresses, after the exchange of rings the music will transition to a lively one for everyone to dance and celebrate a little. 

Faiz and Aimal are sitting on the stage and are not being discreet about talking and laughing with each other despite my mother telling Aimal throughout the day again and again to act a little shy on stage. I made my way to her in my gorgeous 'tea' pink maxi and sat down next to her rather uncharacteristically since my heels were starting to hurt my feet now and it was not even that late in the night. 

Leaning close to her, I whispered in her ear while smiling politely to a few guests looking our way,

 "Don't let mama catch you acting all shy around the guests."

She rolled her eyes, "Don't remind me, I did try to act nice for the first few hours but now I already want to exchange the rings and eat the food. I am very happy that it's my engagement party but I am a little tired acting as a display to the guests all evening." 

Is this girl crazy? 

"My heels are killing me too but Saif bahi hasn't arrived yet so we cannot exchange rings without him. Have some patience." 

It was a week of consecutive late nights working at the office for my brother, Saif. I had noticed for the past few days that he would appear more exhausted and frustrated every time he would come home from his work. 

"Don't wait for me so late," he had said one night after I had served him food.  

I placed my hand on my waist and made a surprised expression, 

"Oh my, your mother will have me by the neck if I don't serve his precious son food and I know you won't eat yourself and go to bed hungry that is if you sleep nowadays." 

He just smiled at me because of my dramatic response and indicated to sit beside him.

"You'll tell if something is bothering you right bahi?" 

"Yes Amara. I will. Don't worry your nasty head over it." He laughed tiredly as he patted my head and took his plate towards the sink. An uneasy feeling made its way inside my chest but that day I ignored it. 

And now today uneasiness creeped inside me again as I failed to see his familiar face in the crowd. He promised he wouldn't be late to his sister's engagement party. 

"Okay, don't worry. I'll call Saif and ask him where he is. I am sure he must be on his way." 

I made my way down the stage towards my mother who was busy exchanging pleasantries with Faiz's mother and brother, Shehryaar. Although not too fond of their mother because of her overbearing personality that she had expressed on certain occasions I really like Faiz and Shehryaar. Shehryaar at the age of just thirty was a business 'tycoon' and had that dark vibe going around him. But not once had he expressed his attitude towards me or Aimal but instead had always talked with us with a softened expression and a polite smile on his face.