Deadly Stalker

Chapter II: Favourite Brother

"Can you please put your left leg forward and place your hand on your hip?", Tuba asked me.

" You could have just told me to pose. You know I am not dumb", I said trying to be irritated but failing miserably.

You must be wondering what we were up to. Well, after Tuba telling me her great 'news', which turned out to be not so great, we decided to do some blogging. I have a YouTube and Instagram page where I promote modest clothing and how you can wear different styles while being modest. Today I was wearing a pinky brown abaya with white pants and a similar top and heels.

Tuba is a photographer and and helps me posting HD pictures of my clothing so that it is convenient for my followers. Her great 'news' was also about her work. She had been accepted by her favourite magazine as a photographer. And here I was thinking that she was getting married. Well, you can't blame me for thinking like that because her family had been bringing so many proposals for her that she had lost count. Maybe I am exaggerating, but the proposals were too many. But Tuba being Tuba always said no. It wasn't like she didn't want to marry, but she was waiting for a right time.

Tuba was the only person left to be married in her family. Her family consisted of three sisters excluding her and two brothers, both married. Her family is very big but everyone stays like one,helping each other in the other's time of difficulties.

"You are spoiling my perfect shot", Tuba whined.

" You can't blame me. It feels like forever standing in this position and you are just clicking away, waiting for your perfect shot", I was now standing before her with hands on my hips trying to act serious.

After posing for a little more shots, we called off our so called 'photoshoot'. I uploaded the pictures on Instagram with a caption that said "If you asks yourself, I bet you will hear from your heart, you were never more beautiful than you are now". I had always liked to put the caption a little difficult so that the readers will have to think about it. But this one was way to easy as compared to the previous ones. I had decided to out this one because its beautiful. The way it says about hijab is awesomely written.

This one will receive more likes and comments. I thought.

Tuba packed up her things and I waited for her. Her house was two blocks away from mine, so I decided to drop her on my way.

******
"As Salaamun Alaikum Mama! I am home", I shouted.

"Geez Zara, you don't have to shout like this", a deep, manly voice behind me said. It was a familiar voice. I slowly turned around to see who the person was and my suspicions were correct. My brother stood in the doorway with a traveller bag in hand, looking all perfect. His honey brown eyes twinkling in the sunlight that was falling on his face. His perfectly tousled hair and light stubble were as warm as shades of summer.

I jumped directly in his arms and attacked him with a hug. It had been so many years since I saw him last. I pulled away and shouted, more louder this time, Mama and Sarah. I was supposed to call Sarah 'zawjat akh' which meant sister-in-law in Arabic, but when I called her by 'zawjat akh' on the first day after her marriage, she told me to call by her name as she is technically my sister. I had readily accepted it as 'zawjat akh' was sort of weird. Using an Arabic word in an English sentence is bound to be weird.

"Ya Allah Zara, what is wrong with you? Why are you shouting like this?", Mama shouted back from the kitchen. After that I heard footsteps in the hallway and then Mama's face came in view. She stopped dead in her tracks, as her hands involuntarily flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp. She looked like a teenager seeing her boyfriend after a very long time. I chuckled, looking at her expression to which she composed herself and made her way towards us.

She stopped in in front of us and stepped aside, giving her some space to again attack
Zaman in another hug. After hanging my coat on the coat's rack and removing my shoes, I headed inside to inform everyone about Zaman's arrival. First I went in my older brother's room, who is currently working from home as his wife Sarah is pregnant with twins and her due date is near. I knocked on the door and Sarah opened the door. She invited me in and I spotted Zameer sitting on the couch with a laptop. You must be thinking why I call my brothers by their names. Actually it was their wish to be called by their names as they think think that calling them Akhi, they feel like they are already old. I have weird brother, don't I?

" Akhi, Zaman is here", I said excitedly. He immediately snapped his head up, looking excited as well but then his expression changed.

"Stop joking Zara! I have more important work to do now. Besides, he is supposed to be in London, not here", he said.

" Go down and for yourself ", I said before closing the door. I was on the stairs when I heard his bedroom door open. I crossed my hands on my chest and raised an eyebrow at him which he ignored and continued walking down the stairs.

You must have noticed how everyone's name starts with 'Z'. Mama's name is Zahra while my Baba's name is Zaid. The only exception if of Sarah. While searching for a bride for Zameer, Baba had joked that the first priority in Mama's list will be the name starting with 'Z'. Because of this Mama had become offended. After that we never tried to bring out this topic, because according to Mama you should not make fun of Names.

" Oh my God!", I heard someone shouting from the living room. It was Zameer. I went in the living room and saw that he was under Zaman and had both started fighting, like the old times.

"Stop shouting like a girl, Zameer", I said and Zaman giggled.

" Move away you big fat....", before he could say anything my mom glared at him.

I have all weird people in my family. I rushed back to what I was doing before and while rushing I slipped and fell down.

"What are you doing down there?", Zameer asked me.

" The floor was feeling lonely, so I decided to hug him", I said sarcastically.

And this how our verbal fight began.....

******
We were sitting at the dining table when Zaman brought up the topic of my marriage.

"I have heard you are getting married, Zara", Zaman said with a playful smirk on his lips and Baba quietly chuckled. Zameer laughed and Sarah smiled. Mama was the only one with a neutral expression, but I could see that she was trying to suppress a giggle. I choked on the water that I was drinking. Unable to breath, I had to spit it out causing Sarah to pat on my back and me to cough. Unfortunately I had spat out the water on my plate and had to throw away the food. I looked in Zaman's direction and saw him smirking. I glared at him before getting up to throw away the dish, but not before kicking him in the shin.

I knew my parents were searching for a nice 'boy' who would like to marry me, but I never thought that this time would come so early. I had no objection in marrying, be it now or later, you have to marry someday, but the thought that I would have to live with a stranger was sending shivers down my spine. I know its not that much of a deal but still I was scared. I wanted someone who would understand me and give me some space, but looking at my cousins I don't think I will ever get the latter part.

This was going to be hell of a night. I knew Zaman wouldn't drop off this topic unless and until he gets a valid answer for it, which I am not going to give.

******

Salaamun alaikum guys!!
The picture of Zara's photoshoot is on the top. Do check it out.
How was the chapter? Did you like it? Please do vote and comment. You don't know your comments has this huge effect on me that I smile reading your comments. My family thinks I have a boyfriend. *laughs*
But don't you dare stop commenting. Your comments make my day.
Anyways have a good day/night whatever!!
:) :) :)