A Delightful Tragedy

02. Secrets

S H A R I Q' S P O V

Her height must be around 5'5", but her ego? Easily double her entire stature.

I didn't ask why she cried or the reason behind it, but I had a pretty good idea.

Being the gentleman I am, I couldn't stand to see her cry. Now, don't start with me—I've been raised to act with respect. But then, why don't I look away when I see her? That's a question I ask myself. Somehow, I just can't. But I'm going to try.

My thoughts broke when Uméma snatched the kerchief from my hand.

"Go inside," I said.

She looked up, her turquoise eyes glaring at me. Her stare held for a few moments, unfazed, before she huffed and turned away.

"Pagal," I muttered.

"Don't talk too much!" she snapped, throwing the kerchief back at my face.

I shrugged and sighed, turning to look at the starry night. How many people are out there suffering in the world? I wish I could help all of them... I wish.

After soaking in the night sky for a while—a personal favorite of mine—I decided to head back to the function.

"Shariq! Where have you been, old man?" said my little, not-so-little, brother, Shehroz.

"How many times has Mom told you to call me bhai?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"And how many times have I told you not to call me 'midget'?" He air-quoted dramatically.

"I call you midget because you are one!"

"Then I call you Shariq because that's your name."

I rolled my eyes. Teenagers these days... ugh.

"Not my problem if you call me by name, but Mom might not feel the same..."

"Anyway, answer me—where were you?" he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"And since when are you so interested?"

"Just curious. I saw Uméma, but you weren't arguing with her for once."

"Do we have to argue every time we meet?" Not that he's wrong...

"Shariq, come here, beta." Mom called me over.

"Yes, Mom?"

"You too, Shehroz." I motioned to him as he tried to sneak away.

"Uh, bhai, you go. I'll join later." Suddenly, he's calling me bhai?

"If you think I'm going to tattle to Mom, relax, I'm not a snitch, unlike you."

"Really? You're not going to tell her I called you by your name?"

"Let's go," I said, shaking my head with a chuckle.

"Yes, Mom?" I said, standing by her.

"I just called to remind him I'm the favorite," Shehroz chimed in.

"Oh, please. Everyone knows you're adopted." I grinned playfully.

"Stop your nonsense, you two. You're both equally my favorites," Mom smiled. "Anyway, Shariq, should we tell... her?"

My face fell. I'd hoped we wouldn't have to do this.

"Mom, telling me just now isn't helping—and now you want me to tell her too? She won't take it well."

"Do you remember it was your father who wanted this? He's fully on board."

"You're putting me in a tough spot," I muttered. "Fine. We'll reveal it when the time's right."

"Masha'Allah! Look how sensible you've become!"

"Well, I am twenty-five!" I laughed, heading off as Mom called after me to "join the ladies-group."

"Hey, Majnu, where's your Layla?" Rahim teased as I rejoined the gathering.

"Why do you always have to tease me?"

"It's my job as Cupid!" he declared.

"Right. You're going to fail miserably this time."

"We'll see." He smirked. "Oh, and what's with all the fighting with her?"

"She always starts it!"

"And the name-calling?"

"So you're on her side now? Whatever happened to 'brothers before others'?"

"For me, it's 'sisters before misters,'" he chuckled. "You know she's like a sister to me."

"Lovely. I just had to witness this," I muttered sarcastically.

Rahim's phone rang, and he excused himself.

Suddenly, the "majesty" appeared. Uméma spotted me and threw a line my way: "Your brother's looking for you, garbage bag."

I scanned around. "I don't see a mirror, so who exactly are you talking to?"

"My, my, people really have become dumb," she huffed. "I'm talking to you, idiot."

"If you only knew how clueless you sound every time you open your mouth..."

"You think every time I speak to you, I'm insulting you?" she asked, pulling off an innocent look. "I'm just describing you." She scoffed and walked away.

"Don't waste my time," she called over her shoulder. "Go meet your brother and stop bothering me."

Her face was red with annoyance, which for some reason, amused me.

I was about to follow Rahim when I noticed Uméma bump into a man. She tried to apologize, but he raised his voice and grabbed her wrist.

"Let go of her wrist," I said firmly, walking over. Her anxious eyes met mine, and I could feel my temper rise.

"Then what about her? She bumped into me and spilled her drink all over me!" he snapped.

"Shariq, it was an accident," I heard Uméma murmur, her voice soft and uncertain. When I looked back, her eyes were wide and vulnerable. Ah, not those eyes.

"I understand," I said, nodding at her reassuringly.

Turning back to the man, I continued, "It was a mistake, and I'm sorry on her behalf. But you have no right to speak to her like that. Apologize to her."

"It's not my faul—"

"Or I could just call the police," I interrupted, keeping my tone steady.

"Fine, fine. I'm sorry, miss. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way," he muttered, his tone finally surrendering.

"And?" I prompted, not letting him off so easily.

"And for grabbing your wrist like that," he added, reluctantly.

Uméma gave a quiet, "It's okay," before he stalked off, and she quickly turned to leave as well.

I caught up with her, leaning in with a lighthearted, "You're welcome."

She glanced at me briefly, surprising me with a quick, "Thank you," before darting off. This girl was impossible to predict.

"So, brother, care to explain that heroic act?" Rahim teased, slinging his arm over my shoulder, appearing out of nowhere.

"Explain what?"

"I saw everything. I was looking for you when I spotted you stepping up to that guy after Uméma bumped into him," he said, eyebrows raised suggestively.

"I was just defending my fiancée," I replied nonchalantly.

Asalamualaikum and hello people!! A cliffhanger and a plot twist! WHAT DID JUST HAPPEN?! Were you guys expecting that? Let me know in the comments. I hope y'all are liking it so far. Don't forget to click on the star icon. Until then thank you, bye, stay home, AllahHafiz and take care ^_^

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