Blossom

11

3RD POV

Ahmed was getting ready for work. Today was his off day, but they called him because one of the officers called in a sick day. So, he has to take over the ill officer’s shift. He reached out for his uniform and entered the bathroom to change. After changing, he exited his room.

"Bhai? Where are you going?" asked his little sister.

"To work," Ahmed answered her slowly. He wasn’t sure why his sister was asking him that question.

"But you said you didn't have any work," she crossed her hand over her chest.

"I did have the day off. Until they called me in to cover for another office," he explained.

"What about my friend's wedding?" she questioned.

"I will be there. I promise,” he patted her head gently.

"Fine, you better be there," she warned with a smile.

"All right. You drive safe, okay," he kissed her head.

Ahmed kissed his mother's cheek before heading out to work. He wasn't busy today, yet he was glad that they called Ahmed. He was supposed to go to a wedding with his sister. He didn't feel like going to any wedding, especially where there will be many girls. He despised that. Every time he goes to one of those Desi parties, every girl is either trolling on him.

'We have a runner at road Fall Back Court at 20th street,' he heard from the radio.

'I am close to it. I got this,' he informed through his radio.

He pushed the gas and speed through ahead. He spotted a car. It was a 2017 Subaru BRZ and sped ahead of him; he turned on his lights and sirens.

"This is the police. Pullover," he spoke with a strong voice.

"Damn it!" he slammed the steering wheel, seeing the car sped up even faster than before.

He stopped seeing other cops block the pathway for this car to go anywhere. He got out of the car and grabbed his gun. As he walked close to the car, he had his gun pointed toward it. Once he was in front of the car door, he swung it open.

"Get out of the damn car!" he ordered.

"What you are gonna do if I don't," the man challenged.

"I will shoot you five times at the same spot and skin you alive. And if you are still not convinced with this answer, I will beat you to death," Ahmed accepted his challenge.

"Okay! Okay! I am getting out," the man surrenders with his hands up.

Just then, he punched Ahmed in the face before running away. Ahmed chuckled, shaking his head. He watches the man run out; a new cop came running to him.

"He is getting away," he pointed.

"Don't worry; he won't go far," Ahmed chuckled.

"What?" the cop looked confused.

"Look," Ahmed pointed at the police car that pulled in front of him.

"A job well done. Just like always," Hunter patted Ahmed's back.

"Thanks, old man," Amhed smirked.

"Hey now, no need to get there," Hunter said.

"Look, I gotta-"

"I know. You can leave. Your sister called me before you came saying that you need to go to a wedding or something," Hunter cut him off.

"She did?"

"Yeah"

"Okay, then. I will see you later.

"All right."

Ahmed got in his car and drove home. He quickly got in the shower. Ahmed walked out of his bathroom; he got ready for the wedding. He took a suit out of his closet and put it on. Getting in his 2016 Porsche Cayman, he drove away.

Z A R A H P O V 

"What are you talking about? You are not fooling me with one of your stupid pranks," I chuckled as I playfully smacked her, “don’t play with me like that!”

"Zarah! This isn't a prank," Mariam said.

"Stop lying, Mariam! I won't fall for it," I sigh in exhaustion.

"She is not," Ayan stepped forehead.

"Stop lying! Mariam would never do that to me. Do you want to know why? Because we are sisters for life. We are best friends for life. We always have each other back. She would never betray me," I snapped at him.

"Well, this time, I am not lying. I seriously did marry him," yelled Mariam, pulling me closer to her face.

"Wh-what?" I stumbled back

"I married him, Zarah, because I love him and he loves me too. We love each other," she explained, stepping closer to me. Her eye turned soft as she looked at me.

The first moments felt like what I imagine an earthquake feels like profound destabilization, a foundation giving way to an abyss. But I've never felt an earthquake. The closest analog in my own experience was to hearing of my sister. It was a lot like that. This hurts; this is disappointing, maybe even devastating.

"How could you?" I snapped at her. I didn’t know what I even did to her. I have always tried to be the best sister for her. Where did I go wrong for her to take these giant steps?

"I am sorry," she cried out.

"No, you are not! If you were sorry, you wouldn't do this to me," I shouted at her.

"Zarah, don't make a scene," mom grabbed my elbow tightly.

"I am not making any scene. She is. Did you not see what she did," I cried out, looking at mom.

"I am well aware of what she did," mom calmly spoke.

"How can you stay so calm about this?" I questioned her.

"Stop overreacting. We can't undo what happened," mom released a sigh.

"Are you-are you taking her side, mom? After seeing what she did to me," my eye widened.

"Come to one, Zarah. Let's go to your room," mom took my elbow painfully and started to pull me.

I snatched my elbow from her, "no! I want to know, first, why did she do it!"

"Zarah," she warned.

I ignored her. I stormed to my sister and shook her by her shoulder, "how can you do this to me? Why did you do it? What did I ever do to you?"

"I had to do it! I didn't mean to fall in love with him. I just-it just happened," she cried out.

"What about our promises? The promise we made," I looked at her.

"It means nothing to me now," she walked to Ayan and wrapped her hands around his biceps, "I have him. I love him."

"So that's it. All the memories that we had, you are just going to throw it away for a guy?" I asked her in shock.

"I-I"

"You know what, don't answer it," I put my hand in front of me

"Zarah," Sofia spoke softly.

"Leave me alone," I mumbled, turning around, running up to my room.

I locked my door and slid down against the door. I pulled my knees close to my chest as I let the tear slip out of my face. I got up and stood in front of the mirror. I looked at the girl in front of me. Broken.

I snatched my bangles and threw them across the room. I started to rip every jewelry off me. I wiped off my makeup; my knees fall on the ground. Tears were running down non-stop.

Why did you do it, Mariam? Why?