Blossom

18

⚜️ Z A R A H P O V ⚜️I waited in his car as he got out of it. My hands are shaking; it feels like my heart is going to pound out of my chest. I was nervous, but at the same time, I was scared.

My grandma hated me since my father passed away. She thought that it was my fault that he died. If I weren’t such an annoying brat, always asking for stuff, then he wouldn't have gone out that day to buy me a stuffed teddy bear. He would have stayed home to do his work.

"Come on, Zarah?" called Walid bhai, standing outside the car. 

"What if she yelled at me like last time?" I muttered, looking at the familiar house.

"Don't worry. I'll be there with you," he promised, opening my side of the door. 

"Okay."

I got out of the car and started to follow him to the house. The house that held my childhood and all the lost memories. The house where I use to live as a child. It was very emotional for me at this moment. I never thought that I would see this house ever again, and here I am standing in front of it.

I took a glance around the place. Nothing has changed since I was last here. The same old treehouse was still at the center of the front porch that my father had built for us when we were a child. The water fountain is still running clean water. 

"Come in," he offered.

I quietly entered the house. When I stepped into the house, millions of memories gushed through my mind. The flashback of me running around the house while my father chased me. The time I fall down the stairs and dad holding me as if he was afraid to lose me.

"Oh, my dear child! Look at you!! All grown up," I heard a shaky old voice.

I spun around to see my grandmother standing there with a great big smile. Her grin was huge; it could light up this house. I was surprised that she was thrilled to see me.

My grandpa wasn't that type of person that smiled a lot; everyone feared him. He would roll the house with his deep voice. After my grandpa passed away, she took charge of the house. Well, that's what I heard from my father.

"Don't just stand there, come and give your old woman a hug?" she commanded in a soft voice.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum," I fretted, standing couple inches away from her.

"Walaikum salaam. How are you? You have grown into such a beautiful young lady," she commented, walking closer to me. 

"Thank you. I am fine. How about you? How are you?" I questioned.

"Ah, you know this old body. I am here and there. Barely have any strength in me," she joked.

"You should take some breaks," I suggested.

"Nonsense. Who is going to look after this house if I take a break," she stated.

"Why? Uncle will."

"Stop standing there and give your old grandma a big hug," she ordered. This time her voice was firm. 

At first, I was fighting inside me on whether to hug her or not. Not that I hate her or anything. I was just anxious that she will behave like back then. I stopped this thought when I was pulled into a tight hug.

At first, I was too startled by the sudden movement. However, in the end, I hugged her back tightly. After all, I did miss her. Even though sometimes grandma can be a bit scary.

"I have so much to talk to you about," she pulled back, "but first, let's go inside and have a little chat about your life."

"Grandma, I got to go. Dusty calls," he waved his phone around. Grandma nodded her head in approval. 

"How's everything?" I questioned, walking behind her.

"Everything is fine. The house is quiet without you," she sighs.

"I do miss this place," I looked around.

"This place misses you," she chuckled, taking a seat, "tell me how everything is."

"Besides that, I find out that my 'mother' is not my real mother everything is going well. My husband is an FBI Agent. He barely stays home.”

"I heard about everything. I wanted to go to your wedding, but I know things won't turn outright. There is so much that you don't know about; I am going to tell you everything," she promised.

"Please do."

"You might want to sit down for this. Your father, he didn't really die in a car accident," she stated.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered, frowning my eyebrows. How is this possible? What he still alive? 

⚜️ A H M E D P O V ⚜️"We got another case. An 18-year-old female was stabbed multiple times and was left outside on the New York busy street," Penolopy informed, walking in with her high heels clicking against the marble floor. 

"How many times exactly are we talking about?" Red asked

"About 15 times," she sighs, shaking her head, "I can't even imagine that.” 

We began to dig a little deeper into the case to see if we can find any clues from the photograph. It wasn’t easy to see the pictures because it was disturbing and unpleasant to the human eye. 

"Wheel ups in 5," Hotch informed, gathering the case file. 

"Already?" I looked at them. I can’t believe this. We are already leaving for another case; I just returned home. We just got back from solving one case, and that one took more than a month. How in the world am I suppose to explain this to my wife? I can't live without her. What am I going to do? She will be so mad when she hears I am off to another state for another case.

"Welcome to Federal Government Job, Mr. Imran, this is how we roll," smirked JJ, patting my shoulders. I released a big sigh. Then an idea popped into my mind; I quickly took out my to text Sofa. 

Ahmed: Hey monkey 

Sofia: What do you want? -.-

Ahmed: Cover for me?

Sofia: Again? Fine, but you own me this time. 

Ahmed: Thank you! Your the best! 

Sofia: Alright, be safe. I will try my best to explain it to her. Come home safely. If not, I am dragging you out of your coffin. 

Ahmed: You're a lifesaver! LMAO! I will try it. Take care of her for me. 

Sofia: Don’t worry, I will! Bye

"Come one, man. Let's go," Rossi walked into the office room. 

"Yeah, I will be there," I called, outputting my phone back in my pocket. 

"Something seems to bother you. If you don't mind me asking, what is it?" Russia questioned. 

"I have a new wife at home. I left her to go to the case we did a couple of months ago. And now I have to leave again. I don't want her to get any wrong idea about me not liking her or anything. She went through a lot before our marriage," I replied, with a deep breath. 

"She will understand," he assures, walking out the door, “she probably needs some time to adjust to all this.” 

"I just hope so," I said under my breath.