Edited by WhiteHeart 💞💞💞
I honestly believe myself to be the kind of person who is very open about how I feel about stuff. Generally, this makes me a very opinionated person however half the things I say I don't really mean. Often this results in me having a hard time communicating with normal people as I come off as aggressive, arrogant and unstable sometime crazy stubborn and ill tempered. I'm not completely denying it but I believe myself to be a very blunt person.
Toby is good looking. If it wasn't for his track record I would have swooned like a few girls I'd seen around him had. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive him for what he and his cousin Ethan did to my brother that day which pretty much clears up how I see him. Under his dashing charming good looks is a monster. Regardless of what halo his good looks gave him the truth shattered it all and made a mess at his feet.
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I was browsing through my laptop when someone barged into my room with a loud klang as the door hit the wall.
"Maria I need a pair of shoes for this event I'm going to tomorrow" Sarina demanded as soon as she spotted me
"Rina Salam to you too."
"Oh yeah Salam So I need open heels for the event." She continued completely brushing me off and making me wish I had a soft blunt object in my hands so that I could hit her with it without hurting her too much.
"Try the blue flowery platform heels and wear it with that beautiful baby dress you have." I spoke out loud coming back to reality. " The look will add some color to your life." I continued getting a snide remark in.
"Are you insulting me or giving me fashion advice." She asked in a warning tone with fire in her eyes. At this point it usually the smart thing to just keep my mouth shut. Sarina often had wild mood swings and it was just one of the quirks you get used to after awhile.
"Are you going to see Bilal again." I asked curious. Sadly, I'm not smart as I claim to be and didn't always follow my own advice.
"Well after the conference I will" She surprisingly answered usually she was tight lipped a out anything to do with Bilal.
"I still can't believe you're seeing Bilal" I continued taking a risk and testing my courage. Since the two were opposites it's hard to imagine they were going out and they are now just two months away from their wedding. Who would have guessed when they first got together that they would even get past the 'getting to know you' stage without hating each other. The lord works in mysterious ways.
After Sarina left I decided on calling Aziza just to say hello before I had to get ready for work.
"So how are my sons doing?" I asked Aziza with a wide smile on my face. "I hope Hamza isn't still making that funny face when he's thinking. The one where he squints his eyes and wrinkle his nose kinda thing" I continued thinking lovingly of one of the most adorable children I knew.
"Yeah he still does that it's just that Hisham got into a fight with some kids at school. This is the second fight this week and he's driving me to the edge I don't know what to do with him" Aziza sighed with her voice was filled with worry.
"Aren't him and Hamza in the same grade level" I questioned trying to find a solution.
"Yeah" she replied positively "but they separated them so Hamza doesn't know what's going on in the other class." She continued with worry.
"Why don't you request them to be in the same class"
"I did but it's not really working out so far especially when Hisham is acting up" Frustration shun through her voice and I could tell she'd probably tried repeatedly.
"I'm at work right now can I face time them in three hours I miss my boys" I almost pleaded sweetly trying to lift the atmosphere of the call.
"Cool with me but by then you will only be taking to them for a few minutes because they'll have to get ready for school" She reminded me.
"Sad" I said as I pouted at the phone. "I'll get what I can though. Are you coming back in for Sarina and Bilal's wedding."
"Yeah and I wouldn't miss it for the world. It's still kinda odd that Sarina ended up with him" She pointed out the obvious.
"I find it weird too but it's all on her. To her they are compatible and she likes his sense of humor" I explained "I'm happy for her since Zubair died not many things brighten her eyes and make her smile. I wish the same for Hanaan"
"In time she will, she has to. For the baby. Is she doing well. Eating?" She asked all at once.
"She has had weird cravings" I laughingly told her.
"Weirder than you?"
"One thing I know my nephew got from me is excellent taste buds. Like seriously she eats milk shake yogurt like no tomorrow. She's finished my pack at home I have to restock ever two days" I complained lightly
"Wow MashaAllah that's...a good thing. You don't need to match when he pop out. He's already a mini you. When is her due date?"
"August 21st."
"I can't wait!" She exclaimed.
"Are you going to be here then?" I asked hopeful.
"Girl I'll literally swim my way there if I have to I'm not going to miss it insha Allah" She replied making my day.
"You can't even swim." I laugh at her failed attend of exaggeration And she laughed too
"So how are you holding up?" She asked concerned.
"I'm doing good holding up trying to get through it" I replied solemnly, trying to once again prevent the tears from falling. It never was easy when somebody who cared asked.
"That's good" She pointed out slowly "If you ever need to talk call me up any time of the day. You know I don't sleep I'm always ready to talk" Aziza pointed out the obvious once again.
"Thanks Azi. You know you're the best" I mumbled sincerely slightly embarrasedÂ
"When you come back are the boys coming with you?" I asked changing the subject.
"I'm not sure about that yet. I can't leave them with a sitter they'll drive her crazy but if I take them with me they'll miss school. Daniel thinks I should bring them along with us but I don't know and I can't miss my uncle's engagement so I might just bring them alone." She ranted
Yes! I beamed inside. I loved those boys. They are the funniest weirdest adorable three year olds ever.
It's their first year in school and they were clowns already. The last time I saw them and Aziza was at my brother's funeral. She had dropped everything and took the first plane tickets here.
Unlike me she's accomplished a lot in her life. She married into one of the richest families in the world. Published two novels so far and was working on her third. Amongst all that she is also somehow managing to to raise two kids while she's still in school. It's very admirable and I'm so proud of her and blessed to have a friend like her.
Aziza is one of a kind.
After talking for a while we said out salams and hung up and I began to get ready for work.
On my way to work I stopped by 'The Place' to pick by my tea and on-the-go breakfast. As I got my food and was about to head out I accidentally smacked into a person as I was texting with one hand, holding the paper bag with my food between my teeth and my cup of tea in my other hand. Luckily my tea didn't pour on anyone but the floor. The person started to apologize as I was about to until she saw my face and I saw her covered up face
"Ugh it's you" She groaned.
"Well hello to you too Ninja" I sang with a smile on my face.
"Ninja for real now is that all you got to say?" She growled out loud making me laugh inside a little more. I was sure she was scowling behind the niqab.
If only I could see it.
"Well excuse me if I have a hard time communicating with you because I can't see you facial expression for all I know you could be a secrete undercover ninja in a niqab" I pointed out
"And for all I know you're an over grown baby. I've got an exam to study for and I don't want to waste my precious time on a thick skull idiotly ignorant persons like you." She retorted
"I guess the saying ignorance is bliss is true in your case despite the use of all the available adjectives in your vocabulary. I make it a point to not deal with people who have a pole up their backsides. Now if you'll excuse me" I piped back whilst making a move motion having finally picked up my food from the floor I sauntered out of the café.
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When I came to work I wasn't in the best mood despite my #Teamschadenfreude ways.
My day just got worse from there. My workspace seemed to be swarmed with more people then usual. I wasn't sure if that was an entirely good thing considering that there was three people going through my work area.
"Yo dude that's my personal space" I to the guy searching my area.
"Are you Maria Asim?" Another guy asked
"Yes and why are you going through my desk" I pointed out the obvious.
"We are just doing an search for our investigation in this precinct. We'd appreciate it if you would wait in the office for questioning. We are interviewing everyone in this station like that" He informed me gesturing for me to lead the way into the sheriff's office.
Shit shit I'm screwed I thought.
If I flee now I'm even more screwed because my cover would be blown. I hope they didn't find out about me. Do I have to call Seth to represent me? But if I lawyer up it would only make me look guilty. Garbled questions and thoughts flitted through my mind quickly as I fell in to a state of confusion while trying to think of a solution to the situation I was currently in.
I took a deep breath as I told myself to calm down. I knew I might just be over thinking this. They were investigating everyone not just me.
Shit this could be the thing Ian was warning me about. Something I hadn't thought about went into my mind.
Deep breaths Mia deep breaths I repeated it in my mind like a mantra.
They might not know anything. Just stay calm and you wouldn't look guilty. If they did know they would have already arrested me so they don't...
I was so lost in my thought I didn't realize I wasn't alone anymore.
"Mrs. Asim I'm Jason Andrews." He volunteered whilst holding out his hand for a hand shake.
I looked at his hand and him then gave him an are you for real kind of look whilst continuously going back and forth between the two. Seriously do the police no longer get cultural sensitivity training? I wondered.
"Okay." He emphasized curling his lips after dropping his hand.
"I don't do handshakes." I told him
"Why is that?" He asked tilting his head and reminding me of someone.
"Google up why towel heads can't shake hands of guys unrelated to them. You'll learn something new" I answered annoyed at the reminder.
"Cryptic aren't you?" He observed.Â
"I might be loads of things but cryptic nah. I'm an open book. Can we get to the chase or are you going to beat around the bushes all day? Ask me what you want to ask me" I offered.
"Okay from what I know, you are the forensic analyst for this precinct. I wanted to know if you knew a man that goes by to name Ian O'Brien?" He inquired.
As soon as he asked that question I knew my life depended on how I answered it. It was either going to turn out to be my downfall.
Imprisonment or freedom.
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