Zara

Today is the party at ESU and I am so excited. I can't wait to go and have so much fun with my friends. I just hope Abu doesn't get to know about me going to the party and everything goes according to Hamdan and Azaan bhai's plan. They informed Ami and Armaan bhai about it already. Ami was hesitant about me going because she thought that it's risky for me to go since we never know when Abu can change his mind and come home. Thank god Hamdan bhai convinced her that everything will be alright.

Since it's Friday today, I have no classes to attend. So after breakfast when Abu and my brothers left for work, I decided to get everything ready and choose my outfit for today. Then later on in the day I can get ready fast without any worries. I decided to wear one the dress that Armaan bhai got me for my last birthday because it looks the most appropriate for the event. I don't really have many western clothes in my closet because I mostly wear shalwar kameez most of the time and it's more comfortable. I only wear pants and a shirt when I'm going to college making sure that it's mostly modest.

The dress was red with long sleeves and it reached up to my toes when I tried it on. It fit perfectly. I took a picture from myself and immediately sent it to Kate and Noor. They replied back that it was the perfect choice. Kate texted me to also wear high heels, to which I tried to decline, but she convinced me at the end. After taking my dress off, I threw it on my bed and made sure to not wrinkle it. For jewelry I decided on my diamond studs and my bracelet that my grandma gave me before she passed away. That is the only thing I have left of her and my memories. This bracelet means so much to me because it reminds me of her and her love for me. It's my lucky charm. I miss her so much.

She was like a second mother to me since I spent six years of my life with her alone. After my family and I left for America when I was seven years old, I had to return back to Pakistan to live with my grandparents. Abu wanted to settle down in America and there was a problem with my immigration and visa hence why I had to go back. Ami wanted to return with me also since I was so young but my grandmother convinced her to let me stay with her. Ami couldn't couldn't do anything else other than agree because Abu was fine with it.

In just those six years of my life I had gotten so attached to her. I started to call her Ade (mother or grandmother) just like everyone else in the family. I would always eat and sleep with her, in her room. I always used to end up getting in trouble most of the time with my other cousins and she would always be there to protect me. They didn't like that Ade would give most of her attention to me and take my side most of the time also. I didn't get along with most of my cousins except my aunt and uncle's daughters Palwasha and Hafsa. Reason being because would always make fun of me and call me names. Like I'm an orphan because my parents don't love me and left me to rot here. But Ade never let that get to my head because she would always tell me that it's not my parents fault and that maybe Allah planned this all along so we could get close, and indeed we did.

After those six years I was finally able to go back with my family to the US and it was so difficult for me to say goodbye to Ade. I had gotten so attached to her, I think more than Ami. I tried to stay in contact with her as much as I can throughout the years. Unfortunately three years ago she passed away due to a heart attack. I was so devastated, that I couldn't even eat, sleep, or talk to anyone for four days straight. I cried so much that day when I found out that I went into shock. I was so mad at myself because I didn't get to say goodbye or even talk to her when she was taking her last breaths. As I still couldn't believe that I had lost one of the most important people in my life.

I was staring at the bracelet in my hand with tears in my eyes as I thought about her. A teardrop from my eyes right on the twenty-four carat gold bracelet where it says my name in Arabic. The sound of someone coming up the stairs broke my thoughts. I knew it was Ami because no one else was home. I quickly wiped my tears away before she noticed. She came inside to ask if I had everything ready and she said that she liked my choice.

For the rest of the day Ami and I spent time together catching up on some of our favorite Pakistani dramas that we are currently watching. I couldn't wait to start the latest episode of Khuda Aur Mohabbat season three, starring my favorite actor Feroze Khan. He's so hot, oh my god, me and Noor are his biggest fans and Ahad Raza Mir's. I have literally watched every single drama of theirs. We also got Kate to obsess over them also. She is currently watching Khaani with us and she loves it.

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At around five-thirty in the evening Hamdan bhai called to let me know that I should be ready by six-thirty and that him and Azaan will be picking me up. So without wasting any time I started to get ready. I showered and let my hair air dry while I put on some light makeup. I didn't want to cake myself up too much, except applying a generous amount of blush and highlight for rosy cheeks and glowing skin. I finished it off with some mascara and pink nude color lipstick.

By the time I was done with my makeup, I started on my hair by just curling the ends a little and putting it in a half up and half down hairstyle. I was almost ready when Azaan knocked on my room door. "Are you ready?" He asked. "Almost. I'm coming down in a bit" I said and he left. I quickly put on my diamond studs and bracelet before I forget. I got my heels and grabbed my phone and clutch, not forgetting to grab my chader (scarf) also to cover up. I went straight to the living room where Hamdan and Azaan were waiting for me with Ami.

"Mashallah, meri bachi kitni pyari lag rahi hai aaj. Nazar na lage (Mashallah, my daughter looks so beautiful today. Let no one's evil eye be on you) " Ami said when she saw me and applied a small tikka under my ear from the kajal on her eyes. It is common amongst Asian families to put a 'kaala tikka' or a black mark on their children as a means to get rid of bad luck and nazar (evil eyes). I don't know too much about it, but whenever Ami does it to me it's so nice. I gave her a tight hug thanking her and saying goodbye, while wrapping my scarf around me to leave.

"Wah bhai wah, ajj to bahut khubsurat lag rahi ho (wow, you look gorgeous today)" Azaan said. I thanked him and headed out.

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The ride to the location was pretty long, about thirty minutes maximum. The event was being held at a hotel, apparently lore like a luxury hotel. As soon as we reached the hotel screamed money, just by looking at the architecture of the tall building.

As we entered the hotel, Hamdan bhai went to ask the receptionist for directions on where the ballroom is while me and Azaan waited in the seating area in the lobby. I looked around the lobby, admiring how beautifully it was designed. The colored theme was gold and black. Everything looked so expensive from the marble floors floral designs to the huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Just by standing here, I wondered how the ballroom would look.

Once we got to the ballroom door, a butler asked to see our invitation card and Hamdan and Azaan bhai both gave theirs. As we walked in the, I was amazed by the set up in the ballroom. Right when we entered there was a huge sign that read "CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR'S GRADUATES OF ESU'' to the right of the main door with cameras around it and it was decorated with balloons and lights. I'm guessing that's where everyone will be taking their photos, I thought. As we walked into the ballroom more, there was so much more. It was decorated so beautifully and the ceilings were glass, with a clear view of the sun setting for the night. Soon the stars would be shining through the glass I thought.

I looked around to see if Kate and Noor have already arrived or not. I decided to text them and wait for their reply and stay with my brothers for now. My brother met up with their friends while introducing me to them also. All three of their friends were pretty cool and all but it was kinda awkward for me. I had small talks with them here and then, until Kate and Noor tapped me on my shoulder from behind.

All three of us hugged each other, "where the hell were you both?" I asked them. "Relax girl, I was just working my magic to make sure our madam Noor was looking perfect. You know I'm trying to get her hitched with some rich guy, like you. You know since you got yourself a wealthy dude, why can't we shoot our shot" Kate said and Noor shook her head agreeing with her also. I rolled my eyes at them muttering whatever to myself. "How do we look? I look Hot right? I made sure that my ass looked extra thick" Kate asked, giving a twirl in her dress. I laughed at her last remark. She was wearing a off the shoulder blue dress with a slit to the side and Noor was wearing a full sleeve black dress. Both of them looked stunning.

"You both look amazing" I said. I showed them my look too and they also complimented me in return. We decided to sit at the table next to my brothers, just in case. Kate introduced me to her friend Emily, who was the one to ask her out to this party. We chatted for sometime and had some refreshment drinks with snacks until they announced that they will be giving out awards to some of the students. The awards will be given out by some important people, along with speeches. Noor, Kate, and I didn't really pay any attention to that since we weren't even students here, so we chatted among ourselves while playing eight ball pool on our phones competing with each other.

"Zara ke bachi, main tujhe chodungi nahi itni asani se. tumne mere one-hundred thousand coins kha liye. Ab tu dake(Zara, I won't let you go that easily. You ate all of my one-hundred thousand coins. Just watch now) Kate said being irritated, while I give her an evil side smirk to get her more mad. I love seeing her get mad at the smallest things, it's just so funny.

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The awards were given out and the speeches were done. Hamdan and Azaan bhai both received two medals each for their achievements in academics with high scores among top five. Ami and Abu for sure will be proud of them. I congratulated them both and asked them for a treat on this achievement, to which they agreed. I informed them that I'll be grabbing some food from the buffet with the girls.

We started walking up to the buffet as well as rating every girl and guy's looks that passed by us. "I give that hottie a solid eight point five out of ten points. What do you girls think?" Asked Kate. "First of all, he doesn't even have a beard and you know I like my men with a beard. So for me he is totally not considered hot. But his suit is nice with a tuxedo. I'll give him points for that" Noor stated her thoughts. I gave him a seven out of ten because his look was too simple you know. There was nothing unique about it to me, but I didn't mind that he had no beard because he can't really do anything about it.

As we reached the buffet a girl in a beautiful green dress passed us. She had a body of a runway model and the dress looked like it was made just for her. She paired it with a beautiful golden diamond necklace, her hair was messy but perfectly set on her face, and golden heels and a green Gucci bag. "That girl, she looks amazing " I said. Both Noor and Kate agreed with me saying that indeed she did look great because of her curvy and slim body.

"I'm starving and I just want to stuff food in my mouth now. Nobody judges me, I'm warning y'all now" Noor said glaring at Kate and started their small argument. I went to the half sized board hung up by the start of the buffet which was to the far corner, right near the kitchen and I looked to see what was on the menu. I started reading the menu and I could feel someone standing behind me and not thinking too much about it, I let it go. It might be Noor and Kate. I grabbed Kate's arm "Kate, look they're serving your favorite chicken al-" I stopped mid sentence because when I turned around there was someone else and I was holding on to their arm. It was some guy I didn't even know.

"Sorry, I thought you were my friend" I apologized, moving away from him. "Why? Can't I be your friend also?" He asked. "No, thank you" I replied back, walking away to find my friends. "Where are you going baby? Can't we have a little fun?" He said grabbing my hands and holding them behind my back with his right hand. I felt the chills run down my body as I felt his body so close to me and I got so scared. He moved his fingers along my cheeks and then towards my neck and chest. I I freed my left arm from his grasp and pushed him off me. "Don't touch me" I said with tears in my eyes. I tried not to cry and ran back to find my brothers, now that I don't see my friends around.

"Baby, come on. Don't make this so complicated" he said following right behind me. At this point I don't even know where I was going, as long as I can find my brothers or my friends. As I was speed walking I bumped in to people muttering "sorry" along my way to them. I ended up being at the entrance of the ballroom again. I couldn't go backwards because he was still following me. I had no choice but to walk out and maybe ask for someone's help at the lobby and help me get to my brothers safely.

I started walking up the gold and black corridor to the lobby hoping to find someone along the way to help. Ya Allah please, koi to madad karle (someone please help). I was about to look back to see if he was near me when I felt him grab me by my waist and push me up the wall. "Stop being such a bitch and just do as I say" he said into my left ear. I tried pushing him again, when we suddenly heard footsteps of someone walking up here. "I'm warning you, don't you dare try anything or the consequences will not be good. Just act like a normal couple making out" he gritted looking straight at my tearful eyes with a warning.

The group of men passed right by us totally ignoring thinking of us as a couple I guess. This is my only chance to ask for help I thought to myself. Next thing you know I bite his fingers that were on my cheeks so hard causing him to scream. "Fuck. You bitch" he screamed. I took this as my chance and ran up to those men screaming for help and they stopped. Just when I reached up to them I tripped on my heels. I was about to fall, when a pair of arms held me by my waist. I instantly grabbed on to the man's black dress shirt asking for help, not wasting any time. "Please help. This man is harassing me" I said crying with tears streaming down my face.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Asked another man, who was behind him but I couldn't see his face. I looked back at the guy and he was walking up to me again. I started to get worried and more scared. "Help please, I don't know who this man is and he won't leave me. Please" I begged him, grabbing his arm tightly.

"Sorry about that. My girlfriend and I just got into a small argument. Everything's alright" he said trying to grab my arms, but the man named Alex moved me behind his back towards the other guys and I noticed one of them that was in a black suit, that I have seen him somewhere but I couldn't remember. He was staring at me straight in the eyes, like he also saw me before . "I'm sorry to say but I think she doesn't want to talk right now. So you may leave" he told the guy.

"What do you think? I'm stupid to leave and let you guys have all the fun" he said and I didn't understand what he meant by that, and just stood there dumbfounded. The guy in the full black suit grabbed him by the collar and gave him a hard punch on the face. Muttering something in his face but I couldn't hear what he said and in the next second, the guy's face turned red. "Boss, relax. Sergio would take it from here" Alex told his boss, I assumed. The man was grabbed by two other guards, and taken away.

They both turned around looking back at me. "Are you alright" the guy named Alex asked, while the other just stared at me. I didn't know what to say because I was scared to death. This is the first time in my life that I encountered something like this. I looked down at my hands that had small handprints from the guy when he held my hands tightly and just nodded my head at him. I started to cry more as tears streamed down my cheeks. The guy in the black suit walked up to me and tried to touch my face, but I took a few steps back from him trying to leave some space between us. But I failed because he backed me up to the wall, and started to have the same feelings from before. Not again I thought to myself, I was safe and now I'm in the hands of another devil.

I tried to move but he held his right hand beside my head to stop me from moving. At least he wasn't touching me inappropriately, or anything. What I'm saying, I thought to myself and prayed to Allah to please send Hamdan or Azaan bhai for help. "What are you doing here?" Alex's boss or whoever he asked me. I Instantly stopped crying and got scared of him because of his tone. I could barely say anything out of my mouth, so with some effort I tried to explain to them what happened and was thankful for their help. Once I was done he looked pissed off even more but tried to compose himself. I was nervous and scared for my life. I didn't know who this man was, but from his look you can tell that he is a dangerous person.

He looked at me again, straight in my eyes and asked "what's your name?" I was so terrified that I couldn't even breath to speak a word out of my mouth because of his intense gaze. It felt like he was looking straight through my soul. I quickly tried to compose myself and said "Z-Zara."

"Full. What's your full name?" He said a little louder than before. I stuttered again saying my full name "M-my name is-is Zara Ahmed K-khan." I instantly regretted telling a total stranger my. When my mother clearly told me not to say my name to any strangers or even talk to them. You never know they could be our enemies.

I asked "Who are yo-" when he cut me off saying "it was nice to meet you Ms. Zara Ahmed Khan, I hope to see you around soon" He said giving me a side smirk and walked away down the hall with huge smile of his face like he one a lottery. I felt relief after he left and signed breathing in and out a few breaths since I was holding them in for so long. Alex and the other men started following him also when I stopped him and appreciated him for his help one last time, even though he also looked scary as hell. Especially his neck tattoo's. Just as they left I saw Noor running up to me with a worried look on her face.