In a Heartbeat

　　It was late afternoon in the day. Preparations have been taking place in the Abdallah house. Every angle was adorned with flowers and balloons. Happy Birthday Amir and Zara were embellished in bold on the milk concrete wall. On the other side dishes of different kinds were settled on the dinning. A man and a woman who look like couples were seated on the couch watching something on the phone.

　　Suddenly, a young girl emerged from the stair wearing a Navy gown. Shes tall and has a slender body her hair wrapped around with a black scarf

　　"Mom, I cant find my earrings," She said to the woman sitting together with the man.

　　"How will you find it, when you spent one hour dressing up. The guest will be coming any time soon" The womans attention now went to her as she scolds her. The girls face fell.

　　"Let her be. Take your time Zara, the party wont start without you" The Man sitting beside her mom assured. Her face lit up, she knew her dad will take her side.

　　"Thank you, Dad. I love you" pecking her fathers cheeks, she ran upstairs.

　　"Jawad"

　　"What?" he inquired shrugging his shoulder while he continues checking his phone.

　　"Every time I try to get her on tracks you always make it worse" she glared at him, smacking him playfully.

　　"I didnt do anything and besides who is the one pampering Majeed" Talking of Majeed, a boy who looked the age of 6 appeared running towards them and settle on his Mothers body.

　　"Mom, when is the party starting?" he said in his boyish voice.

　　"Is my boy eager to eat the cake?" She mimics his voice pinching the bridge of his nose.

　　"Yes Mom, I want to be the one to cut sister Zara cake" he giggled showing his small whitish teeth.

　　"Alright then, now let go dress you up" buttoning his opened shirt, she pecked him on the cheek.

　　"You see, I said it you pamper this boy so much"

　　"And so? you also pamper Zara so let me do the same to my boy. right sweetheart?"

　　"Yes Mommy" the boy nodded his head in enthusiasm

　　"Whatever" rolling her eyes she held Majeed and they descended upstairs. Even after many years of marriage, they still fight on the smallest thing but on top of that, they love each other so much.

　　On their way to Majeed room, they stopped by Zaras room, seeing the girl standing in front of the vanity mirror.

　　"Ya Allah this girl, youre still dressing up?" She inquired, crossing her arms over her chest.

　　"Mom Im almost done just some finishing touch" she mumbled enough for it to reach her mothers ear. Suddenly her phone vibrates from the bed. Checking the caller id, a smile made it way out of her lips.

　　"Its Amir, he must be on his way" Farah shakes her head. The two are really inseparable.

　　"Lets go my boy" closing the door quietly behind her, they made their way to his room.

　　"Where are you now Amir?" Zara questioned sitting down on the bed.

　　"Were almost close to your house," he said from the other end.

　　"Okay be fast, you know I hate waiting"

　　"Sure Troublemaker" Before she could reply to him, he ended the call.

　　*Just wait and see till I get a hold of you* she whispered the left side of her lips curving up.

　　**

　　The rest of the family members arrived safely, the greeting was exchanged. The families didnt bother about the celebrant disappearance, as they knew how they can be inseparable.

　　"I hope you didnt forget our package?" Zara said placing her hands on her hips.

　　Amirs lips twitch up.

　　"How can I forget such an important thing. Here" he pulled out two bracelets, same colors, both their names written on it. He wore the one with her name and she did the same.

　　"Its so beautiful" she mumbled.

　　"Yeah, it is. So now were inseparable. You cant take it off without my permission get it?" she nodded her head in answer, her attention on the bracelet, she was mesmerized by its beauty.

　　"Where are the celebrant!" They heard their names being called.

　　"Coming"

　　Due to the bond they shared, their birthday was celebrated on the same day every year, Though they have the same birth month but different dates and Amir is one year older than her.

　　"You guys should at least finish cutting the cake before you disappear to wherever you want to" Yasmin, Amirs Mom said. The two smile at her words

　　"Okay now lets cut the cake" Farah interjected.

　　Everyones attention was now on the celebrant. it was a small gathering with the family members only. Myrah and Khalid, Yasmin, and Marwan then Zaras parents. Their in-laws couldnt come but they supported them in every possible way they could.

　　As they cut the cake together with Majeed in between them. Everyone started giving them the present while wishing them a happy birthday.

　　"Congratulations on turning 20," Yasmin said, pulling Zara In for a hug.

　　"Thank you Aunt" She ushered back.

　　"Youre adults, so quit behaving like kids" she scolded playfully, pinching Zaras cheeks slightly

　　"This is the gift from Fawwaz, he said I should extend my apologies as he couldnt come."

　　"Its okay Aunt Myrah, his support is even enough."

　　Fawwaz is on a trip for his internship as hes about to start working in his fathers company. Hes the quiet one, unlike the two troublemakers. Even back then hes not a social person. He hardly associates himself with people but of course, he cant do that with his family. Zara being the troublemaker is a replica of her two Aunts. Yasmin and Myrah, she wouldnt let him stay in peace.

　　The rest of the day went by with them chatting and reminiscing the old days. As its getting late, they decided to call it a day.

　　"You go, Im spending the night here" Amir announced, glancing at Zara who was seated beside her Dad a smirk playing on her lips. She knows the reason why he doesnt want to go back home together with his parents

　　"But you didnt come with extra clothes," his Mom said.

　　"Have you forgotten I have my clothes here"

　　"But-"

　　"Yes Aunt Yasmin, let him stay the night, please. Hes going to help me with my assignment"

　　"But I thought youre on mid-semester break?" Zara connected her lips in a thin line.

　　"Let him be Yasmin, you know when it comes to the two we cant do anything" her husband whispered placing a hand on her shoulder.

　　"Okay but dont disturb their peace," she said through gritted teeth. Glancing at the two suspiciously.

　　"Im a grown-up man Mom, that wouldnt happen"

　　"Stop belittling your son, hes no more the troublesome Amir we know" Jawad interjected.

　　Yasmin heaved out a sigh, she knows what Amir is capable of doing. Hes all grown up but in her eyes, hes still her baby Amir.

　　"Okay, Good Night" They exchanged farewell and left leaving Amir behind.

　　"Those two are really something. Im thinking theyre planning something thats why Amir refused to come home with us" Yasmin said as they made their way towards the car.

　　"You know no one can separate them, and besides well have the night all to ourselves"

　　"Oh because Siddiq is not at home you want to have your way with me right?" Marwan intertwined their hand placing a small kiss to it. Even after many years of marriage, their love is still fresh.

　　"Of course, youre my wife. If I dont have my way with you then who will I have with"

　　"Naughty Man" she giggled.

　　**

　　The room was a bit dark, The light from the window was the only one illuminating through the room. Soft music was playing in the background. A man was seated scribbling something on a blue file.

　　"So today is the last day for your internship right?" the man said, closing the blue file.

　　"Yes sir," The other person said.

　　"Fawwaz Abdallah, Its a pleasure working with you. Due to your hard work and dedication, Ill like to offer you a position." Fawwaz who was sitting across the man readjust his sitting position.

　　"Ill just go straight to the point, I would like to offer you a position of the project manager because I know youre skilled in that field" Fawwaz was happy about the position but he doesnt plan of staying more than he intended to in the company. He would work in his fathers company.

　　"Thank you for the position Mr. Brad but Ill have to decline" The man stared at the boy in surprise. who in their right mind would decline a job and that a well-paid position.

　　"Do you have a reason for declining?" the man inquired. Fawwaz let out a smile.

　　"I just dont have an interest in working in your company. Im sorry, Ill now take my leave" The chair made a screeching sound as Fawwaz rose from his sitting position. The man watched his disappearing figure. Indeed Fawwaz is nothing like his father. Hes straightforward and quite unlike his father who is a charismatic and funny man.

　　Fawwaz went back to his desk, park the things that belong to him, and bid farewell to one to two people he works with. As he entered the elevator, he fished out his mobile phone from his jeans pocket, dialing his moms number.

　　"Assalamu Alaikum Mom"

　　"Wa Alaikum salam my boy, how are you, are you on your way already?" The woman asked.

　　"Yes Mom, expect me within the next two hours"

　　"Masha Allah, safe journey" he could sense the joy from his Mothers voice. He knows she missed him, and he also missed his family so much.

　　"I cant believe Im 20, it feels like yesterday" Zara grinned. Theyre now sitting in the living room playing games on the LCD.

　　"Look at you talking as if youre 25. Mind you youre still a kid" Zara passes him a dirty look.

　　"Youre also a kid"

　　"At least Im older than you," he said. A smirk appearing on his lips.

　　"Point of correction, one year older"

　　"Talking of it, Manal called on your phone earlier"

　　"Really? what did she say?" Manal is Zaras best friend, she couldnt come to the birthday as she traveled to her hometown since theyre on mid-semester break.

　　"Shes just wishing you happy birthday once again" he stated plopping the gamepad on the side table.

　　"Why did you stop? Are you finally admitting that you cant beat me" a smirk appear at the corner of her lips. Amir resists the urge to roll his eyes at her.

　　"uhuh... look whos talking, have you forgotten last time, you cried because I won over you?" he said with an amused smile.

　　"That was then not now" She spitted through gritted teeth.

　　"Whatever"

　　"Are you challenging me?"

　　"Yeah bring it on" he reached for the pad, winking at her.

　　"Yes lets go" They started off smoothly, as Amir decided to let her win for a while but later on fired his skills, and their arguments begin.

　　"Thats cheating" Zara yelled tapping her foot on the marble floor.

　　"You fail on your own accord, loser" he sticks out his tongue.

　　"Who are you calling loser" she reaches for the throw pillow nearest her and lunges at him.

　　"Zara the loser" he sings

　　"Im not a loser"

　　"Yes you are"

　　"Im not"

　　"Yes, you are. Zara the loser" he sings running away when he noticed her angry face, Which will explode any time soon. As he reached upstairs. He sent her one look and muttered again.

　　"Zara the loser"

　　"Amir!!!!" She yelled on top of her lungs.