Chapter Eleven: Where's Mara!!
Sunday afternoons were supposed to feel calm. For Angel, they no longer did.
A week had passed since Zahid sat in her kitchen eating burnt pancakes with her kids. A week of the twins asking every morning if he was coming back, each time he left their sights. A week of Angel trying her best to pretend her heart wasn't doing strange things every time he appeared with groceries or snacks or stupid jokes that made Malik roll his eyes and Mara giggle like sugar was dripping from her laughter.
And now, on this Sunday, everything was supposed to be simple. Just to do some laundries. A little cleaning. Just something normal. Before he comes to take them to the Amusement park.
Then her phone rang.
She answered with a hopeful breath, already picturing the Job and the small salary that would at least keep the bills under control.
The voice on the other end was gentle. Too gentle.
"We are sorry…but, unfortunately, you did not get the position."
Her stomach dropped. Her fingers tightened around the phone. She managed to whisper a thank you before the call ended.
For a moment the world tilted. Not dramatically, not loudly. Just enough that she had to grab the back of a chair to steady herself.
She had been trying. Every day. Sending applications. Attending interviews. Smiling even when she felt like breaking. She needed work. She needed stability, she needed to pay the bills, She needed something solid to stand on.
But she could not fall apart. Not with the kids in the house.
Angel inhaled deeply and blinked until the tears slid back into place. She placed the phone down and pressed her palm to her forehead.
"Mummy!"
Angel straightened instantly.
Mara came running into the room, clutching a tiny shirt in one hand and a mismatched shoe in the other.
"Mummy, help me choose! We need to get ready. Zahid is coming today, remember?"
Behind her, Malik walked in holding his shorts like a grumpy prince who had been forced to attend a ball. "He promised to take us to the amusement park. Mara is acting like she won a lottery."
"Because I did win," Mara said proudly. "He is coming, and I want to look cute. Mummy, hurry!"
Angel stared at them. These kids had no idea how tired she was. How scared she was. How badly she needed life to stop pushing so hard.
But she looked at their small and excited faces and forced a smile.
"Alright. Let's get ready."
Mara squealed and ran to the bedroom. Malik followed, pretending he was too mature to be excited, even though his steps were quicker than usual.
Angel helped Mara into a pink top with little butterflies. She tied her hair into small puffs and added two colorful clips that made Mara spin like a dancer.
For Malik, she chose a neat polo shirt. He groaned but didn't argue.
As she dressed them, her chest tightened again. She tried to focus on the small things, the softness of Mara's hair, the way Malik wrinkled his nose when she tightened his belt.
It grounded her.
But inside, she felt like she was balancing on threads.
A car horn sounded outside.
Not one horn. Three.
"Oh my God, he is here!" Mara screamed and ran to the living room, barefoot, shoes in hand.
Angel followed her to the door, then froze.
Three black SUVs were parked in front of her building. One in front. One behind. One in the middle.
Her building had never seen something like this.
Zahid stepped out of the middle vehicle wearing a casual shirt and dark sunglasses. Behind him, two men stepped out as well, tall, sharply dressed, clearly bodyguards.
Angel blinked. "What in the world…"
Mara, of course, gasped as if royalty had arrived. Malik just stared, stunned.
Zahid removed his glasses and smiled when he saw them.
"Good afternoon," he said softly.
Angel stepped outside. "Zahid, what is all this?"
"Transportation," he replied like it was the most normal answer. "For the park."
"Three cars?" she muttered.
"And security," he added.
"Security?" Angel looked around quickly. "Zahid… why?"
"I do not like taking risks with you or the kids."
Angel opened her mouth to protest, but Mara wrapped her hand around Zahid's fingers confidently.
"Can we go now?"
Zahid crouched beside her. "Yes, princess. We can go."
Angel's heart fluttered. She looked away quickly.
They loaded into the car. Mara claimed Zahid's lap like she had paid for him. Malik sat beside them, leaning slightly toward Zahid, pretending it was accidental.
The car moved smoothly, the two security cars keeping tight formation around them.
Angel felt eyes on them from people in the neighborhood. Gossip would spread by nightfall.
At the amusement park gate, the crowd was already thick. Music blasted. Kids ran around with balloons. Food stalls filled the air with the smell of fried snacks and roasted corn.
The bodyguards stepped out first, scanning the area.
Angel sighed. "Zahid, they cannot stay that close. People will stare."
He nodded immediately. "Alright. They will follow from a distance."
The guards stepped back, creating some space.
Mara grabbed Zahid's hand. "Let's go to the horses first!"
"No!" Malik argued. "Roller coaster!"
Zahid looked between them, pretending to struggle. "This is a serious conflict. How will we survive this disaster?"
Angel chuckled softly.
They settled on the carousel first.
Angel watched the twins screaming with joy as Zahid lifted them onto the horses. He stood between them, one hand on each horse, like he had been doing this forever.
She watched him.
And the familiar ache returned.
He fit too easily into this picture.
They went for ice cream next. Then the spinning teacups. Then the bumper cars where Zahid let the twins crash into him repeatedly until he pretended he was about to fall out.
Angel found herself laughing again and again.
For a moment, she forgot the job rejection. Forgot to worry. Forgot everything except their little world spinning around Zahid's warm presence.
Then it happened.
Angel turned for one second to throw a wrapper into a bin.
One second.
When she turned back…
Malik was holding Zahid's hand.
But Mara…
Mara was not beside them.
Angel blinked, confused. "Mara?"
No answer.
She looked behind her. No Mara.
Her heart lurched.
"Mara!" she called louder.
Zahid immediately straightened. His eyes scanned the area sharply.
"Malik," Angel said quickly, kneeling, "where's your sister?"
Malik looked around, suddenly anxious. "She was here. She was right here."
Angel's blood went cold.
The crowd felt bigger now. Louder. Too loud.
"Mara!" she shouted again, panic rising.
Zahid's voice snapped tightly, "Angel, stay with Malik. Do not move."
He signaled to the guards instantly.
And then the fear hit her fully.
She spun around, eyes wide, chest tight.
"Mara! Where's Mara!!"