The Dark Rider

The Art Of Pretending

Every night she promised herself to be happy the next morning and every morning she found herself saying ‘I’ll do it tonight.’ And that’s how she was passing her days. And she was only seventeen. But this is not your usual teenage story because Amber is not just another teenager you’ll find in your suburbs.

She knew she had to keep her smiling face on display because she couldn’t risk hurting anyone. Not after what they all have been through, not after what she had been through.

Finally, after fifteen minutes of contemplating and questioning everything around she opened the curtains as if ready to embrace the warm sun rays with her open arms but nature decided against her will. Thick grey clouds were covering the entire city, covering like the mother’s arms. Taking out her clothes, she went for a quick shower.

After that long shower she went downstairs for breakfast. It had been two years since Amber enjoyed eating. Of course she couldn’t tell that to her brother or sister-in-law because they might show that everything was alright but she knew how hard they tried to bring her back to normal. “So are you ready for that party?” Maham asked when she sat on the table and that’s when she realised today was doomsday. She could have avoided the party had it not been Ibrahim’s family throwing it. He was a distant cousin and her class fellow but most importantly he was the jerk she hated because he deserved it.

“Tell me again why did I go to that elitist school when I could have gone to the one that’s literally two streets away?” Most teens would give anything to go to that school where she went but Amber Irfan was built differently. She didn’t like that fancy school where people only cared about glitters and parties. Yet somehow, she always received invitations to the parties.

“Mamu wants us to be there, Amber. You know he would really want you and Ibrahim to get along especially since you will be going to the same university in a few months.” She didn’t want to argue with her brother so she just nodded and started eating her breakfast. If she had to survive that place she knew what to do.

“In fact I was thinking how about you two pair up for studying for the entrance exam?” Amber gave a ‘are you serious’ look to her sister-in-law when it should have been given to Zuhair. She had to change the subject before her brother asked her questions she didn’t want to answer.

“Do I smell brownies?” The only way to not answer her elder brother’s question was to shift the limelight towards the woman of the house.

Maham ran a bakery and it was the most liked bakery in the neighbourhood because of her mouthwatering recipes. A bakery that was opened by her as a hobby during pandemic was now a successful business.

“Don’t dodge.” He said sipping the cardamom tea. Maham gave her an apologetic look but there was nothing more she could have done. “Okay Bhaiyaa, I’ll go with you two and I will also help him pass the entrance exam. Happy now?.” After an exasperated sigh, she looked at her brother and gave him one of her reassuring smiles. The ones after which he never really questioned her.

What she didn’t understand was why Ibrahim need her help to study for entrance exam. He studied abroad for almost seven years and the last time she was his classmate he was always top of the class, so what changed now?

“Look, honey, you are growing up and what you need is to enjoy your life which includes going to parties, not sitting in the room immersed in movies and shows.” He placed a hand on hers and she smiled. All he wanted was for her younger sister to live the life he wasn’t able to live. Of all the people on this planet, Zuhair was the only person Amber never argued with.

Smiling at his little sister, Zuhair stood up wiping his hands and face. His footsteps were forwarding towards the door when Amber’s voice halted in their way.

“Where are you going? It’s Sunday.” Amber looked at her brother with disbelief. It was the ritual of the Irfan family to sit together and watch the movie on Sunday. Every Sunday Amber picked a movie from a genre and they watched it together while having lunch and some special bakery items baked by Maham. They always ended their day with a walk in the neighbourhood.

“Just going around the corner for work, I’ll be back before the brownies are baked I promise.” His kisses were flown towards them and then he departed.

“Why is he being so mysterious, or is there something that you know too?” She looked at Maham who was finishing the last bite of her paratha. Amber had already finished her breakfast.

“He is your brother. You know how he starts acting super cryptic all of a sudden.” They both started piling the plates and cups in the tray. The kitchen cabinets were decorated with numerous pictures of them having fun together.

Maham picked out the chocolate chips from the first cabinet and started to prepare for the decoration of her brownies while Amber started washing the dishes, as she did most of the work on Sundays.

Their house was double story cornered house that faced a beautiful park. It was re-decorated a year ago with bright colours that were never painted on the houses in Lahore because of the city’s pollution. On the backside of the house was a small courtyard that was turned into Maham’s bakery. “I wonder where he went.” The dishes were almost done when all of a sudden Amber spoke.

“Here’s a thought. Why don’t you invite Eva for tonight a well? I mean she also went to the same school as you two and Ibrahim has invited the entire class. It’s not like you turn eighteen everyday.” She was in anther zone while speaking because when Maham finished she saw how Amber was glaring at her.

“Since when do you know everything Ibrahim does?” All of a sudden she was standing in font of Maham with her hands on her hips. The one thing she hated the most was sharing Maham with anyone else.

“Hey, before you go all Ted Bundy on me, he called last night. Just wanted to know whether grilled cheese burgers were still your favourite.”

“I won’t go Ted Bundy on you but on him, well I don’t really know about that.” She clicked her tongue and Maham rolled her eyes at her.

“Seriously Amber, the kid just returned home after six years and whatever happened between the two of you it was in primary school. Give him a clean slate.” That milkshake incident was not really a big thing but Amber had always hated Ibrahim ever since that day. She knew it was childish of her to do that but she never admitted it to anyone out loud, not even to herself.

“Okay okay ma’am will do. Now, can I go and text Ava and others?” She didn’t wait for Maham to respond and dashed towards her room. As soon as she disappeared, so did the smile from Maham’s face. It wasn’t only Amber keeping a facade here. Looking at the angel who ran to her room and whose whole life was ahead of her, a tear escaped down her eye. Why was life so hard on those who were as fragile as the flower’s petals? She thought for a minute and then looked at the brownies that were still baking in the oven.

_______________

“Thank God you picked up. What took you so long?” The room was shining with the bright fairy lights. One could see pink, blue, white, light purple lights glowing in the room of the summer fairy, a name her best friend gave her. Amber stopped pacing when the call was finally picked up on the third ring.

She sat on her window sill, looking out on the street. The girl, who never liked the rain, was constantly praying that these clouds rain till Monday morning. Just so she could avoid the stupid party. Who said that she was all ready for the party? She was planning several excuses to give Zuhair so that she could avoid going to Ibrahim’s.

“It’s a little early for a normal man to be awake. “A sleepy voice said in reply. She groaned and sat on the bed.

“It’s 10 already.” Amber looked at the wall clock that she designed herself. The white coloured clock with a light blue dial had the painting of a beautiful morning sky in the background.

There was nothing dark coloured in her room, not even the dresses. From the curtains to the room’s door everything was light coloured. Her room was the perfect summer day if one names it.

“IT IS SUNDAY AMBER.” The voice was too loud that Amber had to remove the phone from her ear, to save it from damage. “You don’t need to bleed my ear, I have a calendar too.” She was trying to avoid the topic that she had to come to eventually.

“Unlike you, I wake up way too early.”

“Okay shut up. I need you to come to Ibrahim’s stupid birthday party with me tonight.” She knew the reaction she was about to receive so she closed her eyes before her reply.

“ARE YOU CRAZY? WHAT MADE YOU THINK THAT WE WILL BE GOING TO HIS PARTY?” The picture of the primary school played in their minds when one day Ibrahim accidentally spilled chocolate milkshake on her white fairy dress. And even though it was a total accident, Amber and her squad hated him till this day.

“That son of a woman also happens to be my distant cousin and due to the family relationship I am bound to go to this stupid event tonight. God I liked it when he was in Norway.” She was cursing both herself and Ibrahim for coming back home.

“Wait, how are we going to tell Qambar about all of this?” They knew he would be giving them the same reaction but multiplied to an infinity.

“Look, right now I am giving you this holy duty because I have another important problem on my hands.” And that problem was the dress that would be appropriate for his birthday or her funeral. She went towards her cupboard only to find that she had no idea what to wear for this stupid event tonight.

She saw that Eva had texted about the meetup in the group and the other two replied with a very angry emoji next to the word ‘ok’. Qambar and Saim loved going to social events but this was an exception yet they had to go anyway because the girls ordered them to.

“Eva, can you come to my place after breakfast?” Eva Knight never needed a reason to come to Amber’s place. They weren’t the usual best friend duo you see in typical teen movies but then again when was anything related to Eva, usual? Amber tossed her phone on the bed and went downstairs to help Maham with the brownies. After all, she needed not to think about the event.