The Narratives – Mohamed Miah

Chapter 1: The Weight of Secrets

Anwar couldn’t shake the feeling that the walls of his house were closing in on him. Every room seemed too small, too suffocating. He stared down at the earphones resting on his desk, their sleek design hiding a dangerous secret. His thumb hovered over the call button on his phone, but he hesitated. It’s too dangerous.

He glanced at the time on his phone. Khalid was on his way, but it would be at least another hour before his cousin arrived. He needed to get the evidence to Detective Harris, but time was slipping through his fingers. Anwar had already tried booking an Uber, but there were no cars available. Even the local taxi service wasn’t picking up. 

His phone buzzed, and he felt his heart leap into his throat. It was Amira.

Amira the woman who had become the center of his universe. She was beautiful, not in a way that was obvious or flashy, but in a way that was impossible to ignore. Her long, dark hair framed a delicate face, and her eyes—dark and deep, filled with unspoken strength—had a way of making you feel like she could see right into your soul. But beneath her beauty was a vulnerability that tugged at Anwar every time he thought of her.

He pressed accept, and her voice, soft but strained, filled his ear.

“Anwar… is everything okay?”

He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “I’m working on it, Amira. I have the evidence. I’m going to get it to the police, I promise.”

There was a long pause on the other end. “I… I don’t know how much longer I can wait,” she said quietly, her voice cracking slightly. “They’re watching me.”

“Don’t worry,” Anwar whispered, gripping the phone tighter. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

“You’ve done so much for me,” she replied, her voice trembling but laced with resilience. “But I can’t help but feel… like this is the end for me.”

“It’s not the end,” Anwar said, his jaw tightening. “I’m going to get you out of this. I promise.”

But as he said the words, doubt lingered in the back of his mind. His father’s warning echoed in his ears. 

*You’re not just putting yourself in danger, son. You’re putting all of us at risk.* 

Before Anwar could respond, the door to his room creaked open. He quickly ended the call, slipping the earphones into his pocket as his uncle Farid stepped inside.

“Anwar,” Farid’s voice was smooth, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied him. “Everything okay?”

Anwar forced a smile. “Yeah, just finishing up some work.”

Farid nodded, but his gaze lingered a little too long on Anwar’s phone. “You’ve been quiet lately. That’s not like you.”

“Just busy, Uncle.”

Farid’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You know, in this family, we look out for each other. Whatever you’re dealing with, you can always come to us.” His words hung heavy in the air, and Anwar could feel the unspoken threat beneath them.

“I know,” Anwar replied, his voice tight. “Family first.”

Farid’s smile widened. “Good man.”

As soon as his uncle left, Anwar let out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding. His hand went to his pocket, feeling the small bulge where the earphones were hidden. He was running out of time.

---

Chapter 2: Running in the Dark

The night had settled over the city, bringing with it a chill that clung to Anwar’s skin as he slipped out of the house. His heart pounded as he walked quickly down the dimly lit street, constantly glancing over his shoulder. He knew they were watching, but how closely? 

Anwar’s phone buzzed again, the small screen glowing in the darkness.

Khalid: I’m stuck in traffic. Give me 20 more minutes.

He cursed under his breath, feeling the pressure build. Twenty minutes might be too late. Anwar stuffed the phone back in his pocket and kept moving, the weight of the earphones growing heavier with each step.

A voice called out to him from the shadows, making him freeze.

“Anwar.”

His stomach lurched as his uncle Farid stepped into the glow of a streetlamp, his face partially obscured by shadow. His expression was calm, but there was something dangerous lurking beneath the surface. 

“You seem to be in a hurry,” Farid said, his tone light, but his eyes locked onto Anwar with an intensity that made his skin crawl.

“I… I was just going for a walk,” Anwar stammered, taking a small step back.

“At this time of night?” Farid tilted his head slightly, studying him. “You know, if something’s bothering you, you can talk to me. We’re family.”

Anwar swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. “I’m fine, Uncle. Really.”

Farid took a slow step closer, his eyes narrowing. “Family sticks together, Anwar. Always remember that.”

Anwar could feel his heart pounding in his chest. “I know.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, Farid’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Good. I’d hate for anyone to make the wrong choices.”

With that, Farid turned and walked back into the shadows, leaving Anwar standing alone in the street, his hands shaking. 

He couldn’t stay here any longer.

Anwar broke into a run, his feet pounding against the pavement as he headed toward the police station. He needed to get the evidence to Detective Harris before his family closed in on him. But as he ran, the streets seemed to twist and turn, like the city itself was trying to keep him trapped.

His phone buzzed again, and without thinking, he answered.

“Anwar?” Amira’s voice came through the line, fragile yet strong. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he lied, breathless as he darted down an alley, trying to put more distance between him and his uncle. “I’m getting the evidence to the police. Just hold on.”

“Anwar…” Amira hesitated, and he could hear the fear in her voice. “They’re closer than you think. I… I overheard something tonight.”

His blood ran cold. “What did you hear?”

“I don’t know who it was, but… someone said they’re going to come for me.”

Anwar’s grip tightened on the phone. “I won’t let that happen. Trust me.”

“But how?” she asked, her voice breaking. “How can you stop them when you’re all alone?”

Anwar paused, his chest heaving as he leaned against the cold brick wall of the alley. For a moment, he didn’t have an answer. He wasn’t sure how he could save her—not when his own family was standing in his way.

---

Chapter 3: The Edge of the Truth

The police station was within sight, its harsh fluorescent lights casting an eerie glow on the street. Anwar slowed his pace, gasping for air as he reached for his phone again. He needed to call Harris, to make sure everything was ready. But before he could dial the number, a figure stepped out in front of him.

Anwar’s breath caught in his throat as his uncle approached, his face twisted with anger. The calm façade was gone, replaced with something dark and dangerous.

“You really thought you could betray your own family?” Farid snarled, stepping closer. “Hand it over.”

Anwar shook his head, his hand going to his pocket, gripping the earphones tight. “No.”

Farid’s eyes blazed with fury. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Anwar.”

Anwar’s mind raced. He needed to stall, to figure out a way out of this. He couldn’t let Farid take the evidence—not after everything.

Farid reached for him, but before he could grab Anwar, a car screeched to a halt nearby. Khalid jumped out, rushing towards them.

“Anwar!” Khalid shouted, his voice urgent.

For the first time, Anwar felt a flicker of hope.

Khalid’s footsteps echoed in the night as he rushed toward them. The headlights from his car threw long, distorted shadows on the pavement, painting a surreal picture of the confrontation. Anwar felt the tension snap like a rubber band inside him. His heart pounded, but for the first time, he wasn’t sure if it was from fear or determination.

Farid turned, his face twisting into a sneer as Khalid approached. “So, you’re in on this too?” he spat, taking a step toward Khalid, who stopped just a few feet away.

“Back off, Uncle,” Khalid said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. His eyes flicked to Anwar, then back to Farid. “This isn’t what you think.”

“Oh, I know exactly what this is,” Farid growled, his fists clenching. “You’re both trying to bring shame to this family. For what? Some girl?”

Anwar bristled at the dismissiveness in his uncle’s tone. “It’s not just ‘some girl,’” he snapped, stepping forward. “And what you have done… it’s wrong. You can’t just do that.”

“What?” Farid laughed, but it was a hollow, bitter sound. “This is about protecting our family’s name. You think you know the whole story. You have no idea what you’re about to destroy.”

Anwar took a deep breath, steadying himself. His hand still gripped the earphones in his pocket, the evidence that could expose everything. “I know enough. I know what you did.”

Farid’s expression darkened, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. “And you think the police will help you? Do you really think you can just walk in there and hand over that evidence without consequences?”

Anwar hesitated. Doubt crept into his mind like a slow poison. Farid had always been the one who could manipulate a situation with just a few words. But then Anwar thought of Amira, her voice on the phone, filled with fear but laced with resilience. She had been through so much, endured things that no one should have to.

This wasn’t about him anymore. It wasn’t even about the family. It was about her.

Khalid stepped forward, placing himself between Farid and Anwar. “Enough,” he said firmly. “Let him go, Uncle. If this is the path he chooses, it’s his decision.”

Farid’s eyes burned with rage as he stared at his nephew. “You’ll regret this, Khalid. Both of you will.”

Without another word, Farid turned on his heel and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Anwar and Khalid standing in the cold silence.

Anwar let out a shaky breath, his hands trembling as the weight of the moment settled over him. Khalid placed a hand on his shoulder, his expression serious.

“You okay?” Khalid asked.

Anwar nodded, though he wasn’t sure if that was the truth. “Yeah. But we need to move. Now.”

—

The police station loomed just ahead, its harsh lights cutting through the darkness. Anwar’s chest tightened as they approached the entrance. This was it. Once he handed over the evidence, there would be no turning back.

His phone buzzed again, and he quickly glanced at the screen. Another message from Amira.

I’m scared.

Anwar’s heart clenched at the sight of the words. He hit the call button without hesitation, pressing the phone to his ear as he and Khalid hurried toward the station.

“Amira?”

There was a shaky breath on the other end of the line. “Anwar… I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You don’t have to do anything,” Anwar said softly, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “I’m almost there. I’m going to fix this. I promise.”

“But what if they… I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Anwar felt a lump rise in his throat, but he forced it down. “I’ll be fine, Amira. This is about you.”

There was a long silence on the other end, and for a moment, Anwar thought the call had dropped. But then she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just want to be safe. With you.”

“You will be,” Anwar said, his resolve hardening. “I won’t let them take that away.”

He ended the call as they reached the station doors. Khalid opened the door for him, and they stepped inside, the bright lights feeling almost too harsh after the darkness of the night.

Detective Harris was waiting for them. A tall, no-nonsense woman with sharp eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. She stepped forward as soon as she saw them, her expression unreadable.

“You must be Anwar Malik,” she said, her voice clipped but professional.

Anwar nodded, feeling the weight of the earphones in his pocket like a lead weight. “Yeah. I have the evidence.”

Harris gestured toward a private room, and the three of them moved inside. Anwar pulled the earphones from his pocket, his hands trembling as he handed them over. Harris took them, her face still a mask of professionalism, but Anwar could see the curiosity flicker in her eyes.

“This is it?” she asked, holding them up.

Anwar nodded. “Everything’s in there.”

Harris studied him for a long moment before nodding. “I’ll take it from here. You’ve done the right thing, Anwar.”

As she left the room, Anwar felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. It was done. The evidence was out of his hands now. But as he sat there, his heart still heavy with the weight of his decision, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

Khalid sat down beside him, his expression unreadable. “You did what you had to do,” he said quietly. “Now, we wait.”

Anwar nodded, but in his gut, he knew that waiting wouldn’t be enough. The secrets were unraveling, and there was no telling what would happen next.