To heal a dying heart

Le Talal proposes??!!

A hectic two hours later, I slammed the F2 book, shut. The chapter was done. However, I didn't feel satisfied. I made a mental note to do the chapter over again, later in the day. After 8, most probably.

I reached for the F3 book and that's when I felt the door being opened. I feigned to be oblivious of it. I heard Zain cough. ( Yeah, I finally did unlock the door. It's a house rule: NO LOCKED DOORS IN THIS HOUSE!)

I continued to ignore him.

" Sara we have guests coming over. Mom wants you ready and downstairs in ten minutes. "

" Ok " I shortly, replied. Thankful, that he hadn't hinted towards what Talal had to say. Fifteen minutes later, I found myself waiting for our guests. The whole family was being enigmatic about exactly who those guests were. Fatima looked uneasy.

Plus mama had her cook everything, except a few dishes, for the dinner. I could tell just by looking at the dishes that they had been done by Fati. Lasagnia, macaroni and cheese, a cheese cake etc etc.

I looked at the dish Mahra had prepared. It smelt yummy. It was 'msakhan', a Palestinian dish. I had dropped being rude to her. I hadn't accepted her. No way, I'm not that easy. But she's so sweet, I can no longer glare at her. Also, Zain told me that her mama had just passed away.

I looked at the clock.

8:30pm

What was taking them so long? My stomach growled loudly. Mama laughed and patted me on my hijab-covered head. I smiled at her.

" What Ma? Fatima cooked, even my stomach knows that ! Plus Mahra's dish is making me drool!! "

" What?! Don't I cook well, honey ? "

Mama placed a hand on the wrong side of her chest and feigned to be hurt.

" Wrong side Ma, the heart occupies the left side. "

" Sure honey, I didn't know. "

Mama teased and everybody laughed. I gave mama a flying kiss. She moved as if to catch the invisible kiss and kissed her palm. I giggled, seriously mom doesn't look her 45 year old self. She looks way younger, Ma shaa Allah!

The door bell rang and I uttered a 'Finally'. While we moved towards the door to welcome the guests. An active looking cute grandma entered. Don't ask me why I've called her a granny. She had that air about her, I guess. Two adorable children followed suit. I smiled at them. They greeted me confidently and shook hands with everyone.

" Where is Jamshaid, Emily ? "

Mama asked Emily. The name suited her, somehow. It went with those tight, grey curls.

" He's coming. "

Emily informed. Wait, how does mama know him? Who is he? How do we know this family? Only Zain and I felt at a loss. Everyone else had smiled at them with recognition!

" Assalamualaikum !! "

I heard a guy's heavy voice. It was heavy, seriously. Heavier than Zain's. I looked at him and my heart almost -almost stopped. It was him. Where was Talal? He'd recognise this man anywhere. I looked at Talal, he looked as if he'd seen a ghost! I regained my composure and so did Talal.

I looked at Talal again, he gave me a look that said 'calm down'. I nodded and looked at Jamshaid again. Growing a beard, wearing a ghutra, throbe, etc. Could that hide the reality? This excuse of a human. I glared at him.

Sure he didn't know me. But I knew him, alright. What does he want? He felt my glare, I could tell, but refused to look at me. Acting all Islamic, are we now? That doesn't change a thing. Fatima was like a child-magnet today. They refused to leave her side.

Why is he here? I felt very uneasy. I ate very little and soon took my plates to the kitchen. I heard laughter, my family was way too comfortable with the gangster, for my liking. How do I get him to leave, without my parents suspecting a thing. I could never let them find out my connection to the 'Swamp Angels'. That's what we called our gang.

I heard cheering from the tv-room. I rushed towards it. I entered. Emily was sliding a ring into Fati's finger. My heart started beating fast. I almost fainted when I saw a similar ring in Jamshaid's hand.

" Wh-what's going on in he-here ??!! "

I croaked. All heads turned towards me. Every face beamed at me. I glared back. Wrapping my arms tightly around myself, I waited for an answer. The only reaction I got was a blushing Fatima, running past me, into the hallway. It was too obvious. Yet, I refused to accept it. I felt angry. More angry than I have ever felt before.

" What is wrong with my siblings ? " I asked no one in particular.

" Why am I NEVER CONSULTED? AM I THAT UN IMPORTANT ? "

I was shouting. So loud, that my voice cracked. I felt weird. I was shaking. I, the strong willed Sars. I had had enough. Baba and mama were giving me stern looks. I glared at my parents. What were they thinking? Giving away our Fatima to a guy like 'him' !

Unable to stand there any longer, I exited the room. I threw myself on GM's couch. It has been moved closer to my room. Mama is into interior designing. She has placed GM's hand-woven traditional char-suti chadaars, in this corner.

They have been cut into tiny squares and embellish the wall behind GM's couch. Its a tiny corner, beside my room. My GM corner, as I now call it. I hugged the tiny cushions, inhaling GM's scent. I wish she was here. She'd never let this happen. I cried, feeling angrier and angrier.

" Sars! " I heard Talal.

"Whaa" I spoke, the cushions muffling my voice.

" Stop behaving like an amateur. We have to think straight. This guy will not marry Fatima, I promise. "

" Look me in the eyes and say that again. "

" I will do no such thing. Just trust me on this, OK? "

" You are an Islamic hypocrite too now. "

" What is that supposed to mean ? "

Talal glared at the carpet beside the couch. I'm going back to the old, mean, UN Islamic me again. I glared at him. He can act all Islamic alright. I won't let him heal my heart again. I am sick of all this hypocrisy. All the Islamic people I see around me, are hypocrites.

I stood up and grabbed his collar. Standing on my toes. Darn! Why are guys so tall? He flinched and took a step back. Discomfort, clear in his face. I glared at his lowered eyes.

" Stop acting all pure, idiot. I'm feeling sick and tired. I want GM back, NOW! "

" Sara, you aren't in the right state of mind. Go to your room and rest. "

" Shut your face, idiot ! "

I snapped at him. I wanted to do something. My hands felt out of control. I was scared. I couldn't let my parents find out. But how else could I save Fati? I felt empty.

" Talal what if baba and mama find out and kick me out of the house ? "

I expressed my fears. I feared and expected the worst.

" You can stay with me."

There, I was right in calling him a hypocrite. I glared at him.

" Do you understand what you're saying Talal Ahmed ? "

The hypocrite nodded his head at me. I wanted to bash his face with Zain's base-ball.

" Sara, will you marry me ? "

Talal looked at my face for the tiniest portion of a second. I saw anxiety in his eyes. So he's serious. I felt bad at thinking of him as a hypocrite.

" I will if you save my Fati from that 'thing'! "

I pointed towards the tv-room. He smiled and nodded. I didn't feel shy at all. Its just not in my nature, I smiled at him. He kept his eyes lowered and left the room.

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