I'm young enough to use my time wisely but old enough to understand that I might not have much left
---
'What do you mean?'
'I mean exactly what I said.' Bela wants to smash her face into the steering wheel at this point. She's driving with her parents to the office or so she was planning to up until Nicole informs her that Talha isn't in the office.
'Why didn't you tell me before?' She bites on her tongue hard, her parents are oblivious to her obvious anger and frustration. Thabith is squinting into his phone to read his WhatsApp notification while Maria is on a call. She had to drag her father with her, whilst her mother was much easier to convince. Bela didn't want to explain herself to her father, God forbid he puts his foot down at the idea. She simply told him she had a meeting that her parents' had to be part of. And in reality they did.
'You didn't ask me!'
'Nicole are you kidding me right now?' Her friend sighs.
'Okay, I'm sorry. Where are you?'
'Almost at the office, duh!' Bela exclaims earning a frown from her father. She turns left and keeps her gaze on the road while she presses one hand against the throbbing ache on her eyebrow.
'Alright! Easy!' Bela rolls her eyes, her fury on building as time passes her by. It's almost three o'clock for Allah's sake! What do I do? Worst of all, he doesn't know I'm coming. 'Norms says that he's at home.' Her heart drops.
'What?' She can't believe this. On a Monday morning, he's at home.
'Yeah tell me about it.' Nicole scoffs as she's equally annoyed at her demanding friend. 'Why do you want to meet him anyway?'
'Why isn't he at the office?' She dodges the question and mutters to herself.
'Can we go home then?' Her father pokes her arm in question. Bela shakes her head violently. There's no way I'm backing down from this. Not now.
'I don't know Bels, should I ask?'
'No!' Thabith and Maria jump in their seat at her tone. Her father looks at his wife with a raised eyebrow, he's clearly getting irritated at his daughter's antics. 'No.' She says softer this time whilst mouthing a 'Sorry,' in their direction. 'Don't say anything, just let it go.'
'Alright! You didn't have to yell. For God's sake.' Nicole says under her breath while Bela parks her car to the side.
'I'm sorry. Look thanks a lot, I'll call you later.'
'Wait so you won't even tell me why you're meeting up with him?' She questions in disbelief, the tone of her voice makes Bela cringe. Imagine me confessing my very heroin like approach to her. No way.
'Nicole, I need to go. Bye.' She hangs up for the second time today and acknowledges her parents who are now staring at her.
'What are you doing mi hija?' Maria asks first.
'We're going over to his house.' Bela explains while fishing into her purse.
'Why? I thought we're going to your workplace.' Her father is confused at what he hears.
'Yeah well, his father isn't feeling too good so I thought we'd get him a treat before going over.' Bela explains while grabbing some change.
'For Mr. Jabir?' Thabith can't seem to understand his daughter's words.
'Yes, Talha's father. He's got cancer.' She was reluctant to share that piece of information but she needs to win her father over. Perhaps that one statement might convince him to keep quiet for the entire ride.
'Oh.' He nods, it worked! Maria didn't comment any further, she has an idea of what her daughter has in mind and she isn't about to object or cause a scene. They'll just have to trust me. I hope I can trust myself.
---
As Bela drives up to the Man's house, she's in complete awe. Large trees and bushes align the gravel road, she accelerates ever so lightly and comes up to a check point. A security guard peeks out of his tiny chamber and frowns at her. She lowers her window and tells him her name. He nods and speaks into what appears to be a walkie talkie. Bela admires his dark uniform and only then notices three other men standing further down the path she's on. Her parents' are also taken aback by their surrounding.
'Sir, her name is Bela.' The man repeats, Bela is drawn to the response yet to come. She wonders at who's on the receiving end of this call.There's a pause for what feels like eternity. The woman prays that he's not mad enough to send her off without even letting her explain herself. She wants to laugh at her condition.
'Let her in.' Saif replies in a gruff tone. She sighs in relief and continues driving. They were blown away by the exterior of the house and now they're right down baffled at the interior. Bela parks her Audi behind many other vehicles and tries to tame her heart in the process. Her parents' follow her nervously.
'Bela, I don't know if this is a good idea.' The poor woman is about to respond but her mother beats her to it.
'Mi amor, shush.' (My love, shush) Maria hushes her husband as she adjusts the strap of her hand bag. 'Take the cake.'
'Wha-why me?' Thabith argues.
'Thabith.' She glares at him.
'Tell Bela to do it.'
'Papa.' She says softly. 'Please.' She grips her phone tightly while throwing a glance at the house in fear that they could see what was happening outside.
'Fine you take my bag then.' Maria dumps her handbag against his chest and takes the cake with an attitude. Her husband looks down at the handbag with slight disgust. Of course. Men and their ego. Bela closes her eyes as if it helps in controlling her patience. She approaches their front door to find Aaqib along with someone else talking. He turns to her and points at the front door.
'It's open.' He smiles slightly and nods at her parents'.
'Thank you.' She says and pushes the door ajar very slowly. Bela takes in the bright threshold and intricately designed stair case. She steps in and hears a loud gasp behind her.
'Shouldn't we wait for them to come?' Thabith asks his wife who's too busy eyeing the cutlery in the kitchen.
'Just follow mi hija.'
'It's rude to barge in like this.' Bela can hear their banter but she simply follows the voices that resonate from the backyard. She passes by exotic furniture, frames and awards, amazing, she thinks. Her phone vibrates in that moment and she glimpses at it to find a message from Nicole.
'Bela. Look.' Her mother says. She lifts her gaze to find the Man she's eager to meet. He's standing on the patio with one hand shoved in his pocket. He's wearing blue cargo pants and a white t-shirt to match. His curly hair a light brown in the sun, she takes a deep breath. He's talking to Saif and another one of his bodyguards, the soundproof glass blocks out everything from their conversation as she watches him talk rapidly with gestures. He's facing the full length window and suddenly his eyes collide with hers. Immediately he stops talking and the other two men also turn to witness the untimely distraction. It's about time, Bela.
---
Another cliff hanger :O Zainab why you do this? Hahaha. I get a kick out of all of your reactions' :) I hope you like it. More to come iA. Peace- Zai x
