Something lived, Something felt

Chapter 39

"Whoa! We didn't say we are on board" Khalid turned serious.

"He wants to have a word with you, he has been wanting to for a while now" she looked over at Ahmad who thankfully agreed.

She sat on a swing chair in a portico at the back of their house. She dialed Idrees number and waited until he answered after the second dial.

"Zayik?"

"Am fine, how are you" he sounded withdrawn

"Am fine and I have good news, when are free to met Ahmad"

"How, am I supposed to wear a mask?" he responded cold.

She sighed "Its not like I didn't want you to met them, I just wanted to talk to them first and I know I took longer than planned. Am sorry". They had a squabble early that day, he had been trying to get things more formal between them. At least meet her siblings but she wouldn't let him. He told her he felt as though she was keeping him a secret or she was ashamed of him.

"I can get off early tomorrow"

"Great, I'll tell them and I'll get back to you." She informed Ahmad and settled on the details. She called Idrees and told him about the decided location and time.

They met up around five in the Yemeni restaurant the next day. At first it was tensed and unusual but Idrees cut right into it. He apologized for the past, and tried to reconcile things. Ahmad was solid and so was Khalid, it almost seemed like they were interrogating him with their looks. If it was up to Amir they wouldn't be seated there, he had strongly showed his disapproval more so after the incident with Amna. He had told them it was naïve of them to even consider it. Even after evidence from their sources verified that he had been clean for about ten years since his mother passed, Amir didn't buy it "He didn't just do drugs, he dragged so many people with him, including you. You remember what else he did? Went around with women. That much change is bullshit" he spat. For the youngest he sure had temper and was clearly unforgiving. They thought about what Amir had said and maybe he was right but they had promised Nafisa they would meet up with him and so they did. Idrees was of their height, short curly black hair regular hair cut, relatively big; he was tall and fat but with a good body structure, "sand brown orbs that looks like the desert, if you stare to much you might get lost in them" Nafisa's love struck description. He had openly told them that he loves her and hopes that there was a future for them. Their meeting was short and cold at least Khalid and Ahmad made sure of that.

"So, any progress?" Zinar asked seated beside Ahmad on a two sitter in their sitting room while Khalid was seated across from them with a glass of hibiscus drink. They both looked at each other and sighed. "Did something happen?"

"No" Khalid replied.

"So he's good?" she asked already feeling excited for Nafisa.

"Its not that easy" Ahmad rubbed his temple. "Wa'il's past was dark and vile"

"And so was yours" Zinar remaindered him.

"She deservers so much better" he said and she nodded, Khalid snapped his head to his direction but Ahmad was slow to register what he had said.

"We all do," she answered

"That's not what I meant" he pleaded

"Um! Khalid, I just remembered there is something I was supposed to give you" she stood up ignoring her husband. She went to the kitchen and took two parks of dambu from a top cabinet.

"Haba, you know that's not what I meant" Ahmad said behind her. She walked past him to the living room but Khalid was gone. "Habibty," he called, he followed her back to the kitchen "Am sorry, it came out wrong". She turned and looked at him, he gave her a childish, goofy grin yet she held her upset face.