11 YEARS LATER ...
Everyone shouted on top of their voices ,
"5....4....3....2....1...... Happy birthday !"
I was so happy and thrilled . My eighteenth birthday was off the hook .
It was a routine to plan every friend's 18th birthday . Reaching eighteen , meant maturity and total freedom and what other way to celebrate that , other than a popping birthday .
Lorraine had rented a small hall , just enough to fit all my friends from school . My mother was invited , but she would rather stay home and finish her work . She was an author , famously known for her horror genre books . All my friends thought she was cool , and wished for a moment to have a one on one conversation with her , answering their disturbing questions from the novels they read . It was a good choice she never chose to attend my party , because on anyone's birthday it's only fair the attention be on the birthday girl or boy .
My face was clearly masked with happiness , I could not be any more grateful for the outstanding effort that went into the event planning , it was just what I wanted .
Red and gold was the theme . Every table covered in a gold cloth with red roses on display with some snacks laid out on the table . Disco lights illuminated every corner , especially the dance floor that was swarming with loads of guests . A cocktail corner was set , any drink of choice was available . My cake had not yet arrived but I really wasn't looking forward to it , unless it was chocolate cake .
Everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives , the playlist played by the DJ was lit .
In the midst of the funkiness , I spotted Lorraine pushing through the crowd on the dance floor trying to get her way to the stage .
"Oh God , what is she going to do ?" I was filled with anxiety .
Lorraine was the craziest friend ever . She was a spontaneous individual who would do anything that came to her mind . Many people would take offense to what she said , and she also got in deep trouble in many occasions , but I could not take away the fact that whatever she said , was the plain truth or a stinging slap to reality .
I begged for God's mercy . I kept on praying she wouldn't do or say anything crazy . The last time she went on stage was on my classmate Fred's birthday , and after that , we never saw him again , not at home , not in school , we saw him nowhere !
She tapped the mic thrice .
"Can I have your attention please !"
Everyone looked up as they slowly stopped the rythm in their bodies .
"Please , please gather around !" She continued .
"I am standing before you , not only as Maryam's best friend but also as her soul sister. "
She paused and pointed to me .
"Maryam I love you so much , Happy birthday girlfriend . You have been the best for 11 years and I only wish the best for you . I want you to be my children's God Mother and I hope you live even longer to loose your virginity ! "
She smiled and clapped chanting the Birthday song .
Everyone in the party gasped and stared at me , as if I had committed a grave sin.
" I am a muslim , why can't they understand that I can't have sexual relations before marriage !"
I stood , frozen to the ground , thinking and almost on the verge of breaking down into tears . I could not take it anymore ; the ugly stares , giggles and live gossips that were happening right infront of me .
"Really? she is still a virgin?"
" no wonder she is boring in class ,"
" which world does she live in ?"
I ran out , straight to the nearest bathroom .
Losing one's virginity at one's teenage years was a culture for majority of the students , but not for me . Ummy always emphasised on such topics and she swore that if I went around sleeping with guys she would kill me! Really kill me ! and chop me into pieces , and also because it was against the beliefs of my religion .
"What should I do ?" I asked my mirror image trying to figure out what to do next .
The embarrassment caught me by surprise and I really had to fix it as my social life was at stake .
I had two worlds on my hands ;- Friends or Religion and Ummy , and it was clear that I could not have them both .
Hectic ... !
Suddenly I heard a knock on the door .
"Who is it ? " I asked weeping
" It's me girlfriend ! "
It was Lorraine !
In a flash , I stood up , opened the door and slapped her !
"You know you didn't have to say all that ! A happy birthday would have been just enough for me ! " I shouted .
I was uncontrollable , filled with disgust , temporary hatred and pure anger towards her . She was all I that I called a true friend yet she betrayed me ?
"I promise , I will fix it , Forgive me girlfriend ! " Lorraine sadly said as she tried to sooth me with one of her exclusive hugs .
I really had no idea what she was planning , I couldn't wait for my social life to be fixed . I was so desperate for peer recognition , that at that moment , I could do absolutely anything .
When she finished hugging me , she took me by my hand and led me to the hall once again . Everyone was looking and I could not bare it so I looked down . Lorraine quickly sprinted to the stage and snatched the mic from the DJ !
"We are having the time of our night , but I would like to apologise to my dearest . I am sorry ! I did not mean to hurt you , please forgive me ."
I was so moved by her public apology . I nodded my head assuring her of my forgiveness , and we were friends again !
"But we have do something before the birthday lady can go home and rest . So everyone get ready to play BALL and CUP ," Lorraine added .
Everyone jumped in joy while I had no idea what the game was .
"It wouldn't hurt if I tried the game , right? " I silently told myself .
Ready to play the game I felt a tap on my shoulder . I turned to look who it was and Gosh! My heart skipped a beat as my eyes couldn't stop blinking .
"Are you fine" He asked .
"Yes , yes , why ? I stammered .
It was Josh , the most handsome boy in school . I never had the guts to talk to him . I secretly had a crush on him for the past 11 years but a miracle happened in my favour , he talked to me first !
Just before I could start a conversation , Lorraine grabbed me by the arm and pulled me over.
"Its game time , Maryam you need to focus if you don't want to go home drunk ! "She whispered in my ear.
"What now?" I gasped .
"Yes Maryam ... when the opponent lands the ball in one of the cups you need to drink what's inside."
"And what's in the cup?"
"Vodka ! " she said , as she arched her eyebrows .
I had never tasted any alcohol before . I began regretting why I put myself in such a situation . I could spot Josh looking at me and this meant that now more than ever I had to be at my best in this coniving game . All the guests gathered around the table , screaming and some cheering .
" Drink it ! Drink it! Drink it! "
The opponent just began throwing the ball and it directly lands in a cup . My eyes widened as my eyebrows sunk , thinking ,
"Is Josh looking ?"
The cup was on my lips and the smell buzzed my nostrils . I closed my eyes as I felt the drink flow down my throat . It was disgusting ! I turned back giving Lorraine a dirty look that led her standing still and terrified . My opponent kept on winning which led me to drink more and more .
Suddenly , everything around me began to slow down .
"Was the world coming to an end due to my sin ? "
"Lo ..lo ..aarrain..nnnn.ee," I called for my friend .
My legs felt weak and at any time I was to land on the ground . I felt myself being pushed around and then my eyesight went blank .
'Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! ' I heard an alarm clock .
"I don't own an alarm ?" I thought to myself.
I slowly opened my eyes trying to recall what had happened .
Oh no! Josh was in front of me with a tray of food .
"Where am I? Where is Lorraine ? " I asked .
"Just relax Maryam ! "
"How can you ask me to relax when I don't know where I am or where my friend is ... did you do anything to me? Oh no ! Did I sleep with you ?"
The room went silent !
The more I thought about it the more I got convinced that I did it . I started hitting him on his chest , filled with confusion and crying out loud .
"Why did you have to do this to me ?"
" I didn't do anything Maryam . Lorraine asked me to bring you here . I was here whole night , watching over you ," he said moving himself towards me .
"I'm sorry , I'm sorry". My arms rolled around his , holding as tight as I could .
Lorraine walked in .
"Lorraine please let me go ... I need to go home now . Ummy will kill me ! " I said as I stood with intentions of no one stopping me .
I instantly dressed and started marching out .
I had to go home and most importantly explain to Ummy where I and with whom I spent the night .
Never did I ever spend a night outside !
'Was friendship worth a person disobeying their parent ? " I thought to myself as I increased my pace to the door ...
______
This is the longest chapter so far
I hope you enjoy it .
THANK YOU FOR READING MY SHORT STORY "Chapter 3 - (FEARLESS HEART , ISLAMIC STORY ) .
IF YOU LIKED IT , THEN SURELY VOTE & LEAVE YOUR COMMENT ON THIS CHAPTER .
UNTIL NEXT CHAPTER EDIT , STAY WELL .
xxx