'Sorry to keep you waiting...one of Papa's old friend called to find out how things are going' I told Hafiza Aunty, Karim's Sir mother who was waiting for me in the living room. Karim Sir told me that his mother will be coming over to discuss something.
'That's okay...it's good that people call to check on the two of you...Haya must be at school?' She asked me when I sat next to her. As always, she brought some home cooked food for us. She was not only kind but a very generous woman.
'Yes, I also started tuition for Haya...I sometimes lose interest or get too tired to help her with her homework so I thought it will be best for her to start taking tuition' I told her.
'That's good, you did the right thing' She smiled.
'Karim Sir told me you wanted to discuss something with me...is everything okay?' I asked her.
'Oh yes...yes everything is fine...it's' actually good news...we found a girl for Karim' She announced in excitement.
'That's such a wonderful news...oh, I am so happy to hear that, who is the girl?' I asked her.
'She lives in our neighborhood...very good girl, her name is Saba. Karim and she used to be in the same school when they were young, so they both know each other from before' She told me.
'I think I know her...one of my friends knows her family quite well. It's great that they both know each other...when is the wedding?' I asked her.
'Soon...in about two months...most of our family is here and so is theirs so there is no point in waiting' She told me.
'Ayat I actually came here to ask you for a favour...this weekend...Karim is going to Naran for a two-day volunteer camp and wanted Saba to join in...I have no problem with the two of them going there but Saba's parents want someone to accompany with her so I was thinking if you would be interested in going...Haya can stay with me' She said without hesitation.
'Hafiza Aunty you know I can't go...I can't leave Haya alone.' I told her straight away.
'Do you not trust me enough to let Haya stay with me for two days?' She looked at me with sadness.
'No...Aunty, it's not like that at all. We have known your family for years...trust is the last thing that is keeping me from agreeing to go with Saba...it's just that it's still all so new you know...Haya has been a lot more independent after Papa's death but still...I think leaving her on her own for two days will be just a little too much. Sorry but I can't go' I looked down at my hands unable to look at her in the eyes. She made a request with so much hope in her eyes and I denied her offer.
'I understand...you know Ayat I would have asked any other girl to accompany Saba but I knew I could only trust you...you have a way with people...you are very sensible and calm and you understand relationships and it's limits...I knew I could trust you' She said and it made the guilt even worse.
'Can you do me a favor Ayat? Ask Haya if she would be okay with staying with me for two days and besides, it's just me and Karim in the house anyway...and now that Karim will be gone I will be alone and I would like really to have some company as well. Ask Haya okay?' She made a request. Karim Sir's father died a couple of years of ago of sudden cardiac arrest and after that, it was just Karim Sir and his mother left in the house. That's how we became close, I started visiting their house more to keep his mother company and their family became kind of an extended family of ours.
'Okay...I will ask her but please I don't want to disappoint you. As far as I can tell...I won't be able to go...I think you should ask someone else to be sure' I warned her.
'Don't worry...I don't think Haya will not disappoint me' She patted my hand and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
'Of course, you should go' Haya responded as soon as I told her about going to Naran. We were walking home from the market after shopping for some items for Haya's school project.
'You really like living without me don't you' I rolled my eyes in reaction to the excitement that was very visible on her face.
'It's Naran, Ayat...remember how much fun we used to have in Naran during summer break with Mama and Papa' She told me.
'Of course, I remember' I said.
'Then...you will get to see that place again...come on Ayat you must go...I will be fine with Hafiza Aunty...besides she makes delicious food...don't I deserve to eat some decent cooked food' She teased, and I slapped her shoulders. This girl was pure wicked at times.
'So, you're going...please please...' She pushed.
'Okay...okay...fine...I'll call her tomorrow and tell her that I will go' I told her.
'No...call her right now...I don't want you to overthink because you do that a lot nowadays...call her and tell her you're going and ask her when they are planning to leave' She took the house keys from my hand and unlocked the main door. After entering inside, Haya went inside to change her clothes, and I picked up the phone to make a call.
'Hello?' Some stranger answered the phone, it was a male voice, but it wasn't Karim Sir.
'Who is this?' I asked.
'You are the one who called...may I know who is speaking' The person responded.
'Ayat...may I speak to Hafiza Aunty or Karim Sir' I quickly said.
'Ayat?...it's Hamza...is everything okay?' He asked me.
'What are you doing there at this hour?' I asked him instead.
'I actually live with them now' He replied.
'You do?' Was he serious or joking...I couldn't tell.
'I am just here to meet Karim...and Aunty is here...' The phone went silent and seconds later I heard Hafiza Aunty's voice.
'Yes...Aunty...I am just calling to let you know that I'll go' I told her, and I felt so much joy in her voice once she started assuring me how much she'll take care of Haya and how happy she is to hear that I agreed to go with Saba.
'So...when are they leaving?' I asked her.
'Day after tomorrow. They are going to leave early in the morning...Karim will come over to pick you and drop Haya over here...okay?' She explained to me.
'Okay...that will work.' I said to her.
'Thank you so much...Karim and Saba need this time you know...everything happened so fast...I think this will be good you know for both of them.' She said.
'Yes, you are right...anyways, I will talk to you later...Haya is pretty hungry, so I am going to start on dinner' I told her and ended the call.
The next day after Haya came home from school, both of us spend most of the time packing our stuff for our two-day adventure trip. Haya was excited for both of us and I was nervous for both of us. Throughout the day I kept telling her to call me if anything happens and she kept reassuring me that everything will be fine, and two days will fly by in a blink of an eye.
'You have everything right? Don't forget your toothbrush and the house slippers' I told Haya when she brought her bag to the living room the next morning when we were waiting for Karim Sir.
'Oh yes, I forgot I am the only one in the planet who uses a toothbrush and how hard it would be to get a new one from the market' Haya threw some more shades towards me. I was so used to her being this sarcastic that her responding back to me in a normal tone concerned me more.
'Crazy' I told her.
'Should I go outside to see if he is coming...' Haya seemed eager. She was really looking forward to staying with Hafiza Aunty. A few minutes later our doorbell rang, and Karim Sir arrived. He carried our bags to the car and we went off to drop Haya off to his house first.
'Thanks for agreeing to come with us...I think you'll like Saba' Karim Sir said to me on our way to Saba's house after dropping Haya off.
'I am sure she is wonderful...Hafiza Aunty really likes her. I am really happy that you decided to get married, Hafiza Aunty always wanted to see you getting married' I told her.
'Yes...after meeting Saba...well, I knew her but when Mama brought up her name...I couldn't find any reason to not agree to meet her and after we met it just felt right...you know I saw my life with her' He told me. I could tell he fancied her by the way he spoke of her.
'This is wonderful...I am so happy for you' I told him.
Saba turned out to be a delightful human being, she was polite, had a kind smile, kind of shy and extremely sweet. Her family, in general, was very nice, everyone treated us with so much care and respect and her father especially, the bond Saba and her father shared reminded me of the relationship I had with Papa. There was so much trust and friendliness between the father and daughter that I understood why he was allowing his daughter to be away from home for two days...simply because he loved her and trusted her. He wanted her to be sure of her decision, especially if it was as important as marriage.
'Hafiza Aunty spoke so highly of you Saba...I am so glad we met' I told her when Saba and I walked out of her house to get the car to leave for Naran. Karim Sir was behind us carrying her bag, being a gentleman as always.
'Thank you, Haya, Karim told me so much about you...I really look forward to spending more time with you...this is going to be great' She smiled warmly at me as we got in the car.
'Okay...one more person to get and we are on own way' Karim Sir said announced when he started the engine of the car.
'One more? Who else is coming?' I asked him, feeling terrified. Terrified because somewhere deep down I had a feeling who that last person was.
'Oh, didn't I tell you? Hamza is coming with us' Karim Sir confirmed that feeling and nothing came out of my mouth after that. Haya was wrong, there was no way these two days were going to pass in a blink of an eye.
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Hello, lovelies and happy mid-October. Let me know if like autumn as well.
As always, I hope you liked this chapter if you did please vote and leave a comment, I'll appreciate it so much!
See you'll next week! Tata