Haidar
"Haidar, my son I understand why you want to get married again. I understand that it's difficult when you love someone else, but Jamaima is a wonderful child. Give her a chance won't you please?" Abba; My father says in a concerned tune
"Abba please. I promised this woman I'd marry her. She rejected eligible bachelors for my sake, I've known her since my first year. We've been together for 5years and in just 1week I married a different woman. I explained to her that I'd make her my second wife....."
"Why do you want the wedding to be so soon?"
"I had her inform her family that if I return I'll bring my people for her hand in marriage. And I have returned, and her family is willing to get us married in a week" I explained
"No, I don't approve "
"Abba please!" I beg
"Even if I do, a week is too short to prepare for a wedding.."
"No its not. My wedding with Jamaima was in a week. Abba you're just trying to find an excuse, please Abba I beg you. I have to marry her"
"Have to? What is this... A matter of life and death? "
I bite my lip "something like that.."
" something like that? Ahmed(haidar) if there's something you want to tell me, I suggest you say it right now" Abba demands sternly
(Haidar's first name is Ahmad, His middle name Haidar. So he's Ahmed Haidar Abbas)
"No Abba. Take it this way, I want to give Jamaima a chance but I can't stop blaming her for getting between Zahra and I. So in order to open up to her, I need to marry Zahra" I explain, hoping this will make him approve
He thinks for a minute while stroking his cheek "I guess you have a point, I approve...."
"Oh Thank God " I sigh
"But..."
"Oh not the 'but'" I whine
"...Jamaima has to agree with this. I'm going to talk to her and you have some serious convincing to do with your mother" I gulp, mother will never agree....
WOAH! WOAH! WOAH!
What's happening? The last thing I remember was jamaima telling him to say yes to Zahra's proposal. What happened after that? How about a little time travel.....(time travel effect)
Haidar
"I will marry you..."
"I knew you'd come around, we'll be so happy together"
"if you find a way to convince you father to do it in a week"
Her jaw drops "A week?" She gasps
"Yes, a week " I repeat
"What of my dream wedding, it would take months to plan" she whines
"Do you want to get married or not?"
"Of course I do" she answers quickly
"Then find a way to plan your dream wedding in a week....and also, I'm only attending the wedding ceremony. No occasions, you'll attended them alone"
"Oh come on darling" she pouts. There was a time I found that cute but now, I find it annoying.
"Don't you 'darling' me "I snap (does this sound familiar? Chapter 2. When he called Jamaima 'baby') karma is a bitch.
She grabs my hand and I yank it away "Do you have a death wish?" I roar
"I'm so happy. I'll convince daddy to get us married in 2weeks"
"A week!" I snap. She's trying to play smart
"Fine. A week"
*****
"How did it go?" Jamaima asks
"She'll speak to her father"
"I'm glad you agreed to do it in a week. In 9months the baby will be born. And it will be more believable that she got pregnant after the wedding if you marry soon"
"You're right. I don't know what I was thinking when I wanted to wait 2 months. The baby would be 3 months by then. I'm really lucky to have you" I peck her cheeks and she blushes
"Yeah, me too"
"God I love you" she smiles shyly and for the first time ever, her answer wasn't thank you
"I love you too Habiby" My eyes widen and my heart begins to race, it was like time froze.
"say that again"
" I love you, I love you, I love you haidar! And I want to shout it at the top of mount Everest... " I silence her with a kiss. Y'all know the rest of the story😉
We love him too....But obviously not as much as you do. God knows I'm not climbing mountains for anyone😅
**** end of flashback
"Over my dead body!" Mà yelled
"Mà please... I promise to treat Jamaima with all the love in the world if you let me marry again"
" I said No"
Looks like I have to get back to good ol' emotional blackmail. "Mà, as my mother you should care about my happiness. I married Jamaima without complaint because you asked me to, when Abba told me I said I wasn't coming back but when you called I came the next day. I did it for you, for your happiness and now I ask this of you. Please Mother let me marry Zahra" that has got to work, it's the best I can do.
She pinches the bridge of her nose and sigh "Haidar you are my son. I want your happiness, a few weeks ago if you asked me this I would have said yes. I would have said yes because you clearly didn't love each other and you weren't happy. But now all I see is your love for one another.
Haidar you love that girl and you know it, why are you trying to damage what you two have!" She questions
I gulp, she's right but if i let her know that, she'd want to know why I'm getting married again. I close my eyes for a second and kiss my teeth. " I don't love Jamaima, neither does she love me. We were putting up an act so you won't know we've been getting into fights in Shanghai, we agreed that if we pretend to be in love she'd support me getting married again. And she does"
She keeps quiet "I don't believe you. But whatever it is, if Jamaima is in on it then it's for a good course. I'll give you that, You have my permission. And I'll see to it that it happens in a week in sha Allah. I trust Jamaima and you two will tell me your reason after the wedding. UNDERSTOOD?"
I nod immediately "Thank you" I breath
She nods softly "Well, I guess we have to prepare for a wedding"
...................
"So? did you mother approve?" I see father leaning against the door to his room and he invites me in.
"Yes father" I walk to the couch in his room and settle, he sits on the bed hands clasped and began
"I spoke to your brother, he said you've been acting strange since you returned. Does it have something to do with the wedding?"
I sigh,that SOB can't keep his mouth shut.
"Just a little difficulty at the company"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing much, I'll handle it when I get back. I should leave now Abba, its late and I left Jamaima alone" I find an excuse to leave,one more question and I'll crack like an egg. I need to leave with the little sanity I have left.
"OK, you better get going then. Good night my son"
"Good night Abba"
"Ahh! I spoke to Jamaima, she seems fine with the whole 'wife number two' idea. You are a lucky man"
"I sure am"
You sure are.
The cat's out of the box. Now who's willing to put it back in?
Jamaima? Or Zahra?🤔