IV

Previously:
“you are not sleeping till I know and understand why you’ve been pushing me away ever since jam3at bait oboy Ahmad 2 months ago, everything was more than ok between us, what happened? did I do anything? did I say something that hurt your feelings?" he asked.

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Flash back:

Monthly, we’d have a family gathering at my grandfather’s house, baba Ahmad. All family members or people that are related to our family are invited and welcomed to attend and join us. Baba Ahmad -alah y6awil b 3umrah- was raised ena yo9al ri7mah, he believes that if we all share the same blood, then we should all be close to each other no matter what.

At the end of one gathering, about two months ago, we all sat together with my grandparents when all the guests left. Baba Ahmad, Mama Noura, my parents, Areen & Faisal’s parents, my other uncle Fahad, Faisal, Areen, and I were all setting in the huge living room chatting. The men decided to go and set in the Dewaniya*, while Areen and I went to the mini movie theatre in the basement to watch a movie or an episode of ‘Modern Family.’ After a little while I started getting sleepy, and I wanted to get out of my dress, so I went to ask my mom when are we going home.

When I got to the living room I overheard her talking to auntie Nadia, Faisal’s mom,

“ana gayla lk enhum maktoben* shofehum sh7lwhum mashalah!” said auntie Nadia and continued, “ma atwa8a3 Faisal shayf ‘3erha, ana bklmah blmw’9o3!”

“Alah yktib eli feh al khair,” my mom replied,

“Ajal mta tbon nje n56bha?” asked auntie Nadia.

‘wait what? Y56bon Faisal l meen? Lee ana? Ee ana, ana elbnt elw7eda other than Areen in this family, and he obviously wont marry his sister. Wait is he going to be talked into marrying me because we were written* since we were kids?..’ at that night I allowed my thoughts to take me into another world.

Ever since, I decided I wont let this happen, why should he marry me if he doesn’t want to? he doesn’t even look at me like that, he treats me like I’m his little sister. Since I don’t have much power over my parent’s decisions, and what they think is right for me, I thought I would distance Faisal from me and make him dislike me, so that when the times comes he would refuse to marry me! That way he’ll have a shot at marrying someone he actually loves or think of as a future wife, and same thing with me.

  I wont deny the fact that I used to feel attracted to Faisal, but always kept my feelings to myself. He was so perfect, w ma elkamil ela alah! He was successful in his studies, a book and poem lover, he's committed to his duties towards Allah, treats his parents and younger sister in the best way anyone can, he never says 'no' when someone asks him for a favor, he always dresses neatly and sophistically, I’ve never heard anything mean coming out of his mouth.. and the list can go on and on.

   Just like any other girl, I wanted to feel that tingly feeling, the stomach butterflies everyone keeps on mentioning, feeling sad when my lover is sad and happy with his smile, but I’d hate it if it was a one sided feeling.

Back to reality: 

I kept quite, and stared at his beautiful face,

“Y3ni mara7 t7keen eish 9ayr feek?”

“Ma9ayir feni shay.”

“Ajal leh knti t9e7en tw? Sul you know ena dmo3ik ‘3alya, e7keli eish m’9aygik? eish mza3lik?”

“The fact that we’re written.” I finally spoke! He had to know.

“Written? What are talking about?” he asked dumbfounded.

“Your parents are going to force you into marrying me,” I said on the verge of crying

He smiled and looked at me, “no one can ever force me into doing something I don’t want to do.”

I covered my face as tears rolled down again, ‘Yup its that time of the month’ I thought.

“lesh leshh?” he asked me with the softest tone when he saw me hiding my face, he came closer to my face and grabbed my hands to have a better look, I tried resist and pull my hands,

“are you seriously trying to pull your hands from my grip?” he asked sarcastically, as he held both my hands with one of his, and used his other hand to whip my tears.

We had a moment of silence, he stared at my teary eyes, and I stared at his that had a certain undefinable sparkle in them, you can just get lost in them every time you see them.

He broke our silence with his racy voice, “L3nbo thal remsh kaif eni min asbaba ajen,” I swear I could feel my cheeks warming up at that moment when I heard his words.

I opened my mouth to say something but the door opening interrupted my thoughts, both our heads shot to the door and we saw Areen standing there taken off guard.

“O-k. I’ll leave you guys alone.” was the only thing she said before she shut the door really fast. Faisal freed my hands and looked back at me, “Sul, bgolk klmten..”

Do you want to know what Faisal tells Sultana?

Stay pitched for the next chapter x 

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*Dewaniya: a small built majlis that is usually separated from the house, to give the people there their privacy from the house itself.

*Written/Maktoben (مكتوبين): In Saudi there’s a concept in some families, that if the parents of two kids think they’d be a good fit for each other, age and character wise, then they’ll most likely end up together. So basically everyone knows that for example Flana is for Flan. Its done.

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I hoped you enjoyed reading the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Anyways, if you think that I need to touch upon certain things please do tell me, and as I always say feedback and comments are highly appreciated :*x

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