Wow, if I knew how much you guys loved Samir, I would have tried to incorporate him more into the story! Thanks for all your suggestions, so far it seems like a book on Samir is the favourite, however, I'm thinking of doing a book with multiple POV's, but mainly with Samir's. Still undecided though!

Sorry for the long wait...uni started three weeks ago, so it's very hard for me to write now, especially with ongoing exams and assessments.

Enjoy!

#Chapter Forty Two#

"Thanks Salem." He dropped the last bag filled with all the gifts I had bought for my children at the education centre and nodded his head.

"No problem. Anything else?"

"Um." I scanned everything we had brought in to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything in the car. "Nope, I think this is everything."

"Alright, I'll head home then. Just call if you need anything."

I shook my head as I waved a hand in dismissal. "Go home and relax. I feel so bad that I woke you up at the crack of dawn."

Somehow, I had completely forgotten that this was the last week of term for the children before they went on Winter break. Every year we held various excursions, picnics and activities for them before they'd leave and I hadn't prepared anything.

So when Suzie, the CEO and next in command after myself had called last night to ask me what I had planned, I had to pretend that I wasn't completely freaking out over the phone.

And well, me being me, decided I needed to get to work as soon as possible. Before my alarm for fajr had even gone off, I was awake and getting dressed to head over to the centre, calling Salem as I did.

It was supposed to be his day off but the whole day had involved lots of travelling, shopping and meetings and Salem was the best person to keep up with me.

"Yeah, I think Mira was mumbling something about strangling you as I was leaving the house," he said with a chuckle.

"Eh, she'll get over it." I waved my hand again.

"We'll see about that." He checked his wrist watch. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, thank you so much for today! I owe you one!"

Once Salem was gone, I trudged into my room and began to unpin my scarf. I threw my hijab onto my bed and instantly massaged my scalp.

I sighed in contentment.

This was probably the best part of my day.

Half an hour later I finished my usual routine of showering and praying. I was heading back downstairs when I stumbled across Sarah and baba about to leave the house.

"Where are you guys off to?"

"To my parents house. I'd ask you to come but you look exhausted," Sarah answered.

"I feel like I've been battered like a fish." She laughed at the analogy. "You're going too?" I asked baba.

"Yes, it's been a while since I've visited and I feel quite rude." Abir was asleep in his arms and he hoisted her onto his shoulder slowly, so as not to wake her up.

"What about Ziad?"

"He's staying home - he's got a slight headache and it looks like he's about to doze off any minute now."

"Sarah, I'll wait for you in the car, OK?" She nodded at baba and he followed Ahmad and Omar out the door.

Since she was still standing in front of me and not trailing after baba, I assumed she wanted to tell me something.

"Can you do me a favour?"

"Sure. What's up?" I asked distractedly, checking my phone as it vibrated in my hand. I laughed at Tariq's message.

'I just saw someone fall off a skateboard and drop four cups of coffee in the process. I can't imagine what must've hurt more...the pain of falling or the lost coffees.'

"Hang out with Ziad."

At Sarah's comment, I looked up at her with a frown. "What?"

She bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders. "I mean, he hasn't mentioned anything...but I can sort of tell that he's missing you."

"Really?"

She nodded. "He'd be very happy if you spent a little time with him. With everything that's been happening and how busy it was with the nikah, I think he feels like he's lost his twin in the process."

I schooled my features into a smile and ignored the sinking feeling in my stomach. "Don't worry," I said, patting her shoulder. "I'll annoy him enough tonight that he'll wish he didn't have a sister."

"That's...comforting! Anyway, we'll be back in a few hours."

"Have fun!"

Before I went into the kitchen to make something to eat, I stopped by the living room and sure enough, Ziad was knocked out on the couch. I decided I'd let him sleep for an hour before waking him up.

"Hi Lia." I kissed her on the cheek and picked up a bread stick from the basket, immediately chomping down on the salty goodness.

"I've been waiting for you to come home all day young lady!"

I paused mid-chew. "What did I do?!" Lia only used that tone on me when I did something wrong.

"It's almost seven!"

"Good to know..."

She put her hands on her hips and stared me down.

I blame Ziad for my sarcasm skills.

"Don't think I don't know what time you left the house. I've always said that your father is too lenient with you!"

"Lia, I was working, not scampering around town in a mini skirt!" I chuckled at my own comment but then sobered up when I saw her face.

She definitely wasn't humoured.

"I don't care what you were doing. It isn't right for a lady to leave the house at five in the morning. With five male bodyguards, I should add."

I was shocked. I don't know what Lia was implying but what she said didn't sit well with me. "You know I don't have a choice about that."

She exhaled tiredly and grabbed my arm, directing us back up the kitchen stairs and away from all the workers who were beginning to stare at us.

"I spoke to your father about an alternative idea and we both agreed it's for the best."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your father is going to hire a number of female bodyguards. To be honest, I don't know why he hasn't done this sooner, but I think it's about time." I opened and closed my mouth, not knowing what to say. Lia pulled my hands away from my chest and held onto them. "This isn't about us not trusting you or the guards. This needs to be done and I know I don't have to explain why."

"What about my personal guards...Salem, Ahmad and Omar? What will happen to them."

"Since your father can't really put you in the hands of newbies yet, the boys will still be your bodyguards but now they'll be accompanied by two females, at the very least. That way, you're not completely alone in their presence."

"OK then. If this is what you both want then by all means, go ahead."

"Oh, we've already gone ahead. The new bodyguards will start working next week."

"Fantastic!"

The overly chirpy and sarcastic comment was received with a slap.

"Now go eat," she ordered, pushing me towards the stairs again. "I made lasagna."

"Mmm lasagna."

As I ate, I was entertained half by the workers and half by Tariq's messages.

'What're your plans for tonight?'

'My shift starts in half an hour. I finish at four am.'

I shook my head at his horrid work hours.

'Will I ever see you once we're married?'

'You know I'm trying to sort out my working hours but it's not that easy.' I could sense the frustration in his text message.

'I know, I know. I'm sorry.'

'Don't apologise. I love that you care!'

I picked up my glass of ice tea and took a sip at the same time that my phone vibrated with a second message.

'Oh btw, I'm going in for surgery after tomorrow...'

Liquid came flying out of my mouth.

"Sameena, are you ok?!" Lia asked, rushing over to me and patting my back as I coughed my lungs out.

"Umm," I managed out in a hoarse voice. "I think so."

I cleared my throat and hastily responded to Tariq's message.

'WHAT? WHY?'

'Calm your racing heart lol. It's a simple appendectomy.'

I blew out a breath. He had really scared me there.

'But you haven't said anything about you being in pain? Don't they only remove the appendix if you're screaming in agony?'

'Usually yes, but I have all the symptoms of it rupturing very soon, so I decided I would remove it before any pain could start up.'

'You and your surprises -.- I just choked on my drink because of you!'

'I'll kiss you better when I see you ;)'

I rolled my eyes at his comment and continued to message him for the next five minutes as I finished my food. As I washed the dishes, I couldn't help but ponder on my luck. Out of all the weeks for Tariq to have a surgery, it had to be this one? The day after tomorrow I had planned for a multi-cultural festival for the kids to enjoy and learn about different nationalities. It was an all-day event so parents could bring their kids whenever it suited them most and I was supposed to be there until it finished but now I had to figure out how I would visit Tariq and manage the event.

I finished up the washing and made my way to the living room. Ziad was still sprawled across the couch, face down and one arm hanging off the edge.

Since my brother could sleep through an apocalypse, I woke him up the only way I knew how.

"WAKEEE UPPP!" I screeched, launching myself onto his back and bouncing on top of him.

"Sameena...what the?" His head flew up and he opened his eyes groggily to find me grinning down at him. "Get off me!"

He tried to push me off but I clung onto him. I sent him a mischievous smile. "If I go down, you go down too."

"You're going to give me permanent spinal damage!"

"You whine like a girl!"

"You're as heavy as an elephant!"

"You're a little weakling!"

"Ugh!" he exclaimed, giving up and letting his head fall back into the couch. "You're such a pest."

"Come on, up, up, up!" I continued to bounce on his back just to annoy him. "We have no more strawberry cheesecake left, this is an emergency! We have to go buy a large number of packets!"

His eyes widened. "No more strawberry cheesecake?!"

"Nope."

"How could that happen?"

"No idea but I'm craving, so let's go!" Without warning, he used his left hand to push me off him and I toppled to the floor. "Hey!"

He eyed me dryly. "You're screaming 'let's go!' when you're not even dressed."

I glanced down at my baggy pyjama pants, loose fitting top and black hijab. "Oh right." I groaned at the thought of changing. "I suddenly can't be bothered going anymore."

Ziad gasped dramatically. "Think about the cheesecake!"

I nodded my head seriously. "You're right! Give me five minutes and I'll be ready."

He scoffed. "More like five hours."

"Don't underestimate my powers."

"Just hurry up. I need a coffee too, this headache isn't going away." He sat up properly and rested his elbows on his knees, rubbing his temples and closing his eyes.

"OK grumpy pants," I mumbled.

Sure enough, three minutes and twenty two seconds later, I was downstairs and dressed.

Ten minutes later we had walked into the closest grocery store and I practically skipped my way to the frozen food section. Ziad shook his head at me and the rest of the five guards had their usual constipated expression plastered onto their faces. I think they thought it made them look intimidating, but it really didn't.

A number of workers stopped what they were doing to look at us and I smiled at each one. It was such a quiet night and our presence was most likely the most action they've gotten tonight.

Poor things.

"Do you think ten packets is enough?" Ziad asked, pulling one box out after the other.

"Yeah that'll last us the week."

"I don't know how we haven't gotten diabetes yet."

I snorted. "Tell me about it."

"Could you not...snort in public please."

I scanned the area around us. "There's like no one around us."

"Just don't do it. It's unattractive."

"It's unattractive," I mimicked under my breath.

We picked up a number of other essential items before finally making our way to the checkout.

"Hey, this is the exact spot where I first saw Sarah," Ziad mentioned, taking me by surprise.

"Really? I didn't realise it was here!"

"Yep, right here," he said with a fond smile.

"Aww. You should take a picture standing there."

He simply blinked at me. "No."

"What? Why not! It's sweet, you can show Sarah!"

He laughed at me like I was stupid. "It's literally an empty space!"

"So what?!"

"You want me to take a picture with nothing..."

"Well...look there's a box of whatever these are..." I picked up a random demon looking toy from the box. "Drag it over and stand next to it."

"You're unbelievable." He ran a hand through his hair and moved to stand in the spot.

"Yay!" I pulled my phone out and snapped a shot. "One hundred percent, Sarah will think this is cute."

"Can we just go get my coffee now?"

"Fine!"

"Pest," I heard him utter under his breath.

####

"Baba, I can't!"

"The word can't is not in the Ahmad vocabulary," baba responded smartly.

I groaned loudly. "Baba you know how unbelievably busy I am this week. Can't this BBQ be postponed until next week?"

"No, it absolutely cannot. Some of the family flew down just for this gathering, I can't cancel it," he replied calmly. "Everyone's going to be there, even Tariq and his family. You have to come habibti."

"But there's so much to dooo," I drawled, dropping my head into my hands.

Baba put an arm around my shoulder and hugged me to his side. "Just come for an hour at the very least, just so all your aunts and uncles can see your face then you can leave."

"OK," I exhaled, not having the energy to argue anymore.

"Is Sameena whinging again?"

Ziad strode into the room with Abir in his arms, Sarah trailing behind him.

"Shut up," I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Aw it's OK," he moved to pat me on the arm. "We understand it must be hard not to be treated like a spoilt brat twenty four seven."

"You're not funny," I spat, shoving him lightly and stomping upstairs to change into my vans.

"Babe, that wasn't nice! Go and apologise!" I heard Sarah scolding him and he grumbled like a child in response.

The sun was out today despite us being halfway through Winter and instead of doing the BBQ indoors like it was originally planned, the family decided to take advantage of the temporary sunshine and do it in a park. Knowing how much my cousins loved to play soccer, there was no way I could go in my flats.

With a weak sigh, I trailed back down the steps and out the door, filing into the car where everyone was awaiting me.

"It's a shame Samir couldn't make it," Sarah voiced.

"I miss Samir."

"Don't worry, he doesn't have long to go!" baba said and I realised he was right. Soon he'd be graduating and living at home again.

Once we arrived at the park, we moved off the area that we had reserved for our large family and I instantly spotted Tariq and his mother conversing with some of my aunties.

I greeted everyone as I made my way through, inevitably being stopped numerous times for relatives to fuss over my appearance and comment on how much I had grown.

"You look stressed," was the first thing Tariq said when I approached him. He spread his arms out and I gladly pulled into the hug.

"I am. Why does everything have to fall on the same week?"

Tariq chuckled and kissed my temple. "Reminds me of uni. All my exams would fall on the same day or same week. It was horrible."

"I don't even know how you survived medical school," I admitted.

"Me neither, Sameena." He pulled out of the embrace and pulled me towards the dessert table. "Want some chocolate? It'll make you feel better."

I nodded my head. "Is that a question? Of course I want some!"

He smiled in amusement and handed me a chocolate chip cupcake.

I grabbed another one.

"Don't forget there's still the actual BBQ."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Clearly, you don't remember how much I can eat."

"That's right..." he tapped his chin in thought. "You're tiny but mighty."

I laughed at the lameness of that phrase.

"SOCCER TIME!" a voice bellowed and we all snapped our heads to the right. I almost forgot about idiot Ziad's ritual of yelling out whenever the game was starting.

On cue, all my cousins made their way to the empty grassland where we'd be playing.

"I'm down for soccer. You in?" Tariq asked.

"Mmm, not really."

"Come on, pleasee..." He gave me an adorable smile, the one he knew I couldn't resist and I huffed in defeat.

"Fine." I put down the second cupcake which was only half-eaten and made my way over.

"Sameena you're in my team!" Laith instantly shouted.

"No, she's in mine!" Nayef, my fifteen year old cousin yelled in protest.

Tariq grinned. "What's this? Seems like your famous?"

"Don't you know Sameena's one of the best players!" Laith - unnecessarily - yelled.

Tariq's eyebrows rose. "I'm impressed. But you haven't seen me play, so..." he trailed off, humour and a challenge dancing in his eyes.

I smirked.

"I agree to the unspoken challenge. If my team wins I choose the honeymoon location."

He stepped closer to me. "And if I win? What do I get?" His breath tickled my face and I could see that his eyes were focused on my lips.

"Mmm." I shrugged my shoulders. "A packet of chips perhaps?" I teased him and before he could say anything I kissed his cheek and made my way over to Laith's team. "You guys all ready?" I yelled and I received a chorus of 'yeses'.

"You have a dangerous glint in your eye." Elisa smiled as she came to stand next to me.

"That's because your brother challenged me. And well, you know how competitive I am in every regard."

Twenty minutes into the game and my adrenaline was pumping through my body. I was breathing heavily and sweating profusely and I wanted nothing more than to pause and take a swig of water but I couldn't risk it.

Not when we were on a tie, two points each team.

Not when Tariq and I had scored every goal.

Ziad was a good player too and had nearly scored a goal himself, but luckily for us, Laith was a great goalie.

"Ten minutes left Sameena...who's going to win?" Tariq bent down to catch his breath and then stood up straight, cracking his knuckles in the process.

"Only time will tell. But you've proven yourself a worthy player."

"You doubted me?"

"Never," I admitted, ruffling his dark hair.

"Sameena and Tariq, get a room or focus on the game!" one of my cousins jeered. I rolled my eyes and ran back into position.

It was in the last two minutes when things got both really intense and bad. I was focusing on where Tariq was standing so that I could strategically kick the ball away from him, when I heard a shout.

"Sameena, the ball!" Laith yelled urgently.

I turned around and I didn't even have a second to comprehend the flying ball before it smashed right into my left eye. With the force of the blow and the sheer pain that was coursing through my face at the moment, I staggered backwards and fell all together.

I heard a pair of feet running towards me and then a cuss. "Sameena, I'm so sorry! I threw the ball but you weren't looking and-,"

"It's OK," I tried to tell Laith, although my voice came out muffled due to the fact that both my hands were covering my face. Tears were leaking out of both my eyes and no matter how hard I tried to pry them open, I just couldn't. It hurt way too much.

Within a minute, everyone was standing around me.

Some tried to pull my hands away from my face, some were rubbing my back in soothing circles and some were yelling for an icepack.

Yes, my family were very dramatic.

"Come on, let's get you away from all these people," I heard Tariq's voice whisper in my ear. He wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me up onto my feet, helping me walk to a seat in my state of blindness.

"Thanks," I croaked out.

"That was a pretty bad hit." To my astonishment, I heard humour in his voice.

"Are you laughing at me?!"

He coughed. "No."

"Yes you are!"

"OK, I feel horrible but I can't deny the way you fell was down right hilarious."

"You're evil!"

"I love you?"

"No, go away." The tears finally stopped now and I hesitantly moved my hands away. I blinked a number of times but when I realised how much that stung, I closed my left eye again.

I saw the traces of humour drop from Tariq's face. "OK that actually doesn't look good. You need an icepack."

"Here." Ziad appeared out of no where with one.

I placed it onto my swelling eye and immediately felt some relief.

"Sameena, you OK?" I heard baba's voice.

"I'm fine baba."

"She'll probably have a black eye now."

I gasped. "Don't say that!" When everyone remained quiet, I asked, "does it look that bad?"

"Yeah it's that bad," Tariq responded and I felt my shoulders deflate. Honestly, this was the last thing I needed right now.

"This really isn't my week."

Tariq sat down next to me and pulled me into his chest. "I'm sorry habibti."

"Things happen..." I said in a sad attempt to cheer myself up.

"If I kiss you will you feel better?"

I slapped him hard in response.

We remained in a silent embrace for the next few minutes, with me occasionally placing the icepack on my eye.

"Hey Sameena?" Tariq started and I'm not sure why, but I sensed dread in his tone.

"Yeah?"

"Since things are already going horrible for you, do you mind if I give you one piece of information which may or may not make things worse?"

"You're supposed to make me feel better!" I whined.

"I know but then you might get angry at me if I don't tell you."

I bit my lip. "What is it?"

He rubbed his neck and tried to send me a reassuring smile. "You...you booked skydiving for tonight...in four hours to be precise. I think you've forgotten."

Now, it was time for me to bang my head against a wall.

####

Don't forget to vote and comment!