#Chapter Fourteen#

“Baba, plea-,” He put up his hand and I clamped my mouth shut. I watched anxiously as he paced up and down the hospital room.

I glanced at Ziad, who was sitting off in the corner, brooding quietly. Every minute, he’d look up from the floor and send daggers my way. Even Sarah, who was perched on the arm of Ziad’s chair, was staring at me disappointedly. 

What was frustrating me the most was the fact that none of them were saying anything. It was quiet. Too quiet for my liking. And when I tried to speak for the second time now, I was shushed again by baba. 

The door opened and a guilty looking Salem strode in. “Salam,” he mumbled quietly. He shut the door softly and made his way to an empty chair without meeting the eyes of anyone in the room. 

When another five minutes passed without anyone saying anything, I just couldn’t take the tension anymore. “I can ex-,” I was cut off yet again, this time by baba’s warning look. It was the same look he used on us when we were children, the same one that could make us wee our pants in fear.

I exhaled loudly and dramatically, falling back against my pillow sheets in a huff. Ziad gave the me the ‘stop being a spoiled princess’ look and I just scowled at him. 

The door opened a second time and I was surprised to see Mira walk through the door. “Salam everyone,” she said with a timid smile. She came over to sit by my bed and I grasped her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. We had gotten the good news an hour ago that Houda made it through the surgery successfully, alhamdulillah, and needed a few days in the hospital to recover. However, Mira still looked awfully tired and stress and I knew it was a mixture of worry for her sister and frustration towards her parents. 

“Well then,” baba finally spoke up, looking at all of us in turn. “Now that we’re all here, I can finally begin.” He gave me a pointed look and I smiled sheepishly. “Let me start off by saying this; generally, I think I’m a pretty unbiased and rational man. I always look at both sides of the coin. I always question, ponder and analyse my words and actions. And so I’ve thought long and hard about everything I’ve learnt today and for the life of me, I just can’t understand why you guys did what you did.” 

Salem, Mira and I all glanced at floor, unable to meet baba’s eyes. 

“Now, I want each of you to give me one solid answer to that question. One legit reason. Maybe then, I will reconsider.” I internally groaned. I hated it when baba did this. He knew we were in the wrong, we knew we were in the wrong and it just made us look stupid in the end. “Salem?”

Salem cleared his throat. “I did what I did to protect Sameena and Mira.” 

Baba nodded his head. “Right. And do you think you could have protected them, say, in a safer and more well-thought method?” 

He shifted uncomfortably. “Yes.” 

“That’s all I need to know. Mira?” 

She twirled the ring on the finger for a few seconds before glancing up at baba and answering him. “My sister was in danger. I did what I thought was best at the current moment.” 

“And looking back now, would you say what you did was the best way to go about it?” 

“No.”

DAMMIT, BABA! 

WHAT WAS MY REASON?! 

He was too manipulative for his own good.

“Right. Sameena?”

“Um,” I said lamely, trying to think of something. I glanced at Ziad for help as he was my twin, the one who always helped me when I was stuck in one of baba’s grilling sessions. He just shook his head at me. Traitor! “Erm, because I love Mira?” I could see her from my peripheral vision, trying not to smile at my comment.

Baba raised a brow. “Try again.”

“Fine. I did what I did, because my best friend asked for support and I wasn’t going to leave her during her time of need.” 

“Could you have support her differently?”

“Yes, I could’ve.”

Baba nodded again, satisfied. “So I think you guys have realised, that your arguments have collapsed in on themselves. I know that you know you’re in the wrong. I’m not here to tell you that. I also know that you all acted impulsively, although I’ll be so bold to say that I’m surprised Salem wasn’t the voice of reason amongst the two of you.” I shook my head in protest but baba continued to speak. “Everyone makes wrong decisions and I understand that. I’m speaking to you now to make sure that you learn from your mistakes, so that if anything like this ever happens again, you don’t make the same mistakes, fall into the same traps. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

We all nodded. 

“Mira, I understand you’re having a difficult time at home and that this was a result of that. I’m extremely saddened at what happened and I’m sorry you’ve had to suffer through this. I understand that you came to your best friend first for security and advice but this is more serious than you think and you should have seeked help from higher authorities immediately. You know that we take domestic violence very seriously in this country.” Mira nodded at baba’s words, wiping a stray tear of her face and sniffing sadly. Baba looked at her sympathetically. “I thought you’d like to know that your father was arrested and will have a court hearing a month from now. You and the rest of your family will be staying at our home until further notice.” 

“Thank you amu,” she croaked out, wiping another tear. “And I’m sorry for pulling everyone into this mess.” 

I took her hand in mine again. “Don’t apologise.” 

“Salem, as my number one trusted guard, I would have hoped that in cases like these, you would have come to me, or at the very least, Ziad. Not only because of the severity of the situation but because my very own daughter life was involved.”

“I understand,” Salem spoke up, lifting his eyes off the floor and looking at baba. “My number one goal has been to protect your daughter and your family for the last twelve years of my life but last night, I failed to do that. I made a reckless decision but it was only because I know and care for Sameena like a sister. I know she is stubborn and that she would have probably gone on with the plan with or without my help and well…I’d rather it be with.” He glanced back at the floor and clenched his jaw. “I understand if you want to terminate my contract and end my position with you.”

Aw, Salem! He was really trying to make me cry!

Baba smiled and walked over to put a hand on his shoulder. “You know I could never do that, Salem. I admire how much respect and determination you put into your job. You’re the only one I can trust my little girl with. I would never replace you.”

“Thank you,” he said, a humble smile plastered on his lips. Baba patted him on the shoulder before turning to look me. 

“And you,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. I tried not to look scared but I’m sure everyone in the room could practically smell my fear. 

What? Baba could be so scary sometimes!

“M-me?” I stuttered. I heard a noise from the corner and shifted my glance to Ziad, who was sucking in a breath and trying not to laugh at my torture. Sarah swatted him across the arm and gave him a stern look. 

“If you think that you can ever use Salem again to try to escape me and Ziad, well, think again. He is there for your protection and care, not to bring you into harms way. The next time you need help, Mira you too, you come to me or your brother. Do you understand?” 

“Yes baba,” and “yes amu,” reverberated through the room. 

“Good. Now, let’s go eat.”

####

“So, guess what I did today?”

I looked up from my cup of tea and smiled at Tariq. “What?”

“Horse riding,” he said mischievously. 

“Aww, not fair! I love horse riding!”

“I thought you might. Maybe one day, I can take you?” he asked with a hopeful look in his eyes and I had to physically stop myself from squealing.

“I would very much like that.” It was two days after the incident with Houda and according to baba, Tariq was intent on seeing me as soon as possible. Initially, I was freaking out with worry, making myself believe that he already wanted to end the relationship between us. Instead, baba made it clear that it was because of his worry and excitement to see me that he wished to come over so eagerly. I couldn’t contain my smile after baba had told me that. 

His parents were busy tonight, so it was only me and Tariq conversing, with poor Ziad sitting in a far-off corner watching T.V.

“How’s your arm holding up?” He nodded towards my cast. 

“The medicine helps a lot with the pain, alhamdulillah. It’s just very annoying, that’s all. You don’t realise how valuable your arm is until it suddenly becomes immobile,” I answered with a laugh. 

He chuckled as he popped a lolly into his mouth. “Oh, I know. I’ve broken a few bones in my lifetime. It sucks.” 

I nodded my head. There was a moment of silence as he ate and I contemplated whether I should bring up what happened with him. What if he was expecting an explanation? 

In the end, I decided that he deserved to know. 

“Listen Tariq, about my broken arm…well, I’m not sure what you’ve heard, that’s if you’ve heard anything, but-,” 

“Sameena, I don’t want to know,” he interjected. I glanced at him in surprise. “I mean, I don’t want you to feel like you have to tell me, that’s all. It’s none of my business and whatever it is, it’s not going to affect my opinion of you.” 

Wow. “Are you sure?”

He beamed and gave me a thumbs up. “A hundred percent.” 

“You know Tariq, you continue to surprise me.” 

“So do you,” he said, smiling and rubbing his beard at the same time.

“How so?” 

“Well, I didn’t want to bring it up but…you said some things at the hospital…”

“OK, stop,” I said, trying to hide my face with my scarf. “One of the nurses told me what happened and I’m so embarrassed right now.”

He chuckled and I couldn’t help but notice how he was looking at me; fondly. “There’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s a natural reaction to the morphine, you have no control over what comes out of your mouth.” 

“Yes, but I always have a way of saying the most ridiculous things.”

“I didn’t find them ridiculous,” he said, staring at me intensely. My breath caught in my throat and I found myself staring right back into his grey eyes. “Before I left you asked me a question, which, if not for propriety’s sake, I am compelled to answer right now but I won’t.” 

Do you think I’m the most beautiful girl in the world?

That was the question I asked. 

My cheeks flamed red and I became really hot. Not because of embarrassment but because of how overwhelmed I was. He might not have answered that question in words but his eyes sure did.

####

“Come on Sameena, come with me!” sixteen year old Tariq yelled across the lawn.

“Where are we going?” I yelled back.

“To our favourite tree, come on!” he replied with urgency.

“OK, OK.” I jogged up to where he was standing and we both began to run towards the tree that was two houses down. Like we always did, we jumped over the fence and crept our way along the garden, making sure the cranky owner didn’t see us. Once we arrived to our favourite apple tree, we crawled up using the various sprouting branches, sitting on the thickest and sturdiest one of all. We were very high up now, at least five metres off the floor. 

We both got comfortable and I relished the sight afore me. The sight of the mountains. So tall and magnificent, yet so looming and terrifying at the same time. They were a wonder.

“Sameena?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you marry me?” 

I snapped my head towards him. “What?!” I shrieked. “I’m twelve years old!”

He laughed. “Not now. I mean later. In the future.”

“Umm, I don’t know. I can’t answer that right now!” 

“Oh, I see.” A crestfallen look overcame his face. “I guess this is goodbye then.” 

“Wait, what?!” I watched in confusion as he lifted himself off the branch, standing on two feet now. 

“I love you Sameena. I always have and I always will.” With that he pushed himself off the branch, falling straight towards the floor. 

I screamed and screamed his name.

Tariq!

I awoke with a start, jerking up in bed. I was sweating and trembling from fear. I wiped my head and pushed the covers away from me, allowing some of the air to touch my warm skin.

It was just a dream, I reminded myself. 

But it had felt so real. Like the real younger versions of me and Tariq. 

But I was also confused.

What did the ending of that dream mean? 

Did it mean anything? 

####