{Unedited}

#Chapter Seventeen#

 “Ok, well I’m going to jump in the car and give you two a minute of privacy. Well…as much privacy as you can get with five guards watching you,” Elisa laughed, giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek before opening the car door and sliding in. 

“Thank you!” I called out just as she shut the door and she waved enthusiastically in return. I turned to Tariq who was standing by my side. He was still shifting on the balls of his feet and wringing his hands anxiously, no doubt due to the remnant feelings of nervousness after asking baba about the fatiha just ten minutes before. Despite how nerve-wracking it was for both of us, once baba had accepted, we both couldn’t hide our excitement. 

We were both sporting grins right now and I bet we looked like a bunch of smiling baboons.

“So,” he started, clearing his throat. “Your dad accepted!” 

“He did!”

“Three weeks?”

“Three weeks,” I confirmed, nodding my head happily. 

“Look Sameena, if this is moving too fast for you, if you’re uncomfortable or not feeling it one-hundred percent, I want you to know that we can delay-,”

“No!” I cried out and at Tariq’s surprised expression, I coughed and tried again. “Err, what I meant to say, was that this isn’t moving too fast for me. If it was, believe me, I would have told you. Everything is going perfectly Tariq, I don’t want you worrying.”

He let out a long relieved breath and glanced at me with a small smirk on his face. “Everything is going perfectly?” 

“Yes…” I trailed off, not liking the mischievous glint in his eyes.

“So you mean to say, that I’m perfect?” 

“Um, no, I mean yes, wait no that’s not what I meant exactly…” I just stopped right there and hid my face in my hands. I seemed to be doing that a lot in his presence lately.

I was shocked to hear him let out a bellowing laugh. “I was kidding Sameena!” 

“Oh, right. I’m usually good at picking up on jokes but…you just make me nervous, that’s all.” 

He raised his eyebrows and studied me for a second. “Sameena Ahmad, nervous? Psht, never!” 

“Just because you see me on the T.V. and slapped across magazine and newspaper front pages, doesn’t mean I don’t get nervous!” I defended weakly.

“You know, I remember when-,” he started with a far-away tone, before stopping suddenly, as if he just realised he was about to say something very wrong. His eyes widened slightly and he cleared his throat for a second time.

“Remember when what?” I pushed curiously.

“Nothing, I just remember watching you on T.V. as a kid. You never looked shy or anything, that’s all.” 

“You watched me on T.V. as a kid?” I asked, quite shocked at his confession. 

He laughed. “Yeah, something like that.” 

I quirked an eyebrow in confusion but didn’t push him any further, since his sister rolled down the window and hurried us up. “Tariq, it’s late. We don’t want to be taking too much from there time.” 

“She’s right,” he sighed, pulling the keys out of his front pocket. “As much as I’d like to stay, it is pretty late so I should get going.” 

“OK,” I said, unconsciously pouting. I wanted them to stay longer too but, rules were rules. 

He chuckled at my face. “This will probably be the only time I’ll be happy to see you upset,” he joked, moving towards his car and opening the door. 

I smiled as my face flushed. “See you in a few days?” 

“Yep! Oh and hey, don’t forget to come in to the hospital some time this week for an x-ray of your arm. If your bones aren’t healing up nicely, you might have to do a surgery.” He winced as if he expected a reaction.

My eyes basically popped out of their sockets and I put my hands up as if something was about to attack me. “Surgery? Oh no. No can do. I would rather wear this cast for the rest of my life then go into surgery!” I exclaimed. 

OK, so I had a phobia of being put to sleep and never waking up again. Sue me.

“If it’s not hurting you now then I doubt you’ll have to undergo surgery but it’s just a routine check-up,” he added comfortingly. 

“Alright, just a check up,” I mumbled. 

 “Alright, asalamu alaikum Sameena!”

“Wa alaikum asalam!” I watched as he got into the car and started up the engine. Just as he was reversing slowly, he stopped and called out to me again.

“Three weeks!” 

I laughed loudly and shook my head at him, waving at him and his sister one last time before heading back inside. As I made my way towards my room, I realised that I was skipping. 

Literally, skipping in happiness. 

Wow. 

I was so absorbed in my thoughts and today’s meeting with Tariq, that I didn’t see the figure heading down the staircase as I was going up. We lightly bumped into each other and once I realised it was Isaac, I stepped back like he was on fire. 

“Had fun with your boyfriend?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Excuse me?”

I was beyond stunned. This was the first time that we had spoken to each other after baba introduced him to us, and this was how he spoke to me?

Some nerve!

“Oh I’m sorry, was that too personal of a question?” 

“How dare you talk to me in that manner!” I sputtered out. 

“I’ll talk to you however I want.” He stepped forward challengingly and I stepped back in response.

God! What was with the men in my life lately? First Faysal and now him too? I expected he would be civil to me, at the very least, but this attitude I was definitely not anticipating. 

“Oh, I see how it is. So with your elevated status and job position came a little ego boost, aye?” 

He glared at me and clenched his jaw. 

Damn, that is a sharp jawline.

“Don’t talk about me like you know me,” he seethed. 

I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly and inspected my nails with great interest. “I have no need to pretend to know you, Isaac. What I do need to know however, and what I am interested in actually, is how suitable you actually are for this job. I don’t trust easily.” 

He scoffed. “I didn’t ask for your trust.” He smiled smugly. “Plus, I think we both know how suitable I am for this job.”

“Not more than me, I’m sure.” I smiled at him, showing off my pearly whites. I know we weren’t both supposed to be standing here and chatting but he had instantly gotten on my nerves and I was stubborn. I couldn’t help but reply to his comment.

He laughed as if I had said the most hilarious thing in the world. “You?” 

“Yes me,” I grit out. 

“Joke of the year,” he responded sarcastically, pretending to wipe away a tear. 

“So, this is how it’s going to be?” 

He blinked at me innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

Liar!

I squinted my eyes suspiciously. 

Before either of us could say anything else, baba walked into the room, surveying a paper in his hand. “Isaac?!” he called out, without looking up. 

“Yes, Sir?” 

He snapped his head up in surprise. “Isaac. Sameena?” he asked, looking between the two of us in confusion. 

“Hi baba,” I said, forcing a smile onto my face. 

“Sorry, it took me a while to find the upstairs bathroom,” Isaac commented before baba could say anything else. 

“That’s quite alright. I just need your opinion on the latest economic budget.”

“Yes, of course.” He jogged down the two steps to stand by baba. 

“How’s it looking baba?” I asked just as Isaac opened his mouth to speak. I dismissed his glare. 

A grim look came over baba’s face. “Not that good this year habibti.” 

“Why don’t you and I head to your office and we can have a look at it?” Isaac said and I wasn’t stupid enough to miss the underlying insult. 

“I’ll come along. I’ve got nothing better to do anyway and I’m sure a second opinion wouldn’t hurt.” 

“Sure, habibti.” 

I beamed victoriously as I made my way through the house towards baba’s office. 

When we sat down, I heard Isaac huff impatiently, clearly annoyed by my presence. 

“So what’s the issue?” I started. 

“Well. Last year we had high economic growth and revenue was being distributed between each sector of need equally. This year however, it seems like we’re falling short.”

“You need to raise taxes,” Isaac said sternly, at the same time that I said, “whatever you do, don’t raise taxes.” 

Immediately, we were scowling at each other.

“Ahh…” baba looked at both of us amusedly. “Well at least I’ll be getting a for and against debate, allowing me to make the utmost diplomatic decision.” Baba laughed, clearly oblivious to the hate that was exuding from us; it was practically tangible. “Sameena, why don’t you go first, then.”

“I just don’t think we should inflict that kind of pressure on the people. We had a sixty-seven year long war in this country and people are still suffering the effects of it until now. You can’t put them on social security support and then raise taxes. You have to go slow on them. If we’re falling short in a number of areas, I’m sure incentives and and sponsoring from businesses will make it up. If that doesn’t work, then we decrease revenue expenditure in areas like space and technology and put it towards health care, for example.” I crossed one leg over the other and looked at baba expectantly. 

Baba rubbed his beard. “Ok, Isaac?” 

“Sameena’s argument is flawed.” I wanted to wring his neck at this stage. “Raising taxes will balance the budget and fill in the gaps that you need. It doesn’t have to be a personal tax raise but a corporate one. People are always buying goods, we raise the GST on that. Large scale businesses who make profit beyond a certain percentage will have to pay a larger amount of tax. The rich and the elite will pay more. It doesn’t have to be a singular structure, where everyone pays a specified amount.” 

“Makes sense,” baba mumbled, still rubbing his beard in thought. “But our system isn’t singular. It is based off an individuals personal wages and income. The more you earn the more you pay.” 

“Exactly. We keep the foundations but we tweak the structure a little,” Isaac continued. I hated how he had baba’s full attention.

“Anyone who earns less than the average income per year pays no tax…at all.” 

“Oh, that will not turn out well,” I was quick to say.

“It might work,” baba said.

“Can’t you see the problem in that? You can’t force half the country to pay and the other half not to. It’s the epitome of inequity!” 

“You were the one who was just saying we should take it slow on those who are struggling,” Isaac mentioned scornfully. 

“Yes, but we must look through the lens of the people. We have to be perceptive to what they want, that’s what a government is all about.” 

“Not always. This government has made decisions before even though the people didn’t want it, yet it turned out to their advantage in the end. We have foresight. We have the knowledge and skills, not them. We know what needs to be done,” he said arrogantly.

I clenched my fists in frustration. “You don’t understand what I’m saying!” 

“Yes, I do!” 

“Alright children, calm down please.” We faced forward again and I tried my hardest not to punch Isaac in the nose, just like I did Faysal. “I’m happy with what I’ve heard and although you both make very good points, we have to have one or the other. And I seem to be leaning more towards Isaac’s understanding of the situation right now.” 

I felt like baba had personally just run a dagger through my back. 

“Fine,” I sniffed, getting up from my chair. I could feel Isaac’s smug smile return to his face so I didn’t even bother glancing at him. “We’ll see how you pay the consequences later on.” 

I sauntered up to the door, flung it open and slammed it behind me as I ran back to room. 

####

“Argh, you should have seen him Mira! He was so full of himself.” I angrily bit into my carrot and chewed almost viciously, staring out of the car window. 

“I think we both know what you’re really upset about.” 

“Don’t.” 

“Come on. It’s not about Isaac. It’s about your dad not choosing you for the job. It’s about him being blind and deaf to your talents and aspirations and the fact that your hopes and dreams have been crushed.” 

“Jeez, don’t make it sound so dramatic,” I grumbled, taking another bite from my carrot. 

“I think he’s hot,” Houda added. We both turned to stare at her dryly. 

“After that last incident, you better make sure you’re eyes are plastered to the floor whenever a male walks past,” Mira bit out angrily, taking us both by surprise.

“You don’t have to always bring it up! I remember it all too clearly, thank you very much!” 

“Doesn’t seem like it!” 

“Mira,” I gasped. “What’s up with you?” 

“Just trying to instil some common sense into her brain.” 

I looked at her incredulously. I mean, I knew she was upset with Houda, but not to this extent. Ever since the incident, the sisters hadn’t quite been on good terms and there was a lot of tension. It gave me a headache being around the two of them. Mira blamed Houda. At first, Houda blamed her parents for everything that happened, before realising how flawed that thought was. She’s apologised to Mira and even our family and although we had forgiven her, Mira was finding it a little hard to let go.

“You don’t have to be so harsh. I’m sure she’s learnt her lesson, Mira.” She crossed her arms stubbornly and turned to stare out the window. 

The next five minutes were filled with an awkward silence and since I couldn’t do awkward silences, I decided to revert back to the topic. “So, the plan is that I will continue to challenge him in every way possible, until baba realises how awesome I am, and that I am the alpha, the wisest and smartest one out of the two.” 

“I think your whole plan is childish.” I nudged Mira in the ribs.

“Don’t be so pessimistic.” When no one said anything, I rolled the black screen that divided us from the guards who were sitting up front, down. “Salem!” I whined. I could hear the Qur’an playing softly from the front and I almost laughed as Salem chomped on a grape. It just didn’t look…right. It was too small of a food for him. 

“Yes Sameena?” 

“Tell me I’m right!” 

“About?”

“Just tell me!” 

“You’re right.” 

“Thanks,” I giggled. Salem just shook his head at me and I rolled the screen back up. 

Three hours later, we had done and dusted both our strawberry picking session and our shopping for the day.

Three hours later and I was also ready to leave Mira and Houda here and just go home without them. They had been at it with each other non-stop this whole trip and even the guards were getting fed up. The only one who was showing a little bit of patience was Salem. 

Which was interesting, because his patience usually flared out pretty fast with me. 

“Houda, why don’t you go order the ice-cream you wanted and we’ll wait here. Ibby, do you mind going with her?” 

“Sure.” He nodded and they strode to the little stand that was bustling with people. 

“Mira,” Salem began and we both turned to look at him. His arms were intertwined behind his back and his eyes were focused on our surroundings as he spoke. “May I ask what’s going on with you?” 

Mira’s eyes widened slightly and she buckled in embarrassment. “W-whatever do you mean?”

“You’re being especially aggressive towards Houda today. Any special reason?”

“Umm, no.” She fiddled with her scarf.

“She’s still upset with her,” I spoke up and Salem peered at her momentarily before nodding in understanding. 

“I see. Do you mind if I give you a piece of advice?” 

“Of course not.” 

“Whenever someone does something wrong, we should be very cautious of holding that mistake against them. Holding grudges; it’s for the weak. You’re both still running quite high on emotions but remember one thing. Your sister know’s what she did is wrong and for all we know it could be eating her up inside. If that’s the case, the last thing she needs is for you to rub and prod her wounds. Be the sister she needs, not the sister you want to be.” 

She looked down at the floor in shame but despite that, I could still see the water glimmering in her eyes. “You’re right,” she whispered. “I’ve been despicable.” 

The hoarseness in her voice triggered a slight reaction in him. He looked down at her and I swear he made to almost move towards her, before realising what he was doing.

Yes! My suspicions are a hundred percent correct!

“Sometimes, you have to be despicable. Be the evil before you see the light.”

####

A/N

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