Fatal Attraction.

29

Ya Rashad and I came out for a walk.
Ruqayyah escaped with a fake headache, she was just enjoying her series and didn't want to stop plus in her defense she's been at the store all day.

"So, What did you think of him?" I ask my brother curiously.
Yesterday he officially met Abdulateef and I didn't get the time to talk to him until now, I want to know what he thinks of him. Believe it or not his opinion matters to me a great deal.

He inhales but says nothing.
"You're quiet"
He nods "I know. It's just not easy seeing my baby sister meeting someone and inshallah get married. It's something I always knew would happen, it's also something I prayed for but now that it's approaching it scares me"

I chuckle "Don't you think you're being dramatic?"
I laugh "Ruqayyah said the same thing"

"But I think I get your point. If it was Zoya you wouldn't be this emotional because she started dating a lot younger than I did plus I was never one for relationships so it must have come as a blow"
"Yup you could say that but I am happy for you"

"So? That means you like him?"
He nods "He's okay, he seems worthy enough"

I smile giving him a side hug.

::

Zoya.
Zoya Zoya Zoya.

My sister is so dramatic and does everything  and anything to get attention, and I mean everything.

She called my mother complaining that I've abandoned her and I haven't spoken to her in months, which was kinda true though.

So now I'm outside on the veranda.
I hated every moment of it because it's the same thing she did to me when we were kids.

She'd use our parents to get what she wants and I think I have an idea what it is.
She's almost due and she wants someone to take care of her child while she does God knows where.

She walks out dragging her feet.
"You didn't come in? This is your home too" she says with the fakest smile.

"I prefer sitting outside"
She nods sitting next to me on the couch.
"How're you doing?"

I smile "Just okay"
"I heard from Ma that you met someone serious. They're setting up a date to make it official?"
I nod again "Yes, they are"

She chuckles "I never thought I'd see the day. But I'm happy for you"
"Thank you sister" I say smiling.

"You know my due date is fast approaching"
I nod "I do. You look really heavy too"
She giggles "I never thought pregnancy would suit me so well"

"I didn't either but it does"
The smile fades "I need my sister when this baby pops out, I need your help"

"I'm going to get really busy with planning the wedding, I doubt I'd be able to take care of you and the baby"
"We can plan it together"

I scoff.
She'd just dump her workload on me and let me deal with my issues myself. Especially now that my parents are back to their never ending honeymoon.

"So you'd rather stay with Ruqayyah and take care of Fareed all day?"
I shake my head "Firstly, the boy is not a baby anymore and secondly, she never just dumps the child on me"

"But you're my sister, she can ask her sister for help"
"I'm her sister now too. Have you forgotten her husband is our brother?"

She just stares at me.
"You're really not going to come stay with me for a while? Just a few short months"
"I can come visit".

She looked annoyed and irritated "Why do you have to continue being so difficult? You've always done this since we were kids"
"When we were kids? You've always gotten what you wanted while I sat there, I didn't really care but it doesn't mean I'm obliged to do them now that Ma is traveling"

She hisses.
"Do you have food? I'm hungry"
"Why don't you go to your new sister? Let her cook for you?"

I roll my eyes "She's busy and I'm starving, I can't come to my sister's house and leave hungry"

She turns her head away.

::

Ruqayyah's POV.

"How is it my fault?"
I was arranging Rashad's laundry while he sat on his bed working on his laptop.

He chuckles "You've pushed away all your friends and that's the fact"
"It's not a fact, I have a family I have to take care of"

"I'm not a child, I can take care of myself"
I tilt my head looking at him "Really? You're not?"
He blushes "Not that I know of"

I huff.
"But I hang out with Aisha, she's a friend too"
"You hang out with her for two reasons, either to go to the gym to workout or to get Fareed off your hands when you're busy"

I nod admittedly.
"You see, what happened with Labiba? And Yusuf?"

"Well—we've both been so busy but we text each other a lot so I'm sure she understands"
He chuckles "Really? You? Busy? You spend most of your time watching on your tv/laptop or playing around the house with your son"

I shrug "We need to bond, that's how relationships grow"
He laughs "With your son? Part of the reason you're on his neck is because he keeps breaking your things. Speaking of breaking your things—"

He smiles at me.
"Rashad—what did your son do now?"

"He might have broken your perfume"
I gasp "Which one?"
"The new one Ma got you, the black one"

"My dior perfume?!!" I yelp.
He smiles sheepishly "It was an accident"
"You know how much I cherished it? Why is he only coming after me? Why am I his only target?"

He bursts out laughing "I should ask you that?"
"You're the one who throws him around like a rag doll. You were the one who used him as a game console"

He laughs "He wanted to help"
"So he said he wanted game pads resting on his back"
"He looked cute"

I shake my head.
"Just try to make time for other people. I love that you enjoy spending time with us and your laptop as well but no man is an island"

"I'm not, I have you"
"Nope, you're an island. In fact with no water surrounding it"

"You're a traitor Rashad, you're throwing your wife under the bus"
"I have to, in order to make you a better person"

I laugh sarcastically "That's just an excuse".
He shakes his head before he continues working.
"I feel alone".

He laughs, mocking me.

::