A Piece Of His Heart

Twenty-six

Eliza

I couldn't breathe, neither could I look in the direction of Waleed as we drove to his parents' house. All he'd said was that Shazia Aunty called us and I silently agreed, packing a small bag when he said we'll staying the night. I didn't have it in me to talk more than absolutely necessary to him. I just couldn't.

Arguing with him felt more suffocating than I thought it would. It felt like suddenly being plunged into a dark room with no one around, all alone with no one to talk to. It wasn't like all the other times either where I knew that I was joking about being upset and he was playing along for my sake. I couldn't have predicted that being really upset with Waleed would be this unnerving. Rather it wasn't that I was upset, it was probably because I knew he was upset from me. He had all right to be mad at me because what he'd said was true, but... He'd been unnecessarily rude to me.

And I couldn't have hated anything more.

It was a simple argument, and those happen plenty of times between couples. I knew we would be okay, but I hated the time we were not okay.

Waleed parked the car in the driveway, not bothering with me. I silently took my bag from the backseat and got out, tailing him with my eyes stuck to my sandals. It was like chills were emanating from Waleed and the cold shoulder he was giving me, and I involuntarily tugged the shawl tighter around me as I fidgeted on my feet, the bag in my hand accidentally hitting the floor in the process. He glanced over his shoulder once and wordlessly grabbed the bag's handle from my hand before turning to face the door just as his sister opened it. I couldn't help but think that he was annoyed that I'd made my presence known to him, even if it was unintentional.

Shifa beamed at us before she engulfed Waleed in a hug that he returned with a smile and a kiss to her head. He walked away, hugging his mother and father next and I greeted Shifa, then hugged Aunty and let Uncle run a hand over my head.

"You can drop your bag upstairs in your room, beta." Shazia Aunty suggested, pointing to the bag on the floor and I nodded, leaving with one look in Waleed's direction to find him more interested in a conversation with his father. To everyone else, everything would seem okay. But I couldn't mistake his stiff shoulders and tense smiles.

"I should get tea or something." Aunty proceeded to get up but I stayed her with a hand, smiling politely.

"Is it okay if I prepare the tea? I won't be long." I offered, trying not to sound as desperate as I was for it. It would be an excuse that no one would doubt to get away from Waleed.

Shazia Aunty raised an eyebrow quizzically to which I smiled awkwardly, but dipped her head in an agreement, allowing me to scurry away from there as quick as possible.

I took a deep breath once I was in the kitchen and boiled water in a pot and made the tea, poured it in five cups and carried the tray to the living room where... dresses lay on the sofas. And because I was curious about the dress that rested in Shifa's lap, I took a seat beside her, toying with the beaded edge of its sleeve.

"These dresses are for...?" I asked, directing the question to no one in particular.

"For the wedding." Aunty replied. My eyebrows must still have stayed knitted in confusion because she asked, "Didn't Waleed tell you?" Her gaze flickered back and forth between both of us, suspicion clear in the way she looked. She was a mother, of course she would be able to sense if something was wrong.