Then Came You (Complete)

Seven

Ru'ah

I walked into the house only to see last person I want to see.

I said the Salam which made everyone present to look up.

After they answered I decided to go to my room but was stopped when my mother spoke.

"Ru'ah go fresen up and go meet aslam in the garden. He's with your father "

"Yes mom" was all I said trying very hard to not sound rude.

Being the only child is really not fun. You get to do everything yourself eventhough there are house helps.

It turned out my mom can't give birth again after the infertility. The doctors said it will take only a miracle for her to get pregnant again.  But she's already more than forty so I guess it doesn't bother her any more. But I know she would want to hold a small human being in her arms again.

I dropped my back pack on my bed and went straight to the toilet. 

Fifteen minutes later I was done and came out. I didn't want to wear anything heavy so I carried the first clothe my eyes saw. A maroon abaya with black palazzo hands and a matching maroon veil.

I did my skincare routine and applied some lip gloss.

I caught myself smiling while looking at the full length mirror. Why was the reason? I don't know.

Finally I carried my phone and wore my flip flops and went out to baba's garden.

The moment I walked in our eyes locked. We held each other's gaze until I heard my dad speak.

"Mamana you're back"

"Yes dad I came few minutes ago"

"How is kamila and everyone at home?"

"They're all fine dad"

"Okay. Aslam here said he wants to talk to you. So I'll be leaving"

"Okay dad"

Before he left he gave me a kiss on the forehead and whispered 'be nice' in my ear and I just gave a nod.

I sat down opposite him and crossed both hands and legs. I really didn't want to look at him.  At least not now.

"Hi" he spoke

"Hi"

"How are you doing?"

"What do really want aslam? Seriously out of all the girls in this world you chose to court me? Why? Did I do something wrong? I am still trying to answer those questions but can't even find a simple answer to any. So please I am begging you to tell me aslam why are you going through with this wedding?"

"If you'd just let me talk for a minute I'll explain everything.  But every time I come you always start up tantrums that I can't even speak. Not once did you give me a chance to speak Ru'ah.  You're always the  one talking and complaining.  You think I want to marry you? I have someone I already love Ru'ah and that's not you. We have been best of friends since when we were five and seven years. I cannot ruin that friendship even if it was in a dream.  I want to cancel this alliance but every time I want to talk you cut me off. All these should have been in the past now but your so called parrot mouth didn't allow it.  I am sorry to say this but I am not interested in marrying you Ru'ah.  I have someone and I can't see all the memories I have spent with her for the past three years to go down the drain".

He reached for his pocket and brought out a handkerchief and gave me. Was I crying?

I collected it and wiped my tears I didn't even were pouring down like a water fall. Curse my tears.

"You see this?" He was pointing at the friendship bead bracelet I gave him before I left for Cameroon. I can't believe he still has it. He also gave me a similar one before I left. But I think I lost it. Curse my carelessness.

"This is the symbol of our friendship. And I don't want to change that"

I was so star struck . I didn't even know how to start talking.

For the past two months I have been the one wasting time.  I should have let him spoke even for once,but I didn't.

"Aslam, I am so sorry. I...I didn't...i"

"It's fine. Let's just find a solution to all these. I will talk to dad about it. The problem is just our mothers. They've already made up their minds".

"We are not children anymore aslam. We have our rights. We can't be forced into doing something we don't want"

"So what's the plan?"

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He walked into the greenery only to find his sister in the middle of papers,pens and pencils. She didn't even notice him because of how she was so concentrated.

After a minute of two she felt a presence above her head and that was when she looked up and saw Usman.

"My pringles " she stretched out her hand to collect it

"Good to see you too"

And he gave her the chips.

"You look so busy. What are you doing?"

"I have to make the final sketches of a dress. Here tell me what you think"

And she handed him the paper.

It was a simple ball gown that's yet to be coloured.  It had a long sleeve and halfway off shoulder. A sweetheart neck line with a thin line waistband.

"Well?"

"It's perfect "

"Thank God"

"Who is it for ?"

"No one. I'm just doing it "

"Ohkayy.  You said you wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes. Mukhtar told me everything "

He cursed under his breath and scratched his eyes.

"Usman" and he look at her

"I mean ya Usman. Why didn't tell her?"

He didn't answer instead he stood up and started walking around looking at the  plants and flowers for no reason.

"Ya Usman "

"I don't know kamila. I don't know. Maybe we weren't supposed to be together after all"

And without saying another word he walked out leaving her with her work not afree giving her the invitation card. He really doesn't want to talk about it.