Broken Birds

Nine

Can you believe I have landed the biggest gig in my life?
Do you remember Milton Royale?
The hotel I stayed at and even ran into Aryan?

Yeah.
The night before when we were on the call I told him about the work I do.
Can you believe he talked them into a contract with me but it depends on the quality of my goods.

Is this really happening?
Although I came back to reality eventually.

No one does anything for free.
It's always a give and take and honestly I have nothing they can take except my virginity and that is either taken by the man I marry or is taken to the grave with me.

So I've taken a few steps away from Aryan.
I'm scared of getting heartbroken.
I can't handle heartbreak.
Not now.

And I really don't want to get disappointed so I stopped picking up his calls entirely.
I kinda blocked him too.
I feel selfish because it's because of him I got the job with the hotel.

With everyday that goes by it makes me really come to terms with the fact that being with Aryan is nothing but a dream.

He'll disappear as soon as he appeared when he gets what he wants.
But what does he want?

"You see, that is what I mean"
I turn to Fadila looking confused "What?"

She huffs "Whenever we're talking about anyone that isn't you, you blur out the conversation. I wonder what is it you're thinking about? I'm sure not your husband and kids"

"Mind your mouth" I warn her.
"Fadila?! Haven't I warned you and Maimuna about the way you talk to your older sister? What is wrong with you?"

Maimuna folds her arms "She used to feel on top of the world when Baba was alive because she's his favorite, everything starts and ends with her but look where she is now".

I stay quiet.
That's why I hate family meetings especially the one my mother is included in.
Under normal circumstances my sisters dare not say any of these things to me when my brother is present but now that mother is here too it's a different story.

"What does he do?" My mother asks with a smile plastered on her face.
"He works in KEDCO"

Both girls giggle covering their mouth.
"And he has a wife and child?" She asks.
I nod.

"How is he supposed to feed you when he barely feeds himself? Imagine if you have kids, how do you think your small and struggling business will end up? Huh?"

I stay quiet.
"Mami that's enough of that" Ya Zubair says.
She glares at him but says nothing.

"I'm your mother, not your wife, sister or child. You cannot tell me what to do. I demand respect".
"Respect you haven't earned? Forgive me if I'm being disrespectful but stay out of our family issues"

She was fuming.
I stand "I'm marrying Awwal because I love him. I really do not care what any of you think. I'm willing to stay by his side, we'll grow together"

"Hmm" was all my dear mother said as she bore holes into my brother's head.

::

I enter my car and release a breath I didn't know I was holding back.
I just met with the hotel's general manager. A two hour meeting, I've never had a meeting with any client for that long but then again they didn't have an establishment this big.

I just stared blankly at the stirring wheel.
My phone starts ringing and I pick it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey babe, where are you?"

Ah it's my dear fiancé, the one that hasn't called me in three days and is suddenly interested in my whereabouts.