THE BLACK KNIGHT

Chapter 4

Zainab P.O.V

"Just marry him. It will be best for everyone" said Zainab's mother from the opposite end of the couch. The Sinoli cousins Yasmine and Layla looked nervously from her to Zainab. She had curled up on the carpet groaning into a pillow and gathered more cushions around her. They had practically invited the whole family over to decide on the marriage affair together. It wasn't atypical for a Basaki person to involve everyone they know to put in a vote. The living space was crowded with women who were mostly on the side of marrying her off. Most of them did not own any income to claim an independent life and did not think it was sensible to pass on this golden opportunity.

Layla cleared her throat slightly and turned to face Zainab's mother completely. "Aunty, just give her some space to think. She knows to think of the whole family and not just herself.. But at this rate we might be pressuring her too much" She ended with a sweet smile to sweep away any tone of disagreement and turned back to Zainab with a more forced smile. Zainab was peeking at them from among the large cushions and finally got up, gathering all of her long hair into a ponytail.

"I know everyone thinks about the big manor and money and all the luxurious things I could get but I don't even know this family, and most people say they are all game with politics. They say their house is made of glass" She looked at all the women seriously and received a few nods and sighs.

In Basaki culture when a person claims someone's house is made up of glass it usually refers to the ease with which the family's personal lives can be seen. .

"Yes but you can't be sure if that's all true. Besides, people will always gossip" Said a much younger woman from the corner of the room, slouched in a bamboo woven seat. Zainab didn't recognize her completely but had a feeling she was from South of Libra where a lot of her dad's family resided.

Many agreements followed and Zainab's aunt Sabana made a tongue clicking sound.

"Daughter.. You are so naive sometimes. Who cares what politics they get involved in? You can still be yourself and do your own thing. The important thing is they are nice to you and give you everything they would to their own daughter. From what I hear they plan to throw a huge celebration for your engagement and have already sent your parents a few jewelry gifts. Your mother said they adored you at the dinner. What else can you possibly want?"

I don't know, maybe my future husband will love me and care for me genuinely? The thought interrupted Zainab as her aunt asked the rhetorical question.

Judging by the faces of her family, Zainbad decided not to push the idea of breaking off a possible engagement. Perhaps she should take into consideration what they had all advised.

Later into the evening was an outdoor feast held in their courtyard garden, lights were hung around the mango trees and kids ran in between the tables, sometimes knocking into people carrying out food trays.

"That's enough!" shouted one of the men who grabbed his 9 year old son by the ear and twisted it slightly, making him blush tomato red and pout. The boy had been leading a few of his friends to try and scurry under tables and tickle the grown ups.

Zainab sat nearby a group of her cousins she hadn't seen in ages, laughing and sharing jokes. She enjoyed the moment as best she could before her world changed forever. The singing of crickets, flapping of birds settling in for the night, laughter and chatter hummed with the Basaki's gentle wind and rustling of swaying palm trees.

When the morning arrived with its soft yellow glow lighting up Zainab's small gray bedroom, she lay in her bed staring at the ceiling. She quickly got dressed in her usual long skirt and full sleeved blouse with a long shawl draped over her head. She went downstairs without saying a word to anyone and hopped on her rusty old bike that Zaid had given to her at 14 and started riding downtown.