Endurance

CHAPTER ELEVEN

There was a loud trill of excitement coming from downstairs that woke Layla up from her blissful sleep. She took off her eye mask and huffed in annoyance before sitting up and sliding her feet into the fluffy slippers that sat at the bottom of her bed. She had trouble sleeping the night before and just when she laid to rest after praying, yet she had to be cruelly woken up by an annoying shrill sound. Her aunt, Rumaisa, the last born in her father's family and another aunt that was her father's cousin had arrived yesterday evening for reasons Layla had no idea of. They were both divorced so she wasn't surprised that they were here just after their visit for last month's occasion.

Brushing her teeth and sprinkling some water on her face, she smoothed her hair and wrapped the satin scarf that she slept with over it. She grabbed the silk robe from the bed and slipped it over her pajamas before picking up her phone to check the time.

9:05am. And they're already up. Allah help me!

Gently shutting the door she headed down the stairs to get a glimpse of what was happening. Their living room was packed with boxes on one another and multiple packages of kolanuts. Her eyebrows drew in confusion at her aunts, stepmother and Zahra who were seated on the couches.

"What are these for?." Layla asked, carefully watching her steps so she wouldn't trip over a box.

"For our dearest Zahra." Her stepmother replied smiling. "An official token for an engagement."

Makes sense that her aunts were here then.

"With who?." Layla knew the answer to her question, but her mind still couldn't wrap itself around the prospect of it being true or happening.

"With Khaled Abdi." Her aunt chuckled excitedly at her response, making Layla's form momentarily cease. "Are you not happy for your sister?." She suddenly asked biting on a kolanut and chewing on it.

"What? Why would you think that?." Layla's defense was quick as she turned her gaze sharp at her aunt.

"You should be jumping with joy at their union. Not just stare at the poor girl as if she'd just grown an extra foot ." She poked further.

"I'm happy for you Zahra. And may Allah bless the union." She gave her sister a side hug and looked at the assorted packs of Kayan sa Biki again. "You've never given me the impression that you liked Ya' Khaled." Layla whispered.

"I kept it to myself. And it had already been arranged, so it was just a matter of time before it happens ." She replied as a matter of factly shrugging and turning her head to the other side, as if avoiding eye contact with her. Confused, Layla studied her sister's body language and expressions carefully and closely trying not to think too much of her attitude towards her.

She turned her attention at the others, watching and listening on how they were discussing planning to share the packs in bulk portions with Zahra's mom and Layla's, then keep the rest. Layla zoned out of whatever they were planning, her mind unable to wrap her head around what all of it was, she felt so outcasted in her own space.

The next week was spent on kick off planning and budgeting for the upcoming wedding, as it was said to happen in a few months. Nothing further than three months. Zahra contemplated on what she wanted for the wedding, so she was asked to let it rest and come up with something before the week ends. Layla kept herself as a bystander, speaking only when she was referred to after Zahra's attitude towards her, throwing snappy remarks at her when she tried helping her out with the preparations.

"It's going to be my moment, I'd like to be the one to choose my own style." Had been her words.

So Layla indulged her and stayed out of her way. The toxicity was worse when her aunts began to do and say some quite spiteful stuff around the house, and her stepmother had started acting strange towards her without any reason that she could think of. Instead of paying them any mind, she devoted herself to being on her father's good side. She cooked his meals and cleaned his wing, before her stepmother hijacked the role.