MANGO MILKSHAKE

Chapter 7

The sun has not been bothering me since the beginning of November. It's almost the season of winter flowers. All my plants look healthy and ready to bloom. It's not very late yet the sun looks so dull and melancholic and here I'm discreetly pulling out the weeds from my beloved garden. Voice of mourning doves resembles my inner thoughts. So far Yaseen has sent me at least a hundred different kinds of pictures of rings and dresses asking which one I like most. If only I was as exhilarated as he is. One more week. After that I'll no longer be an issue or a problem to be solved by my family.

Azad will be back too, I've no idea when but he'll. To be honest, I've never hoped for his honorable presence in such a trivial matter such as his only sibling's engagement but I guess I still have a little importance left in his life. With all these twisted thoughts in my head I've not rested properly ever since my impulsive conversation with Yaseen has taken place. Both of our families are busy with preparation and invitations. I do talk to Yaseen in texts about how we're going to stay as friends even after we get married and the nonsensical and superficial talks. By analysing all the talks between us, I've realised Yaseen has no idea about how a traditional marriage works. The lesser he understands the better it is for me. While I was busy digging a cavity to bury the weeds, I suddenly felt a violent pull on my shoulder which made me stand up abruptly. Upon looking behind I felt a knot in my stomach along with relief inside my heart.

"Hi !! You didn't tell me you're coming home." I hugged Raya with all the force I have in my body.

"Does it really matter? Guess who didn't tell me about getting engaged next week." She pushed me away almost twice forcefully.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to. It all happened so suddenly." I kept my head down staring at my hands full of unknown dead plants.

"Right? A time of fifteen days is so little to send a simple text regarding your engagement. We talked almost everyday yet not even once it occurred to you that I should know about it." She laughed ironically, which pricked my skin a little.

"I agree. I hid it from you but it's only because I thought you'll be too angry to hear about my logic and reasons behind all these." My shoulder slumped in defeat.

"Yes, this is what I was wanting to hear. I only like you when you're telling the truth." Finally she gave me a genuine smile. "Tell me the details. I won't be mad."

"Let's sit somewhere first, it will take time to tell you the details." I told her as I threw away the weeds under the betal nut tree which is standing proudly at the corner of boundary walls.

We entered my house. She greeted my parents with an unidentified fake smile. Ma asked for tea but Raya denied saying she's not feeling very well. Ma handed her a packaged fruit juice anyways. Ma never allows anyone to be at her house without eating or drinking at least a single gulp of water unless it is ramadan.We reached my room and Raya just jumped on my bed to lay down, I sat on the chair next to the bedpost. I explained everything to Raya including the risk factors and conversations between me and Yaseen. My heart felt lighter as I let go of the buried concerns and details that I've been concealing till now. I know she'll never interfere with my choices, no matter how absurd my testament sounds, no matter how silly my excuses are, she'll never make me choose between anything. Even if I chose to stay silent and not explain anything to her she would have wholeheartedly taken my silence as a response.

"You're so pathetic. Girl. I'd have just packed my stuff and run away to the hills. I'd have left everyone behind and considered them dead." Raya grabbed a pillow and rolled into my bed. This is not what I expected from her but it's good that she's still capable of joking about things that she doesn't like.

"You know I'm not like you and this is probably my biggest fault." I grabbed a pillow too.

"No. I like that. You're considerate, you're not like me or anyone else that's why I like you so much." She yawned while moving the curtains from the bedside windows. The room is now bright and full of northern wind.