ZAID AND MARYAM ~ Their Story

24 - Confessions and Meeting Kiara

MARYAM SHEIKH

Brunch was serving by the time we got back from the hike and I'm very much glad. The scones I had before we left were not very much fulfilling.

They had decorated the large backyard a bit more fancy since even more guests showed up. Fairy lights hung lightly on the trees and long white clothed tables were arranged with vases of pretty flowers on them.

I took some photos to send to Fatima who, I know, would kill to be here right now. Almost all the women who arrived looked very fancy with their pretty clothes and expensive jewellery. An atmosphere I knew Fatima would just flourish herself if she was here.

"Hi" said Adam as he walked over to me. He himself dressed nice in a white polo shirt which made his blonde hair stand out more. I waved hi back.

"Have some" he said, handing me over a glass of the drink he was having himself.

"I don't-," I refused, but he interrupted.

"Its not alcohol, I've checked. Pure lemonade."

"Well thats very considerate of you," I teased as he took the seat next to mine.

"Yeah I like to consider myself a considerate human being, thank you very much." We both sat there having our lemonades, while watching the party. The brunch hadn't started. I saw Amr begging the guitarist to trade his guitar with him. He has failed so far.

"You look nice," Adam complimented, suddenly. I looked down at my dress.

"Really?"

I was wearing a pink floral long dress and had a coat on for covering.

"Thanks but not as compared to these beautiful women out here," I said pointing to the crowd. Adams scoffed.

"And yet with all these Dolce and Gabbanas out here, you still stand out to me," he joked. I didn't understood whether that was a compliment or not.

"And by that you meant?" I asked.

"Even in a crowd with wonderful clothes , you still stood out to me wearing a simply elegant dress." Then he smiled and looked deeply into my eyes. The air was suddenly warmer.

"I guess it got to do with personality as well," he continued, "and so far, Maryam, you're the most,-"

"Wow, doesn't that drink look delicious?"

Sarah appeared in front of me. She looked eagerly into my glass. "Tell me where you got it from cause I can't find it." Why couldn't Sarah get a drink she wanted? It was her family's party!

Adam pretended to watch the running  children. "Yeah, lets go," I said awkwardly, taking it as a sign for me to go with her and drop the conversation we were having.

After Sarah pulled me to one of the serving tables where they were still serving breakfast on, she turned to me and said, "Look, I have no idea but Amr ordered me to bring you here so I did."

But before I could reply she left and Amr came running over. "What is so urgent, Amr?" I asked.

"I wante- I want to know your relationship with Adam," he asked.

That felt so out of the blue and I couldn't feel myself answering his
question. "We're just...friends."

"Because you guys hang out at every party at this house and its been killing me because its killing Zaid!" He screamed. The waiters turned around to look.

I looked around and told him to lower his voice and walked him over to a bit more quieter place,

"Okay, let's take this one thing at a time, why would it kill Zaid to see me talking to Adam?" I asked, trying to focus on Amr's eyes but it felt like my whole world was turning around. Could Zaid....? No he would never. He proved that years ago.

"I don't know what but," he sighed and looked over where Zaid was standing. He was talking to some elders but gaze silently at the sky when they turned their heads. "I know it does. Even if he won't admit it, he wouldn't dare but I just know it sometimes,

"He would stare at you and when I confront him he would just pretend to talk to the wall or to the fake plants, that booger!"

I silently smiled at this. Amr turned his head toward me.

"But you know what really kills me? His marriage. I  just wish he wouldn't marry her. "

My eyes were widened in shock as I heard this. " Wait wait wait!" I gathered myself, too much things were running over my brain right now. "Whose marrying Zaid now?"

Amr pointed to a tall women with really long silky black hair, wearing a red dress. She seemed to be in her mid forties

"But she's so....old!" I fumed, watching her talking to someone else.

"Not her," Amr snapped. "Thats her mother. The girl beside her." I then noticed the young girl the women was talking to. She was extremely pretty, with striking blue eyes and light blonde hair.

"Your looking at the next reigning heiress of the Khalid Groups, Miss Kiara Ahmed," Amr added.

"How does Zaid know her?" Was my next question as I couldn't still fathom the thought of Zaid being married so...soon! So was it his engagement after all? Not Bella's?

"We've all known her since like highschool," sighed Amr. "She's a pain in the arse actually." But before he could explain Mr Kasim invited everybody over saying lunch was ready.

Namecards were assigned on tables and I walked over to mine. Suprisingly that's where Kiara came as well. She said nothing as she took the seat next to me, her strong scent of perfume feeling like a slap in the face. She glanced at my namecard,

"Wait," she gasped. "You're Maryam?

"I'm sorry, is there anything to be surprised about that?" I asked her,as I placed a napkin on my lap. I really wanted to be far away from her as possible.

"No, its just that," she replied, "I expected a bit less... showy"

I was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"

"You know exactly what I mean," she warned as she sharply dug the knife into her steak.