Bewitched

4

MUMTAZ

I pace around my room, my feet sinking into the plush carpet with every furious step. My mind is whirling with thoughts of him. Ugh, even thinking about his name makes my skin crawl. I throw my hands up in frustration as I turn to Badiyya, my best friend and cousin, who's sitting cross-legged on my bed, watching me with that infuriatingly calm expression she always has.

"Can you believe the nerve of him?" I practically shout, waving my hands in the air. "He thinks he can just waltz into my life and declare that he's going to marry me? Like he's some kind of—of—" I struggle to find the right word, my anger clouding my vocabulary.

"Some kind of prince charming?" Badiyya suggests, barely suppressing a smile.

I glare at her. "Not even close. More like a tyrant, a dictator. No, worse—he's like a—like a... I don't even know! He's just so... infuriating!"

Badiyya chuckles softly, leaning back against the headboard. "Sounds to me like he's living rent-free in your head, Tazzy."

I scoff, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. "Only because I hate him so much. I can't stop thinking about how much I hate him. I've never met anyone so full of themself."

"Uh-huh. I for one can think of someone" Badiyya raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it and referring to me as the person who is so full of themself. "You've been talking about him nonstop for the past half-hour."

"Because he's the most annoying person I've ever met!" I snap back. "Do you know he actually said, with a straight face, that he was going to marry me? Who the hell does he think he is? Some kind of gift to women?"

"Well," Badiyya starts, her tone infuriatingly reasonable, "you did say he's Ridwan's friend. So it's not entirely impossible, is it?"

I narrow my eyes at her, my frustration boiling over. "Not you too, Badiyya! I can't believe you're even entertaining this. Ridwan's friend or not, I would never marry that pompous, arrogant, smug—" I'm practically foaming at the mouth now, but Badiyya just continues to look at me with that annoyingly serene expression.

"And it's never going to happen, you know why?" I continue, not giving her a chance to respond. "Because I'd rather lose my vintage Galliano collection than let that—man—think he has any kind of power over me!"

Badiyya's eyes widen a little at that. "Wow, you must really hate him then. I thought that Galliano collection was your pride and joy."

"It is!" I exclaim, throwing my hands up in the air again. "That's how much I despise him. Did you not hear a word of everything I just said? Of course I hate him!"

Badiyya rolls her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "Alright, alright. I get it. Good luck with all that hate, lover girl"

"Don't call me that," I mutter, flopping onto the bed next to her. I grab a pillow and punch it, imagining it's Muntassir's stupidly handsome face. "And don't leave me alone with my thoughts. I can't stand thinking about him."

Badiyya laughs and gets up from the bed, smoothing out her clothes. "I'm going to go check if Ridwan is back."

I gag theatrically, giving her a thumbs down. "Have you ever heard of not kissing your family? Gross."

She smirks at me, unfazed. "Last time I checked, it's allowed."

"Well, it shouldn't be," I grumble as she heads for the door. "And tell Ridwan I need to have a word with him about his so-called friend."

"Will do," she calls over her shoulder as she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

I let out a long, frustrated sigh and drop back onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room is quiet now, save for the faint sounds of birds outside my window. But even in the silence, I can't escape him. His voice, his infuriating laugh, his stupidly perfect smile—they all keep floating around in my head, taunting me.