The Unlikely Union

6 ~ Shifting Sands

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One sunny afternoon, Wajdan's family gathered at Malik Mansion for a barbecue. The sun bathed the garden in a warm glow, and the aroma of grilled kebabs filled the air. Wajdan's siblings, Ali and Sophia, were busy setting the table, while their cousins Zain, Ayesha, and Omar mingled, laughter and chatter creating a lively atmosphere.

Dua had been quietly observing the chaos from a distance, but she felt the urge to join in on the fun. Taking a deep breath, she piped up, "Hey, Wajdan, why don't we play a game? Something to lighten the mood?"

Wajdan raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "What kind of game?"

Dua's face lit up with a bright smile. "How about charades? It's always a blast!"

Wajdan groaned, rolling his eyes. "Charades? Really? That sounds like torture."

But Dua was undeterred, determination dancing in her eyes. "Come on! It'll be fun. Besides, everyone's here; we need to do something together."

With a sigh, Wajdan relented. He couldn't resist her enthusiasm, even if charades wasn't his idea of a good time. Dua took his hand, dragging him into the living room, where Ali, Sophia, Ayesha, Zain, and Omar were all grinning, eager to start the game.

As they began, Wajdan's gruff exterior started to crack. He found himself laughing at Dua's silly antics, especially when she dramatically acted out movie titles. The atmosphere was filled with playful banter, teasing, and the sounds of laughter echoing around the room.

At one point, Dua mimed a particularly outrageous scene, her arms flailing wildly. Wajdan, who was supposed to guess the title, was completely stumped.

"Come on, Wajdan!" Dua exclaimed, laughter bubbling up in her voice. "It's not that hard!"

Wajdan shook his head, chuckling. "I have no idea what you're doing, Dua."

Dua pouted, her lower lip jutting out in mock frustration. "Fine. I'll give you a hint. It's a rom-com."

Wajdan's eyes lit up as realization struck him. "I know this one! Is it... *The Proposal*?"

Dua's face brightened. "Yes! That's it!"

The others cheered, and Wajdan felt a strange sense of pride swell within him. For the first time in a while, he felt carefree, and it was all thanks to Dua's infectious optimism.

As the game continued, Wajdan found himself laughing more and more, enjoying the camaraderie of family and the light-heartedness of the moment. After a particularly intense round, they all collapsed onto the couches, breathless and giggling.

"Okay, who's next?" Ayesha asked, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

"I think it's Zain's turn," Sophia suggested, glancing at Wajdan's younger brother.