Ties That Bind

EP15

Thirty minutes later, Zara reappeared, having swapped out the atamfa she had worn earlier for something more fitting for the evening. Now, she was dressed in a simple but elegant black abayah that was neither too flashy nor too plain. An emerald green jersey scarf was draped loosely over her head, complementing the look, and she carried her sleek black Louis Vuitton bag, the outfit effortlessly chic.

As she approached Kabir’s room, she found him already waiting outside. He was dressed in a grey shirt and black trousers, his shirt untucked in a laid-back style. He looked undeniably handsome, the sharpness of his features enhanced by the simplicity of his outfit.

"I said twenty minutes," Kabir said, his voice laced with disapproval as his eyes swept over her.

Zara shot him a sarcastic look, rolling her eyes. "Would you rather shout at me and blabber, or would you rather we go, darling husband?" she quipped, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she brushed past him, walking ahead without waiting for a response.

Kabir watched her walk away, momentarily stunned into silence before he followed, shaking his head slightly.

When they reached the car, Zara noticed Jide, the chief driver, already seated in the grand Cherokee Jeep, signaling that this was the vehicle they'd be taking for the evening. As she approached, Jide gave her a polite nod.

"Good evening, madam," he greeted respectfully.

Zara returned the greeting with a brief nod before slipping into the back seat, settling into the plush leather with a sigh. Without a word, Kabir followed, taking his place beside her in the car.

As soon as they reached the Balogun mansion, Zara immediately noticed the familiar number plate of her father's Prado parked in the driveway. She furrowed her brow slightly, turning to Kabir as they stepped out of the car.

"Are my parents here?" she asked, her voice holding a hint of curiosity.

Kabir glanced at the vehicle before shrugging. "Dad didn’t mention anything like that to me."

Zara nodded, but the presence of the car left her wondering as they walked into the grand mansion. Kabir led the way, his steps confident and unhurried, while Zara followed slightly behind, off to his right. Her eyes moved from the ornate decor of the house to the familiar figure that approached them.

It was Darasimi, Kabir’s younger sister, who greeted them first. She hugged her brother warmly before turning to Zara, her face lighting up with a wide smile. She moved in closer, as if to attach herself to Zara’s side like a shadow.

"Hi Zara, Good evening" Dara said excitedly, but Zara barely knew much about her. Since the nikkah, their paths hadn’t crossed, so it felt a bit strange for Dara to suddenly act so familiar. Still, Zara kept her composure and offered a polite smile.

Dara led them upstairs to the dining room where Chief Balogun always hosted family dinners. Zara followed, noticing Dara's infectious energy, while Kabir remained calm and reserved.

The moment they entered the dining room, Zara greeted everyone with a graceful "Salam alaykum." Kabir mirrored her greeting.

The heads around the table turned, smiles breaking out as they responded warmly to the Salam. To Zara’s surprise, her parents were indeed sitting among them, just as she had suspected.

With a soft sigh of relief and a touch of apprehension, she and Kabir took their places at the table, the atmosphere filled with warmth but laced with the underlying tension of what the evening might bring.

As the dinner began, Zara's parents wasted no time in inquiring about how she and Kabir were settling into married life. Questions came at intervals, thrown one after another as if the parents had rehearsed this. Zara’s mother asked how they were managing in their new home, Kabir’s father chimed in about work, and then Zara’s father inquired about the overall experience so far.