The Share Of The Flower

Chapter Eight: The First Meeting

A week later, Abdel Hamid traveled to the resort village to prepare the houses where his family and guests would stay.

He worked tirelessly to distract his heart from his wife Nargis and to keep his mind off his hasty second marriage.

By the second week, the guests arrived at the resort to celebrate the wedding of Abdel Hamid’s cousin. A white car stopped in front of a small garden, and Hanan, her husband Fadi, and their three children got out, along with Aunt Zahraa and Tulip.

Fadi: "I spoke to Abdel Hamid, and he said we should wait for him here!"

Tulip approached Hanan, grabbing her arm tightly.

Tulip: "Hanan, I’m scared. My heart is pounding with fear!"

Hanan: "Don’t be afraid. I understand how you feel, but relax. We won’t start our plan until you meet my brother and get comfortable around him. Once you're sure he doesn't know who you really are. Now, take a deep breath; your face is starting to change color!"

Tulip: "Alright!"

Fadi: "Let’s sit down and rest on the chairs."

Everyone headed towards the chairs under the umbrellas and sat down.

Tulip began taking deep breaths in a "yoga" style, inhaling through her mouth and exhaling slowly through her nose. Hanan turned to everyone and started reviewing the plan.

Hanan: "Alright, as we agreed, you are a nurse named Amal. You’ve come with us to take care of my aunt. And you, Auntie, you understand our plan, so I hope everyone sticks to it!"

Zahraa: "Don’t worry about Abdel Hamid. He loves me and listens to what I say. I’ll tell him everything and make sure he divorces his crazy wife!"

Hanan and Tulip, frightened by Zahraa’s words, screamed in unison: "Nooooo!"

Tulip: "Not now, we have to wait a bit!"

Hanan: "Please, Auntie, stay quiet and think about our plan. What’s her name again?"

Zahraa: "Amal, I get it. But why are we messing with Abdel Hamid and his wife when she’s right in front of us?"

Hanan: "We like to make things complicated, and my brother enjoys playing games, so let’s take our time until we reach the end of our plan!"

Zahraa: "Listen, Abdel Hamid is a sensible man, and he’ll love his new wife. And you, my dear, are beautiful, mashallah!"

Tulip, nervously: "Hanan, I’m starting to think about backing out of the plan and going back to where I came from!"

Hanan: "How can you quit now when we’re already at the second step?!"

Zahraa: "I don’t understand why you’re complicating things with all these steps. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him now and save you all from the stress you’re putting yourselves through!"

Tears began to fall from Tulip’s eyes, terrified of what might happen if Zahraa revealed her secret to Abdel Hamid in just a few minutes.

Tulip: "This is all your fault, Hanan. I wish you hadn’t planned this, and I hadn’t come here to witness my own downfall!"

Zahraa: "Would you have witnessed your downfall with your own feet? Haha, we’re all going to witness our own endings someday!"

Tulip: "Oh God, I wish I hadn’t listened to you, Hanan!"