Beyond Desire

4- Pleasure to make your acquaintance again

Let's get one thing clear, I hate weddings.

The idea of gathering a large crowd to interfere with personal and intimate moments feels completely out of line to me. I value the clarity and sincerity of small occasions and grand festives are mere distractions from the memory of the day. In my opinion, the couples simply deserve better.

Which explained why I had the deepest scowl plastered all across my face as I posed on the banquet chair threatening to explode at any second. I glanced at my phone for the umpteenth time, hoping that time would move by with as much speed as the annoying sound of voices around the overly garnished hall. It has been 5:25 since the last five minutes.

"Staring at your phone every other second won't get you out of here" Mahir bemoaned beside me. He too was thankfully, in the exact situation.

"What would?" I was hoping he could come up with a way out. His light nude Caftan almost matched the color of his light skin.

"Well......" He shrugged nonchalantly and plopped a grape into his mouth. "Maybe just let loose and have fun"

To think I had my hopes high on him seconds ago. Utter bullshit I tell you.

With a quiet sizzle, I scanned around the crowd for the one reason why I was here in the first place. She had been just a few feet away from where we sat a while ago, and now she was completely lost in the crowd.

I did the quick math in my head, I could slip between her fingers. Gazing at the nearest exit, I looked down at my phone again and then up at the door. I could make it in a minute or two, all I have to do is to stay well-hidden behind the shadows of.......

"Don't even think about it" By Nightly blew up the entire hall with a soul-shattering blast leaving wreckage in its wake and pulling me forcibly out of my wishful daze.

If I could, I would willingly hand over the soul of the absurd DJ in a golden tray to a grim reaper. Who the hell goes about playing that sort of song on wedding grounds? Not that I care about anyone's taste in music, but at least they could keep it low for the sake of those who would rather be anywhere else than here.

"I am going to socialize a bit, wanna join?" I bolted upright and stared toward Mahir.

"Yuck" he made an exasperated sound from the back of his throat to indicate disgust. "I had rather chew on my tongue and swallow than voluntarily associate with humans"

"Right?" I beamed with indifference. "Tell me about the joys of isolation" I simply stroll away afterward, leaving him to the comfort of his phone.

Soon, I got lost in the vibrant blend of modern styles and traditional customs. The vigorous dancing, the ear-splitting music, the abundant cuisines, the cinematographers trying so hard to weave every beautiful memory, and let's not forget the blinding lights and mist from smoke bombs, in all I would use one word. "Chaos"

Admits all the disarray though, I sighted my mother. I have been here long enough, fingers crossed she will finally let me head back home. It isn't even the wedding of some relative, just the daughter of a second cousin of a close acquaintance of hers. I am not even kidding, the list is that long.

With that newly found hope, I steered through the crowd toward her as she sat with her back to me. Judging by how she was tossing her head back, moving her hands energetically, she was truly having the time of her life.

I circled my hand around her shoulders casually before speaking "This hue of red looks good on you, you were glowing from afar"

If you know my mother, then you should know the easiest way to her heart is compliments. She would hold them dear even long after you have forgotten about making them.