An Echoing Race.

Chapter Fifty.

This chapter is dedicated to two people:

ShutUpAndCoffee and starryepiphany

They know why :)

One more chapter, the Epilogue to go! Man time goes fast!

Enjoy!

#Chapter Fifty#

Samir's POV.

"And now, the elder brother of the bride would like to say a few words. Come on up Samir!"

I took one last quick swig of water from the cup in my hands before hurriedly placing it down and making my way over to the stage. I took the microphone from the MC and waited patiently for all the clapping, whoops and cheers to die down. In the distance I saw my little cousin Nayef trying to stand up on a chair to applaud me but his mother quickly grabbed him by the ear and shoved him back into his seat. I chuckled lightly and waited a few more seconds until there was quiet in the room.

I cleared my throat and raised the microphone to my lips.

"When I first met Sameena, I absolutely hated her."

Surprised laughter echoed throughout the room and I turned to grin at my sister, who was rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

"I distinctly remember the first time I laid eyes on her. She was cradled in my mothers arms and mama had such a look of adoration and pure love on her face that I couldn't help but wonder what was so good about her. I wasn't worried about Ziad, I knew he'd turn out to be the disappointment in the family," I joked, and a loud 'HEY!' echoed throughout the hall. I laughed along with everyone else at Ziad's outrage before lifting the microphone back up to my lips. "Sameena however was the only girl, which meant one thing; she was going to get all the attention from mama and baba, or so I had thought. So you guessed it guys...I was jealous of my baby sister."

"But over time, that jealousy and hatred quickly morphed into loving affection. I became awfully attached to Sameena. If she wanted to run down to the park, I'd gladly take her, if she was stuck and didn't know how to do her homework, I was the one who helped her, whenever she was upset, I comforted her and when she was hurting, I was too." I swallowed the lump in my throat and faced Sameena again. She had tears in her eyes and was clutching Tariq's hand so tightly that I could see it turning white. "But as you move into this next chapter of your life with Tariq, I realised that you might not need me so much anymore. Because alhamdulillah, and I can say this with a happy heart, you've found a man who will take care of you and cherish you with his every breath. I love you baby sis and you know that I will always be here for you!"

More applause, whistles and cheers rang out through the hall again, louder than last time. I returned the microphone to the MC and strode towards Sameena who was awaiting me with open arms. She flung herself at me and I staggered back due to the force of her hug.

"I will always, always need you Samir. Don't ever forget that," she whispered through her tears and I smiled as I held her, wondering how time went so fast and when my baby sister grew up so quickly.

Although I wouldn't admit this to anyone, not even her herself, Sameena's marriage had hit me harder than I expected. I didn't even feel this upset when I had left to study in Haifa. Maybe because it was exactly that; that maybe now, because she was in a relationship, she wouldn't need me as much in her life anymore. She would become too preoccupied with Tariq and marriage life to hang around her big brother and although a part of me knew this sort of thinking was irrational because she was not the kind of person to just forget her family, I couldn't help the insecurities.