Forbidden Territories

Chapter 8

"They're here...get ready soon" I notice my brother standing by my door in the reflection of the mirror. He's clad in a black pathani suit.

"She's ready.." Mehreen answers for me as he nods and leaves.

"Hey I'll also check if aunty needs any help..and don't worry you're looking fabulous" she smiles genuinely before taking off.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror for a once over. I'm dressed in a full sleeved light peach colored floor length dress which has a gold belt around the waist. A baby pink scarf is tightley wrapped my head. My eyes are lined by kohl so they look prominent and apart from a little blush and lipgloss I chose to keep my makeup simple.

Today was the day I'm supposed to meet Mikaal and his family.

I hear laughter floating from outside and almost regret my decision of meeting Mikaal.

"Namra... come on.. it's showtime" Mehreen pops her head inside.

"I'm coming" I give her a tight lipped smile and she disappears quickly.

I take a deep breath and look in the mirror one last time.

"Well it's time to face the music" I mutter as I leave.

I feel like I'm in the climax of a movie and everything is going in slow motion with each step I take feeling so heavy. As I near the entrance of the living room I notice a couple in their mid-50s seated on the large middle couch. My dad is seated on the single couch at its side and my mum is seated on a chair beside my dad. Uncle Ali is standing by the book cabinet opposite the large couch and one of the ottomans is pulled out and Israel has taking a seat on it. A man dressed in a blue shirt is seated on a couch opposite to my dad and from where I'm standing I can only see his back but I'm guessing that's Mikaal. Aunty Almas and Mehreen are nowhere in sight.

"Oh Namra's here ...come beta.." my dad smiles encouragingly.

There is an absolute silence in the room as I enter. My hands are sweaty and I stick my gaze to the floor.

"Here beta...come sit here" Mum jumps up from her seat and signals me.

I sit down reluctantly but then look up immediately determined to not be worried anymore and to look more confident. I regret it the instant I do that because my eyes connect with Mikaal's.

"Assalam Alaikum" I quickly shift my gaze to his parents and give a small smile.

"Walekumassalam beta" Mikaal's parents reply warmly and then get chatting with my family while asking me questions in between about studies, my future plans, what I like doing, my islamic work etc. I hear Mikaal too speaking amongst them.

I avoid looking at Mikaal as much as possible but a few times when my gaze wanders I notice him stealing glances at me with an amused expression. He doesn't tell everyone that we had met before and I'm grateful for that.

"I think you guys should talk to eachother" a voice grasps my attention.

It doesn't take me long to realize that Mikaal's dad was the one who spoke and the 'you guys' refers to me and Mikaal. I was so not ready for this one to one "talk" and I'm about to say something when my dad beats me to it.

"Sure ..Osama why don't you take your sister and Mikaal up on the terrace.." dad suggests and my brother obliges by quickly getting up from his seat.

I look at mum with pleading eyes who's now standing beside me beckoning me to go.

"Don't worry.. Osama will be with you" she pats my back lightly as she whispers.

I internally groan as I follow both the men as they make their way to the stairs leading to the terrace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~