Forbidden Territories

Chapter 9

"Assalam Alaikum" Mikaal greets again.

I'm staring at the beach ahead. Mikaal , me and Osama were standing by the wall of the terrace. It's late evening and the sky is turning into a pleasant orange-ish tinge.

"Walekumassalam wa rahmatullah" I whip my head in his direction and answer politely.

A loud ringing cuts through and Osama fishes for his phone in his kurta pocket. He pulls it out and frowns as he reads the name of the caller.

"Uh...excuse me for a minute... don't worry I'm not going far" Osama speaks before taking a few steps away from us and receiving the call.

A few moments of awkward silence pass before my curiosity gets the better of me.

"Do you remember me?" I ask softly hoping he has a really bad memory and doesn't remember anything.

He looks at me for a second like I'm speaking french before breaking into a massive grin.

I close my eyes with a cringe realizing that he realizes everything before looking at him and smiling awkwardly.

"Look I'm not usually that rude and it was just that.." I start to say still keeping my voice low as Osama is not that far even though he's still talking on the phone.

"That's ok but where did you disappear that day?" he asks  and I can still hear the amusement in his voice.

His voice is also low indicating he too doesn't want my brother to hear our conversation and I kinda feel good about it as he doesn't wants to get me in trouble.

"I..I went the way you told me to and got a cab and came home" I lie not wanting to tell him about the real deal and he nods.

"Good to know you reached home safely" he speaks.

"Uh.....Mikaal......what about this?" I gesture between us.

"The situation we're in right now" I spell it out for him.

"What about it?" he looks at me blankly.

"Are you fine with it?" I avert my gaze as I look at the sky which has now started to turn a shade of red. He takes a deep breath as he turns and places both his hands on the short wall of the terrace.

"Well my parents really wanted this thing to happen. And honestly I didn't .. I had not even seen your picture or anything and my parents literally just dragged me here.. Marriage was really not on my mind right now..." he pauses and I hold my breath waiting for him to continue.

"...that was until I saw you.." I whip my head in his direction but he's looking at the waves hitting the sea.

"What?" I scrunch my brows.

"Ok guys...sorry ya it was a friend from college.." Osama's voice cuts us as he's steps beside me.

"So ya you guys have to talk...so umm...talk..." he urges.    

I look at the brown haired man standing across me as he smiles back at me.

"I wanted a religious girl to be my wife and I think I'm ready to give us a shot" he confidently states.

My eyes turn as wide as saucers while I gawk at him and so do Osama's.

"What about you sis? Are you in for it.." my brother bluntly questions.

He's very blunt actually and may sometimes come off as rude but that's just Osama for you.

"That's ok you don't have to answer right now... I told you my answer so it will be easier for you to decide" Mikaal responds warmly.

"Ok then let's go down...it's Magrib time anyways" Osama announces before leading us down.

Mikaal mets up with his parents and I quickly get back to my room to pray magrib. The men go the mosque to pray while the ladies prepare to pray at home.

Immediately after Magrib Mikaal leaves with his parents and my entire family sits in the living room discussing the day's event. I retire to my room with an excuse of a headache and my mum doesn't stop me this time.Guess everyone's really happy about the whole Mikaal thing.