The House Of The Anubis

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Silent tears soaked my cheeks as the cars moved in a convoy like an unending train. It was night time. My long glittery veil covered my face. And with every second that passes by, the realization that I was a married woman still barked at me. Frightening me. I still haven't seen my husband. Our weddings were not like the white people's. Where both the husband and wife must be present. It only took the parents or guardians to be present and the deal was Sealed. The car drove on and on. So immersed in my reverie, I forgot both my parents flanked my sides. Each holding my hands. Both of them where crying. I wish they'd stop. The sounds of their sobs was like a clear stamp that my life had changed for good. Never to be the same again. I wasn't a little girl anymore. I was a married woman.

We were slowing down. Mama gave my hand another squeeze as the car screeched into a halt. Someone opened the door and we stepped out. As though baba knew how weak and vulnerable I was, he held me to him.
There where footsteps approaching. And suddenly my heart began a kind of konga in my chest. Struggling to burst out. Was it him? The footsteps stopped in front of us. And because my veil shielded my vision, I couldn't tell who it was. The person unveiled my face and gentle fingers tipped my chin upwards. It was Nadeen.  My heart slowed down in relief. She was crying too. But unlike my tears, hers where cool and happy tears. Unlike my hot sad ones.

'Menna....  Come my child' She said beckoning me to go with her. Baba held on tighter. But as if defeated, he let go abruptly. I felt as though he had abandoned me. I walked tentatively towards what seemed to be a plane. It's door spilled outwards to the ground. I had almost reached the door with Nadeen holding my hand when I abandoned all caution. I whipped around and ran back to Baba. And for the first time, I voiced what my heart longed to say.

'Baba I don't want to go. Baba please, take me home' I started crying in earnest. Baba only hugged me back. Patting my back. Crying too. Mama came to hugged us too crying.

'Menna... ' Mama sobbed
But I knew I couldn't go back. Regret washed over me. I shouldn't have agreed to this. I should have rebelled. I was only seventeen. I had the right to go against reason. I knew it was done when Nadeen said in a clear voice.

'We will take care of her, I promise'
Baba only nodded.

'When can we see her again?' Mama asked

'It depends on Firas. Only he can give her permission, as her husband' She said
Baba removed me from him and I knew there was no going back. Nadeen held my hand tight and I kept glancing back until I was inside the plane.

I couldn't stop crying. Nor did I utter a single word as the hostesses of the private jet kept fussing over what I'd like. Nadeen finally told them to leave me alone.

I must have submitted to my sleep deprived self because, I heard someone calling my name. Waking me up.

'We are here habibaty' Nadeen said
The endearment only made me remember my parents. New set of tears threatened to spill but I swallowed them. She held my hand again and we stepped out of the plane down the stairs. Different set of cars awaited us. These people had too many cars for their own good.
Nadeen sat next to me in the very luxurious car. She kept squeezing my hand gently. It was obvious she felt sorry for me. But I could tell how happy she was. I didn't even know why she liked me.

We arrived in no time. I knew it was going to be beyond my imagination. The gate of the house opened by itself to let all the cars in. And we drove for several minutes before we reached the house itself. I looked out the window and saw green everywhere. Several meters of lawn stretched the front of the house. The cars stopped and we stepped out. Nadeen still had my hand clasped in her hand.

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