Divine Affinity

Boxed little lies

We arrived hours later to the breathtaking view of Turkey. Not being able to see much through the dark windows of a BMW which probably costed my 5 years of tuition. All I could see were silhouettes of unusual structures, so beautiful it all seemed almost fictitious. "What are you thinking about?" I heard Rayhaan's voice faintly over my thoughts. "It all looks so beautiful." Without so much as a glace outside, he gave a slight nod and continued to look straight at the back of the driver's head. Living but barely alive...

We finally stopped. The building was grand with large windows, grey stone walls and about 5 balconies. It reminded me of an ancient palace. "Is this a museum of some sort?" I asked, eager to get settled at home. "Actually ... this is home," he responded. Before I could react, Mr and Mrs Qurayshi (I mean Mama and Abba) stepped outside to welcome us. Their embraces were warm and sincere. The inside of the house was even more grand than the outside. It was art in every sense. Rayhaan was instructed to show me  to our room. He led the way up a winding staircase to a gold door. Rayhaan's room didn't match the richness of the house,  I mean it was grand and beautiful, but very dull and gloomy.

Catching my questioning look Rayhaan asked,  "What's wrong? You don't like the room?" 

"No no it's beautiful,  just a little bleak..."

There was that slight laughter again. "A room tells a lot about a person," he whispered,  "but now this is your room and you may do what you please with it."

My eyes widened with glee, "That's the smartest thing you've said all weekend!" He stared at me in disbelief, oh no did I just kill this new born friendship?

But his eyes lightened and I knew I was safe. "Hey!", "I am a Harvard graduate thank you very much."

Truly impressed, but I didn't want this rare playful side to disappear again. "I heard that you waited tables at the Harvard cafeteria Mr Harvard graduate, no paper no proof."

At that moment, Rayhaan grabbed my hand and pulled me close, so close I could hear his heartbeat. Our eyes met and everything went silent. A moment passed before he pulled away a little, pulling me with him to the other side of the room where we came to a stop at a framed document on the wall. His Harvard degree.

"Very impressive Mr. Qurayshi..." I felt his hand rest on my waist for a moment before it was gone. I looked back to find him starring down at a box on the dressing table. It was a jewellery box of some sort. I looked back at him to find his face cold stone. "Are you okay? "

The previously playful voice turned icy as he responded,  "Yes, I'm fine. Why don't you get settled, I have some work to do." And with that he was out the door, his eyes never meeting mine.

It was like we had taken 2 steps forward to be pulled 10 yards back. What changed? What was so upsetting about a box? Whose was it? Not even the comfortable cottons dressed by the silky linen could calm my restless mind.