Scarred For Life

Chapter 14

*
It felt good to be back home. Though it had only been two weeks since her departure, Afrah felt like she had been away for too long. She had missed the comfort of her bed, the darkness of her room and the coolness of the AC.

For once, everything was perfect in the world.

"Don't tell me you're still in bed," Amina said as she poked her head into the room.

"Can you not disturb me so early in the morning?" she groaned from underneath the duvet.

"You are truly unbelievable," Amina replied as she stepped into the room fully. Strangely though, she was still wearing sweatpants and a large t-shirt, and she looked like she had just woken up as well.

Downstairs, Umma's voice could be heard as she barked out orders to whichever unlucky soul happened to be there at the moment.

"No, the garlands go outside in the garden, along with all the roses on that table. And move those plates back to the kitchen. They aren't meant for serving. Call Asiya and ask her to open the store and bring out the extra set of plates I bought. No, not the blue ones, the orange ones... Of course I meant the blues ones. And you there, move that center table out into the BQ. And push those chairs wider apart. I want to see more space in the living room. Did you wash your hands before you carried that? Well wash them again."

"Aren't you supposed to be in your dress already?" Afrah asked sarcastically as she pulled down the duvet and propped up on her elbow.

"The guests won't start arriving until later, and everyone who is in the house has seen me like this last night," Amina replied as she sat on the bed. "Honestly, this doesn't even feel like home anymore, with all the relatives lurking around every corner."

"Tell me about me," Afrah sighed. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to escape them all last night? Everyone wants to bring up the topic of marriage. Honestly, it was suffocating."

"I know how you feel," Amina laughed as she stared down at her hands. The henna artist had arrived the day before, and her arms were covered nearly up to the elbow in the most beautiful design Afrah had ever seen.

"Are you nervous?" she asked.

"Of course I am," Amina replied. "I'm getting married today. Did you expect me to be calm?"

"But you love him, don't you?"

"It's the good kind of nervous, you know, like when you're about to get on a roller-coaster that everyone is terrified of," she replied.

"Well, Umma does say that marriage is sometimes like a roller-coaster, with its highs and lows," Afrah said. "But I'm sure you and Ibrahim were meant to be."

"Aww, look at you talking about love like you actually believe in it," Amina laughed. Afrah threw her a death glare, but she paid no attention to it.

"You haven't spoken about Kano since you returned."

"Hm?"

"Don't act dumb with me, Afrah," she scoffed. "How was it?"

"Well, it was fine," Afrah replied, feeling an unfamiliar clench in her stomach as she recalled the brief hours spent with Fahad.

"The good kind of fine or the bad kind?"

"The neutral kind," she replied. "We went to a restaurant, sat in awkward silence, argued a little and he brought me home."

"Oh, you two are meant for each other," Amina smirked.

"What does that mean?"

"Well, you both like food, you enjoy silence, and you both love arguments. It's like you're the same person split in half."

"You're out of your mind," Afrah threw a pillow at her.

Just then, the door flew open and Umma stormed into the room, hands akimbo.

"What in God's name do you both think you're doing sitting here idly while everyone is running around trying to get the house ready?" she glared at both of them in turn.

"I just woke up," Afrah said defensively, raising her hands.

"And you," she rounded on Amina, "will you get off that bed and move back to your room? Your aunt Jamila and Maryam are already in the room. They'll help you get ready. And you better hurry, the guests will be here any second now."

Grudgingly, Amina stood up and walked towards the door. She paused beside her mother however, throwing her arms around her. "I can't believe today is finally here," she whispered. "Thank you, Umma."

"For what?"she smiled, her momentary flash of anger dissipating completely.

"For everything," she replied before hurrying out of the room. Umma remained rooted to the spot, a small smile on her face. Afrah grinned mischievously, knowing all too well the tactic Amina had employed. The best way to disarm their mother was with words of endearment. And like a little child, she always fell for it.

For exactly five glorious seconds, she remained standing in front of the door, clearly forgetting that she was meant to be angry at both of them. But the spell was broken by Afrah's phone going off suddenly beside her. Umma blinked, her eyes refocusing on her younger daughter.

"Get out of that bed and get ready," she said. "I expect you downstairs in exactly ten minutes."

"Yes ma'am," she replied as she reached for the phone. As her mother left the room, Afrah felt her heart leap suddenly as she saw that it was a call from Fahad. A whirlwind of emotions suddenly flared in her, and she found her hands beginning to tremble.

Why was he calling her? How did he know she had just woken up? Was he still spying on her? Where was he now? What did he want?

Perhaps she shouldn't answer it. After all, if she did, he would think it's okay to call her so early in the morning.

Just as the thought was forming on her head, Afrah found herself answering the phone and pressing it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Good morning," he replied. Even though she couldn't see him, she could picture him smiling. "I take it that you just woke up?"

"How did you know that?" she asked.

"Well, your voice still sounds raspy," he said. "How' are the preparations for the wedding going?"

"Fine," she replied.

"Good," he said. "I was just thinking that maybe..."

Afrah didn't pay attention to what he said next. She looked up as someone pushed her door open, fully convinced that Umma had returned.

Fahad heard her gasp over the phone, but he had no idea what had happened. Just before he could ask her what was going on, Afrah hung up. He frowned at his phone as he stared down at it, dialling her number once again.

Afrah didn't answer. She was still staring at her cousin, who was smiling at her the same way she did all those years ago, right after she had stepped into the house.

"Hello, Afrah," she said.

*