RUN

chapter five

The days are moving faster than i expected.

I'm scared to death about leaving everything I've ever known behind but i have to summon courage for this to work.

It's friday already and I'm to steal the money my dad keeps in the safe in his office this night.

he had showed i and nasreen the combination incase of emergencies and right now i think this is the biggest emergency I'll ever have.

i had packed a few things i couldn't do without into the biggest hand bag i have to avoid looking suspicious tomorrow.

I'm about to add a few more things to my runaway bag  when my room door opens revealing my mum who looks like she's in a hurry, i quicky drop the bag at the base of my wardrobe.

"mum what's wrong" i ask sounding uninterested.

she walks over to me and sits on the bed signaling that i join her.

"how are you sweetheart"

"um I'm fine i guess.what's wrong? "

" nothing. your dad sent me up here to tell you to get ready"she replies quietly.

" get ready for what?"alarm evident in my voice.

" your husband to be is downstairs and he wants to meet you"she says smiling.

" WHAT?... isn't the meeting supposed to be on monday or something"I ask standing up from where i am to Pace my room.

" yes but he met your dad at the mosque and just decided to come meet his bride to be"she says standing up to face me.

"honey  it's nothing serious, he just wants to see you. just grab your niqab and the abaya i bought for you last week. it'll be quick". i stand there staring at the space behind her head "please?"

heaving a sigh"fine ill get dressed"

" thank you "she says kissing my cheek and giving me a warm smile "we'll be waiting downstairs. please don't take too long"..she stops by the door " you know I'm not happy about this too but i promise everything will turn out fine"she whispers and she's out the door.

i feel a tear drop on my cheek.

I love my family and it hurts that i have to leave but its the only way.
i quickly have a shower and dress as decently as possible.

Downstairs,i see a man in a long white thobe with a red gutra looking a little bit older than my dad and i feel bile rising up my throat but i swallow it down and walk into the room.

my dad is seated besides him on the two sitter. I'm searching my brain to remember his name, something like abdul or was it thani, I don't care really.

my mum pats the the space besides her on the couch and i hate that couch right now cause its facing the men directly but oh well, lets just get this over with.

"assalamualaikum" i say taking me seat.

"waalaikum salam "the man replied and his voice sent shivers down my spine and not in a good way.

he sits up and I'm so glad for the niqab I'm wearing right now.

my dad clears his throat smiling"so alena meet sheikh abdullah bin Mohammed bin thani, one of the most successful business men in Qatar and in doha"

abdullah bursts out laughing and I'm wondering what's so funny.

"now now mouza , don't flatter me... we're in this game together y'know" he turns to me and I'm wondering if he can see how much i feel like gutting him."so alena how are you?".

I'm caught off guard but i regain my composure.
"I'm fine thank you" i whisper. he laughs once again and I'm wondering if i said something funny.

"masha Allah .she has the voice of an angel" he says and everyone starts laughing except me.
i feel more than irritated by this man,he makes me sick.

"so alena: the nikah will be next week Wednesday" my dad says bringing me out of my thoughts.

"so soon?" i whisper once again. I was taught to always lower my voice around men so it's a habit.

"yes yes...you know he's a busy man so we have to do it as soon as possible"

"ok then"I reply

" ok well it was nice meeting you Alena.. I'll come over on monday to discuss the wedding preparations"abdullah says and my dad gets up to see him off.

I release a breath i didn't know i was holding once they're out the door. i take off the niqab and i see my mum staring at me with a smile on her face
"what?" i ask standing up to go get something to eat.

"don't you think he's a nice man?"

"no mum I don't. i don't want to get married to a man in dad's age range"

" i know.. I don't want it as well but you know how your dad is"she says with a sad look on her face..i almost want to feel bad but nah!

" you know if you had stood your ground and helped talk dad out of it,i wouldn't be in this mess"i bark going up to my room.

" I'm sorry"she says and i almost believe her

                            ~

Tip toeing downstairs is the hardest thing ive ever done.

It feels like the house is against me... even my steps sound louder than they are, there's this weird saying _that when you need everything to co-operate with you, they simply turn against you and that seems to be happening right now.

opening the door to his office, i look around and it has papers scattered around and stacks of files everywhere. i close the door behind me and go directly to the safe. There's no time to waste.

I put in the combination and it doesn't budge and I'm a sweating mess after 5 tries. how could i forget !!!.  i drop to the floor ready to cry my eyes out when i hear the door of the study open. i get up  and turn slowly only to find nasreen.

I breathe a sigh of relief. what would i have told dad?,that i was just checking out his study? yeah right.

"lena what are you doing in here" she asks coming towards me.

" sshhhhhh"putting my finger on her lips" I'm trying to get some money out of dads safe"

"why?.its meant for emergencies."

" i know but right now it's an emergency. do you remember the combination?"

" yes..why?"

" i need you to open it for me. i can't seem to remember"

" I'm not opening anything till you tell me what's going on"she says putting her hands on her waist.

" ok sit down. ill tell you everything"

ok so this chapter gave me a tough time but well here you go...vote share and comment what you think of this chapter so far..bye🤗