Tales of Laila

Chapter One

                                                    Layla

Customs are cruel

Traditions are cruel

People who hold on to them like their life depends on it are cruel and if that's the case, everyone in my family is cruel.

"Layla!"

The sound of Asmie's voice makes me jolt. I watched her jump on the bed with excitement written all over her face.

"He's here Adda!" She yells. From the way she pushed her head forward, I could tell that she wanted to whisper those words to me but the excitement in her voice betrayed her. "Ya Bilal is here and Allah knows he has never looked more handsome!"

I manage to flash her a smile that didn't get to my eyes. Smiling isn't the right word for what I did. I just twitched my lips and nothing more.

"I've told you I don't like it when you jump on my bed Asmie. When will you start letting words get into your coconut head?" I scold.

The way she jumps down from the bed and drag  her feet to the door makes me feel guilty. I shouldn't have spoken to her like that. If anyone deserves my temper, then it's definitely not Asmie.

"Asmie!" I call after her.

She came to a halt but didn't bother to turn which gave me a hint that she was angry. I walk over to where stood and embraced her. "I'm sorry Asmie. I don't know what has gotten over me. I'm sorry. Please just don't be angry with me.

She turns slowly and once she was facing me, she began to wipe the tears that were streaming down my cheeks.  "I'm not angry Laila. I just don't like it when you're being hard on yourself.  Ever since you got engaged to Ya Bilal, you changed totally and you're making it very hard for me to figure you out. Let it go Laila. You honestly don't deserve the way you're treating yourself.

I buried my face in her neck and drew back the moment I caught a whiff of her fragrance. "Why did you use my body spray?" I ask narrowing my eyes.

She rolls her eyes.  "Like seriously Adda? We are talking about something important and you're here being silly."

"Asmie I have every right to question you whenever you use any of my belongings without my permission. This is trespass for crying out loud."

She quickly raise her hands in surrender. "Okay fine! I'm sorry. I just wanted to try it that's all and I promise not to do it again."

I wanted to believe her but the way she rolled her eyes after the words left her mouth was a sign that she didn't mean whatever she said.

"Laila! What  on earth do you think you're doing?" Mummy barges into the room. "Bilal has been here for over an hour...." she open her mouth in shock after registering what I had on me.

".....and you're still in your towel? Do you even..."

"Mummy Ya Bilal just arrived 7 minutes ago fa" Asmie cuts in.

I gasp the moment mummy's left hand landed on Asmie's right cheeks.

"Ouch!" She cries. "Mummy Wallahi this isn't fair. I was just correcting you."

Mummy reached for my heels on the shoe rack and I immediately ran to the toilet with Asmie right behind me.

"Lock the door." She whispers rubbing her cheek.