To all of the people who read my previous story, sorry for taking so long and I hope you enjoy this one...
Every good story needs a boy, a girl and a bad situation. This was one of them, the bad situations I mean.
Right now, I couldn’t think of a way out of this. I stood there, wishing I was anywhere else in the world, but I knew wishing wouldn’t get me out of this.
It all started on the first day of my last semester in college. I was in a crappy mood, but that wasn’t something new, I was usually in a bad mood before my first cup of coffee in the morning. I was waiting in line at the college café, knowing I would be late to my first class but I didn’t really care. All I could think of was that hot cup of caffeinated goodness.
“I don’t usually say this but you’re gorgeous, I can’t stop staring at you”
WTH, who is this creep breathing down my neck. I started to get pissed since he had the nerve to talk to me in front of everyone, like I would give him the time of day. I hated these situations since I usually didn’t know how to react, all the good insults would come to me five minutes after it was all over.
“Come on don’t act like you can’t hear me”
I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, Thank God I was still wearing my sunglasses. I was trying to ignore the urge to beat the living crap out of this guy for ruining my morning.
This is what you get for having overprotective brothers who shield you from such creeps your whole life, you keep thinking someone would fight your battles for you, I muttered to myself.
I usually hated my older brothers for constantly interfering in my life, controlling everything since our father had passed away and they thought it was their right to have a say in my every move. But right now I was imaging what my brother Nasser would do to this annoying heavy breather.
Thank God it was nearly over, I was just waiting for my order to finish and I could get to my class and to my friend Maha who would join me in insulting this idiot.
“Agoolech 3ad shaklech 9adagty 3imrech, mush min zeenech ya3nee” he said angrily.
A group of girls watching my ordeal cracked up laughing, I guess he noticed them too which is why he got so mad at me. What annoyed me most was the girl standing in the middle of this group of girls was my eldest Brother Faisal’s fiancée. She was giving me this smirk, and I guess that just pushed me over the edge.
“Shaklek inta ilay m9adeg 3mrek, shu you think you can get a girl’s attention with this early morning harassment? How very 1990’s of you” I said.
It would have been the perfect one-liner, making everything better after this ordeal, but of course I had to ruin it by doing something horribly idiotic. I turned too fast and ran into someone, spilling my extra hot coffee all over us both, I heard a collective gasp from the group of girls behind us. I slowly looked up staring at the splattered stain on the white kandoora in front of me.
I couldn’t look at who it was, my eyes glazed over with tears as I ran (actually I just walked really fast, since running was impossible in the heels I was wearing) to the nearest bathroom and hid in one of the stalls. I took out my BlackBerry and found that Maha sent me a few messages.
Maha: Wainich? We had a deal no skipping class until the second day at least. Good impressions this semester remember?
Maha: I hate you, wish I was asleep.
Maha: Oh and get me a latte with you pleeeeease.
Me: No coffee today or ever again!
Maha: please tell me your not Coffee girl?
Me: Coffee girl? How did u hear about that?
Maha: LOL Sara just sent me a message saying beware of coffee girl.
Me: Hathee madree laish tekrahnee, she is engaged to my brother! She’s supposed to TRY and make a good impression.
Maha: Inzain shu el salfa?!
Me: I bumped into someone with my coffee after this loser was harassing me.
Maha: and who did you spill it on?
Me: I don’t know
Maha: and which bathroom are you hiding in?
Me: Ma bagoolech i know you just want to make fun of me.
Maha: I just renamed you “coffee girl”
Me: I hate you.
Maha showed up in a few minutes and helped me get my abaya cleaned, while making fun of me the whole time.
“Ok I want to tell you something, but I don’t want you to freak out” she said, just as we were leaving the bathroom.
“Shu el salfa? You can’t say that and not want me to freak out!” I said, a bad feeling building up in the pit of my stomach.
“Well the guy you spilt your coffee on is Sara’s brother, who just transferred to our college”
“So that’s why she sent you that message? I still think ma 3endha salfa”
“Inzain the reason I don’t want you to freak out is he’s in our class” She said with a false grin on her face. “And he looked kind of mad when I saw him”
There goes the “avoid the person you spilt hot coffee on” plan.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Forever Yours 17 -Finale-
I just wanted to thank all the people who read my story for their support. I hope you all like this part, hopefully there will be a new story soon.
“There’s no one other than you and there never was” he said softly, his words hinted at much more.
This coming from Ghaith was a huge deal.
I stared at him for what seemed like hours, our eyes locked.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, I heard a knock at the door.
Ghaith quickly got up, I’m sure he thought it was something to do with his father.
It gave me time to think of what he said, I was now surer than ever of my growing feelings for Ghaith and his words gave me the confidence to act on them. But I had a plan and in order for it to work, I needed time to prepare. I jumped into bed and acted asleep so I could avoid Ghaith’s inquiring eyes.
The next day I got up really early and went to meet Dalal at her apartment. I needed her help to get the courage to go though with my plan. It involved lingerie shopping which I had never done before and I was too intimidated by those shops to go in there by myself.
The first shop we went to was full of beautiful things but I didn’t feel comfortable buying anything from there, it wasn’t the style I was looking for too dark and exotic for me. I wanted something more innocent. Dalal didn’t approve of my ideas and she insisted I buy a few things which I blushed just looking at. I wasn’t innocent to these things but the image of Ghaith seeing me in them was too much for me to handle at the time.
“You’ll thank me later 7abeebty you’ll see” Dalal said with a wicked grin on her face.
“Yallah let’s go somewhere else so I can find what I want” I said dragging her away from the leather corsets, that she would have to kill me to wear.
“This is perfect” I sighed, as I looked at myself in the mirror. It was a gorgeous cream nightgown, with a lacy but sculpted top and lace all down the sides, but the rest was creamy silk and it had a lace trimmed slit that came the whole way up one leg. Dalal chose matching stockings which made my legs looks infinitely longer. I was happy with the result, smiling at myself in the mirror.
The next step was picking out a gorgeous outfit, Dalal completely took over in this part picking out a gorgeous burgundy top and a long flowy skirt to match, it was not something I would pick but looked gorgeous when I put it on, she just stared at me with a raised eyebrow daring me to say something bad about her choice.
“Wallah Dalal I don’t know what I would do without your help, you’re like my fashion fairy godmother.”
“Aaaaw Deema you’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup now” She said hugging me, it was great to have such a selfless friend. Too bad it took me so long to find one.
The next step was setting the whole night up, I called Reem and found out she was on a trip with her parents and that they were spending a few days in the town where her father studied, and they wanted to be away from the city for a while to relax before their trip to the states.
This was the perfect opportunity, I was for once taking control of things and it felt great.
I went back to the apartment and set everything up in Ghaith’s room and locked it so he wouldn’t ruin the surprise. I knew he was in college and I sent him a message to meet me at the restaurant where he first took me to dinner all those months ago. I felt nervous waiting for him; I was trying not to sit there staring at the door. What if he doesn’t show up? What if he thinks I’m stupid or desperate? What if he rejects me? I wondered for the millionth time closing my eyes and trying to control my racing heart, Calm down Deema and just breathe.
“Deema are you ok?” Ghaith asked and I opened my eyes to find him staring at me worriedly.
“Halla Ghaith, no I’m fine” I said plastering a smile on my face.
He sat down but continued to stare at me quizzically.
“Ghaith I invited you here so that we would get a chance to talk about things between us. I have some things to say and I want you to hear me out first” I said, he was staring at me intently so I stared at my entwined fingers, trying not to blush.
“Awalan when we first came here I can tell you honestly that I wasn’t looking for a relationship with you and I didn’t see you in that way, maybe because I’m young or because I thought you and my friend were a couple” I took a few deep breaths to calm down, he reached over and covered my hands with his hand.
So I sat there staring at his masculine hand, so tanned and huge next to mine. I felt protected and safe.
“Ghaith I found myself caring for you more and more each passing day but I didn’t understand. I’ve never been in love before” I said staring at him “I Love you Ghaith and I want to be your wife”
He stared at me intently and a huge grin broke out on his face, he looked so relieved.
“Deema yananteenee! I thought you wanted to leave or something, I mean last night you totally blew me off and left me sitting there like a fool I wanted to kill you!”
“7abeebee I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you but I wanted this moment to be perfect!” I said pouting. I was so relieved that everything was out in the open now.
“Intee ou afkarech” he said, squeezing my hands tightly.
I smiled shyly at him; he had no idea about the rest of my plans.
When we got to the apartment I went into the room and locked the door after me. I tried to get everything ready quickly but my hands were shaking, this was the first night where I took a risk with Ghaith but I wanted it to be just right since it was the first day of our life as a married couple.
I stood by the door taking a last look at my handiwork, the candles glow softly lit up the room and the bouquets’ of roses and rose petals everywhere made it look like a magical place. My hair was open and I was dressed in the nightgown but I tried not to think of that too much since it made me blush like crazy although I felt confident that I looked good in it.
Ghaith’s soft knock on the door pulled me out of my daydream.
I opened the door unsure of what he would think; he took a long look into the room and an even longer look at me and then he pulled me into his arms…
Two months later
As we took a stroll in the streets of Paris, the city of love, I fell even more in love with my husband Ghaith. It was the New Year and I felt this was a new beginning to our lives, the two months that passed were the happiest of my life, and it was as if I was floating on a cloud.
I remembered how even Ghaith’s mum noticed when they came back to London before their flight that things were different between us.
“So I guess there will be no more sleeping on the couch for my son” she said, pinching my arm, but in a joking way.
I blushed and laughed softly, this was beyond embarrassing, I wanted to curl up and hide.
“Yallah now I’m waiting for my grandchildren” she said “don’t keep me waiting for too long.”
“7abeebty what are you thinking of?” Ghaith asked, as I struggled to match his stride as we walked.
“Your mother” I said laughing.
“I bring you here to the most romantic city in the world and you think of my mother?” he stared at me with a fake-hurt expression.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“A7ibek!” I said, wrapping my arms around him. I could feel his laughter as he squeezed his arms around me.
“I love you too, Wallah I love you” he said softly into my ear, holding me like he never wanted to let go.
“There’s no one other than you and there never was” he said softly, his words hinted at much more.
This coming from Ghaith was a huge deal.
I stared at him for what seemed like hours, our eyes locked.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, I heard a knock at the door.
Ghaith quickly got up, I’m sure he thought it was something to do with his father.
It gave me time to think of what he said, I was now surer than ever of my growing feelings for Ghaith and his words gave me the confidence to act on them. But I had a plan and in order for it to work, I needed time to prepare. I jumped into bed and acted asleep so I could avoid Ghaith’s inquiring eyes.
The next day I got up really early and went to meet Dalal at her apartment. I needed her help to get the courage to go though with my plan. It involved lingerie shopping which I had never done before and I was too intimidated by those shops to go in there by myself.
The first shop we went to was full of beautiful things but I didn’t feel comfortable buying anything from there, it wasn’t the style I was looking for too dark and exotic for me. I wanted something more innocent. Dalal didn’t approve of my ideas and she insisted I buy a few things which I blushed just looking at. I wasn’t innocent to these things but the image of Ghaith seeing me in them was too much for me to handle at the time.
“You’ll thank me later 7abeebty you’ll see” Dalal said with a wicked grin on her face.
“Yallah let’s go somewhere else so I can find what I want” I said dragging her away from the leather corsets, that she would have to kill me to wear.
“This is perfect” I sighed, as I looked at myself in the mirror. It was a gorgeous cream nightgown, with a lacy but sculpted top and lace all down the sides, but the rest was creamy silk and it had a lace trimmed slit that came the whole way up one leg. Dalal chose matching stockings which made my legs looks infinitely longer. I was happy with the result, smiling at myself in the mirror.
The next step was picking out a gorgeous outfit, Dalal completely took over in this part picking out a gorgeous burgundy top and a long flowy skirt to match, it was not something I would pick but looked gorgeous when I put it on, she just stared at me with a raised eyebrow daring me to say something bad about her choice.
“Wallah Dalal I don’t know what I would do without your help, you’re like my fashion fairy godmother.”
“Aaaaw Deema you’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup now” She said hugging me, it was great to have such a selfless friend. Too bad it took me so long to find one.
The next step was setting the whole night up, I called Reem and found out she was on a trip with her parents and that they were spending a few days in the town where her father studied, and they wanted to be away from the city for a while to relax before their trip to the states.
This was the perfect opportunity, I was for once taking control of things and it felt great.
I went back to the apartment and set everything up in Ghaith’s room and locked it so he wouldn’t ruin the surprise. I knew he was in college and I sent him a message to meet me at the restaurant where he first took me to dinner all those months ago. I felt nervous waiting for him; I was trying not to sit there staring at the door. What if he doesn’t show up? What if he thinks I’m stupid or desperate? What if he rejects me? I wondered for the millionth time closing my eyes and trying to control my racing heart, Calm down Deema and just breathe.
“Deema are you ok?” Ghaith asked and I opened my eyes to find him staring at me worriedly.
“Halla Ghaith, no I’m fine” I said plastering a smile on my face.
He sat down but continued to stare at me quizzically.
“Ghaith I invited you here so that we would get a chance to talk about things between us. I have some things to say and I want you to hear me out first” I said, he was staring at me intently so I stared at my entwined fingers, trying not to blush.
“Awalan when we first came here I can tell you honestly that I wasn’t looking for a relationship with you and I didn’t see you in that way, maybe because I’m young or because I thought you and my friend were a couple” I took a few deep breaths to calm down, he reached over and covered my hands with his hand.
So I sat there staring at his masculine hand, so tanned and huge next to mine. I felt protected and safe.
“Ghaith I found myself caring for you more and more each passing day but I didn’t understand. I’ve never been in love before” I said staring at him “I Love you Ghaith and I want to be your wife”
He stared at me intently and a huge grin broke out on his face, he looked so relieved.
“Deema yananteenee! I thought you wanted to leave or something, I mean last night you totally blew me off and left me sitting there like a fool I wanted to kill you!”
“7abeebee I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you but I wanted this moment to be perfect!” I said pouting. I was so relieved that everything was out in the open now.
“Intee ou afkarech” he said, squeezing my hands tightly.
I smiled shyly at him; he had no idea about the rest of my plans.
When we got to the apartment I went into the room and locked the door after me. I tried to get everything ready quickly but my hands were shaking, this was the first night where I took a risk with Ghaith but I wanted it to be just right since it was the first day of our life as a married couple.
I stood by the door taking a last look at my handiwork, the candles glow softly lit up the room and the bouquets’ of roses and rose petals everywhere made it look like a magical place. My hair was open and I was dressed in the nightgown but I tried not to think of that too much since it made me blush like crazy although I felt confident that I looked good in it.
Ghaith’s soft knock on the door pulled me out of my daydream.
I opened the door unsure of what he would think; he took a long look into the room and an even longer look at me and then he pulled me into his arms…
Two months later
As we took a stroll in the streets of Paris, the city of love, I fell even more in love with my husband Ghaith. It was the New Year and I felt this was a new beginning to our lives, the two months that passed were the happiest of my life, and it was as if I was floating on a cloud.
I remembered how even Ghaith’s mum noticed when they came back to London before their flight that things were different between us.
“So I guess there will be no more sleeping on the couch for my son” she said, pinching my arm, but in a joking way.
I blushed and laughed softly, this was beyond embarrassing, I wanted to curl up and hide.
“Yallah now I’m waiting for my grandchildren” she said “don’t keep me waiting for too long.”
“7abeebty what are you thinking of?” Ghaith asked, as I struggled to match his stride as we walked.
“Your mother” I said laughing.
“I bring you here to the most romantic city in the world and you think of my mother?” he stared at me with a fake-hurt expression.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“A7ibek!” I said, wrapping my arms around him. I could feel his laughter as he squeezed his arms around me.
“I love you too, Wallah I love you” he said softly into my ear, holding me like he never wanted to let go.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Forever Yours 16
I was waiting for Manal when she got to the café so I could see all the appreciative looks she got, I felt so insecure next to her gorgeousness, Images of her and Ghaith together kept rushing through my head like a bad dream.
“Deema you look great” She said, she looked surprised at my new look. Thank god I was wearing a hot outfit, Skinny jeans, killer heels, a turquoise belted cream dress. I looked natural unlike her bleached blondness. I felt a little more confident now that I could see her eyeing me up like I was competition. I knew her so well that I understood her look from a mile away.
“So you didn’t tell me what are you doing here?” I asked, I couldn’t remember the last time there was an awkward silence between Manal and I.
“Well I decided to study in the US after all” she said “AUS wasn’t what I expected”
I knew there were things she was keeping from me but I didn’t want to pry.
“Deema I miss our friendship” she said pouting.
I smiled but I felt a lump in my throat, I remembered the stupid fight we had before she left for the summer, who knew things would turn out this way.
“Manal I feel bad too but I think it’s for the best, now that Ghaith and I are married” I didn’t want to sound like I was showing off but I needed to remind her what the problem was.
She stared at me, playing with her cup of tea.
“Deema I need to tell you something about what happened, I want to start a new page in my life and I don’t want to leave anything unfinished. Ghaith and I were never a couple, he was never interested in a relationship with me and that hurt. I was never rejected before and I don’t know why I lied to you but…”
“Manal are you serious?” It was like someone had dumped an ice cold bucket of water on my head.
She looked down and nodded “Bas he told me he loved someone in the UK and that’s why I was so shocked when you said you were getting married”
I didn’t know if this was one of her lies or the truth, anyway I knew that she was trying to cause problems.
“Manal the past is the past, don’t you think we should be grown ups about this, I mean it’s kid of pathetic”
“You’re calling me pathetic, intee il pathetic ilay tdawreen my leftovers” she said curling her lip in disgust.
I plastered a smile on my face although I wanted to slap her badly.
“Shaklee ana I was wrong to come here in the first place” I said getting up to leave.
“Deema please don’t, you're my only true friend”
“Bas shaklech you were never a friend to me” I said as I walked out of the café, silent tears streaming down my face, was I that desperate all these years thinking Manal was a real friend to me.
When I got to the apartment I wasn’t in the mood to face anyone but I couldn’t just escape to my room so I sat there with the family, faking laughs and smiles all night. When I finally went to the room I was exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions. Dalal sent me a couple of messages asking if I was ok but I wasn’t in the mood to discuss anything. I changed into my short sleeved Betty Boop pjs, wore a robe and sat in the balcony so I could get some fresh air. I felt suffocated and tired, Ghaith came in to the room a while later and was staring at me strangely so I just smiled at him.
He came and sat on the chair next to me and lit up a cigarette.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, he looked like he was ready to pick a fight with someone for me.
“Nothing it’s just ...” I wasn’t sure if I should bring up Manal, afraid I would ruin his mood.
“Listen I’ll know if you’re lying and I don’t want you to hide anything from me so whatever it is tell me I won’t judge” He was staring at me intently.
“It’s Manal, she called me up saying she wanted to meet up. Before you say anything I went. I regret it and I realize now that she was never the friend I hoped she was”
“Deema I don’t know what she told you but I think you need to know there was nothing between us” He reached put and held my hand in his.
“I know” I said sighing tiredly “she told me but she also said something about you and a girl in the UK but I don’t care. It just hurt coming from her”
“There’s no one other than you and there never was” he said softly, his words hinted at much more.
“Deema you look great” She said, she looked surprised at my new look. Thank god I was wearing a hot outfit, Skinny jeans, killer heels, a turquoise belted cream dress. I looked natural unlike her bleached blondness. I felt a little more confident now that I could see her eyeing me up like I was competition. I knew her so well that I understood her look from a mile away.
“So you didn’t tell me what are you doing here?” I asked, I couldn’t remember the last time there was an awkward silence between Manal and I.
“Well I decided to study in the US after all” she said “AUS wasn’t what I expected”
I knew there were things she was keeping from me but I didn’t want to pry.
“Deema I miss our friendship” she said pouting.
I smiled but I felt a lump in my throat, I remembered the stupid fight we had before she left for the summer, who knew things would turn out this way.
“Manal I feel bad too but I think it’s for the best, now that Ghaith and I are married” I didn’t want to sound like I was showing off but I needed to remind her what the problem was.
She stared at me, playing with her cup of tea.
“Deema I need to tell you something about what happened, I want to start a new page in my life and I don’t want to leave anything unfinished. Ghaith and I were never a couple, he was never interested in a relationship with me and that hurt. I was never rejected before and I don’t know why I lied to you but…”
“Manal are you serious?” It was like someone had dumped an ice cold bucket of water on my head.
She looked down and nodded “Bas he told me he loved someone in the UK and that’s why I was so shocked when you said you were getting married”
I didn’t know if this was one of her lies or the truth, anyway I knew that she was trying to cause problems.
“Manal the past is the past, don’t you think we should be grown ups about this, I mean it’s kid of pathetic”
“You’re calling me pathetic, intee il pathetic ilay tdawreen my leftovers” she said curling her lip in disgust.
I plastered a smile on my face although I wanted to slap her badly.
“Shaklee ana I was wrong to come here in the first place” I said getting up to leave.
“Deema please don’t, you're my only true friend”
“Bas shaklech you were never a friend to me” I said as I walked out of the café, silent tears streaming down my face, was I that desperate all these years thinking Manal was a real friend to me.
When I got to the apartment I wasn’t in the mood to face anyone but I couldn’t just escape to my room so I sat there with the family, faking laughs and smiles all night. When I finally went to the room I was exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions. Dalal sent me a couple of messages asking if I was ok but I wasn’t in the mood to discuss anything. I changed into my short sleeved Betty Boop pjs, wore a robe and sat in the balcony so I could get some fresh air. I felt suffocated and tired, Ghaith came in to the room a while later and was staring at me strangely so I just smiled at him.
He came and sat on the chair next to me and lit up a cigarette.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, he looked like he was ready to pick a fight with someone for me.
“Nothing it’s just ...” I wasn’t sure if I should bring up Manal, afraid I would ruin his mood.
“Listen I’ll know if you’re lying and I don’t want you to hide anything from me so whatever it is tell me I won’t judge” He was staring at me intently.
“It’s Manal, she called me up saying she wanted to meet up. Before you say anything I went. I regret it and I realize now that she was never the friend I hoped she was”
“Deema I don’t know what she told you but I think you need to know there was nothing between us” He reached put and held my hand in his.
“I know” I said sighing tiredly “she told me but she also said something about you and a girl in the UK but I don’t care. It just hurt coming from her”
“There’s no one other than you and there never was” he said softly, his words hinted at much more.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Forever Yours 15
An agonizing two hours later Ghaith got home, he looked relieved but I could see his parents weren’t with him.
“Ubooyah is fine el7imdillah, its just he had a reaction to something he ate today, he’s spending the night at the hospital and my mum insisted she stay there with him” he said as he sat down in the living room.
“El 7imdillah 3ala salamtah but I’m afraid of what your mum will say after she saw me on the couch.” I said, dreading the conversation with her on that subject.
“Don’t worry I told my mum you were cold and pulled the blanket to warm up while you were reading” he said, he looked so tired. I’m guessing he didn’t sleep well because of the room situation.
“Sorry Ghaith a7es inee I’m such a burden to you these days” I said.
“La bel3aks Deema don’t say that wujoodech here makes everything worth it”
I had a little “Aaaaw” moment when he said that, Ghaith could be such a gentleman sometimes.
“At least now I don’t have to go shopping with my mum” he said grinning.
I narrowed my eyes and hit him gently on his arm, knowing it wouldn’t hurt him.
That night was easier to sleep since we were both exhausted, thankfully I woke up on the couch and Ghaith was still snoring in his sleep. I got dressed and I knew I had to wake him so he could go to his father, I gently prodded his shoulder but he wouldn’t wake up.
“Ghaith … Ghaith wake up”
No response.
I knew his parents would worry if he was late so I couldn’t just leave him here, I pushed his shoulder a little stronger this time but still there was no response. I sat on the corner of the bed prepared to call his mother and tell her that Ghaith was asleep when I felt an arm snake around my waist, WTH! What is he doing?
I tried to get up but he just pulled me closer and nuzzled my neck I was now laying next to him like a frozen statue.
“Good morning Deema” He said grinning.
I realized that he was just messing with me and wasn’t asleep at all.
“Ya 7mar at7arak raged” I shrieked, blushing furiously.
He was laughing hysterically, I was about to hit him when he grabbed my wrist and I used the other arm to balance myself.
Suddenly I was so close to him I could see the tiny golden flecks in his eyes, God his lashes were gorgeous.
My heart was racing and I knew at that moment that if he kissed me I wouldn’t resist. I closed my eyes and could feel his breath on my face.
“9aba7 el Khaaaair”
It was Reem’s voice but what was she doing here? it didn’t matter because the moment was ruined, I couldn’t deny I was upset, I was never more annoyed at Reem than that moment.
I rushed out of the room and found her and her baby in the living room.
“Reem Halla Sh7alech? What are you doing here?” I asked trying not to sound rude.
Ghaith followed me a few minutes later with an annoyed look on his face, I tried to hide my smile.
“Laish chee you both look like you want to kill me?” she asked pouting, with a clueless expression on her face.
It turned out Reem’s husband felt so guilty for keeping her home for the summer that he was taking her on a Europe tour for the next couple of weeks, of course knowing Reem she had a troop of nannies just to take care of her baby so she would enjoy her time.
“… anyway wain mummy and daddy?” she asked.
Ghaith was telling her about what happened when they walked into the apartment.
As soon as the family reunion started I excused myself, I had to get to class.
“Ouch!” I said as Dalal pinched me, “WTH was that for?”
“For not sealing the deal” She said.
I burst out laughing, “Maybe that was a good thing that Reem showed up”
“Don’t act all innocent with me ou ba3dain what’s stopping you from doing anything”
As if on cue my phone started ringing.
Manal Calling…
What could she want? Dalal stared at me and told me not to pick up but I knew I had to.
“Halla Manal”
“Halla bel 3roos Deema how are you 7beebty?”
“I’m fine” I said but a feeling of dread was building up in my stomach. “Intee sh7alech?”
“I’m good, I’m passing through on my way to the states and I wanted to meet up” What’s up wit all the visitors from back home, I thought to myself.
“Yeah sure, when?”
“Now if that’s good with you”
We arranged to meet up in a café and Dalal wanted to join me so she could give Manal a piece of her mind but I didn’t let her, I needed to clear the air with Manal and this was my chance.
“Ubooyah is fine el7imdillah, its just he had a reaction to something he ate today, he’s spending the night at the hospital and my mum insisted she stay there with him” he said as he sat down in the living room.
“El 7imdillah 3ala salamtah but I’m afraid of what your mum will say after she saw me on the couch.” I said, dreading the conversation with her on that subject.
“Don’t worry I told my mum you were cold and pulled the blanket to warm up while you were reading” he said, he looked so tired. I’m guessing he didn’t sleep well because of the room situation.
“Sorry Ghaith a7es inee I’m such a burden to you these days” I said.
“La bel3aks Deema don’t say that wujoodech here makes everything worth it”
I had a little “Aaaaw” moment when he said that, Ghaith could be such a gentleman sometimes.
“At least now I don’t have to go shopping with my mum” he said grinning.
I narrowed my eyes and hit him gently on his arm, knowing it wouldn’t hurt him.
That night was easier to sleep since we were both exhausted, thankfully I woke up on the couch and Ghaith was still snoring in his sleep. I got dressed and I knew I had to wake him so he could go to his father, I gently prodded his shoulder but he wouldn’t wake up.
“Ghaith … Ghaith wake up”
No response.
I knew his parents would worry if he was late so I couldn’t just leave him here, I pushed his shoulder a little stronger this time but still there was no response. I sat on the corner of the bed prepared to call his mother and tell her that Ghaith was asleep when I felt an arm snake around my waist, WTH! What is he doing?
I tried to get up but he just pulled me closer and nuzzled my neck I was now laying next to him like a frozen statue.
“Good morning Deema” He said grinning.
I realized that he was just messing with me and wasn’t asleep at all.
“Ya 7mar at7arak raged” I shrieked, blushing furiously.
He was laughing hysterically, I was about to hit him when he grabbed my wrist and I used the other arm to balance myself.
Suddenly I was so close to him I could see the tiny golden flecks in his eyes, God his lashes were gorgeous.
My heart was racing and I knew at that moment that if he kissed me I wouldn’t resist. I closed my eyes and could feel his breath on my face.
“9aba7 el Khaaaair”
It was Reem’s voice but what was she doing here? it didn’t matter because the moment was ruined, I couldn’t deny I was upset, I was never more annoyed at Reem than that moment.
I rushed out of the room and found her and her baby in the living room.
“Reem Halla Sh7alech? What are you doing here?” I asked trying not to sound rude.
Ghaith followed me a few minutes later with an annoyed look on his face, I tried to hide my smile.
“Laish chee you both look like you want to kill me?” she asked pouting, with a clueless expression on her face.
It turned out Reem’s husband felt so guilty for keeping her home for the summer that he was taking her on a Europe tour for the next couple of weeks, of course knowing Reem she had a troop of nannies just to take care of her baby so she would enjoy her time.
“… anyway wain mummy and daddy?” she asked.
Ghaith was telling her about what happened when they walked into the apartment.
As soon as the family reunion started I excused myself, I had to get to class.
“Ouch!” I said as Dalal pinched me, “WTH was that for?”
“For not sealing the deal” She said.
I burst out laughing, “Maybe that was a good thing that Reem showed up”
“Don’t act all innocent with me ou ba3dain what’s stopping you from doing anything”
As if on cue my phone started ringing.
Manal Calling…
What could she want? Dalal stared at me and told me not to pick up but I knew I had to.
“Halla Manal”
“Halla bel 3roos Deema how are you 7beebty?”
“I’m fine” I said but a feeling of dread was building up in my stomach. “Intee sh7alech?”
“I’m good, I’m passing through on my way to the states and I wanted to meet up” What’s up wit all the visitors from back home, I thought to myself.
“Yeah sure, when?”
“Now if that’s good with you”
We arranged to meet up in a café and Dalal wanted to join me so she could give Manal a piece of her mind but I didn’t let her, I needed to clear the air with Manal and this was my chance.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Forever Yours 14
This is an extremely short post, don't hate me!
After college I met up with Ghaith’s mum for some more shopping. She wanted my help picking out something for Reem and after an exhausting two hours we were finally done, we sat in a café to have something to drink.
I was sipping on my latte grinning at the stories from her childhood and how she met her husband when they were kids and neighbors and she said that Ghaith and I reminded her of their own love story.
“Bas Ghaith didn’t love me when we were kids, I remember he used to always make me cry” I said, not angry or sad just stating the facts.
“That’s just because he was jealous of your cousin ilay kanaw ysamounah ‘5a6eebech” Se said laughing, “but you know Ghaith he doesn’t know how to express his feelings well”
I sat there nodding and agreeing with her but my head was about to explode with all the clicking thoughts, it all made sense now, why he was so angry, he was jealous of Thyab.
We went back to the apartment and I went into the room to change and relax a bit. I was so tired from last night that as soon as I lay on the bed I was fast asleep. I woke up sometime later and I got a feeling someone was in the room with me, when I opened my eyes I saw that Ghaith was sitting on the couch using his laptop.
“Hi” he said smiling.
“Hi” I said shyly, Oh God I must look like crap, he saw me lying here probably snoring. Kill me now!
I got up and went to wash my face, I was starving but I was sure they already had dinner without me.
“Are you hungry?” he asked as soon as I got out of the bathroom.
“A little” I lied, I was starving.
“Come on I’ll make you something to eat” He said, I followed him to the kitchen.
As he was making me an omelet, I sat there trying not to stare at him. I looked at him with a new perspective now that I felt there was a connection between us. But I felt so insecure, what if he still had feelings for Manal or if he saw me as a little kid. I could ruin the delicate relationship we had.
When he put the plate in front of me I wanted to eat it all but I sat there self-consciously picking at my food. I was never shy eating in front of Ghaith before but now I was suddenly nervous.
“Agoolech itha my cooking is so bad you don’t have to eat it you know” he said with a hurt look on his face.
I wanted to cry, I was so hungry and now he looked at me like I offended him. I decided to ignore this stupid shyness and eat like I normally would.
“Ok al7een 3yabteeny” he said smiling; this love thing was making me sick I wanted to kill myself. I started blushing like an idiot again.
“Deema shbalach? Is something wrong?” he asked, he put his hand on my forehead to check if I was feverish.
“La I’m fine it’s just I’m tired that’s all”
We went back into the room and I put the pillows on the couch and got ready to sleep when the door opened after a quick knock. It was Ghaith’s mom, she stared at me not understanding the situation and why I was on the couch but she had more important things on her mind.
“7abeeby Ghaith ubook ta3ban and he needs to go to the hospital”, after that they all rushed out of the apartment leaving me sitting there clutching my blanket.
After college I met up with Ghaith’s mum for some more shopping. She wanted my help picking out something for Reem and after an exhausting two hours we were finally done, we sat in a café to have something to drink.
I was sipping on my latte grinning at the stories from her childhood and how she met her husband when they were kids and neighbors and she said that Ghaith and I reminded her of their own love story.
“Bas Ghaith didn’t love me when we were kids, I remember he used to always make me cry” I said, not angry or sad just stating the facts.
“That’s just because he was jealous of your cousin ilay kanaw ysamounah ‘5a6eebech” Se said laughing, “but you know Ghaith he doesn’t know how to express his feelings well”
I sat there nodding and agreeing with her but my head was about to explode with all the clicking thoughts, it all made sense now, why he was so angry, he was jealous of Thyab.
We went back to the apartment and I went into the room to change and relax a bit. I was so tired from last night that as soon as I lay on the bed I was fast asleep. I woke up sometime later and I got a feeling someone was in the room with me, when I opened my eyes I saw that Ghaith was sitting on the couch using his laptop.
“Hi” he said smiling.
“Hi” I said shyly, Oh God I must look like crap, he saw me lying here probably snoring. Kill me now!
I got up and went to wash my face, I was starving but I was sure they already had dinner without me.
“Are you hungry?” he asked as soon as I got out of the bathroom.
“A little” I lied, I was starving.
“Come on I’ll make you something to eat” He said, I followed him to the kitchen.
As he was making me an omelet, I sat there trying not to stare at him. I looked at him with a new perspective now that I felt there was a connection between us. But I felt so insecure, what if he still had feelings for Manal or if he saw me as a little kid. I could ruin the delicate relationship we had.
When he put the plate in front of me I wanted to eat it all but I sat there self-consciously picking at my food. I was never shy eating in front of Ghaith before but now I was suddenly nervous.
“Agoolech itha my cooking is so bad you don’t have to eat it you know” he said with a hurt look on his face.
I wanted to cry, I was so hungry and now he looked at me like I offended him. I decided to ignore this stupid shyness and eat like I normally would.
“Ok al7een 3yabteeny” he said smiling; this love thing was making me sick I wanted to kill myself. I started blushing like an idiot again.
“Deema shbalach? Is something wrong?” he asked, he put his hand on my forehead to check if I was feverish.
“La I’m fine it’s just I’m tired that’s all”
We went back into the room and I put the pillows on the couch and got ready to sleep when the door opened after a quick knock. It was Ghaith’s mom, she stared at me not understanding the situation and why I was on the couch but she had more important things on her mind.
“7abeeby Ghaith ubook ta3ban and he needs to go to the hospital”, after that they all rushed out of the apartment leaving me sitting there clutching my blanket.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Forever Yours 13
I sat for an hour after Ghaith left frozen in my place, I wasn’t sure if I should be pissed at him or myself. I still wasn’t sure if I did anything wrong or why I cared so much about Ghaith’s opinion of me. That’s what hurt the most, the fact that I disappointed him. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. Deema where are these ideas coming from? Could it be? Did I Love him? The one man I was wasn’t supposed to fall in love with.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Ghaith unlocking the door; he had a huge bunch of flowers in a vase in front of him. Red roses too, he’s such a romantic, I thought to myself with a smile on my face.
“Ghaith thank you but you shouldn’t have” I said smiling shyly.
“E7m well I didn’t, this is for my mother, and you remember I said my family is coming tomorrow” he said, as he put them on a table.
“Oh” I said, I wanted to hit him on the head with those stupid flowers, I knew he was doing this on purpose to piss me off.
“These are for you” He said pulling a smaller bouquet of pink roses from behind his back with a huge grin on his face, he knew I loved the color pink.
I couldn’t help it I ran up to him and gave him a hug, wrapping my arms around his muscular chest, “Thank you” I whispered. For a moment there I thought he hated me and I couldn’t bear it. I could hear his heart beats quicken before he gently pushed me away.
“Deema?” He stared at me intently; his eyes had a million questions he couldn’t ask me.
“I’m sorry” I said before I ran to my room, I wasn’t ready for this. I had never been in love before. Actually I didn’t even believe in love and now it was all happening too fast.
“Deema” He said as he knocked on my door.
I opened it, but I couldn’t look him in the eye, instead I stared at his chest.
“You need to move your things into my room before my parents get here” He said, with a mischievous smile on his face.
Well done Deema, perfect timing for discovering you love the man you’re about to share a room with!
The next morning I got up early to tidy up the apartment, it was already clean thanks to the maid service we had but I didn’t want my in-laws to find anything wrong with the apartment. I made them some juice and arranged their breakfast, by the time they arrived everything was ready. As soon as I saw Ghaith’s mom I went up to her and hugged her, my eyes started to well-up. She reminded me so much of home and my own mother who I didn’t realize I missed so much.
“7abeebty Deema, sh7alech 3asach b’7air? Wallah twalahna 3alaikum” She said hugging me back, I didn’t feel awkward around her since I spent most of my childhood in their home.
We sat with them catching up on the news of people back home, with updates on Reem and her baby boy.
“Inshallah banshouf 3yalkum greeb” Ghaith’s mother said as she showed us pictures in her phone of Reem’s son.
“La Umayah Deema ba3adha 9’3eera” Ghaith said laughing.
I blushed and turned away. This was beyond embarrassing, I felt like a little kid.
I couldn’t wait till this discussion was over.
The day flew by since I was dreading the moment I would have to go into Ghaith’s room. My stomach was full of butterflies; I barely ate anything at lunch or dinner. I went out with Ghaith’s mom to do a little shopping since they were only here for a few days and she didn’t want to miss a moment of shopping, they were going to the US after that so she was shopping for her twins. They just graduated from high school and both went to the States and their parents were going to check on them. I loved Ghaith’s parents they travelled together and still acted like a couple in love, I hope one day Ghaith and I would be like that, such thoughts kept on creeping up on me all day.
Finally the day was over and I just wanted to throw myself into blissful sleep, when I remembered Ghaith. When I went into the room he was already there, sitting outside in the tiny balcony smoking he was already dressed in a vest and pj bottoms.
I took my button up navy blue silk pjs since they were the only long sleeved ones I had and went into the bathroom, brushed my teeth and brushed my hair which fell silkily around me. Ghaith was on the couch trying to sleep but he looked so uncomfortable since his feet were hanging over the side.
I went up to him and peeked to see if his eyes were open, my hair fell over his face and I quickly moved back.
“Bismillah!” He said jumping up.
He was so close; I could barely breathe without touching him.
“Sorry” I said “I just wanted to tell you I’ll sleep on the couch since I’m short and it wouldn’t be a problem” I was staring at his feet blabbering. Fashla! He must have thought he was in a Japanese horror movie.
He agreed, and I was lying on the couch four hours later with my eyes still open, thinking of what his mom would think if she saw me. Some time later I fell into restless sleep.
I woke up hugging the pillow and dreaming it was Ghaith, I could almost smell him, I whispered his name and heard ..
“Deema?” I woke up and realized this wasn’t a pillow I was hugging; I could feel him shaking with laughter.
I jumped up and ran to the bathroom; I was never leaving this room!
The next day in college I was telling Dalal about all the drama that happened since I saw her.
“Wallah a7la shay a man that gets protective” She sighed “I would love to have guys fighting over me, anyway shakla my makeover worked!”
I just laughed.
“And now he loves you” she said with a grin.
“Do you really think he does?” I asked shyly, I could feel the blush creeping up my cheeks.
“Ha Ha you love him too! 3eraft inich t7ebenah! And you were keeping it a secret from me” She said, with a smug smile on her face.
“Dalal tarany ba’6rebch I’m so exhausted I didn’t sleep at all last night”
“OMG did you two…” Her mouth was hanging open.
“Ya 7mara no we didn’t do anything, I slept on the couch bas I couldn’t sleep because I was nervous I mean it’s different when his parents are halfway across the world not when they’re in the next room” I said “Bas the most embarrassing thing happened to me!”
“Shu?” she asked.
“I woke up in his bed hugging him! Bamoot min il fashla, I think I got up at night to go to the bathroom and fell asleep on the bed, the only good thing was that I didn’t drool all over him. Dalal shu asawee?!”
But she was too busy laughing to answer my question.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Ghaith unlocking the door; he had a huge bunch of flowers in a vase in front of him. Red roses too, he’s such a romantic, I thought to myself with a smile on my face.
“Ghaith thank you but you shouldn’t have” I said smiling shyly.
“E7m well I didn’t, this is for my mother, and you remember I said my family is coming tomorrow” he said, as he put them on a table.
“Oh” I said, I wanted to hit him on the head with those stupid flowers, I knew he was doing this on purpose to piss me off.
“These are for you” He said pulling a smaller bouquet of pink roses from behind his back with a huge grin on his face, he knew I loved the color pink.
I couldn’t help it I ran up to him and gave him a hug, wrapping my arms around his muscular chest, “Thank you” I whispered. For a moment there I thought he hated me and I couldn’t bear it. I could hear his heart beats quicken before he gently pushed me away.
“Deema?” He stared at me intently; his eyes had a million questions he couldn’t ask me.
“I’m sorry” I said before I ran to my room, I wasn’t ready for this. I had never been in love before. Actually I didn’t even believe in love and now it was all happening too fast.
“Deema” He said as he knocked on my door.
I opened it, but I couldn’t look him in the eye, instead I stared at his chest.
“You need to move your things into my room before my parents get here” He said, with a mischievous smile on his face.
Well done Deema, perfect timing for discovering you love the man you’re about to share a room with!
The next morning I got up early to tidy up the apartment, it was already clean thanks to the maid service we had but I didn’t want my in-laws to find anything wrong with the apartment. I made them some juice and arranged their breakfast, by the time they arrived everything was ready. As soon as I saw Ghaith’s mom I went up to her and hugged her, my eyes started to well-up. She reminded me so much of home and my own mother who I didn’t realize I missed so much.
“7abeebty Deema, sh7alech 3asach b’7air? Wallah twalahna 3alaikum” She said hugging me back, I didn’t feel awkward around her since I spent most of my childhood in their home.
We sat with them catching up on the news of people back home, with updates on Reem and her baby boy.
“Inshallah banshouf 3yalkum greeb” Ghaith’s mother said as she showed us pictures in her phone of Reem’s son.
“La Umayah Deema ba3adha 9’3eera” Ghaith said laughing.
I blushed and turned away. This was beyond embarrassing, I felt like a little kid.
I couldn’t wait till this discussion was over.
The day flew by since I was dreading the moment I would have to go into Ghaith’s room. My stomach was full of butterflies; I barely ate anything at lunch or dinner. I went out with Ghaith’s mom to do a little shopping since they were only here for a few days and she didn’t want to miss a moment of shopping, they were going to the US after that so she was shopping for her twins. They just graduated from high school and both went to the States and their parents were going to check on them. I loved Ghaith’s parents they travelled together and still acted like a couple in love, I hope one day Ghaith and I would be like that, such thoughts kept on creeping up on me all day.
Finally the day was over and I just wanted to throw myself into blissful sleep, when I remembered Ghaith. When I went into the room he was already there, sitting outside in the tiny balcony smoking he was already dressed in a vest and pj bottoms.
I took my button up navy blue silk pjs since they were the only long sleeved ones I had and went into the bathroom, brushed my teeth and brushed my hair which fell silkily around me. Ghaith was on the couch trying to sleep but he looked so uncomfortable since his feet were hanging over the side.
I went up to him and peeked to see if his eyes were open, my hair fell over his face and I quickly moved back.
“Bismillah!” He said jumping up.
He was so close; I could barely breathe without touching him.
“Sorry” I said “I just wanted to tell you I’ll sleep on the couch since I’m short and it wouldn’t be a problem” I was staring at his feet blabbering. Fashla! He must have thought he was in a Japanese horror movie.
He agreed, and I was lying on the couch four hours later with my eyes still open, thinking of what his mom would think if she saw me. Some time later I fell into restless sleep.
I woke up hugging the pillow and dreaming it was Ghaith, I could almost smell him, I whispered his name and heard ..
“Deema?” I woke up and realized this wasn’t a pillow I was hugging; I could feel him shaking with laughter.
I jumped up and ran to the bathroom; I was never leaving this room!
The next day in college I was telling Dalal about all the drama that happened since I saw her.
“Wallah a7la shay a man that gets protective” She sighed “I would love to have guys fighting over me, anyway shakla my makeover worked!”
I just laughed.
“And now he loves you” she said with a grin.
“Do you really think he does?” I asked shyly, I could feel the blush creeping up my cheeks.
“Ha Ha you love him too! 3eraft inich t7ebenah! And you were keeping it a secret from me” She said, with a smug smile on her face.
“Dalal tarany ba’6rebch I’m so exhausted I didn’t sleep at all last night”
“OMG did you two…” Her mouth was hanging open.
“Ya 7mara no we didn’t do anything, I slept on the couch bas I couldn’t sleep because I was nervous I mean it’s different when his parents are halfway across the world not when they’re in the next room” I said “Bas the most embarrassing thing happened to me!”
“Shu?” she asked.
“I woke up in his bed hugging him! Bamoot min il fashla, I think I got up at night to go to the bathroom and fell asleep on the bed, the only good thing was that I didn’t drool all over him. Dalal shu asawee?!”
But she was too busy laughing to answer my question.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Forever Yours 12
This post is dedicated to all the Ghaith Lovers out there ^_^ A7ibkum
From Ghaith’s Point of view:
I stood outside smoking a cigarette trying to get control of my nerves, Ya ‘3abi do you want to ruin your chances with her? I asked myself. It broke my heart to see the woman I loved cry; she looked so young and innocent. I knew it was a bad idea from the start, tricking her into marrying me this way but I knew that she would never accept a proposal from me. She didn’t share my feelings and thought I was in love with her best friend, in other words forbidden. I always had the idea that she would be the person I wanted to share my life with, but when I went to AD this summer I was sure she was the perfect one for me.
When we first met she was sitting outside their house in the hot sun with a wisp of silky black hair escaping from her shaila, her cheeks a gentle shade of pink. She was nervous and shy, but I found myself opening up to her about my hopes and dreams in a way I could never have done with anyone.
Unlike Manal her friend, who tried every trick in the book to get me to talk to her, she even got my number and had the boldness to call me up at all hours. Sending Love messages and songs, but her desperate attempts were lost on me. One day I got so sick of her calls that I picked up ready to shout at her.
“Halla Ghaith, why are you being so mean to me 7bebe can’t you see I’m in love with you”
“Aba 3arf shay intee 9a7ya wela maynoona, where the hell did this love come from! I don’t even know you”
“Bas ana a7ibek from the moment we met outside your house ou I can’t stop thinking of you”
“Law sama7tee ana akrah 7arakat el yehal hay so please don’t call me again”
“Ghaith 7aram 3alaik!” she sobbed.
Oh Shit! Now she’s crying.
“Manal I didn’t want to hurt you but I’m in a relationship with someone else”
“Who is she?! Is she prettier than me?” She asked.
I rolled my eyes, girls were so superficial.
“You don’t know her she’s in the UK so please stop calling me, were in love”
That was the last I heard from Manal but her meddling in my life messed up my plans with Deema. She came to our house and I couldn’t believe my luck the minute I saw her standing at the door hesitating and then trying to run away.
We sat in the garden and she started saying something about Manal, I knew from Reem that they thought Manal broke up with me. I didn’t want to hear that girl’s name but I didn’t want to af’6a7ha either. I couldn’t stop staring at Deema, my heart racing. She looked so beautiful her large eyes mirroring her emotions; she was so scared of being alone with me.
“I don’t want to talk about her!” I said angrily.
“Sorry” She whispered.
“Anway intee ma y’59ech” I said, lighting up another cigarette, I hadn’t felt this nervous around a girl since I was a teenager.
“I know but she’s my friend and I could have warned you about her”
I couldn’t help laughing at her words, like I couldn’t handle a girl like Manal. I wanted to hold her in my arms but I knew she would think I was a crazy pervert.
“I don’t have to put up with this” She said getting up to leave. I could see I had hurt her so I grabbed her wrist, I could feel her pulse racing.
“Wait, don’t leave” I said.
“Ok but I won’t stay if you keep on treating me this way” She said, I hid my grin at her anger.
“Deema you have to understand that I’m not a kid for a girl like that to truly hurt me, it was more of a blow to my ego, but I feel suffocated in AD after what happened and my family is making it very difficult for me to leave”
“Well ... what can you do?”
“I have no idea” I said.
“I can’t bear the thought of marrying a complete stranger and time is running out if I want to start by next semester.”
“Come on Ghaith I’m sure your mum will pick a pretty girl for you”
“It’s not about looks bas ma aba a’9lemha ma3aya, I’m not interested in a relationship right now” I couldn’t tell her about my feelings, she wouldn’t understand.
“Well then you should marry me”She said jokingly “I’d never fall for you”
I stared at her, hurt by her careless words but it gave me an idea.
“Ghaith you know ana amza7 ma3ak right?”
“well Deema that actually gave me a great idea, you know how you always wanted to study abroad, why don’t we make this a reality for you without you having to deal with your family’s strict rules” I couldn’t believe what I was saying.
“Come on Ghaith” She giggled nervously “you can’t be serious”
“Look I promise not to give you any pressure; this is strictly a marriage on paper only.”
“I have to think about it” She said, she got up to go; we traded emails since we decided to finish this online via messenger.
I never did anything crazy like that before, but Deema made me act reckless and nervous, I was crazy about her.I couldn’t stop thinking about her and I finally approached my family to get things official.
Things moved quickly after that, I was happy at the way things were going but unsure of how Deema would react.
On our wedding day I was especially nervous, my friend Tariq had flown in from the UK for the occasion. He sat with me joking and trying to lighten the mood. I didn’t tell anyone about the secret plan with Deema but I told Tariq at the time because I couldn’t handle the stress anymore.
“Ghaith shbalak inta yanait?”
“Laish? she’s too young to understand my reasons”
“La wallah since when is 18 young, banat fy sinha are doing balawee. Plus you don’t want anything impossible”
“La I want a loving wife, not a robot who thinks I’m in love with her best friend”
“Do you think if she knows you’re tricking her she would be ok with it?”
“Maybe if she’s in love with me” I said grinning.
He just laughed.
She was a beautiful bride, and I couldn’t help not telling her that. The wedding night was torture; I couldn’t have imagined how difficult it was to be so close to her and her being my wife and not touching her. I even dreamt of hugging her close and woke up to find it a reality.
After that incident I felt like what I had done was a mistake, my intention was never to hurt Deema. After that I made an effort to leave her alone so that she would feel comfortable. It turned out that I was driving her towards her cousin Thyab all along, I felt like such an idiot. When I got her message this morning I went crazy thinking of all the places she could be. Thyab of all people was a person I despised, we were the same age and both studied abroad but we headed in opposite directions. He was a well known playboy, leaving broken hearts wherever he went. If he even touched her I would have killed him, I took a deep breath trying to calm myself down. Now my parents were coming and that would only lead to more complications with Deema, Ghaith you idiot what did you get yourself into!
From Ghaith’s Point of view:
I stood outside smoking a cigarette trying to get control of my nerves, Ya ‘3abi do you want to ruin your chances with her? I asked myself. It broke my heart to see the woman I loved cry; she looked so young and innocent. I knew it was a bad idea from the start, tricking her into marrying me this way but I knew that she would never accept a proposal from me. She didn’t share my feelings and thought I was in love with her best friend, in other words forbidden. I always had the idea that she would be the person I wanted to share my life with, but when I went to AD this summer I was sure she was the perfect one for me.
When we first met she was sitting outside their house in the hot sun with a wisp of silky black hair escaping from her shaila, her cheeks a gentle shade of pink. She was nervous and shy, but I found myself opening up to her about my hopes and dreams in a way I could never have done with anyone.
Unlike Manal her friend, who tried every trick in the book to get me to talk to her, she even got my number and had the boldness to call me up at all hours. Sending Love messages and songs, but her desperate attempts were lost on me. One day I got so sick of her calls that I picked up ready to shout at her.
“Halla Ghaith, why are you being so mean to me 7bebe can’t you see I’m in love with you”
“Aba 3arf shay intee 9a7ya wela maynoona, where the hell did this love come from! I don’t even know you”
“Bas ana a7ibek from the moment we met outside your house ou I can’t stop thinking of you”
“Law sama7tee ana akrah 7arakat el yehal hay so please don’t call me again”
“Ghaith 7aram 3alaik!” she sobbed.
Oh Shit! Now she’s crying.
“Manal I didn’t want to hurt you but I’m in a relationship with someone else”
“Who is she?! Is she prettier than me?” She asked.
I rolled my eyes, girls were so superficial.
“You don’t know her she’s in the UK so please stop calling me, were in love”
That was the last I heard from Manal but her meddling in my life messed up my plans with Deema. She came to our house and I couldn’t believe my luck the minute I saw her standing at the door hesitating and then trying to run away.
We sat in the garden and she started saying something about Manal, I knew from Reem that they thought Manal broke up with me. I didn’t want to hear that girl’s name but I didn’t want to af’6a7ha either. I couldn’t stop staring at Deema, my heart racing. She looked so beautiful her large eyes mirroring her emotions; she was so scared of being alone with me.
“I don’t want to talk about her!” I said angrily.
“Sorry” She whispered.
“Anway intee ma y’59ech” I said, lighting up another cigarette, I hadn’t felt this nervous around a girl since I was a teenager.
“I know but she’s my friend and I could have warned you about her”
I couldn’t help laughing at her words, like I couldn’t handle a girl like Manal. I wanted to hold her in my arms but I knew she would think I was a crazy pervert.
“I don’t have to put up with this” She said getting up to leave. I could see I had hurt her so I grabbed her wrist, I could feel her pulse racing.
“Wait, don’t leave” I said.
“Ok but I won’t stay if you keep on treating me this way” She said, I hid my grin at her anger.
“Deema you have to understand that I’m not a kid for a girl like that to truly hurt me, it was more of a blow to my ego, but I feel suffocated in AD after what happened and my family is making it very difficult for me to leave”
“Well ... what can you do?”
“I have no idea” I said.
“I can’t bear the thought of marrying a complete stranger and time is running out if I want to start by next semester.”
“Come on Ghaith I’m sure your mum will pick a pretty girl for you”
“It’s not about looks bas ma aba a’9lemha ma3aya, I’m not interested in a relationship right now” I couldn’t tell her about my feelings, she wouldn’t understand.
“Well then you should marry me”She said jokingly “I’d never fall for you”
I stared at her, hurt by her careless words but it gave me an idea.
“Ghaith you know ana amza7 ma3ak right?”
“well Deema that actually gave me a great idea, you know how you always wanted to study abroad, why don’t we make this a reality for you without you having to deal with your family’s strict rules” I couldn’t believe what I was saying.
“Come on Ghaith” She giggled nervously “you can’t be serious”
“Look I promise not to give you any pressure; this is strictly a marriage on paper only.”
“I have to think about it” She said, she got up to go; we traded emails since we decided to finish this online via messenger.
I never did anything crazy like that before, but Deema made me act reckless and nervous, I was crazy about her.I couldn’t stop thinking about her and I finally approached my family to get things official.
Things moved quickly after that, I was happy at the way things were going but unsure of how Deema would react.
On our wedding day I was especially nervous, my friend Tariq had flown in from the UK for the occasion. He sat with me joking and trying to lighten the mood. I didn’t tell anyone about the secret plan with Deema but I told Tariq at the time because I couldn’t handle the stress anymore.
“Ghaith shbalak inta yanait?”
“Laish? she’s too young to understand my reasons”
“La wallah since when is 18 young, banat fy sinha are doing balawee. Plus you don’t want anything impossible”
“La I want a loving wife, not a robot who thinks I’m in love with her best friend”
“Do you think if she knows you’re tricking her she would be ok with it?”
“Maybe if she’s in love with me” I said grinning.
He just laughed.
She was a beautiful bride, and I couldn’t help not telling her that. The wedding night was torture; I couldn’t have imagined how difficult it was to be so close to her and her being my wife and not touching her. I even dreamt of hugging her close and woke up to find it a reality.
After that incident I felt like what I had done was a mistake, my intention was never to hurt Deema. After that I made an effort to leave her alone so that she would feel comfortable. It turned out that I was driving her towards her cousin Thyab all along, I felt like such an idiot. When I got her message this morning I went crazy thinking of all the places she could be. Thyab of all people was a person I despised, we were the same age and both studied abroad but we headed in opposite directions. He was a well known playboy, leaving broken hearts wherever he went. If he even touched her I would have killed him, I took a deep breath trying to calm myself down. Now my parents were coming and that would only lead to more complications with Deema, Ghaith you idiot what did you get yourself into!
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