by Leslie North
“My whole family received invitations.”
Sara felt stupid. She was Malik's sister. Of course, she was invited to the wedding but did Amir not know that? Or was this his plan all along for them to speak.
“Oh well that sucks. I mean, it steals my thunder,” Sara said. Soraya smiled.
“It's fine. Thank you for inviting me. A verbal invitation from you is much better anyway.”
Sara grinned at her. “How do you feel about Amir?” Sara asked. Soraya's eyes widened as she looked at her. “I know it’s random and personal, but I'm not subtle,” Sara added with a smile.
“Erm.” Soraya was speechless. She did not know where to begin.
“Okay, you must be confused and wondering why I'm asking. I saw the way he looked at you last time. I can see that he likes you, but do you like him?”
Soraya was shocked at Sara's boldness. They barely knew each other and here she was asking something so personal. She had clicked with Sara the first time they had met and because of that, she felt comfortable with her. Sara also looked so innocent. She stared at Soraya, waiting for an answer. Her facial features were soft and she had brown eyes. She was too adorable to ignore.
“I don't know what is going on,” Soraya said at last. “We never used to speak. He was simply my brother’s friend and that's how I see him,” she lied. She tried so hard to squash every little feeling she felt for Amir but it never worked. When she saw Sara alone by the entrance, she felt a bit disappointed. She had hoped that she was with Amir.
“Amir has a reputation with women. That must scare you but when you get to know him, he's a different person,” Sara said softly.
“I'm sorry, but I have to return to work,” Soraya said and got up.
“So that's what it is. You’re scared.” Sara could see how Soraya changed when she mentioned Amir and women in the same sentence.
“Not true, he is Malik's friend,” Soraya said trying to convince both of them. Sara sighed.
“Don't completely dismiss him. He is funny, caring and a really good guy. Since I’ve known him, you're the only woman on his mind.” Sara smiled at her and walked off. She had to plant some sort of doubt in her mind and leave her thinking about it. She hoped that it would work. Amir was really an amazing guy and Soraya needed to see it. “See you at the wedding,” she called out as she left.
Chapter 10
Soraya did not even want to ask herself how she felt about Amir. She was afraid of the answer and this was something she was not ready to deal with - nor did she know how. Sara's words lingered in her mind, even though she did not say much. Sara called him a good guy. Unfortunately, for
Soraya, she had not seen that side of him yet.
Amir was waiting for Sara anxiously. He turned towards the passenger seat as Sara slid in the car.
“Well?” Amir asked.
“She will come,” Sara said with confidence.
“You're sure because?”
“Well, she didn't say no and you didn't even tell me that her whole family was already invited.” Sara hit Amir in the arm. He looked at her with a smirk on his face. Sara narrowed her eyes at him. “I knew it! You wanted to get me in there to speak with her to see if I can find something out about her,” Sara added. Amir laughed guilty.
“So, did you find anything out?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
“Soon?” Amir asked as he started the car engine. Sara turned to check on Leylah. She was awake and playing with her feet. Sara smiled at her little bundle of joy. At three and a half months, Leylah was already able to sit up and make advanced sounds. She could already recognise faces, scents and sounds. Sara was so proud of her advancement. She was well ahead of her age.
“Hey, sweetheart, you're not tired?” Sara rubbed Leylah's belly.
“I tried to put her to sleep but she's not sleepy,” Amir said. Sara blew Leylah kisses then turned to face forward. She buckled her seatbelt.
“I am having a bachelorette party. I will invite Soraya.”
“That sounds good.”
“You're not invited. Ladies only.”
Amir made a sound of complaint. Sara laughed. The party was the perfect opportunity to get to know Soraya. She didn't know many people in this country, and having Soraya as a friend sounded like a good idea.
“Are you having a bachelor's party for Tariq?” Sara asked Amir.
“No,” Amir's tone suggested that Sara had asked a very stupid question.
“Well, why not?”
“Something he definitely would not be into.” Sara agreed with that. Tariq was very uptight. He would not want a party. The night before his wedding, he'd probably be in his room reading over paperwork.
* * * *
The night before the wedding had come. Sara was excited for her bachelorette party. She was excited to see her friends Keira and Kaleena. Between the baby, the wedding planning and their work schedules, she hadn't seen them in ages. Also, her best friend, Alex, was due any minute. Sara and Aaliyah were waiting for everyone to arrive. Her mother and Fiddah were upstairs with the baby. The twins were the first to arrive.
“Sara, we missed you,” they both said and pulled Sara into a tight hug.
“I missed you too.” Sara was very happy to see them. She gestured for them to sit down. She introduced both of them to Aaliyah.
“Where is Leylah?” Kaleena asked.
“She's sleeping. She had been awake most of the day,” Sara replied.
“Aww, poor thing.”
“Hopefully, she’ll sleep through the night now.”
One of the maids walked in with Alex. Sara turned and saw her. She jumped up and ran to hug her.
“It's been too long,” Alex said.
“I know,” Sara replied.
They pulled away from each other after a long embrace. Sara introduced Alex to everyone. Alex and Sara had a quick catch up. Alex was telling Sara about what had been happening since she left.
“So where is this man of yours? I want to see him,” Alex said.
“You'll have to wait until tomorrow!” Sara said. Tariq was sleeping over at Amir's place. Amir and her brothers had managed to strong-arm him into having a bachelor's party. Also, he could not see Sara the night before the wedding.
“I can't wait!” Alex said. She turned to the twins. “Is he as yummy as she says he is?” she asked.
“Yes,” the twins said in unison. Sara smiled to herself. He was yummy and he was all hers. The maid returned with Soraya. Sara got up and hugged her. Soraya was looking out of place.
“Thanks for coming,” Sara said and took her hand. She led her to the sofas.
“Thank you for the invite,” Soraya said. Sara quickly introduced her to everyone. They greeted her. Aaliyah and Soraya already knew each other.
“Do you have cold feet?” Alex asked Sara.
“Nope! None at all,” Sara replied.
“Okay that's good but if you do, tell me and I’ll drive the getaway car.” Sara laughed. She knew Alex was serious though. Alex was always there for her. She was her ride-or-die friend. Whenever there was a situation, they would face it together.
“She is excited to marry my cousin,” Aaliyah added. “It’s obvious that they love each other,” she added. Sara rolled her eyes.
“He better love her!” Alex said.
Sara noticed that the other girls were getting along fine but Soraya sat there quietly. Sara stood up and went to sit next to her. This was her opportunity to break her out of her shell. She handed Soraya a drink and smiled at her.
“Are you always this quiet?” Sara asked her.
“I'm sorry,” Soraya said.
“No, it's okay. We'll have to shake you up a bit.”
Soraya felt nervous. Sara had a mischievous look on her face. It was usually Amir who had something up his sleeve and seeing that the two were close, probably meant that they had similar traits.
Sara started asking simple questions about Soraya. She asked about her work, sc
hool and family. Alex came over to sit with them. Alex was as bad as Sara was. She too started asking Soraya questions. Alex was not subtle or tactful. If she had a curiosity, she had to satisfy it. She even asked if Soraya was seeing anyone. When that subject was brought up, Soraya immediately thought of Amir.
I want you. His words replayed in her head. She hadn't seen him since that day and she was going to see him tomorrow. She wondered if he was going to speak to her. Did he really want her? She was full of questions. When it came to him, there was no certainty. He was full of surprises.
* * * *
Jason sat with Tariq. He felt that since he was Sara's eldest brother, it was his duty to sit with him. Their father had only had a few conversations with Tariq over Skype. He had concluded that he was a good person, but Jason needed to know for sure. He wanted to talk to Tariq face to face.
“Why do you want to marry my sister?” Jason started with a cliché type of question.
“Because I do not wish to live my days without her,” Tariq replied. He was not a simple man and could not give simple answers. He couldn't simply say, I love her.
“Sounds like you're lonely.”
“You doubt my intentions?”
“Should I?”
“I am a man with everything in the palm of my hand. I couldn't use Sara for personal gain because there isn't anything to gain.”
Jason frowned. That answer did not sound the least bit appealing. Tariq sighed.
“What I am saying is that all I want is her. All I need is her. My intentions are honest.” Tariq said.
“Will she be taken care of?”
“No one can do the job better than I can.”
Jason frowned again. He was getting the feeling that Tariq was arrogant. This was his opportunity to beg for Jason's approval but he wasn't doing that at all. Amir walked into the room and called them to come join him. As they were leaving, Tariq's phone rang. He stayed back to answer it.
“Habibti,” Tariq said as he answered the phone.
“How's it going over there?” Sara asked him. She had called to check on him. She knew something was going to happen with her brothers.
“Fine,” Tariq replied but Sara was not convinced.
“I know you're not into stuff like that but enjoy it. This could be a great opportunity for you to bond with my brothers,” she said softly.
“I guess,” Tariq mumbled.
James and John looked at each other. They were standing outside the room trying to eavesdrop on his conversation. They knew it was not mature but they had to know about Tariq using any way possible. The guy was hard to crack.
“It'll be okay,” Sara said. She suppressed a laughed. She knew how uptight he was and this situation was probably getting to him. She couldn't help but find it funny.
“And yet your tone is sardonic.”
“Oh, not at all,” Sara tried even harder not to laugh.
“It's been a week since I made love to you,” Tariq said. Sara laughed in response. She was always so awkward in those situations.
“And you will tomorrow night.”
“It's too long.”
James and John thought it was probably time to stop listening but they still stood there eavesdropping.
“I know, babe.”
“How's Leylah?”
“She's okay, sleeping.”
“Good, I will call you before I go to bed.”
“Okay, mwah.”
Tariq smiled to himself as he hung up the phone. Speaking to Sara always made him feel good. John and James quickly went back to Amir and Jason before they were caught.
Chapter 11
Sara picked up her phone; she had a message from Amir. “What's Soraya doing?”
“She's rather quiet. What's Tariq doing?” Sara shook her head as she sent the message. Amir had been sweating her all day over Soraya. Sara was now stuck in the middle playing cupid but it was not so easy with a girl like Soraya.
“Tariq is not talking much either. What are you girls doing?”
“Right now exchanging relationship stories and eating. I am trying to find out about Soraya. So far, she said she is not seeing anyone.”
“I guess you're the only one eating. I’m joking. Good she's single. What kind of men does she like?”
“Sara who are you messaging so much?” Alex called out.
“Oh, it's nothing,” Sara said as she stuffed the phone away.
The girls assumed that it was Tariq that she was messaging. They teased her about it. They played music and swapped romance stories during a game of cards. Soraya did not share much. She only spoke about her first kiss and her worst date. Sara was hoping to get more out of her but that was fine for the time being.
The maids cleaned up the food and got the bedding ready. Sara had suggested that they sleep over like a slumber party, since it would be her last as a single woman. Surprisingly the girls were up for it. Sara's phone rang. Her face brightened when she saw that it was Tariq.
“Hi,” Sara answered the phone.
“What kind of a hello is that to your fiancé?” Alex called out. Sara threw a pillow at her.
“Who said that?” Tariq asked.
“Alex, you'll meet her tomorrow. How's the brotherhood bonding?”
“And we're back to the sarcasm.” Sara giggled and headed out of the room. She was blushing when she same back. Alex teased her about it. It was the first time she had ever seen her best friend like this over a guy. It was refreshing to see. It also made her comfortable knowing how much she cared about him.
* * * *
For the first time ever, Sara was up early before everyone else. She actually felt the excitement. Today, she was going to be Tariq's wife. Finally! She sighed with pleasure as she walked out of the room. She went upstairs to check on her baby. Leylah was awake, looking at the ceiling. Sara was surprised that she didn't even cry. She picked her up.
“Morning, ma'am.” Leylah's nanny woke to see Sara holding Leylah. She tried to get up but Sara stopped her.
“It's okay, I'll take her. You rest,” Sara said and walked out of the room. Leylah was happy to see her mother. She was smiling at Sara and put her head on Sara's shoulder.
“Hi, sweetie,” Sara said and kissed her. She went to give her a bath and feed her. She was all done by the time everyone else woke up. Even Tariq's mother had come early.
“How is the bride today?” Fiddah asked Sara.
“Great!” Sara replied with a gleeful tone.
As the day progressed, her glee waned. The process of getting ready was intense. Her whole body was scrubbed with sea salts and then she had to soak in warm water with milk and honey. This was strange to her. The beauticians told her that it would make her skin as soft as butter. After the bath, she was moisturised with oils that smelled heavenly. Everything used on her was natural. She touched her skin and it felt better than silk.
“Wow, Tariq will love this,” Sara said. Everyone laughed with her. “My skin was soft before and he liked it but this is amazing. He will really-” Sara stopped speaking when her mother walked into the room. What she wanted to say was not for her mother's ears.
Sara also received a facial followed by a manicure and pedicure. Then the hardest part came last, her hair. After being shampooed and deep conditioned, they blow dried it and straightened it. It was styled in a contemporary beehive. The front was parted on the left side. They threaded her eyebrows. A bit of eyeliner was added to her eyebrows to add definition. Her eyelashes were curled, and then mascara was applied. A mocha-coloured eye shadow was applied to her eyelids. She kept insisting for them to keep it natural. She chose to wear red lipstick. Alex was shocked that she had chosen such a bold colour.
Hours later, Sara finally got into her wedding dress. The dress was strapless with the middle dipped, revealing her cleavage. It had intricate silver-coloured embroidery on the torso. The dress was tight fitting and really accentuated her hourglass figure. The back was designed like corset. The dress wa
s made out of fine silk. She wore a white gold necklace, matching bracelet and earrings. She looked at herself in the mirror and almost didn't recognise herself.
“I have waited for the day finally to see you wearing makeup,” her mother teased. Everyone laughed but Sara didn't. She looked as if she was going to cry.
“What's wrong, dear?” Tariq's mother asked.