by Leslie North
“What is it like over there?” she asked Tariq as she jumped on the bed.
“It’s a small ancient city,” he replied.
“Yes, but it is in the middle of the desert. That is so interesting.”
Tariq lay with one arm over his eyes. He lifted his arm to look at Sara. He could sense the excitement in her voice. When he looked at her, her brown eyes were wide open. He caressed her cheek.
“I suppose, my love,” he replied her.
“Do we have to go on camels?” she asked. Tariq creased his eyebrows.
“We can take a private jet there, especially since you are pregnant.” He wanted Sara to be very comfortable. Riding out into the desert on a camel would not be easy for her or their unborn child. She had allergies and it worsened when she was pregnant with Leylah. He didn’t want to take any unnecessary chances. At least in a private jet, there was access to a bathroom, air conditioner, cool drinks and comfortable sofas to recline on.
“Oh, that's no fun,” her face dropped. Tariq laughed softly.
“Are you serious?”
“When you hear about Middle Eastern countries, you think deserts and camels. What's the point of being in a Middle Eastern country and not riding on a camel?”
“We are not that old fashioned you know,” Tariq laughed at her. She crawled underneath the covers next to him and put her head on his chest.
“I can't wait to go,” she told him. He kissed her forehead. He knew that they were in for a rather interesting trip. He remembered it as a small city he used to visit when he was a boy, but as he grew up, the excitement wore off. He was too occupied with work. Sara on the other hand got excited too easily. She was very curious about things and adventurous. He knew she was going to enjoy the trip.
Chapter 3
Sara was in her office pacing whilst going over her notes for her pitch. It was her first time pitching an idea to the Botros Board. They were either going to love her idea or hate it. There was never any middle ground with these things. She took a deep breath and poured herself a glass of water. Lana walked in and asked if she needed anything.
“I'll be alright thanks,” Sara replied and carried on pacing. Lana sized her up. She could not wrap her head around it all. What did she have that she did not? What did Tariq see in her?
Tariq stood in the doorway watching Sara for a moment. He watched her pacing up and down. The sunlight rested on her mocha skin. She was wearing a pencil skirt, a sky blue shirt and a pearl necklace. Her hair hung in long curls. That morning she had given up on trying to put it up. Tariq watched her with a smile on his face. No matter what she was doing, she looked so beautiful.
“Good morning, Sheik,” Lana said sweetly. Sara raised her eyebrow and looked up from her notes. She had heard the change in Lana's tone. She saw her husband standing in the doorway. He walked up to her, ignoring Lana. He held Sara's face in his hands and kissed her softly. Sara smiled at him.
“Hi,” she said.
“Are you nervous?” Tariq asked her.
“No.”
“You're still here?” Tariq asked as he turned to Lana.
“Tariq,” Sara poked him in the ribs. Lana bowed her head and quickly apologised. She scrambled out of the room. Sara watched the way she reacted and left the room. Tariq rubbed Sara's waist.
“She's rather odd,” Tariq said as he realised that was not the first time she lingered around when she was not needed.
“Dumbass, she's into you,” Sara said.
“Why does everybody say that?”
“Who else?”
“Your so-called best friend.” Tariq frowned. Using the term best friend was something so juvenile to him. Sara laughed. Of course, Amir would have spotted it. The two of them thought alike. Sara collected her notes and headed out of the office with Tariq. The board members were already in the room talking amongst themselves. Sara scanned the room and realised that there were no women in the room. She raised her eyebrows slightly.
“There are no women,” Sara whispered to Tariq.
“No,” he replied.
“Why? There were some in the meeting last time.”
“They were proxies.”
What a sexist industry, Sara thought to herself. This made things more challenging. Being the youngest and the only female in the room meant she had to bring her best. She also had more to prove because she was Tariq's wife. She did not want people to favour her because she was his wife. She also wanted to do him proud. She took a deep breath and walked towards the table. She smiled and greeted the board members. She sat down next to Amir who was already smiling at her. He rubbed her shoulder.
“You can do this,” he whispered to her.
“Thanks,” she whispered back.
Tariq slid his hands in his pockets as he greeted everyone. Sara creased her eyebrows slightly as she thought that was slightly unprofessional, but very appealing. She frowned as she tried to get her libido locked down. Tariq began discussing the matters at hand. He paced very slowly as he spoke. All the board members had their eyes glued on him. They all looked at him with such respect. Sara wondered if they really respected him or if they were simply afraid of him. Tariq introduced Sara as the latest member of the board. He informed them that she was going to pitch a few ideas to them.
“Showtime,” Amir whispered to Sara. She narrowed her gaze at him as she got up. He grinned at her. She straightened her skirt and stood in front of everyone. They all stared at her, some with questions on their faces.
Sara handed out copies of her presentation. “Please turn to page two,” she said. She began talking about her idea. She was introducing new drilling machines. She explained the difference between the new machines and the old ones.
“What is the point of changing now?” one of the board members asked her.
“It seems rather pointless to hold a board meeting for new equipment,” another man said. Tariq felt their disapproval and disdain towards Sara. He was about to say something when Amir held him back and shook his head. He thought it was better for Sara to use that opportunity to prove herself.
“Twelve per cent cheaper and five per cent faster,” Sara replied.
“Those numbers aren't that high,” retorted one of the members.
And so it begins, Sara thought to herself. They were not going to take her seriously. She placed her hands on the table and looked the man in the eye.
“They make a difference, Mr?”
“Ayub,” the man replied. He didn't sound impressed.
“Mr. Ayub, that money we will be saving could help to create more jobs, buy more equipment or simply be profit. Which pleases you more?”
Amir was smiling to himself. Sara was showing Mr. Ayub that she was not intimidated by him. He did not seem pleased by her. He didn't like her staring him down. When Mr. Ayub did not answer, Sara decided to continue talking about the drilling machines. She explained everything in more detail. She had been very prepared for the meeting.
“You did well,” Tariq said to Sara after the meeting had ended. He kissed her on the forehead. “It's a shame they're too short-sighted,” he continued.
“They'll come around when they see that it will gain them more money,” Sara said.
“They will but you and Mr. Ayub will not see eye to eye for a while,” Amir said with a smirk on his face. He put his hand up for Sara to give him a high-five. She smiled and smacked it. “Now, I shall see the pair of you later,” he added as he headed for the door.
* * * *
Soraya was in the kitchen washing the dishes when she suddenly looked up and saw Amir in the window grinning at her. She jumped and placed her hand on her heart. He started laughing at her. She went to open the door for him.
“You are so creepy,” she said as she smacked him on the chest. “You scared me,” she added.
“I'm sorry,” Amir said, still laughing.
“It's not funny,” Soraya said and walked back to the kitchen. Amir shut the door behind him and followed her
to the kitchen. He hugged her from behind and pressed a small kiss on her neck as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“Why are you here, anyway?” Soraya asked.
“Can't I get a better hello?” Amir pouted. Soraya rubbed his head for a few seconds. Then she started wiping the counter tops. Amir sighed. “I'll take that for now,” he said and released her from his embrace. He smacked her behind. Soraya squirmed and jumped slightly.
“Amir!” she admonished. He ignored her as he opened the fridge and scanned the contents.
“There is barely any food in here,” he complained. He pulled out a can of soda and an apple.
“That's why you shouldn't show up unannounced,” she shot back as she gave him a scornful look.
Amir's jaw dropped open and he did not respond for a moment. “That's mean,” he finally said and bit into the apple as he sat down.
“Don't pout. I'll make you something to eat,” she replied. She enjoyed teasing him.
Whilst Soraya was cooking, Amir told her the reason why he had come to see her. He wanted to invite her to Salma City. He told her that Fiddah wanted her to be there. At first, Soraya resisted. The only thing she was grasping from the situation was that she was going to a different city with Amir and her brother for a few weeks. That was an awkward mix. Whilst her brother was being civil about their relationship, something could still set him off. There was no predicting what might happen.
At last, she agreed to go. Amir was quite tenacious. That was how he got her in the first place. Part of her was intrigued to see Salma City. She had heard stories that it was a beautiful city. Not many people had been there because it was in the middle of the desert. It was quite a journey to go there on camel back. The city also had a low population and the citizens rarely left. It comforted her to know that Sara was going to be there. That meant a little bit of sanity and less awkwardness.
Chapter 4
When Sara and Tariq arrived at the airport, Tariq's parents, Aaliyah and Fiddah were already there. Mrs. Botros kissed Sara on both cheeks and rubbed Tariq's cheek. Fiddah greeted them both and quickly picked up Leylah. “Hello, my love,” she said to her and kissed her. Leylah giggled in response.
“And here I was coming to hold my granddaughter,” Mr. Botros said. He kissed Sara on both cheeks. They all boarded the private jet. Shortly after, Malik came on board and Soraya and Amir were the last to arrive.
“Last as always,” Tariq said as they walked in. Sara nudged him and got up. She walked over to hug Soraya and Amir.
As soon as everyone was seated and buckled in, they took off on their forty-five minute flight. Everyone was sitting with his or her other half except for Malik, Aaliyah and Fiddah, who gave the excuse that she was much too old to have another half. Malik was left without an excuse and Amir couldn’t resist teasing him about it.
“It is ironic isn't it?” Malik said.
“What is?” Amir asked.
“The one who detested marriage the most is the one who married first.”
Tariq narrowed his gaze and ignored him. He was not going to defend himself again. They always made fun of him about it. Sara smiled and rubbed his arm. Aaliyah remained quiet hoping the spotlight did not shine on her.
“Aaliyah, I see you there, you're not getting off that easy,” Amir said.
“Leave me alone,” Aaliyah said.
“I remember her last lover,” Tariq said.
“Tariq don't say lover, it sounds gross.”
“The one with the lazy eye,” Amir said.
“He didn't have a lazy eye!” Aaliyah voiced out.
“Yeah that's the one,” Tariq said and narrowed one eye imitating a lazy eye. Amir and Malik started laughing. Sara was surprised to see Tariq make fun of his cousin. She had never seen him like that.
“It was one time! He had an allergic reaction,” Aaliyah tried to defend herself but the guys kept laughing. Sara placed her hand on her mouth as she tried to suppress the urge to laugh. Soraya was feeling awkward. She didn't know if she should laugh or defend her. Fiddah was cuddling Leylah and watching the whole thing unfold.
“She always had interesting taste in men,” Tariq teased.
“You're not funny,” Aaliyah mumbled.
“Okay, guys, you can leave her alone now,” Sara finally came to her defence.
“You haven't seen her lovers that's why,” Amir protested.
“Stop saying lover!” Aaliyah complained. The word was awkward. It implied an affair or an intimate partner.
Moments later, they arrived in Salma City. The jet landed on a private runway walking distance from the house. Everyone unbuckled him or herself and exited the plane. Sara and Soraya stood there wide-eyed staring at the entire estate.
“Shall we?” Tariq asked Sara, as he held his hand out for her. She nodded and took his hand.
As they neared the back entrance to the property, Sara drew in a breath. It was magnificent. Palm trees framed a large stone house that looked like something out of the pages of an architectural magazine. Servants stood in neat lines awaiting their arrival. They bowed their heads to them before ushering everyone inside the house. The floors were also made out of stone and the windows were large allowing light to cascade in through brilliant stained glass. Sara barely had time to look around as the servants showed them to their rooms.
“This is awesome,” Sara said whilst she stood in the doorway to their suite. The grey stone flooring was used throughout the house and the stones were uneven in size and arranged in intricate patterns. Their bedroom was massive and Sara was pleased to see that there was an air conditioner. The bathroom was larger than any she had ever seen. An oval-shaped beige stone tub that could comfortably fit the two of them graced the middle of the room. She threw herself on the over-sized bed with a big smile on her face. Tariq stood in the doorway holding Leylah.
“I take it that you like the place?” he asked as he walked into the room and shut the door behind him.
“This place is great!” Sara said.
On the other side of the bed, a crib had been set up for Leylah. Tariq laid her down before stroking her face lightly. She had fallen asleep on the flight and he didn’t want to wake her.
* * * * *
Soraya stood with her arms crossed. Her face was stained with confusion. Amir leaned in the doorway smiling at her with his hands in his pockets.
“There is no way we are sharing a room,” Soraya said to Amir.
“Why not, habibti?” Amir asked.
“Because I am your girlfriend and not your wife.” Amir opened his mouth to say something but Soraya dismissed him with her finger. “My brother will not have it either,” she added. If Malik knew the two of them were sharing a bed, he would not take it well.
Amir laughed and walked towards Soraya. He kissed her on the cheek. “Relax habibti, I was joking,” he said to her.
“You're not funny,” Soraya said and shook him off.
“My room is across the hall,” he said to her still smirking.
“Not far enough away.”
“Even if there was an ocean between us, I would still come to you within a heartbeat.” With that, he smacked her bottom and left her room. Once again, he caught her off guard. She inhaled sharply. She took her shoe off to throw it at him but she missed. Amir laughed and winked at her.
For dinner, they were served a selection of deliciously cooked foods. There was freshly baked na’an and pita along with a variety of grilled and steamed vegetables. For meat, they had roasted lamb and roasted chicken with a range of freshly prepared sauces. As soon they were all seated, Tariq moved the hummus away from Sara. Due to her second pregnancy, she had grown to hate the smell of it. The servants poured their drinks and served the food for them.
“It has been too long since we spent time together like this,” Fiddah said.
“Agreed,” Amir replied, right before he dived into his food.
“I really wanted all of us to come here and spend time together. I also
wanted to introduce Sara and Soraya to the city.”
Sara looked up and smiled. “I think I will like it here. So far, I am in love with this house and the idea that we are in the middle of the desert. That's amazing!” she said.
“This house is spectacular,” Soraya said.
“My dear aren't you in school?” Fiddah suddenly realised that Soraya was still in university.
“I finished my last exams a few days ago,” Soraya replied.