Most of my stories will be on this link. So pretty much it's all under the same Masquerade theme I guess but each story is different in it's own way. I hope you'll enjoy this new story. <3 Le Chase means: the chase. Oh and skinny love will be deleted, both of us don't have time to talk over each chapter and then write it together, it's time consuming and the other blogger has a blog that she didn't finish writing yet, so gilna a7san we close it for now.
A little preview of the new story, comment me your feedback?x
Tim Bowler's novel "Frozen Fire" inspired the beginning of the story. <3
-
-2 years ago-
"I'm dying." Her voice was trembling, it shot shivers down my spine, hearing her voice so cracked up and vulnerable.
I had my forehead pressed against the cool rubber steering wheel of my father's silver Range Rover. 3abas and Bander were already in Chili's, waiting for me to join them. I couldn't join them when Manal had whatsapp-ed me, telling me she was at the hospital and she had to call me right away.
"W-what do you mean you're d-dying?" My voice began to quiver.
"Thari, ma agder ashra7lik.. we need to break up, you can't be with a dying girl, you need someone who'll be in your future." Manal's voice was cracking, I knew she was about to cry and that broke a piece of my heart, I couldn't stand hearing her this depressed. I couldn't stand knowing that I was going to lose her, literally.
This put my love to the test. This made me realize how much I love her. I willed my tears away, I couldn't cry, not when my friends were in Chillis, waiting for me. I could be a man about this. I had to be.
"Manal, I'm not leaving you. I'll be there for you, until you.." I couldn't say the word, I couldn't say "die".
"Thari, et7ibny?" Manal asked out of the blue.
"Akeed a7bich Manal! Shal su2al?" The question fumed my insides, I had done everything in my power to prove my love for her. I looked up from my steering wheel and stared off at the distance, catching the sight of the glimmering sea in front of me.
"Then let me go." Manal whispered.
"Ma agder." I murmured back, my voice cracking, the tears beginning to cloud my vision.
Thari shfeek ent? Yahil tabchy? Tabchy 3la bent?
Bas hathi mu ay bent, a7ebha, abeeha. I can't believe that she's going to die, mu ra'9ya etgouly shfeeha.. was she trying to protect me? Trying to cut me off before she became weaker? Closer to death?
"Thari, gabel ma amout, abeek et'hidny. A7biik Thari, delete me men kelashay.. forget the year we spent together." Manal's words felt like knives digging into my chest.
"Manal-" I began to speak but she hung on me. The only thing I could hear was the 6oo6 6oo6 that told me the call had ended, that told me the one year relationship I had with Manal ended. I tried calling her again but it told me her phone was shut off.
I tried whatsapp-ing her, but the messages wouldn't get sent. Did she block me? I clicked on the twitter icon over my Porsche blackberry, looking for her on my followers list, she wasn't there. Once I searched her username, it said that she wasn't following me.
She blocked me out of her life. Entirely.
I even looked for Manal's best friend, Minwa. Her twitter account was still following mine, I furiously typed a DM to her before she blocked me next.
@ThariAlX: Minwa!! Manal blocked me, please talk to her, please tell her I need to see her again. Please Minwa, I can't believe that she's dying, I can't let go her go yet.
I waited impatiently in the Range Rover, not willing to go into Chili's. I ignored the few flirtatious glances I got from a few good looking girls who passed the car.
Da ding!
@MinwaAlX: Heey Thari:( Manal is already depressed about everything, she doesn't need any more trouble, just let go of her, live your life, don't ruin it because her life is ending :( okay? I'll be here for you love if you ever need ANYTHING. :**
I read Minwa's words, my face twisting when I read that she called me "love". I ignored her DM, not wanting any of her help. Minwa and I had a bad past, she would try to ruin my relationship with Manal. I was still shocked that both of them were still really close, even after Minwa tried flirting with me once when she saw me in Bidi3 by coincidence.
I heard fingers knock on the Range Rover window, I turned my head around and looked out to find 3abbas. He had a cap over his usually long hair, his muscles were taking most of the space inside his fitting shirt and his skin was tanned from our shaleih hangout a few days ago.
I rolled the window down, looking out at 3abbas with an emotionless expression.
"Shfeek 6awelt Thari? Yalla bena6lib." 3abbas gave me an easy smile.
"Al7een badish, bas digeega." I wanted to get myself together. The guys knew I had a girlfriend but I never told them Manal's name, I didn't want her name to be on any other man's tongue. I wanted to keep her to myself. The guys respected my decision.
"Yalla la t6awil bas." 3abbas half waved at me with his hand before walking back into Chili's.
I honestly felt numb. The news of Manal dying hadn't dawned on me yet, it was unbelievable. Suddenly out of the blue, "Oh hey Thari, I'm dying, so we have to break up." It wasn't exactly a break up excuse I was used to, but most of all, I couldn't believe the fact that I was actually going to lose Manal, I wasn't going to see her smile anymore, or smell her Chloe perfume ever again.
"Shfeek 6awelt?" 16 year old Thamer asked me once I was in Chili's, seated by him and 3abbas. Thamer's bushy eyes brows wiggled a bit over his dark eyes.
"Obouy dag 3lay." I lied, looking at Chili's menu.
That shut the guys up. After dinner, the guys wanted to go to 360 to walk around. This was their usual gaz time. I usually hated and skipped this part of the outing with them, I usually would prefer calling Manal and staying at home but this time, I didn't have the luxury of doing that so I was forced to go with them.
We were standing by B+F, 3abbas went to Caribou to grab his usual coffee and Thamer was standing next to me, his eyes glazing over the different girls that kept passing us. A 5'2 girl with short black hair, milky skin, hazel eyes and a tight fitting Hollister shirt passed us, giving Thamer a little glance.
"Hey, shoufha ga3da etkhizik." Thamer hissed, nudging his muscled arm against mine. I turned around and found the short black haired girl's eyes were staring right into mine. I turned again, ignoring her gaze.
"Offh shfeek 7igert'ha?" Thamer looked at me, his expression disappointed.
"Shdakhalny feeha?" The girls' gaze was burning into my back and it disgusted every inch of me. All I wanted was Manal.
"Shfeek nefseya?" Thamer questioned, his eyes suddenly looking annoyed.
Y3ne tabeeni a'97ak w aghazil bent ma 3arifha when my girlfriend just left me because she's dying?
But of course, I didn't say that. I left my thoughts in my head, not letting them roll off my tongue.
"Wela shay, yalla khan ne6la3. Ley meta binig3ad 360? Men 7alata? Kela hailag at this time." I shot a dirty look at a girl who was wearing a short skirt that framed her overly big bottom when I said the word "hailag".
But something about the girl caught my attention, I quickly turned around to look at her again.
It was Minwa.
Her hair was up in a tight bun, her clothes sticking against her body. Next to her was Manal, in a tight summer dress that reached over her knees, the dresses I told her I hated her wearing. Her dark hair was curled and her light skin was illuminating. She didn't catch me glancing at her, she was busy standing by B+F with a smile on her face. Minwa's and Manal's voice was loud, I couldn't help but catch a few words from their conversation. Manal's addictive smile was directed at a short tanned guy, standing behind her, his eyes staring at Manal's naked shoulders.
"Abaay Manal." Minwa's stuck up voice was loud. "Entay mu men 9ijech etgouleen 7ag el walad bitmouteen? 7adich drama queen! 3ad ohwa eyenin, why did you dump him?"
Wait, what?
"Offh men 9ijech, kel digeega yighar 3lay, ma7ib chithe. W 7adaa lazga, yi7asisny awal mara he had a girlfriend." Manal rolled her beautiful eyes, no scratch that, her eyes weren't beautiful anymore in my eyes, they were venomous.
"Shfeech neseitay? You are his first love, ana a7is it's so cute! Wodii ana 3nde wa7d yighar 3lay, 9ij enich ghabeya." Minwa crossed her arms at Manal.
"3ad entay menzaman et7ibeena 3shan his looks, hff khala9 drop the subject." Manal snapped at Minwa.
"You can't deny it, ohwa zouqa! Shfeech lal7een etghareen 3la Thari? He's single now, he DMed me an hour ago." Minwa fluttered her eyelashes at Manal, her smile devilish.
"Entay khebla you didn't block him?! Al7een bi3arif eni ana chathebt 3an the dying thing, kitebtay entay eb 360 3la twitter? Ohwa 3bala ana bel mustashfaa!" Manal grabbed Minwa's iPhone out of her hands, trying to control Minwa's twitter.
I was disgusted, but most of all, my insides were erupting with anger. I ignored the pain I felt in my heart, I aimed my anger at Manal.
I couldn't believe it, all of her words were lies. Stupid lies, the time I spent with her was nothing to her. Did she think it was a game? Telling someone who loves you that you were dying? Hathee shnu shayfetny?
"Yalla, enrid?" I heard 3abbas behind me. He was holding his coffee in his hands, the scent of of the coffee beans made its way into my nostrils, calming me a bit.
"La2." I snapped.
"Shfeek?" 3abbas sensed my rigidness.
"Ma feene shay al7een." I gave Thamer and 3abbas a tooth baring smile. "Mu e7na yayeen 7ag el banat?"
"Bas mu ent tawik etgoul bitrid? En3arif ma et7ib etghazil." 3abbas looked at me strangely.
"Embala, a7ib." I lied. I turned back around, shooting the black haired girl who was eying me a few minutes ago a flirty smile. She returned the smile, her cheeks blushing instantly. She turned back around to giggle with her other girl friends, all of them giving us guys a flirty look.
I felt another pair of eyes on me. I tilted my head to the left and found Manal staring at me, her eyes shocked. She caught me flirting with the other girls and I was enjoying every second of the attention I got from her.
I shot Manal a dirty glare before ignoring her existence. I pulled out the Gucci wallet Manal had given me as a birthday present last year, I took out all my cards and money out of it before dumping it in the trash that was closest to Manal.
I made sure Manal watched me as I was throwing away her expensive gift.
"Abaaay Manal, shiftay Thari yighazil el g*7ba?" I heard Minwa stutter in surprise.
"Abaaay, Minwa, there's something called clothes. Wear them." I snapped at Minwa, imitating her annoying voice, making sure she heard every word, my eyes on her super short skirt and skin baring shirt.
Before I walked off, I saw one emotion on Manal's and Minwa's face.
Disbelief. Disbelief of what I've become.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Why?
A little of poetry, 3shan agheyir shway. :p I wrote this ages ago but it always has been my favourite from my collection, I feel like it's more relate-able. x
Do hearts like being hurt?
Since they fall for types that treat them like dirt.
Do eyes like to tear?
They seem to be living in their worst fear.
Do lives like to have a scar?
Even more noticeable than a bright star.
Do minds like to memorize?
So every pain would be easy to recognize?
Do hurtful memories like to last?
To remind you of every past.
Is there a word to say,
To describe our pain in every way?
Do hearts like being hurt?
Since they fall for types that treat them like dirt.
Do eyes like to tear?
They seem to be living in their worst fear.
Do lives like to have a scar?
Even more noticeable than a bright star.
Do minds like to memorize?
So every pain would be easy to recognize?
Do hurtful memories like to last?
To remind you of every past.
Is there a word to say,
To describe our pain in every way?
Masqué Chapter 26. *FINALE*
Every time I end one of my stories, a piece of me dies, honestly. I fell in love with every character I created and of course, hated every evil character I created as well. Every story has an end, not all stories have a happy ending but I believe happy endings do exist.
Lets say that this ending will be bittersweet.
Dedicated to: @MMutairy for the beautiful Las Vegas pictures she sent me of masks! And of course, dedicated to all you other beautiful readers who have supported me so much, I can never thank you enough. <3 You truly make writing a joy for me.
-
After 4/5 years..
"Galbe, akeed ma tabeen ayeeblich shay men el jam3eya?" My husband asked me in a tender voice. His dark eyes were caring, full of fear over the child that was nestling inside my stomach. His eyebrows were arched naturally, his tanned skin surrounded his handsome features, a strong nose, thin yet seductive lips and his hair had gotten shorter over the years, showing how his masculinity had grown.
"Ma abe shay 7beeby, la t7aty." I smiled weakly up at my husband, patting my hand over his arm, trying to reassure him I was fine.
"Ma ra7 a6awil, okay? Etha 9ar shay, digay 3lay, okay?" Saif looked nervous on leaving me alone in the house for the first time in weeks. He had a white Armani shirt that was smudged with some dust because he was busy trying to build up the baby's crib.
"Saif." I laughed lightly. "Eljam3eya yemna w betrid in 15 minutes, shnu bi9eer feene etha khaleitny brou7y for just 15 minutes?"
"7aram akhaf 3la murty w binty?" Saif said defensively, trying to cover up his smile. His gentle fingers stroked over my 9 month old pregnant stomach, my cheeks had become fuller and my toes were swollen because of the pregnancy, every bone in me ached but the joy of feeling a little life growing inside of you was unbelievable. It was worth all the pain.
"Yal romancii enta, al7een rou7 yeblena aghra'9 7ag el bait, 9arlek sa3a w enta ga3d tis2alny if I'll be okay." I laughed again, my cheeks reddening. Even after two years being married to him, I still grew shy around him. We had been engaged for a year, our parents allowed us to marry once we both turned 20. By then, Saif was able to take a teaching job at the school he used to go to when he was a teenager.
Our house was in the same men6e8a as our Grandmother's house, this made it easier for Gran or our parents to visit us whenever they felt like it. No one ever left me alone, they would keep cooing at my pregnant stomach, trying to speak to the little baby growing inside of me. Bibi and Turki were in college. Turki's studying engineering in KU whilst Bibi's studying textiles in AUK. Nawaf is still studying medicine and is secretly planning to propose to Bibi, once he finishes studying and has a job of his own.
A7mad was still in prison and my fake parents practically disappeared. Asmaa and her family were ashamed of A7mad, they practically escaped the country and decided to live in their apartment in London, which meant Asmaa was currently working in London.
"Okay khala9 khala9 barou7." Saif chuckled, his smile brightening his whole face. He leaned down to brush his soft lips over my forehead, kissing it lightly. I smiled at him as he walked out of our two story house.
We had the baby's room decorated with pink and white, and so now we were waiting impatiently for the baby to slide out of me. I stood up from the soft sofa I was laying on and walked slowly to the kitchen. I was suddenly craving chocolate.
Da-la-ling ling!
My blackberry buzzed against the kitchen counter.
Chocolate had to wait, hmpf.
Incoming call: Bibi (sis) :*
I pressed my blackberry up against my ear as I tried to walk back into the kitchen.
"Amaaaal." Bibi shrieked into her phone, causing my eardrums to want to explode.
"Athouuuni Bibi!" I laughed. I pulled the fridge open, digging my head into the cool fridge, my eyes hunting for a chocolate bar. I found a Kit Kat behind our KDD juices, I reached for it and pulled it out.
"Bayeelich al7een, okay?" Bibi said. I could hear the happy chattering of her university friends in the background.
"Okay yalla, Saif mu mawjoud, ohwa bel jem3ya." I said with my mouthful of crunchy yet delicious mouth watering chocolate.
"On my way now." Bibi said before hanging up. I looked at the clock and read the time: 4:21pm.
I decided to change out of my teddy pajamas that Saif always laughs at and wore a maternity floral shirt with my favourite comfortable leggings. Every few minutes, I'd feel a sudden pain erupt out of my stomach.
"Ya rabee, shfeech entay, haday a39abich." I rubbed my bloated stomach, whispering to the baby.
"AMAAAAAL." Bibi's voice echoed through the house.
"Bismellah ma midach, bsr3a yeitay." I looked up and found a taller, more feminine Bibi walking towards me. She had fitted leather leggings and a loose long sleeved shirt that had studs on them. Her face was framed with a cool grey 7jab, showing off her beautiful womanly features. Did I also mention ena Bibi t7ejebt?
"Dageit 3leich w ana bel sayara, already on my way." Bibi snickered evilly before pulling me in for a gentle hug.
"Shloun el baby?" Bibi asked, looking at my big stomach, her eyes full of love.
"Zeina bas 3a9abeya, kil digeega she has to kick my belly." I rolled my eyes, a smile breaking onto my face. I pushed my long hair back into a ponytail, suddenly growing queasy.
"Amal, if you're going to vomit then go to the bathroom now. The shirt I'm wearing cost me 50kd, don't ruin it." Bibi noticed my queasiness, her words making me want to laugh.
"L-la2 bas Bibi.." I held my stomach, another pain erupting out of my stomach, silencing my urge to want to laugh. Bibi quickly grabbed me by the arms, steadying me, keeping me from falling.
"Amal! Shfeech?!" Bibi's face was alerted, full of fright. Her playfulness melted away once she noticed my face was crying out with pain.
"The baby.. is coming." I forced the words out, my face twisting in pain. I looked down and noticed that my leggings were drenched with water.
My water broke.
-
-Saif's POV-
I urged my legs to pump faster, I was running down the halls of the hospital. I had just gotten two calls, one from Nawaf giving me bad news and then Bibi's call, giving me good news.
I was looking for Amal's favourite strawberry juice in the super market when my blackberry vibrated in the pockets of my shorts.
"Saif.." Nawaf's voice sounded troubled.
"Nawaf, shfeek?" I suddenly was full of worry. Was it Amal? Did something happen to her?
"Yedetna bel mustasfha, she had a heart attack." Nawaf's voice quivered through the phone.
"Shnu?" I held the gasp in but my eyes suddenly filled with tears, I let go of the trolley I was pushing and stalked out of the super market. Nawaf explained that Gran had a weak heart due to her old age. I couldn't tell Amal, she was carrying our baby girl, I couldn't put more stress on her.
I was in Gran's room in the hospital when the second call, from Bibi, alerted me.
"Saif, bsr3aa ta3al Al Hadi hospital!" Bibi panicked.
"Ana al7een bil Hadi.." I said in a confused tone, did Bibi find out about Gran? I stared at Gran's lifeless face, her eyes drooping down, her body connected to multiple wires that pushed different kinds of medicine into her.
"Huh.." Bibi suddenly froze, sounding quizzical.
"Bibi al7een gouleely sh9ayer!" I cried into the phone, trying to bring Bibi back to what she wanted to say. Nawaf was sitting next to Gran with our parents. I decided to leave the room to talk to Bibi properly.
"Amal, she's having the baby!" Bibi cried back into the phone, she was panicking again. Beads of sweat were trickling down my neck, my blood ran cold as I heard Bibi's words.
"WHAT?" I nearly screamed into the phone.
"BSR3A TA3AL. Level 3, waiting room." Bibi screamed back, hanging up on me without another word.
I didn't wait to tell anyone else. I actually didn't have time to think about telling anyone else, my mind was filled with alerts, telling me to get to Amal as fast as I could.
I decided to run for it.
Our baby. Our little Razan.
Those words kept playing over and over again in my head as I was urging my body to run faster. I waited impatiently for the elevator to take me to level 3, my fingers kept drumming against my legs, people kept turning to look at me but I kept my eyes down, imagining the pain Amal was going through right now.
I finally reached the waiting room. Bibi had her head dug into her legs, Turki was next to her, his hand rubbing her back. Turki was much taller now and his skin had darkened, he looked more of a man than the little boy I used to know.
"Saif." Turki quickly stood up once he saw me. I was sweating, my chest was heaving but I wanted to see Amal. I had to see her.
"Weinha?" I said in between heavy breaths.
"They're performing the surgery now." Bibi looked up at me, her eyes full of fearful tears.
"3amaleya? Laish 3amaleya?!" I urged Bibi to answer me, my heart was beating furiously inside my chest.
"Ma y9eer natural birth, the baby isn't positioned right in the stomach. It's a C-section." Bibi tried to calm me down, telling me it was perfectly normal, that it was going to be fine.
I kept pacing back and fourth in the waiting room. The surgical room was right in front of us but we weren't allowed to walk in, not allowed to see Amal or the surgery that she was going through.
After a few hours, one of the doctors finally approached us with a troubled expression. He had ash blonde hair and dark blue eyes that were framed with aging wrinkles.
"What happened? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" The questions kept piling.
"The baby is fine but Amal lost a lot of blood.." The doctor began to speak but all I heard was "Amal lost a lot of blood". My ears clogged up and all I could think was:
What did that mean? Stop telling me stupid medical information my mind won't process, tell me if she's alright or not!
"IS SHE OKAY?" I nearly yelled at the doctor, my voice trembling.
"Saif calm down." Bibi rested a hand over my arm, trying to calm me down but I couldn't calm down, knowing that Amal was in there, close to death.
"We need someone with the same blood type as her from your family." The Doctor told us in a strained voice.
"Me, take my blood." I quickly offered.
"What blood type are you?" The doctor asked. I handed him my ID and the doctor shook his head in disappointment.
"You're not the same blood type as her."
"I'm the same blood type." Bibi quickly spoke up. I looked around at Bibi with a shocked expression on. I knew for a fact that she wasn't related to Amal by blood but she had the same blood type as Amal nonetheless. The doctor ushered Bibi to a room where he could run tests before drawing blood from her body.
It was a long night. I stayed in the waiting room impatiently. It took hours and hours, the process of trying to fill Amal with the new blood and having to prepare our baby girl.
I got the chance to see our baby. Amal was still in the surgical room, I couldn't see her yet. I walked over to the baby room where they held all the newborn babies. My eyes raked over the babies, trying to look for my own baby girl.
I gave the nurse the name and room number. The room smelled like medicine and baby powder, it had white lighting and the nurses held friendly smiles. One of the nurses pushed a little baby casket which was over the trolley to the clear glass window.
I peeked down and the little baby girl in front of me took my breath away. The baby girl's eyes weren't fully open, they were slightly drooped but I peeked at her large chocolate eyes, giving her a little smile. She was dressed in the pink outfit we got her a few months ago. She had Amal's cheeks but my straight nose, her eyes were the exact same shape as Amal's and I could see a little dimple that wasn't so obvious. The baby's face was still swollen but her eyes peeked up at mine.
"Mashallah." Amal's mother breathed out next to me. I turned to find Turki, Nawaf, Amal's parents, my own parents all staring at my little baby girl in awe. All of their eyes were full of happy tears, just like my own.
Amal, if only you could see Razan right now.
I could feel my heart break inside my chest, causing a pain to fill over my chest. I was aching for Amal to see her own baby girl, she was the exact replica of her. There were hints of myself in our baby but Razan was all Amal. I left the baby room and sat back on one of the chairs in the waiting room, letting my own tears spill over as I was sitting by myself.
I mentally prayed, over and over again.
A tap on my shoulder startled me. I looked up and found the same blonde doctor standing over me. I noticed Amal's parents sitting next to me in silence, I hadn't noticed their presence.
"She's okay." The doctor gave us a smile and we all sighed in relief, my prayers had been answered. "She's drugged so she's still half asleep, would you like to see her though?"
I didn't answer, I stood up in a heartbeat and forced the doctor to lead me to the surgical room. I walked in, ignoring the smell of anesthetics and blood. Amal was laying down on a stretcher, her hair beautiful long hair was up and covered up. Her eyes were slightly open, her full scarlet lips looked swollen and her face was ghostly pale.
"Amal, galbe." I whispered, taking a step closer to her. My fingers found hers, the gaps in between her fingers perfectly fit mine.
"Mmm." Amal groaned, there were wet tears on her cheeks. I brushed them off with the back of my hand, I dug my face into her lap, holding tightly onto her hand, covering it with soft kisses.
"Saif." Amal murmured, her fingers blindly touching my face.
"Eee 7beebty, kanii." My face broke out in a smile as I looked up at Amal again. Her eyes were slowly shutting down, her face twisting in pain every few seconds. The nurses left us alone for a few minutes, I took a step closer to her and brushed my lips over her soft ones. I gave her a small peck, letting her fall asleep, not wanting to wake her up and cause her to feel the pain from the surgery.
They laid her in her bed in the patient room, closing the doors in her bedroom, not letting anyone disturb her. I felt at peace, seeing Amal, seeing her alive. el7amdellah ya rab.
"Saif." Nawaf's voice crept up behind me. Amal's parents and girl cousins were with her I was forced to stay out of the room.
"She passed away." Nawaf sadly stated.
I knew who he meant. Our Grandmother, our beloved Gran..
All I could do was stare at Nawaf's depressed face, unable to utter a word.
"The nurse came in, she thought Gran was asleep but when she checked her pulse, she had passed away." Nawaf's voice cracked, his eyes filling with tears. "Allah yer7amha."
"Allah yer7amha." I murmured to myself, the news slowly dawning in on me. Only Nawaf and I knew about Gran, we left it that way, we didn't tell the others until they left Amal's side. Their happiness melted away once they heard the news.
A life for a life.
Gran had passed away at the time when Razan was born. I was depressed, emotionally destroyed by the news but deep inside me, I was still at peace. Gran had passed away peacefully, she faced no pain and it was her time. This is what God wanted, He had a reason for everything, I didn't question Gran's death, all I did was thank God for blessing me with a new life, my little Razan.
Gran would be ashamed of us all if we remained depressed, she would have told us to celebrate Razan's birth instead of crying over her death. I wasn't going to let Gran be disappointed in us, I did what she would have wanted me to do.
Thank God and live.
Live with the new family Amal and I created.
It was bittersweet.
-
Amal and Saif raised their baby Razan together. They decided to go on with the baby shower, celebrating Razan's birth and then having a beautiful funeral set for their beloved Grandmother. Their Grandmother had passed away but God had gifted Saif and Amal with a new baby girl, they had received a new life after losing a beloved one. Non of them tried to forget their Grandmother, they'd remember her everyday, her presence, her footprints, her scent drifted around them in her old grande house. Bibi and Nawaf had eventually gotten engaged once it was time. Turki was in his own adventure, he's currently in America, for a break before coming back to Kuwait to work as a computer engineer. Ghalia was working in Switzerland as a lawyer whilst Fawaz had met a beautiful French woman while he was in Rome for the summer, he married her after a year and she had converted to Islam. Gran's house was never sold off, to this day, every one the relatives still visits the house every Friday for zwara, just like how Gran would have liked it.
-
I will start a new story soon, I know what I want to write about but I haven't planned everything out. As for skinny love, my collab blog, I'm still unsure. I really loved writing this story for you guys, my stories are never too long, my posts are usually long and so, that's why my chapters either end at 20's or 50's like my first story. I hope you guys loved the story as much as I loved writing it, it was sad for me to write the ending but I believe the ending fit the story perfectly, I hope you guys think so too.
Comments? c: xo
Lets say that this ending will be bittersweet.
Dedicated to: @MMutairy for the beautiful Las Vegas pictures she sent me of masks! And of course, dedicated to all you other beautiful readers who have supported me so much, I can never thank you enough. <3 You truly make writing a joy for me.
-
After 4/5 years..
"Galbe, akeed ma tabeen ayeeblich shay men el jam3eya?" My husband asked me in a tender voice. His dark eyes were caring, full of fear over the child that was nestling inside my stomach. His eyebrows were arched naturally, his tanned skin surrounded his handsome features, a strong nose, thin yet seductive lips and his hair had gotten shorter over the years, showing how his masculinity had grown.
"Ma abe shay 7beeby, la t7aty." I smiled weakly up at my husband, patting my hand over his arm, trying to reassure him I was fine.
"Ma ra7 a6awil, okay? Etha 9ar shay, digay 3lay, okay?" Saif looked nervous on leaving me alone in the house for the first time in weeks. He had a white Armani shirt that was smudged with some dust because he was busy trying to build up the baby's crib.
"Saif." I laughed lightly. "Eljam3eya yemna w betrid in 15 minutes, shnu bi9eer feene etha khaleitny brou7y for just 15 minutes?"
"7aram akhaf 3la murty w binty?" Saif said defensively, trying to cover up his smile. His gentle fingers stroked over my 9 month old pregnant stomach, my cheeks had become fuller and my toes were swollen because of the pregnancy, every bone in me ached but the joy of feeling a little life growing inside of you was unbelievable. It was worth all the pain.
"Yal romancii enta, al7een rou7 yeblena aghra'9 7ag el bait, 9arlek sa3a w enta ga3d tis2alny if I'll be okay." I laughed again, my cheeks reddening. Even after two years being married to him, I still grew shy around him. We had been engaged for a year, our parents allowed us to marry once we both turned 20. By then, Saif was able to take a teaching job at the school he used to go to when he was a teenager.
Our house was in the same men6e8a as our Grandmother's house, this made it easier for Gran or our parents to visit us whenever they felt like it. No one ever left me alone, they would keep cooing at my pregnant stomach, trying to speak to the little baby growing inside of me. Bibi and Turki were in college. Turki's studying engineering in KU whilst Bibi's studying textiles in AUK. Nawaf is still studying medicine and is secretly planning to propose to Bibi, once he finishes studying and has a job of his own.
A7mad was still in prison and my fake parents practically disappeared. Asmaa and her family were ashamed of A7mad, they practically escaped the country and decided to live in their apartment in London, which meant Asmaa was currently working in London.
"Okay khala9 khala9 barou7." Saif chuckled, his smile brightening his whole face. He leaned down to brush his soft lips over my forehead, kissing it lightly. I smiled at him as he walked out of our two story house.
We had the baby's room decorated with pink and white, and so now we were waiting impatiently for the baby to slide out of me. I stood up from the soft sofa I was laying on and walked slowly to the kitchen. I was suddenly craving chocolate.
Da-la-ling ling!
My blackberry buzzed against the kitchen counter.
Chocolate had to wait, hmpf.
Incoming call: Bibi (sis) :*
I pressed my blackberry up against my ear as I tried to walk back into the kitchen.
"Amaaaal." Bibi shrieked into her phone, causing my eardrums to want to explode.
"Athouuuni Bibi!" I laughed. I pulled the fridge open, digging my head into the cool fridge, my eyes hunting for a chocolate bar. I found a Kit Kat behind our KDD juices, I reached for it and pulled it out.
"Bayeelich al7een, okay?" Bibi said. I could hear the happy chattering of her university friends in the background.
"Okay yalla, Saif mu mawjoud, ohwa bel jem3ya." I said with my mouthful of crunchy yet delicious mouth watering chocolate.
"On my way now." Bibi said before hanging up. I looked at the clock and read the time: 4:21pm.
I decided to change out of my teddy pajamas that Saif always laughs at and wore a maternity floral shirt with my favourite comfortable leggings. Every few minutes, I'd feel a sudden pain erupt out of my stomach.
"Ya rabee, shfeech entay, haday a39abich." I rubbed my bloated stomach, whispering to the baby.
"AMAAAAAL." Bibi's voice echoed through the house.
"Bismellah ma midach, bsr3a yeitay." I looked up and found a taller, more feminine Bibi walking towards me. She had fitted leather leggings and a loose long sleeved shirt that had studs on them. Her face was framed with a cool grey 7jab, showing off her beautiful womanly features. Did I also mention ena Bibi t7ejebt?
"Dageit 3leich w ana bel sayara, already on my way." Bibi snickered evilly before pulling me in for a gentle hug.
"Shloun el baby?" Bibi asked, looking at my big stomach, her eyes full of love.
"Zeina bas 3a9abeya, kil digeega she has to kick my belly." I rolled my eyes, a smile breaking onto my face. I pushed my long hair back into a ponytail, suddenly growing queasy.
"Amal, if you're going to vomit then go to the bathroom now. The shirt I'm wearing cost me 50kd, don't ruin it." Bibi noticed my queasiness, her words making me want to laugh.
"L-la2 bas Bibi.." I held my stomach, another pain erupting out of my stomach, silencing my urge to want to laugh. Bibi quickly grabbed me by the arms, steadying me, keeping me from falling.
"Amal! Shfeech?!" Bibi's face was alerted, full of fright. Her playfulness melted away once she noticed my face was crying out with pain.
"The baby.. is coming." I forced the words out, my face twisting in pain. I looked down and noticed that my leggings were drenched with water.
My water broke.
-
-Saif's POV-
I urged my legs to pump faster, I was running down the halls of the hospital. I had just gotten two calls, one from Nawaf giving me bad news and then Bibi's call, giving me good news.
I was looking for Amal's favourite strawberry juice in the super market when my blackberry vibrated in the pockets of my shorts.
"Saif.." Nawaf's voice sounded troubled.
"Nawaf, shfeek?" I suddenly was full of worry. Was it Amal? Did something happen to her?
"Yedetna bel mustasfha, she had a heart attack." Nawaf's voice quivered through the phone.
"Shnu?" I held the gasp in but my eyes suddenly filled with tears, I let go of the trolley I was pushing and stalked out of the super market. Nawaf explained that Gran had a weak heart due to her old age. I couldn't tell Amal, she was carrying our baby girl, I couldn't put more stress on her.
I was in Gran's room in the hospital when the second call, from Bibi, alerted me.
"Saif, bsr3aa ta3al Al Hadi hospital!" Bibi panicked.
"Ana al7een bil Hadi.." I said in a confused tone, did Bibi find out about Gran? I stared at Gran's lifeless face, her eyes drooping down, her body connected to multiple wires that pushed different kinds of medicine into her.
"Huh.." Bibi suddenly froze, sounding quizzical.
"Bibi al7een gouleely sh9ayer!" I cried into the phone, trying to bring Bibi back to what she wanted to say. Nawaf was sitting next to Gran with our parents. I decided to leave the room to talk to Bibi properly.
"Amal, she's having the baby!" Bibi cried back into the phone, she was panicking again. Beads of sweat were trickling down my neck, my blood ran cold as I heard Bibi's words.
"WHAT?" I nearly screamed into the phone.
"BSR3A TA3AL. Level 3, waiting room." Bibi screamed back, hanging up on me without another word.
I didn't wait to tell anyone else. I actually didn't have time to think about telling anyone else, my mind was filled with alerts, telling me to get to Amal as fast as I could.
I decided to run for it.
Our baby. Our little Razan.
Those words kept playing over and over again in my head as I was urging my body to run faster. I waited impatiently for the elevator to take me to level 3, my fingers kept drumming against my legs, people kept turning to look at me but I kept my eyes down, imagining the pain Amal was going through right now.
I finally reached the waiting room. Bibi had her head dug into her legs, Turki was next to her, his hand rubbing her back. Turki was much taller now and his skin had darkened, he looked more of a man than the little boy I used to know.
"Saif." Turki quickly stood up once he saw me. I was sweating, my chest was heaving but I wanted to see Amal. I had to see her.
"Weinha?" I said in between heavy breaths.
"They're performing the surgery now." Bibi looked up at me, her eyes full of fearful tears.
"3amaleya? Laish 3amaleya?!" I urged Bibi to answer me, my heart was beating furiously inside my chest.
"Ma y9eer natural birth, the baby isn't positioned right in the stomach. It's a C-section." Bibi tried to calm me down, telling me it was perfectly normal, that it was going to be fine.
I kept pacing back and fourth in the waiting room. The surgical room was right in front of us but we weren't allowed to walk in, not allowed to see Amal or the surgery that she was going through.
After a few hours, one of the doctors finally approached us with a troubled expression. He had ash blonde hair and dark blue eyes that were framed with aging wrinkles.
"What happened? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" The questions kept piling.
"The baby is fine but Amal lost a lot of blood.." The doctor began to speak but all I heard was "Amal lost a lot of blood". My ears clogged up and all I could think was:
What did that mean? Stop telling me stupid medical information my mind won't process, tell me if she's alright or not!
"IS SHE OKAY?" I nearly yelled at the doctor, my voice trembling.
"Saif calm down." Bibi rested a hand over my arm, trying to calm me down but I couldn't calm down, knowing that Amal was in there, close to death.
"We need someone with the same blood type as her from your family." The Doctor told us in a strained voice.
"Me, take my blood." I quickly offered.
"What blood type are you?" The doctor asked. I handed him my ID and the doctor shook his head in disappointment.
"You're not the same blood type as her."
"I'm the same blood type." Bibi quickly spoke up. I looked around at Bibi with a shocked expression on. I knew for a fact that she wasn't related to Amal by blood but she had the same blood type as Amal nonetheless. The doctor ushered Bibi to a room where he could run tests before drawing blood from her body.
It was a long night. I stayed in the waiting room impatiently. It took hours and hours, the process of trying to fill Amal with the new blood and having to prepare our baby girl.
I got the chance to see our baby. Amal was still in the surgical room, I couldn't see her yet. I walked over to the baby room where they held all the newborn babies. My eyes raked over the babies, trying to look for my own baby girl.
I gave the nurse the name and room number. The room smelled like medicine and baby powder, it had white lighting and the nurses held friendly smiles. One of the nurses pushed a little baby casket which was over the trolley to the clear glass window.
I peeked down and the little baby girl in front of me took my breath away. The baby girl's eyes weren't fully open, they were slightly drooped but I peeked at her large chocolate eyes, giving her a little smile. She was dressed in the pink outfit we got her a few months ago. She had Amal's cheeks but my straight nose, her eyes were the exact same shape as Amal's and I could see a little dimple that wasn't so obvious. The baby's face was still swollen but her eyes peeked up at mine.
"Mashallah." Amal's mother breathed out next to me. I turned to find Turki, Nawaf, Amal's parents, my own parents all staring at my little baby girl in awe. All of their eyes were full of happy tears, just like my own.
Amal, if only you could see Razan right now.
I could feel my heart break inside my chest, causing a pain to fill over my chest. I was aching for Amal to see her own baby girl, she was the exact replica of her. There were hints of myself in our baby but Razan was all Amal. I left the baby room and sat back on one of the chairs in the waiting room, letting my own tears spill over as I was sitting by myself.
I mentally prayed, over and over again.
A tap on my shoulder startled me. I looked up and found the same blonde doctor standing over me. I noticed Amal's parents sitting next to me in silence, I hadn't noticed their presence.
"She's okay." The doctor gave us a smile and we all sighed in relief, my prayers had been answered. "She's drugged so she's still half asleep, would you like to see her though?"
I didn't answer, I stood up in a heartbeat and forced the doctor to lead me to the surgical room. I walked in, ignoring the smell of anesthetics and blood. Amal was laying down on a stretcher, her hair beautiful long hair was up and covered up. Her eyes were slightly open, her full scarlet lips looked swollen and her face was ghostly pale.
"Amal, galbe." I whispered, taking a step closer to her. My fingers found hers, the gaps in between her fingers perfectly fit mine.
"Mmm." Amal groaned, there were wet tears on her cheeks. I brushed them off with the back of my hand, I dug my face into her lap, holding tightly onto her hand, covering it with soft kisses.
"Saif." Amal murmured, her fingers blindly touching my face.
"Eee 7beebty, kanii." My face broke out in a smile as I looked up at Amal again. Her eyes were slowly shutting down, her face twisting in pain every few seconds. The nurses left us alone for a few minutes, I took a step closer to her and brushed my lips over her soft ones. I gave her a small peck, letting her fall asleep, not wanting to wake her up and cause her to feel the pain from the surgery.
They laid her in her bed in the patient room, closing the doors in her bedroom, not letting anyone disturb her. I felt at peace, seeing Amal, seeing her alive. el7amdellah ya rab.
"Saif." Nawaf's voice crept up behind me. Amal's parents and girl cousins were with her I was forced to stay out of the room.
"She passed away." Nawaf sadly stated.
I knew who he meant. Our Grandmother, our beloved Gran..
All I could do was stare at Nawaf's depressed face, unable to utter a word.
"The nurse came in, she thought Gran was asleep but when she checked her pulse, she had passed away." Nawaf's voice cracked, his eyes filling with tears. "Allah yer7amha."
"Allah yer7amha." I murmured to myself, the news slowly dawning in on me. Only Nawaf and I knew about Gran, we left it that way, we didn't tell the others until they left Amal's side. Their happiness melted away once they heard the news.
A life for a life.
Gran had passed away at the time when Razan was born. I was depressed, emotionally destroyed by the news but deep inside me, I was still at peace. Gran had passed away peacefully, she faced no pain and it was her time. This is what God wanted, He had a reason for everything, I didn't question Gran's death, all I did was thank God for blessing me with a new life, my little Razan.
Gran would be ashamed of us all if we remained depressed, she would have told us to celebrate Razan's birth instead of crying over her death. I wasn't going to let Gran be disappointed in us, I did what she would have wanted me to do.
Thank God and live.
Live with the new family Amal and I created.
It was bittersweet.
-
Amal and Saif raised their baby Razan together. They decided to go on with the baby shower, celebrating Razan's birth and then having a beautiful funeral set for their beloved Grandmother. Their Grandmother had passed away but God had gifted Saif and Amal with a new baby girl, they had received a new life after losing a beloved one. Non of them tried to forget their Grandmother, they'd remember her everyday, her presence, her footprints, her scent drifted around them in her old grande house. Bibi and Nawaf had eventually gotten engaged once it was time. Turki was in his own adventure, he's currently in America, for a break before coming back to Kuwait to work as a computer engineer. Ghalia was working in Switzerland as a lawyer whilst Fawaz had met a beautiful French woman while he was in Rome for the summer, he married her after a year and she had converted to Islam. Gran's house was never sold off, to this day, every one the relatives still visits the house every Friday for zwara, just like how Gran would have liked it.
-
I will start a new story soon, I know what I want to write about but I haven't planned everything out. As for skinny love, my collab blog, I'm still unsure. I really loved writing this story for you guys, my stories are never too long, my posts are usually long and so, that's why my chapters either end at 20's or 50's like my first story. I hope you guys loved the story as much as I loved writing it, it was sad for me to write the ending but I believe the ending fit the story perfectly, I hope you guys think so too.
Comments? c: xo
Masqué Chapter 25
I moved my plans to tomorrow night so I'm free today, which means one thing of course, I'll be able to post! :D Hows your summer so far? I hope you all are having a lovely summer and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, reminder, this is a fiction story, not a real one, so anything is possible (so keep an open mind about the events, they're not based or portrayed on actual Kuwaiti lives, it's just from my imagination).
Another reminder, my stories will have romance, all fiction but that doesn't mean my stories should encourage any of you girls or boys to date, I believe in fairy tales if only it was done in the right way, keep that in mind. Oh and after this story, I'm going to introduce a new one 3la6oul enshallah. :D
-
"Yuma, were the twins adopted?" My voice trembled slightly.
"Y-yes." Mom's voice quivered, her eyes were clouded with shame and they wouldn't look into mine.
"It explains why I can't remember the twins.." I sighed, digging my fingers into the roots of my hair, rubbing my scalp to calm myself down. Bibi and Turki felt like siblings to me, even though they might have not had the same blood as me, they were still my brother and sister.
"Amal.. tawich 6l3tay men el ma5far, entay al7een t3bana and a lot has happened to you in such little time. Don't stress yourself out with the twins situation, please. They're my children, even if they're not related to me by blood." Mom's usually beautiful eyes looked weak and vulnerable. Tears slipped out of her eye sockets and trickled down her cheeks, showing her devotion and love towards her adopted twin children.
"Abe a3arif shloun you adopted them, do they have my father's last name? Do they know?" The questions kept rolling off of my tongue. Mom brushed her tears away carelessly and propped herself over my bed, sitting right next to me.
"They don't have your father's last name.. and yes, they know they're adopted but we only told them once they reached the age of 12, when they were able to understand." Mom sighed. "Their parents were very good friends of ours but they didn't have any other relatives. Their parents died in a car accident, allah yer7umhom and in their will, they said they wanted us to be the twin's guardians. The twins were only 2 years old, they didn't understand much and they got used to calling us Mom and Dad, we never told them otherwise, they were the kids I wanted but didn't have.. it was refreshing to have children again after you were taken away from me Amal.."
There were so many thoughts racing around in my already stressed out head. Did the twins suffer in school because they were adopted? Did people question why they had different last names compared to their current parents? Did they get bullied? How did they handle it, learning that they're true parents had died?
And most importantly, I wished I was there for them, I would have been there for them through every step of the way but I was in Switzerland, not knowing anything about my true past, living in a life that was full of lies.
"Amal? Shfeech tene7tay?" Mom stuttered, her eyes reddening.
"La2 yuma ma feene shay, bas ga3da afaker." I hesitated, not wanting to make it any harder on my mother. She had been through enough.
"Shitfakreen 3an?" Mom urged on, her eyes searching for an answer.
"El7amdellah 3la kel 7al, I can't ask for a better family." I gave Mom a genuine smile, grabbing her arm to pull her in for a hug. Mom's warm arms wrapped around me, cradling me for a few minutes, reminding me of how it felt when I was a child when she used to hold me in her arms.
"Bibi w Turki ma y3rfoun enich entay et3rfeen bas sooner or later they'll know it by instinct, can you not bring the subject up with them? Saway rou7ich ena wla shay teghayar beinkom, okay? Yishofounich as their big sister, they need someone to look up to." Mom's arms released me and she faced with a serious expression as she stated her words.
"La t7ateen, they're still my sister and brother, w ma ra7 agoul shay." I reassured Mom, letting her leave my bedroom with a satisfied smile drawn onto her face.
That night, I shut everything off. Lights were out, my clothes were thrown onto the ground, curtains drawn tightly and my body tucked in under my soft covers, letting my bed hold me in it's soft embrace.
You know when you're angry at the people who treated you so harshly? Knowing that you didn't deserve the treatment you got? I was angry at A7mad. I was angry at Asmaa. I was angry at my fake parents. I was also angry at innocent Hessa, just for the glare she gave me back in the aquarium.
But that night, I let my anger dissolve. I forgave each one of them, not letting my emotions and time get wasted on those people. People don't deserve your hatred, your time, your thoughts if all they ever wanted to do was to ruin you. I couldn't stoop down to their levels, I couldn't hate them forever, I knew I was better than that.
And soon enough, I fell into blissful sleep with my mind finally at peace, my heart open with wide arms for the new people who could venture into my life, the people I deserved to meet, the people I knew that wouldn't betray me as others did. I was ready for a new beginning, ready to start a new life as myself, as the Amal I truly was, not the Amal who was trapped under a false illusion back in Switzerland.
I've changed.
For the better.
Another reminder, my stories will have romance, all fiction but that doesn't mean my stories should encourage any of you girls or boys to date, I believe in fairy tales if only it was done in the right way, keep that in mind. Oh and after this story, I'm going to introduce a new one 3la6oul enshallah. :D
-
"Yuma, were the twins adopted?" My voice trembled slightly.
"Y-yes." Mom's voice quivered, her eyes were clouded with shame and they wouldn't look into mine.
"It explains why I can't remember the twins.." I sighed, digging my fingers into the roots of my hair, rubbing my scalp to calm myself down. Bibi and Turki felt like siblings to me, even though they might have not had the same blood as me, they were still my brother and sister.
"Amal.. tawich 6l3tay men el ma5far, entay al7een t3bana and a lot has happened to you in such little time. Don't stress yourself out with the twins situation, please. They're my children, even if they're not related to me by blood." Mom's usually beautiful eyes looked weak and vulnerable. Tears slipped out of her eye sockets and trickled down her cheeks, showing her devotion and love towards her adopted twin children.
"Abe a3arif shloun you adopted them, do they have my father's last name? Do they know?" The questions kept rolling off of my tongue. Mom brushed her tears away carelessly and propped herself over my bed, sitting right next to me.
"They don't have your father's last name.. and yes, they know they're adopted but we only told them once they reached the age of 12, when they were able to understand." Mom sighed. "Their parents were very good friends of ours but they didn't have any other relatives. Their parents died in a car accident, allah yer7umhom and in their will, they said they wanted us to be the twin's guardians. The twins were only 2 years old, they didn't understand much and they got used to calling us Mom and Dad, we never told them otherwise, they were the kids I wanted but didn't have.. it was refreshing to have children again after you were taken away from me Amal.."
There were so many thoughts racing around in my already stressed out head. Did the twins suffer in school because they were adopted? Did people question why they had different last names compared to their current parents? Did they get bullied? How did they handle it, learning that they're true parents had died?
And most importantly, I wished I was there for them, I would have been there for them through every step of the way but I was in Switzerland, not knowing anything about my true past, living in a life that was full of lies.
"Amal? Shfeech tene7tay?" Mom stuttered, her eyes reddening.
"La2 yuma ma feene shay, bas ga3da afaker." I hesitated, not wanting to make it any harder on my mother. She had been through enough.
"Shitfakreen 3an?" Mom urged on, her eyes searching for an answer.
"El7amdellah 3la kel 7al, I can't ask for a better family." I gave Mom a genuine smile, grabbing her arm to pull her in for a hug. Mom's warm arms wrapped around me, cradling me for a few minutes, reminding me of how it felt when I was a child when she used to hold me in her arms.
"Bibi w Turki ma y3rfoun enich entay et3rfeen bas sooner or later they'll know it by instinct, can you not bring the subject up with them? Saway rou7ich ena wla shay teghayar beinkom, okay? Yishofounich as their big sister, they need someone to look up to." Mom's arms released me and she faced with a serious expression as she stated her words.
"La t7ateen, they're still my sister and brother, w ma ra7 agoul shay." I reassured Mom, letting her leave my bedroom with a satisfied smile drawn onto her face.
That night, I shut everything off. Lights were out, my clothes were thrown onto the ground, curtains drawn tightly and my body tucked in under my soft covers, letting my bed hold me in it's soft embrace.
You know when you're angry at the people who treated you so harshly? Knowing that you didn't deserve the treatment you got? I was angry at A7mad. I was angry at Asmaa. I was angry at my fake parents. I was also angry at innocent Hessa, just for the glare she gave me back in the aquarium.
But that night, I let my anger dissolve. I forgave each one of them, not letting my emotions and time get wasted on those people. People don't deserve your hatred, your time, your thoughts if all they ever wanted to do was to ruin you. I couldn't stoop down to their levels, I couldn't hate them forever, I knew I was better than that.
And soon enough, I fell into blissful sleep with my mind finally at peace, my heart open with wide arms for the new people who could venture into my life, the people I deserved to meet, the people I knew that wouldn't betray me as others did. I was ready for a new beginning, ready to start a new life as myself, as the Amal I truly was, not the Amal who was trapped under a false illusion back in Switzerland.
I've changed.
For the better.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Inspiration.
I wrote this ages ago. A little bedtime story for @xFgo.
WARNING: You must listen to music while reading this.
Sudden inspiration: November 22 9:07pm 2011.
I slip my body beneath the cashmere blanket letting it wrap around me like a newborn cocoon, resting the back of my head into the pillow filled with feathers, I let out a small sigh. My fingers spread out looking for the play button on my disc player, feeling the familiar shape of a triangle under my fingertips, I put pressure on it letting the full blast of music take over me. My eyelids shut tightly, the beats and melodies are dragged into my ear drums pulsing through my vibrating veins. I let my body lose itself to the music, shots of colour fill my mind. Pink, blue, yellow, orange, blobs of paint are thrown into my mind swiftly mixing to create an image. I let my mind wander, I’m no longer in my bed but I’m flying towards Cloud 9, my arms outstretched trying to hold the warm sun in my hands. I could see sheets of music paper flying around me whilst I was being spun around, I stretch out my arms back to the skies letting my legs dangle under me whilst I soar into the sky. A whirl of wind wraps around me in an embrace making my toes shiver in anticipation once I soar higher and higher. Dark shades of blue and grey paint are squirted over the light shimmering sky creating a darker sky, white small delicate drops of paint have created stars before me. I stretch out my fingers touching the point of one of the stars, I wince in pain once the sharp edge bites into my finger causing a trickle of blood run down my finger. The skies grow darker once the music roars more forcefully into my eardrums causing my blood to boil under my skin. Warning signals are sent from my brain to my body causing it to spasm and my body suddenly loses it’s graceful balance. My body weight suddenly becomes heavy as if a large heavy car was put on top of me, pushing me back down spiraling through the sharp stars and clouds, I can feel myself suffocate and my hands hold onto my neck my fingers pressing against my slowing pulse. I arch backwards letting a scream escape through my open lips and a sudden familiar atmosphere takes a hold of me pulling me back to reality. I sit up abruptly feeling the earphones vibrate in my ear, I breathe heavily planting a hand over my quickening heart beat trying to steady it. I look around and notice myself back in my dark lit room and I brush away the trickles of sweat that formed on my forehead. I smile letting out a breath of relief and crash back into bed stretching out my legs forward arching my back a little once I relax myself back onto the comfortable bed, I pause the loud music shouting into my ears and let myself slip into a dreamless and blissful sleep.
WARNING: You must listen to music while reading this.
Sudden inspiration: November 22 9:07pm 2011.
I slip my body beneath the cashmere blanket letting it wrap around me like a newborn cocoon, resting the back of my head into the pillow filled with feathers, I let out a small sigh. My fingers spread out looking for the play button on my disc player, feeling the familiar shape of a triangle under my fingertips, I put pressure on it letting the full blast of music take over me. My eyelids shut tightly, the beats and melodies are dragged into my ear drums pulsing through my vibrating veins. I let my body lose itself to the music, shots of colour fill my mind. Pink, blue, yellow, orange, blobs of paint are thrown into my mind swiftly mixing to create an image. I let my mind wander, I’m no longer in my bed but I’m flying towards Cloud 9, my arms outstretched trying to hold the warm sun in my hands. I could see sheets of music paper flying around me whilst I was being spun around, I stretch out my arms back to the skies letting my legs dangle under me whilst I soar into the sky. A whirl of wind wraps around me in an embrace making my toes shiver in anticipation once I soar higher and higher. Dark shades of blue and grey paint are squirted over the light shimmering sky creating a darker sky, white small delicate drops of paint have created stars before me. I stretch out my fingers touching the point of one of the stars, I wince in pain once the sharp edge bites into my finger causing a trickle of blood run down my finger. The skies grow darker once the music roars more forcefully into my eardrums causing my blood to boil under my skin. Warning signals are sent from my brain to my body causing it to spasm and my body suddenly loses it’s graceful balance. My body weight suddenly becomes heavy as if a large heavy car was put on top of me, pushing me back down spiraling through the sharp stars and clouds, I can feel myself suffocate and my hands hold onto my neck my fingers pressing against my slowing pulse. I arch backwards letting a scream escape through my open lips and a sudden familiar atmosphere takes a hold of me pulling me back to reality. I sit up abruptly feeling the earphones vibrate in my ear, I breathe heavily planting a hand over my quickening heart beat trying to steady it. I look around and notice myself back in my dark lit room and I brush away the trickles of sweat that formed on my forehead. I smile letting out a breath of relief and crash back into bed stretching out my legs forward arching my back a little once I relax myself back onto the comfortable bed, I pause the loud music shouting into my ears and let myself slip into a dreamless and blissful sleep.
Masqué Chapter 24
Shlounkom shakhbarkom?:D I always have to write chapters this late. x_x I'll be busy tomorrow so next post will be either tomorrow at night or on Wednesday. Story's ending soon, my next story will be a little different. xx
A HUGE thank you to @M_Qassimi for helping me with one of the ideas for this chapter!:D
I wanted to add Shamma as a character just as a reminder of the Syrian problems that are happening today, spread awareness, every little thing counts. Fortunately, Shamma blended well into the story. #Syria. Thank you @Noorzay, you are truly one inspirational woman.
Your feedback/comments make my day, don't be shy. :D
-
A7mad grabbed my arm, reeling me into the apartment living room by sheer force, his rough fingers were dug and woven into my skin, causing me to wince out in pain.
"La etjees'ha!" Saif barked loudly and protectively, letting go of his wooden crutches to push A7mad back with his strong hands. A7mad caught Saif's hands easily and pushed Saif back, making Saif stumble backwards, causing him to fall down to the ground.
"I'm so sorry Amal." Shamma hiccuped in between her sobs, her body laying onto the ground, only her lips able to move.
"Don't you two know how to mind your own business?" A7mad bared his teeth at me, his breath reeked of spicy Indian curry.
"A7mad let her go or.." Saif began, his face twisted with pain since his injured leg crashed down to the ceramic ground.
"Or shnu? You'll beat me up with your crutches?" A7mad growled with laughter, mocking Saif's weakness.
"We know you were the one who caused that accident Amal and I were in. Amal's fake parents bribed you with money, admit it." I glared at A7mad's sharp eyes, not daring to look away.
"Amal's parents are long gone now, out of the country. Plus you have no proof and you won't have any more of it if I kill you both." A7mad roared again with laughter, thinking that everything he said was simply funny.
"You'd be an idiot to kill two relatives and have no explanation for them going missing." I stated bluntly, not afraid of speaking up.
"Shnu giltay?" A7mad's laughter stopped abruptly once he heard me call him an idiot. A7mad's focus was on me and I didn't want his eyes to avert to where Saif was. Saif was holding his wooden crutches, slowly standing up from the ground while A7mad wasn't looking.
"Idiot. Ghaby, shfeek ma tifham engleizi?" I smirked in A7mad's face, ignoring my fast beating heart that was full of fear.
"T7achay 3adil!" Ahmad half swung his left free hand, ready to slap my cheek but before he could, Saif's crutches banged against A7mad's back, causing A7mad to let go of me and fall down to the ground in mere seconds.
A7mad's cheek was pressed up against the ground, his eyes shut but his arms were shaking, he was still moving, still alive and ready to strike again.
"Arggh." A7mad groaned as he tried to place his hands onto the ground to push himself up but Saif placed his foot over A7mad's back, keeping A7mad glued to the ground.
"La tet7arak. K*lb." Saif hissed angrily before turning around to face me with a caring expression drawn over his face."T3awertay?"
"La2." I rubbed the spot on my arm where A7mad's fingers were dug into seconds ago, and hurried over to Shamma who was bruised.
"Shamma are you okay?" I looked at Shamma's destroyed face. Her beautiful light eyes were full of tears that reddened her eyes, her usually innocent cheeks were smudged with her own blood and one of her legs seemed to have have a large gash.
That animal ruined her.
"I'm s-so s-sorry, I h-had no choice. I didn't want to be left in Syria to get killed like my little brothers and sisters by Bashar Assad, I wanted to live." Shamma sobbed out loud, her words being stuttered.
"Khala9 it's okay, don't worry." I pulled Shamma in for a tight hug and looked at her badly bruised head, inspecting it. Freshly squeezed out blood was oozing out of her head but I mentally prayed that the cut wasn't deep, her light hair covered up the cut, not letting me observe it properly.
"Aaaa7!" I heard a loud cry. I suddenly turned my face to the left and found that now Saif was on the ground and A7mad was standing over him with a malicious grin on his hideous face.
I quickly dialed the police's number while A7mad wasn't looking. I covered up my iPhone with Shamma's back, my fingers were shaking uncontrollably but I was able to call the right number.
Emergency dial: call connected.
"Shitsaween?!" A7mad's voice boomed out and startled me.
"W-wela shay." I let go of my iPhone, letting it rest on the ground, knowing that the police could hear our conversation.
"Aloo? Aloo?" I heard the faint noise come out of my iPhone, I assumed that it was the police station.
"A7mad khala9 let them go." Shamma tried to keep her voice from shaking but failed.
"Shamma don't tell me what to do!" A7mad roared again, his hand pressed against Saif's injured leg to keep Saif on the ground.
"Aaargh." Saif winced out in pain.
"Like the pain?" A7mad grinned, pressing his fingers harder against Saif's injured leg, causing Saif to scream.
"Saif!" I yelled out in a fearful voice. "A7mad stop it!"
"Encha3may yal 7m*ra wela al7een athbi7ich, entay w 7abeebich, sima3teeny?!" A7mad yelled back at me.
A7mad let go of Saif's leg, letting Saif lay on the ground with his face twisted with pain. A7mad banged the front door shut, locking it with a key before approaching Shamma and I.
"Al7een 3nde bentain, hmm I wonder what I should do with you girls." A7mad grinned, his fingers rubbing his injured cheek easily.
"Don't.. touch her!" Saif groaned, forcing the words out and ignoring the pain he was feeling
"Enta mnu 3shan etgouly shnu asawi eb Amal?" A7mad laughed mockingly at Saif.
"Kha6eebha." Saif challenged back. My mouth hung open in shock, this wasn't the time to propose.
"Shnu?" A7mad looked shocked as well since he turned back around to face Saif properly.
"You heard me." Saif's eyes never left A7mad's.
"Then it makes all of this even better." A7mad snickered. He extended his arm so his fingers would be able to wrap around my arm, forcing me to stand up and let go of an injured and frightened Shamma.
"Ta3alay!" A7mad ordered me, pulling me along where Saif was, making me stand in front of him. A7mad hooked his fingers into the belt I was wearing that was over my shirt, trying to force it off of my waist.
"La2!" I smacked A7mad's hands, trying to stop him but his left hand grabbed my wrists, hooking them behind me, leaving his right hand to pull off my belt successfully.
"Yal z*g, agoulk la etjees'ha!" Saif tried to stand up but A7mad's Louis Vuitton sandal-ed foot pressed against Saif's cheek, shutting him up.
"Watch me." A7mad smirked at Saif, his fingers roaming around over my waist to look for the zipper of my skirt. Saif's hands grabbed A7mad's foot, tugging on it, causing A7mad to trip down to the floor for the second time. I took this chance to sit on top of A7mad, pinning his arms back on the floor, using all of my strength to keep him down.
"Shut up." I grabbed a grey smelly sock that was on the floor next to me and stuffed it into A7mad's ill looking mouth. Saif crawled to where I was so he could help me pin back A7mad's arms since they were too strong for me to hold onto alone.
"Kha6eeby, seriously?" I smiled at Saif, ignoring A7mad's wiggling around and mumblings.
"I like it better when you say it." Saif chuckled weakly through his pain.
We had to keep A7mad pinned back till the police had finally arrived. They'd traced my call to the apartment building and were roaming the levels, looking for our apartment room. Soon enough, one of the police officers pushed down the locked door and inspected each of us. A7mad was taken to the ma5far. Saif, Shamma and I played as witnesses to A7mad beating Shamma and Saif. We weren't able to prove A7mad and my fake parents were behind the car accident but A7mad would still have to pay for the beatings he had caused for years.
As for my fake parents, they were out of my life and the lives of my other family members, non of them dared to show their face again after their failure of keeping me in their wretched world. And for me, that was more than enough.
-
"Amal!" I heard my parents call out in worried tones. They were both hurrying down the dull grey halls of the ma5far, their eyes inspecting every inch of me, looking for a bruise. We had just been questioned by several police officers about the event and my head was throbbing with pain. All I wanted was to go back home, snuggle under my covers with a cup of hot cocoa and marshmallows.
I was left alone in the waiting room. Saif was rushed to the hospital to get his injuries medically treated and Shamma was taken by one of the police officers who were looking for a family member they could contact.
"7beebty are you okay?" Mom asked, her eyeliner smudged and her lipstick brushed off. She was still in work attire which was her usual long colourful shirt and comfortable jeans. Dad stood next to her with a worried expression on his aging face, his salt and pepper hair ruffled up.
"Ee bas abe arid el bait, please." I begged through a tiny voice. I left the police men to explain the situation to my parents as I waited in my father's jet black Range Rover. After 30 minutes of waiting patiently, my parents drove me back home in silence, leaving me alone and not questioning me any further. I appreciated that they didn't argue or express their hate towards A7mad in front of me, I didn't need any more reminders of the events of today.
Bibi and Turki both were waiting for us in the living room. Both twins had their pajamas on but their faces were full of fear and worry.
"Amal, sh9ar?" Bibi hurried over to my side, her eyes searching for mine. Turki stood back, noticing my frozen and rigid posture.
"Bibi khala9, riday darich. Amal t3bana." Mom told Bibi, silencing her questions. It was a signal for the twins to leave me alone.
Did I look that stricken and scary? I didn't know. When I faced my mirror, my face looked ghostly pale, my normally clear eyes had reddened and my mascara left dots on my eyelids. I looked horrible.
"It's my birthday tomorrow." Bibi's voice crept up behind me. I turned to face her.
"You're turning 15?" I rubbed my tired eyes, the images in front of me blurring slightly. I couldn't think straight.
"La2 shfeech, I'm 16, turning 17 tomorrow enshallah." Bibi looked at me strangely.
"16?" My forehead furrowed in confusion.
"Shfeech neseitay?" Bibi asked in a worried tone, probably assuming I was getting amnesia all over again.
If Bibi and Turki were 16, wouldn't that have meant that I would have seen them around when I was a child, before I got kidnapped? How did I miss this before?
"Oh sorry, happy early birthday." I smiled weakly at Bibi, she sensed my rigidness and left me alone in my bedroom. After a few minutes, Mom entered my bedroom. I was still in my clothes, my shirt was smudged with Shamma's blood and my body was sprawled over my comfortable bed.
"Yuma, shloun Bibi w Turki 16?" I asked out of the blue before Mom could ask her recently frequent question of "Are you okay? Tabeen ayeeblch shay?"
"Amal.." Mom seemed speechless, her expression gave it away. She was hiding something.
"Entay ri7tay 3shan tit3alajein for 2 years.. w you left me at Khalte Najla's when I was around 3 or 4 years old.. I would have seen Bibi and Turki when I was a child, the ages, the years, they don't add up.." I talked to myself, trying to work it out.
And then it hit me, hard.
"Yuma, were the twins adopted?"
A HUGE thank you to @M_Qassimi for helping me with one of the ideas for this chapter!:D
I wanted to add Shamma as a character just as a reminder of the Syrian problems that are happening today, spread awareness, every little thing counts. Fortunately, Shamma blended well into the story. #Syria. Thank you @Noorzay, you are truly one inspirational woman.
Your feedback/comments make my day, don't be shy. :D
-
A7mad grabbed my arm, reeling me into the apartment living room by sheer force, his rough fingers were dug and woven into my skin, causing me to wince out in pain.
"La etjees'ha!" Saif barked loudly and protectively, letting go of his wooden crutches to push A7mad back with his strong hands. A7mad caught Saif's hands easily and pushed Saif back, making Saif stumble backwards, causing him to fall down to the ground.
"I'm so sorry Amal." Shamma hiccuped in between her sobs, her body laying onto the ground, only her lips able to move.
"Don't you two know how to mind your own business?" A7mad bared his teeth at me, his breath reeked of spicy Indian curry.
"A7mad let her go or.." Saif began, his face twisted with pain since his injured leg crashed down to the ceramic ground.
"Or shnu? You'll beat me up with your crutches?" A7mad growled with laughter, mocking Saif's weakness.
"We know you were the one who caused that accident Amal and I were in. Amal's fake parents bribed you with money, admit it." I glared at A7mad's sharp eyes, not daring to look away.
"Amal's parents are long gone now, out of the country. Plus you have no proof and you won't have any more of it if I kill you both." A7mad roared again with laughter, thinking that everything he said was simply funny.
"You'd be an idiot to kill two relatives and have no explanation for them going missing." I stated bluntly, not afraid of speaking up.
"Shnu giltay?" A7mad's laughter stopped abruptly once he heard me call him an idiot. A7mad's focus was on me and I didn't want his eyes to avert to where Saif was. Saif was holding his wooden crutches, slowly standing up from the ground while A7mad wasn't looking.
"Idiot. Ghaby, shfeek ma tifham engleizi?" I smirked in A7mad's face, ignoring my fast beating heart that was full of fear.
"T7achay 3adil!" Ahmad half swung his left free hand, ready to slap my cheek but before he could, Saif's crutches banged against A7mad's back, causing A7mad to let go of me and fall down to the ground in mere seconds.
A7mad's cheek was pressed up against the ground, his eyes shut but his arms were shaking, he was still moving, still alive and ready to strike again.
"Arggh." A7mad groaned as he tried to place his hands onto the ground to push himself up but Saif placed his foot over A7mad's back, keeping A7mad glued to the ground.
"La tet7arak. K*lb." Saif hissed angrily before turning around to face me with a caring expression drawn over his face."T3awertay?"
"La2." I rubbed the spot on my arm where A7mad's fingers were dug into seconds ago, and hurried over to Shamma who was bruised.
"Shamma are you okay?" I looked at Shamma's destroyed face. Her beautiful light eyes were full of tears that reddened her eyes, her usually innocent cheeks were smudged with her own blood and one of her legs seemed to have have a large gash.
That animal ruined her.
"I'm s-so s-sorry, I h-had no choice. I didn't want to be left in Syria to get killed like my little brothers and sisters by Bashar Assad, I wanted to live." Shamma sobbed out loud, her words being stuttered.
"Khala9 it's okay, don't worry." I pulled Shamma in for a tight hug and looked at her badly bruised head, inspecting it. Freshly squeezed out blood was oozing out of her head but I mentally prayed that the cut wasn't deep, her light hair covered up the cut, not letting me observe it properly.
"Aaaa7!" I heard a loud cry. I suddenly turned my face to the left and found that now Saif was on the ground and A7mad was standing over him with a malicious grin on his hideous face.
I quickly dialed the police's number while A7mad wasn't looking. I covered up my iPhone with Shamma's back, my fingers were shaking uncontrollably but I was able to call the right number.
Emergency dial: call connected.
"Shitsaween?!" A7mad's voice boomed out and startled me.
"W-wela shay." I let go of my iPhone, letting it rest on the ground, knowing that the police could hear our conversation.
"Aloo? Aloo?" I heard the faint noise come out of my iPhone, I assumed that it was the police station.
"A7mad khala9 let them go." Shamma tried to keep her voice from shaking but failed.
"Shamma don't tell me what to do!" A7mad roared again, his hand pressed against Saif's injured leg to keep Saif on the ground.
"Aaargh." Saif winced out in pain.
"Like the pain?" A7mad grinned, pressing his fingers harder against Saif's injured leg, causing Saif to scream.
"Saif!" I yelled out in a fearful voice. "A7mad stop it!"
"Encha3may yal 7m*ra wela al7een athbi7ich, entay w 7abeebich, sima3teeny?!" A7mad yelled back at me.
A7mad let go of Saif's leg, letting Saif lay on the ground with his face twisted with pain. A7mad banged the front door shut, locking it with a key before approaching Shamma and I.
"Al7een 3nde bentain, hmm I wonder what I should do with you girls." A7mad grinned, his fingers rubbing his injured cheek easily.
"Don't.. touch her!" Saif groaned, forcing the words out and ignoring the pain he was feeling
"Enta mnu 3shan etgouly shnu asawi eb Amal?" A7mad laughed mockingly at Saif.
"Kha6eebha." Saif challenged back. My mouth hung open in shock, this wasn't the time to propose.
"Shnu?" A7mad looked shocked as well since he turned back around to face Saif properly.
"You heard me." Saif's eyes never left A7mad's.
"Then it makes all of this even better." A7mad snickered. He extended his arm so his fingers would be able to wrap around my arm, forcing me to stand up and let go of an injured and frightened Shamma.
"Ta3alay!" A7mad ordered me, pulling me along where Saif was, making me stand in front of him. A7mad hooked his fingers into the belt I was wearing that was over my shirt, trying to force it off of my waist.
"La2!" I smacked A7mad's hands, trying to stop him but his left hand grabbed my wrists, hooking them behind me, leaving his right hand to pull off my belt successfully.
"Yal z*g, agoulk la etjees'ha!" Saif tried to stand up but A7mad's Louis Vuitton sandal-ed foot pressed against Saif's cheek, shutting him up.
"Watch me." A7mad smirked at Saif, his fingers roaming around over my waist to look for the zipper of my skirt. Saif's hands grabbed A7mad's foot, tugging on it, causing A7mad to trip down to the floor for the second time. I took this chance to sit on top of A7mad, pinning his arms back on the floor, using all of my strength to keep him down.
"Shut up." I grabbed a grey smelly sock that was on the floor next to me and stuffed it into A7mad's ill looking mouth. Saif crawled to where I was so he could help me pin back A7mad's arms since they were too strong for me to hold onto alone.
"Kha6eeby, seriously?" I smiled at Saif, ignoring A7mad's wiggling around and mumblings.
"I like it better when you say it." Saif chuckled weakly through his pain.
We had to keep A7mad pinned back till the police had finally arrived. They'd traced my call to the apartment building and were roaming the levels, looking for our apartment room. Soon enough, one of the police officers pushed down the locked door and inspected each of us. A7mad was taken to the ma5far. Saif, Shamma and I played as witnesses to A7mad beating Shamma and Saif. We weren't able to prove A7mad and my fake parents were behind the car accident but A7mad would still have to pay for the beatings he had caused for years.
As for my fake parents, they were out of my life and the lives of my other family members, non of them dared to show their face again after their failure of keeping me in their wretched world. And for me, that was more than enough.
-
"Amal!" I heard my parents call out in worried tones. They were both hurrying down the dull grey halls of the ma5far, their eyes inspecting every inch of me, looking for a bruise. We had just been questioned by several police officers about the event and my head was throbbing with pain. All I wanted was to go back home, snuggle under my covers with a cup of hot cocoa and marshmallows.
I was left alone in the waiting room. Saif was rushed to the hospital to get his injuries medically treated and Shamma was taken by one of the police officers who were looking for a family member they could contact.
"7beebty are you okay?" Mom asked, her eyeliner smudged and her lipstick brushed off. She was still in work attire which was her usual long colourful shirt and comfortable jeans. Dad stood next to her with a worried expression on his aging face, his salt and pepper hair ruffled up.
"Ee bas abe arid el bait, please." I begged through a tiny voice. I left the police men to explain the situation to my parents as I waited in my father's jet black Range Rover. After 30 minutes of waiting patiently, my parents drove me back home in silence, leaving me alone and not questioning me any further. I appreciated that they didn't argue or express their hate towards A7mad in front of me, I didn't need any more reminders of the events of today.
Bibi and Turki both were waiting for us in the living room. Both twins had their pajamas on but their faces were full of fear and worry.
"Amal, sh9ar?" Bibi hurried over to my side, her eyes searching for mine. Turki stood back, noticing my frozen and rigid posture.
"Bibi khala9, riday darich. Amal t3bana." Mom told Bibi, silencing her questions. It was a signal for the twins to leave me alone.
Did I look that stricken and scary? I didn't know. When I faced my mirror, my face looked ghostly pale, my normally clear eyes had reddened and my mascara left dots on my eyelids. I looked horrible.
"It's my birthday tomorrow." Bibi's voice crept up behind me. I turned to face her.
"You're turning 15?" I rubbed my tired eyes, the images in front of me blurring slightly. I couldn't think straight.
"La2 shfeech, I'm 16, turning 17 tomorrow enshallah." Bibi looked at me strangely.
"16?" My forehead furrowed in confusion.
"Shfeech neseitay?" Bibi asked in a worried tone, probably assuming I was getting amnesia all over again.
If Bibi and Turki were 16, wouldn't that have meant that I would have seen them around when I was a child, before I got kidnapped? How did I miss this before?
"Oh sorry, happy early birthday." I smiled weakly at Bibi, she sensed my rigidness and left me alone in my bedroom. After a few minutes, Mom entered my bedroom. I was still in my clothes, my shirt was smudged with Shamma's blood and my body was sprawled over my comfortable bed.
"Yuma, shloun Bibi w Turki 16?" I asked out of the blue before Mom could ask her recently frequent question of "Are you okay? Tabeen ayeeblch shay?"
"Amal.." Mom seemed speechless, her expression gave it away. She was hiding something.
"Entay ri7tay 3shan tit3alajein for 2 years.. w you left me at Khalte Najla's when I was around 3 or 4 years old.. I would have seen Bibi and Turki when I was a child, the ages, the years, they don't add up.." I talked to myself, trying to work it out.
And then it hit me, hard.
"Yuma, were the twins adopted?"
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Masqué Chapter 23
Thank you again for all the support, I can't ever stop thanking you guys. I love all the comments you send in and thank you for telling me my mistakes for me to correct them, don't be shy! If you find a mistake, contact me on twitter > @vieblogue.
-
"Shlounik?" Hessa gave Saif a kind smile but her cat shaped eyes were glaring at me.
"El7amdellah tamam, entay shlounich?" Saif awkwardly replied, his hands nervously clutching his crutches.
"Zeina." Hessa cast her icy eyes over me, sending a message to Saif as to say 'Who is this b*tch?'
"Oh uhm, hathee Khadija." Saif pointed to me. "My college partner, we're doing this project on fishes, on the different kinds of species and whatnot."
Khadija? Was that the only name you could think of? And why the hell did you just lie? Are you trying to cover us up in front of this Hessa? What does she mean to you?
"Oooh." Hessa looked relieved, her smile turned more flirtatious. "3yal yalla ana bakhaleekom. You have my twitter, 9a7?"
"Eee." Saif's eyes kept looking back to me and Hessa.
"La2 la trou7een." I smiled at Hessa genuinely. "I was just leaving anyway."
My insides were fuming with anger but on the outside, a sincere looking smile was intact and I looked as happy as I could possibly fake. I slipped Saif's jacket off of my arms, quickly missing the warmth I felt from the soft cotton material once it was off. I handed it to a shocked looking Saif.
Hessa looked pleased but her eyes were full of jealousy once she caught sight of me wearing Saif's jacket.
"Bye." I gave both of them another fake smile before walking off. Saif called out my name once but I ignored him, he didn't bother chasing me, he had a happy looking Hessa accompanying him.
I drove out of the scientific center angrily, my fingers were digging deep into the rubber material of the Porsche's steering wheel, my knuckles turning white once the blood drained itself out of my hands. I didn't know where I was going, all I knew that I needed to think and be alone.
What was that? Why'd he act as if I was no one when that Hessa approached us? What happened to the words he told me yesterday night? I knew this aquarium day with him was a bad idea, I should have listened to my gut feeling. I ended up driving past the Bidi3 and it caused old memories from the day with Bibi flood back into my head, ruining my mood even further.
Da-la-ling-ling!
I looked down to my lap where my iPhone was. I read the following:
Saif Al-X: Accept / Decline?
Ugh, I swear I wish I could slap you Saif.
I ignored the calls, he kept calling, never giving up. He even tried spamming my Whatsapp but I kept ignoring, I wasn't going to chase him. I was so furious, I knew I'd say things that I would regret saying later on, I needed to calm down first.
I decided to drive back to Kuwait University, the day hadn't ended yet and I wanted to catch up on the classes I've missed. I set my iPhone on silent since Saif kept calling. I found a parking space by a tall overgrown tree that created a perfect little umbrella shade for the Porsche.
I walked past the familiar students who had their noses dug deep into their textbooks or their phones. I didn't see Asmaa or her friends so I was grateful. My next class started in 15 minutes and so, I used the time to look for Shamma. I checked all the spots in the university and the university was huge.
By the time I was done, my feet were aching. I couldn't find Shamma anywhere. Was she sick? I dialed her number, ignoring the 9 missed calls from Saif and waited for her to pick up.
No answer.
"Amal?" I heard a voice startle me from behind. I turned around and found one of my professors standing in front of me with a disappointed expression painted over his face. He had bushy eyebrows, a slightly balded head and light honey coloured eyes.
"Professor Gerrard." I gave him a shaky smile, my face growing pale. He was teaching one of the classes I skipped today.
"I didn't see you in class today." He said in a suspicious voice, his mustache moving along with his lips.
"Oh, I felt sick so I came to the university late." I bit down on my bottom lip, which was a habit I did whenever I lied.
"Hope you feel better soon. I didn't see Shamma today either, she missed a lot of my classes. Will you get these notes to her and see if she's willing to attend my future classes?" The professor said sarcastically, handing over a file that was filled with notes Shamma had missed.
She missed a lot of classes? Seriously?
"You can get her address from the reception, I'm hoping you'll do this small task for me as a favor for missing class today." The professor wiggled his eyebrows at me, knowing that I skipped class on purpose.
"Uhm, of course!" I mumbled, watching him walk off once he was done speaking.
I attended the rest of my classes that day and didn't see Saif around the university. I grabbed Shamma's address from the reception desk after giving them the professor's approval letter and then decided to walk back to where my car was parked.
I found Saif standing by the car, he had his back up against the Porsche and his eyes were on the ground. His dark hair was swept to the side to show off his tanned and masculine face. His head quickly shot up once he noticed me approaching the car, his dark eyes felt like prickles being dug into my skin.
"Amal." Saif started but I walked passed him to where the driver seat was. I was about to climb into the car but Saif grabbed my elbow with his gentle fingers, stopping me in my place. Goosebumps filled my arms but I ignored the body's reaction to Saif's touch.
"Let go of me." I said through my gritted teeth.
"Amal, just hear me out awal!" Saif's voice sounded troubled.
"Sorry I thought my name was Khadija?" I gave Saif an icy and sarcastic smile.
"Amal, give me a second to explain." Saif sighed, his eyes searching for mine.
"You have a second." I dumped my Jimmy Choo bag that was filled with textbooks into the Porsche car and turned back around to face Saif, putting as much space between us.
"Hessa kanat kha6eebty." Saif began.
"Shnuuuu?!" My eyes widened in horror. "But you're 18!"
"Exactly, my Dad thought it would be good for me to marry young so I could take over his business and so he could retire early. He didn't want me to teach and since Nawaf was taking medicine, I was his only choice." Saif's expression looked pained.
"W b3dain sh9ar?" My anger melted away slowly as I watched Saif.
"Ma kent abeeha bas ehya bent 3ami.. it was hard to reject her and I lost hope that I'd ever see you again." Saif sighed. "We were engaged for a month but then my Dad saw how miserable I was with the engagement, he finally broke the engagement off for me. He finally understood that I was too young for marriage but he had to lie in order to get me out of the marriage and to not ruin his relationship with his brother."
"Shsawa?" I asked.
"Gal 7ag 3ami ena ana abe akthar men one wife. Hessa 3la6oul ma re'9at w galet ma tabeeny." Saif smirked, causing me to smile at the stupid lie. "W gelnalehom ena ana khe6ebtich."
"WHAT?" I nearly yelled out.
"Haday 9outich Amal." Saif hissed, looking around to check if anyone was listening.
"Why the hell.. what.. shnu!" I stuttered.
"Al7een fahemtay laish ma giltleha esmich el 9ijy?" Saif rolled his eyes at me.
"So now she thinks you're engaged to an Amal Al-X? Me?" I shook my head in disbelief.
"Eee." Saif looked down, grinning like a child. "I don't mind her thinking that."
"Laish y3ne?" I glared at him but my insides were filled with little butterflies, fluttering around in my stomach. Did he like the idea of us being engaged?
"Are you saying you never want to marry me?" Saif suddenly turned serious.
"Don't twist my words." I turned my head to look at the tree next to us.
"Don't avoid my question." Saif challenged me back, his eyes serious and his tone sharp.
"A9lan lazem arou7 al7een a36y Shamma these notes she missed from class." I turned back around to climb into the car but Saif, yet again, grabbed my elbow. I was trying to give him an excuse to leave.
"Hey hey, wein ray7a?" Saif teased, enjoying my sudden rigidness.
"Giltlk barou7 bait Shamma." I huffed, trying to ignore how the sun rays sliced into Saif's eyes, causing his eyes to become lighter under the sun's light.
"Ma ra7 etrou7een brou7ich, bayee m3ach." Saif hobbled to the other side of the car to climb into the passenger's seat.
"Saif." I looked at Saif, sitting comfortably next to me.
"Amal." Saif looked back at me with a grin on his face, trying to imitate my serious voice.
"Fine." I sighed, knowing that Saif was just as stubborn as me. I pulled the address out of my Jimmy Choo bag and handed it over to Saif. Saif read out the address in his deep voice as I drove aimlessly around the roads.
"Hey, ma giltly, laish my fake parents yabouny in Kuwait?" I asked randomly to break the silence.
"Omich ma galetlich? They black mailed Khalti Najla to bring you back here, they told her they would go to the police with the proof they found of her kidnapping you if she didn't bring you back to meet your family." Saif smirked at the genius plan my parents had thought up. "Laish, shgaletlich Khalti Najla w rayehlha?"
"Just that it was time to meet the family." My mind drifted off the the first day my fake mother had told me I would be coming to Kuwait.
"Laish el su2al?" Saif asked.
"Madry, it just popped into my mind out of nowhere." I mentally sighed, trying to brush off the old memories of my fake parents and I.
"Salmiya, apartment 6?" Saif read out in a freaked out voice, changing the subject suddenly.
"Shfeeha? Mu kil el nas 3aysheen eb byoute." I defended Shamma.
"La2 mu 8a9di chithe bas this apartment sounds familiar." Saif scratched the back of his head with his fingers, staring at the address, trying to figure out where he saw this address before.
"Weird." I mumbled while taking the road that led me into Salmiya. Saif's eyes kept moving from the road and then back at me, I ignored his gaze and the way it made me feel.
Concentrate Amal, it's just dropping off notes at a friend's house. Don't mess this up.
Saif's eyes were distracting but I managed to park outside the building Shamma lived in without getting lost. It was a tall building that was painted in beige, the glass doors guided us to a small tiny elevator that smelled like french fries.
"Hey, wasn't that A7mad's car outside the building?" Saif finally said once we were crammed inside the tiny elevator.
"Ha?! Wein? Laish ma giltly gabel?" I started to panic. Why would A7mad be here?
"Ma shifta 3adil, don't worry, akeed it's not his car." Saif sounded like he was trying to reassure himself rather than reassuring me. The elevator doors finally sliced open on level 3 after 15 seconds.
The hall ways were covered with a dull shade of grey paint and each door was painted white. We walked to apartment door 6, finding the golden 6 number placed over the door. Before I extended my finger to press the door bell, Saif and I heard a deep voice yell out from the room.
"Entay shfeech ma tifhimeen?!" The deep male voice yelled.
"A-a7mad, please, khala9 I'll do it." A scared Shamma yelped.
"Ana giltlch be friends with Amal, mu g3day bel bait for a whole week!" I heard something fall onto the ground, creating a loud thud.
"I'll g-go to the university tomorrow, I was s-sick." Shamma sobbed.
"Amal, go back to the car." Saif hissed, trying to back me out of the hallways.
"No." I hissed back. The anger inside me was erupting out of me, I wanted to grab something sharp and dig it into A7mad's cold icy heart.
"Sick? Walla enich dalou3a! Chan zain mitay with your family back in Syria, if it wasn't for me then you wouldn't be here and still alive you little brat. 7mday rabch ena ana yebtich m3ay lel Kuwait when I was in Syria for a business meeting with my father. You're not worthy of being my wife, you skank. You can't even follow one small order!" A7mad was throwing objects at Shamma, I could hear things being thrown around the room and Shamma yell out in fear.
Shamma's A7mad's secret wife?!
And then suddenly, everything became quiet. All I could hear was the whooshing of the AC that surrounded the halls of the apartment building.
"Amal." Saif's eyes were full of worry as he whispered. "Allah yikhaleech riday ta7at, stay in the car and call the police."
"Ma ra7 akhaleek brou7ik!" I argued, my stubbornness getting the best of me.
In the next second, the white painted door was pulled open and a calm looking A7mad faced Saif and I. A7mad's grin widened once he caught the sight of Saif and I, standing outside the door, eavesdropping.
I looked past A7mad and found Shamma on the floor. Wet, sticky, dark red blood was dripping down from her lips and forehead. Her bloodshot eyes were open, staring right at me and all I could read from her emotions was one thing.
Fear.
"7bebty, shoufay. We have visitors." A7mad's devilish grin became even wider, he bared his sharp teeth at us, his eyes glazing over Saif and I, as if we were his prey.
-
"Shlounik?" Hessa gave Saif a kind smile but her cat shaped eyes were glaring at me.
"El7amdellah tamam, entay shlounich?" Saif awkwardly replied, his hands nervously clutching his crutches.
"Zeina." Hessa cast her icy eyes over me, sending a message to Saif as to say 'Who is this b*tch?'
"Oh uhm, hathee Khadija." Saif pointed to me. "My college partner, we're doing this project on fishes, on the different kinds of species and whatnot."
Khadija? Was that the only name you could think of? And why the hell did you just lie? Are you trying to cover us up in front of this Hessa? What does she mean to you?
"Oooh." Hessa looked relieved, her smile turned more flirtatious. "3yal yalla ana bakhaleekom. You have my twitter, 9a7?"
"Eee." Saif's eyes kept looking back to me and Hessa.
"La2 la trou7een." I smiled at Hessa genuinely. "I was just leaving anyway."
My insides were fuming with anger but on the outside, a sincere looking smile was intact and I looked as happy as I could possibly fake. I slipped Saif's jacket off of my arms, quickly missing the warmth I felt from the soft cotton material once it was off. I handed it to a shocked looking Saif.
Hessa looked pleased but her eyes were full of jealousy once she caught sight of me wearing Saif's jacket.
"Bye." I gave both of them another fake smile before walking off. Saif called out my name once but I ignored him, he didn't bother chasing me, he had a happy looking Hessa accompanying him.
I drove out of the scientific center angrily, my fingers were digging deep into the rubber material of the Porsche's steering wheel, my knuckles turning white once the blood drained itself out of my hands. I didn't know where I was going, all I knew that I needed to think and be alone.
What was that? Why'd he act as if I was no one when that Hessa approached us? What happened to the words he told me yesterday night? I knew this aquarium day with him was a bad idea, I should have listened to my gut feeling. I ended up driving past the Bidi3 and it caused old memories from the day with Bibi flood back into my head, ruining my mood even further.
Da-la-ling-ling!
I looked down to my lap where my iPhone was. I read the following:
Saif Al-X: Accept / Decline?
Ugh, I swear I wish I could slap you Saif.
I ignored the calls, he kept calling, never giving up. He even tried spamming my Whatsapp but I kept ignoring, I wasn't going to chase him. I was so furious, I knew I'd say things that I would regret saying later on, I needed to calm down first.
I decided to drive back to Kuwait University, the day hadn't ended yet and I wanted to catch up on the classes I've missed. I set my iPhone on silent since Saif kept calling. I found a parking space by a tall overgrown tree that created a perfect little umbrella shade for the Porsche.
I walked past the familiar students who had their noses dug deep into their textbooks or their phones. I didn't see Asmaa or her friends so I was grateful. My next class started in 15 minutes and so, I used the time to look for Shamma. I checked all the spots in the university and the university was huge.
By the time I was done, my feet were aching. I couldn't find Shamma anywhere. Was she sick? I dialed her number, ignoring the 9 missed calls from Saif and waited for her to pick up.
No answer.
"Amal?" I heard a voice startle me from behind. I turned around and found one of my professors standing in front of me with a disappointed expression painted over his face. He had bushy eyebrows, a slightly balded head and light honey coloured eyes.
"Professor Gerrard." I gave him a shaky smile, my face growing pale. He was teaching one of the classes I skipped today.
"I didn't see you in class today." He said in a suspicious voice, his mustache moving along with his lips.
"Oh, I felt sick so I came to the university late." I bit down on my bottom lip, which was a habit I did whenever I lied.
"Hope you feel better soon. I didn't see Shamma today either, she missed a lot of my classes. Will you get these notes to her and see if she's willing to attend my future classes?" The professor said sarcastically, handing over a file that was filled with notes Shamma had missed.
She missed a lot of classes? Seriously?
"You can get her address from the reception, I'm hoping you'll do this small task for me as a favor for missing class today." The professor wiggled his eyebrows at me, knowing that I skipped class on purpose.
"Uhm, of course!" I mumbled, watching him walk off once he was done speaking.
I attended the rest of my classes that day and didn't see Saif around the university. I grabbed Shamma's address from the reception desk after giving them the professor's approval letter and then decided to walk back to where my car was parked.
I found Saif standing by the car, he had his back up against the Porsche and his eyes were on the ground. His dark hair was swept to the side to show off his tanned and masculine face. His head quickly shot up once he noticed me approaching the car, his dark eyes felt like prickles being dug into my skin.
"Amal." Saif started but I walked passed him to where the driver seat was. I was about to climb into the car but Saif grabbed my elbow with his gentle fingers, stopping me in my place. Goosebumps filled my arms but I ignored the body's reaction to Saif's touch.
"Let go of me." I said through my gritted teeth.
"Amal, just hear me out awal!" Saif's voice sounded troubled.
"Sorry I thought my name was Khadija?" I gave Saif an icy and sarcastic smile.
"Amal, give me a second to explain." Saif sighed, his eyes searching for mine.
"You have a second." I dumped my Jimmy Choo bag that was filled with textbooks into the Porsche car and turned back around to face Saif, putting as much space between us.
"Hessa kanat kha6eebty." Saif began.
"Shnuuuu?!" My eyes widened in horror. "But you're 18!"
"Exactly, my Dad thought it would be good for me to marry young so I could take over his business and so he could retire early. He didn't want me to teach and since Nawaf was taking medicine, I was his only choice." Saif's expression looked pained.
"W b3dain sh9ar?" My anger melted away slowly as I watched Saif.
"Ma kent abeeha bas ehya bent 3ami.. it was hard to reject her and I lost hope that I'd ever see you again." Saif sighed. "We were engaged for a month but then my Dad saw how miserable I was with the engagement, he finally broke the engagement off for me. He finally understood that I was too young for marriage but he had to lie in order to get me out of the marriage and to not ruin his relationship with his brother."
"Shsawa?" I asked.
"Gal 7ag 3ami ena ana abe akthar men one wife. Hessa 3la6oul ma re'9at w galet ma tabeeny." Saif smirked, causing me to smile at the stupid lie. "W gelnalehom ena ana khe6ebtich."
"WHAT?" I nearly yelled out.
"Haday 9outich Amal." Saif hissed, looking around to check if anyone was listening.
"Why the hell.. what.. shnu!" I stuttered.
"Al7een fahemtay laish ma giltleha esmich el 9ijy?" Saif rolled his eyes at me.
"So now she thinks you're engaged to an Amal Al-X? Me?" I shook my head in disbelief.
"Eee." Saif looked down, grinning like a child. "I don't mind her thinking that."
"Laish y3ne?" I glared at him but my insides were filled with little butterflies, fluttering around in my stomach. Did he like the idea of us being engaged?
"Are you saying you never want to marry me?" Saif suddenly turned serious.
"Don't twist my words." I turned my head to look at the tree next to us.
"Don't avoid my question." Saif challenged me back, his eyes serious and his tone sharp.
"A9lan lazem arou7 al7een a36y Shamma these notes she missed from class." I turned back around to climb into the car but Saif, yet again, grabbed my elbow. I was trying to give him an excuse to leave.
"Hey hey, wein ray7a?" Saif teased, enjoying my sudden rigidness.
"Giltlk barou7 bait Shamma." I huffed, trying to ignore how the sun rays sliced into Saif's eyes, causing his eyes to become lighter under the sun's light.
"Ma ra7 etrou7een brou7ich, bayee m3ach." Saif hobbled to the other side of the car to climb into the passenger's seat.
"Saif." I looked at Saif, sitting comfortably next to me.
"Amal." Saif looked back at me with a grin on his face, trying to imitate my serious voice.
"Fine." I sighed, knowing that Saif was just as stubborn as me. I pulled the address out of my Jimmy Choo bag and handed it over to Saif. Saif read out the address in his deep voice as I drove aimlessly around the roads.
"Hey, ma giltly, laish my fake parents yabouny in Kuwait?" I asked randomly to break the silence.
"Omich ma galetlich? They black mailed Khalti Najla to bring you back here, they told her they would go to the police with the proof they found of her kidnapping you if she didn't bring you back to meet your family." Saif smirked at the genius plan my parents had thought up. "Laish, shgaletlich Khalti Najla w rayehlha?"
"Just that it was time to meet the family." My mind drifted off the the first day my fake mother had told me I would be coming to Kuwait.
"Laish el su2al?" Saif asked.
"Madry, it just popped into my mind out of nowhere." I mentally sighed, trying to brush off the old memories of my fake parents and I.
"Salmiya, apartment 6?" Saif read out in a freaked out voice, changing the subject suddenly.
"Shfeeha? Mu kil el nas 3aysheen eb byoute." I defended Shamma.
"La2 mu 8a9di chithe bas this apartment sounds familiar." Saif scratched the back of his head with his fingers, staring at the address, trying to figure out where he saw this address before.
"Weird." I mumbled while taking the road that led me into Salmiya. Saif's eyes kept moving from the road and then back at me, I ignored his gaze and the way it made me feel.
Concentrate Amal, it's just dropping off notes at a friend's house. Don't mess this up.
Saif's eyes were distracting but I managed to park outside the building Shamma lived in without getting lost. It was a tall building that was painted in beige, the glass doors guided us to a small tiny elevator that smelled like french fries.
"Hey, wasn't that A7mad's car outside the building?" Saif finally said once we were crammed inside the tiny elevator.
"Ha?! Wein? Laish ma giltly gabel?" I started to panic. Why would A7mad be here?
"Ma shifta 3adil, don't worry, akeed it's not his car." Saif sounded like he was trying to reassure himself rather than reassuring me. The elevator doors finally sliced open on level 3 after 15 seconds.
The hall ways were covered with a dull shade of grey paint and each door was painted white. We walked to apartment door 6, finding the golden 6 number placed over the door. Before I extended my finger to press the door bell, Saif and I heard a deep voice yell out from the room.
"Entay shfeech ma tifhimeen?!" The deep male voice yelled.
"A-a7mad, please, khala9 I'll do it." A scared Shamma yelped.
"Ana giltlch be friends with Amal, mu g3day bel bait for a whole week!" I heard something fall onto the ground, creating a loud thud.
"I'll g-go to the university tomorrow, I was s-sick." Shamma sobbed.
"Amal, go back to the car." Saif hissed, trying to back me out of the hallways.
"No." I hissed back. The anger inside me was erupting out of me, I wanted to grab something sharp and dig it into A7mad's cold icy heart.
"Sick? Walla enich dalou3a! Chan zain mitay with your family back in Syria, if it wasn't for me then you wouldn't be here and still alive you little brat. 7mday rabch ena ana yebtich m3ay lel Kuwait when I was in Syria for a business meeting with my father. You're not worthy of being my wife, you skank. You can't even follow one small order!" A7mad was throwing objects at Shamma, I could hear things being thrown around the room and Shamma yell out in fear.
Shamma's A7mad's secret wife?!
And then suddenly, everything became quiet. All I could hear was the whooshing of the AC that surrounded the halls of the apartment building.
"Amal." Saif's eyes were full of worry as he whispered. "Allah yikhaleech riday ta7at, stay in the car and call the police."
"Ma ra7 akhaleek brou7ik!" I argued, my stubbornness getting the best of me.
In the next second, the white painted door was pulled open and a calm looking A7mad faced Saif and I. A7mad's grin widened once he caught the sight of Saif and I, standing outside the door, eavesdropping.
I looked past A7mad and found Shamma on the floor. Wet, sticky, dark red blood was dripping down from her lips and forehead. Her bloodshot eyes were open, staring right at me and all I could read from her emotions was one thing.
Fear.
"7bebty, shoufay. We have visitors." A7mad's devilish grin became even wider, he bared his sharp teeth at us, his eyes glazing over Saif and I, as if we were his prey.
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