The entire neighborhood came
together to prepare for the wedding. Men lent a hand with decorations,
rearranging furniture, and setting up tables, while women busied themselves in
the kitchen, cooking whatever they could. Haifa's own home buzzed with activity,
and she contributed as much as possible. However, much of her time was spent
strategically planning the perfect moment to talk to Zishan.
As the night approached, Haifa went
through her entire wardrobe to find the ideal outfit. She aimed for something
elegant, fitting for a wedding, yet cute, as she held onto the hope of
encountering Zishan. Saira had mentioned that weddings usually drew everyone
in, and Haifa wasn't willing to take any chances.
She chose a long-sleeved,
high-waisted lilac gown with a delicate grey embroidery design on the front.
Tying her curly hair into a tight knot, she completed the look with a matching
grey chiffon shawl head wrap. It was the dress she had worn for her graduation
and never used after since she had no occasion that required such elegant look.
Once satisfied with her outfit, she carefully applied her makeup.
Days had slipped away, and Haifa had
worn herself out with the fervent hope of encountering him in the most
spontaneous manner. She had no idea where he lived or the place of his work and
so, her options were only limited to the café he had taken her to and Razi's
home. She was also aware that it might be plausible that she couldn't encounter
him by chance simply because she hadn't been out much either.
She was determined to find him
tonight and express her feelings. Haifa knew that calling or texting would be a
practical way to locate him, but it didn't feel right to pursue it in such a
manner. She needed to see him first to say what she wanted to say. She had
rehearsed what she intended to say — to pull him aside and confess that she was
in love with him, expressing her desire to initiate a relationship. She planned
to convey how, despite her initial rejection, she was now ready to take the
next step.
At the wedding, a multitude of
people from around the island had gathered, all dressed in their finest attire,
much like Haifa's own family. The ceremony itself had concluded earlier in the
evening, exclusive to family and close friends. However, everyone was invited
to the after-party. The newlyweds effortlessly mingled with the guests,
retreating to their designated spot adorned for a photoshoot only when a new
guest arrived.
String lights adorned the house
walls, creating a warm ambiance. Tables laden with food stretched from the
house into the open front yard and spilled onto the road itself. Palm tree
leaves woven together were used to cover around the tables, and more were
artfully arranged to construct a celebratory decorative archway, traditionally
known as 'gidige,' with the names of the bride and groom written in flourish.
Amidst the sea of people, Haifa
encountered so many faces that she lost track of both time and her family
members. Even Saira, who had stayed by her side the longest, got swept away in
the last-minute chaos, leaving Haifa vulnerable to the whims of the islanders.
Engaged in conversation with the elderly couple, desperately seeking an escape,
she noticed the man she had been eagerly waiting for over the woman’s shoulder.
He, too, stood engrossed in a discussion with a group of people.
His tall frame and robust build
looked absolutely stunning in a royal blue shirt paired with dark trousers. His
thick hair appeared soft and fine, framing his beautifully sculpted face. Her
heart clenched at the sight of him. After several long weeks, her eyes greedily
traced every inch of him. As if sensing her gaze, his eyes shifted to meet hers
sending flutters through her stomach.
Zishan abruptly halted in the midst
of his conversation with others. He smiled faintly at her, his eyes softening with
a shadow of sadness. His hand instinctively lifted to his chest, gently rubbing
over his heart, as though he felt a twinge of pain deep within upon seeing her.
He, too, appeared unable to tear his eyes away from her, as if he wanted to
memorize every detail about her.
Unable to bear another second from
him, Haifa hurriedly tried to wrap up her ongoing conversation when her Uncle
Zuhair and his wife Latheefa appeared in front of her, their faces beaming with
big smiles. "Hello, Haifa," Latheefa greeted warmly. "I've been
looking everywhere for you," she added enthusiastically.
"Oh, you have?" Haifa
asked, momentarily losing eye contact with Zishan.
"Yes, indeed." Oblivious,
Latheefa turned to two women behind her. "I wanted you to meet Shafiya and
Nuha. Your cousins, the ones you haven't met since you came here," she
explained earnestly.
When Haifa looked back, she noticed
Zishan moving further away. "Oh, hello," she managed to smile tightly
at her relatives. She had lost him in the crowd.
They chatted for another five or ten
minutes, but it felt like an eternity to Haifa. Barely managing to break free
from the conversation, her eyes moved continuously, trying to locate him once
again. It was only by sheer chance that she spotted him heading towards the
back of the house. Determined, she made a beeline to catch up with him.
Stepping into the backyard, adorned with festive lights like the front, she
found it now deserted. She rushed to the back entrance, only to discover an
empty road. Her hopes plummeted. She had been so ready for this moment. Sadness
enveloped her as dark thoughts invaded her mind.
He had seen her and intentionally
left. All this time, she had refused to accept the possibility that he no
longer wanted her. That was why he hadn't tried to contact her. He simply
didn't want anything to do with her. The realization hit her like a ton of
bricks—she had either broken his heart or fueled enough resentment for him to
avoid her. The thought brought her to the verge of tears as her heart began to
ache.
The clinking of bottles caught her
attention, and she turned her head to see Zishan coming around the house,
carrying a box filled with empty soft drink bottles. "Hey. Leaving so
soon?" he asked.
"I... no…" She looked at
him, confused. "What are you doing?" she asked bewildered.
"I was just collecting the
empty bottles and plates, helping around," he replied, stacking the box he
carried onto the ones already piled against the short wall. "Both families
of the bride and groom exhausted themselves throughout the week with
preparations, and they'll have a lot to do after the festivities. I was hoping
to help out a little with clearing..."
His words trailed off as he saw her
face crumble. “What happened? What’s wrong?” he asked, rushing towards her.
Haifa felt her bottom lip tremble.
“You,” she said.
“Me? I don’t…” he stopped, rooted to
the spot.
“You do all these things without
anyone even asking you to do them. You just see things, and you do it. You are
so nice and kind to people, and to me, and ask for nothing in return. I've
tried so hard, I've denied and made so many excuses. But I cannot stop falling
in love with you. No matter how much I try, all my ways lead back to you.”
Zishan looked stunned as he watched her, listening intently.
“You make me a better person, you
make me feel special. I've missed you so much, even though I was the one who
said I did not want to be together. Everywhere I go, it reminds me of you.
Everything I do, I want to share with you. You've embedded yourself so fully in
my heart; it doesn’t feel like mine anymore. It feels like my heart is more
yours than mine.
All this time, I thought I was
attracted to your physical beauty, but I was wrong. Your heart is so kind and
loving, your empathy for others. You are the embodiment of inner beauty. I had
no idea I was so attracted to that before.”
“You have... your boyfriend?” he
asked, as if he was holding his breath.
Haifa shook her head, “I had to
break up with him. It was falling apart before I came here, and I was hoping
and fighting for that so much. It fell apart the moment I stopped.”
He stepped even closer to her, “Why
didn’t you call me?” he asked.
Haifa looked down, “I didn't want to
rush; I didn’t know if I was sure about how I felt about you. I needed time to
think. I messed up that relationship from the start, and I needed to know for
sure what I wanted.” She replied.
Zishan lifted his hand to her; Haifa
slipped her fingers into his without hesitation. He brought up her hand and
laid it on his heart, “Are you now?” he asked softly, searching her eyes.
She nodded, looking at him, “More
sure than anything in my life,” she whispered, “Why didn’t you call me? I
thought you forgot about me. Where have you been all this time?”
He brought her fingers to his lips, "I
guess I've been moping around the house for most of the past few weeks. I
didn't feel like going anywhere; things just weren't interesting to me anymore.
Work has been more busy too, especially with the preparations for the training
and working without Razi," he said with a shrug, “You weren’t available,
you made it very clear. I was barely holding on, just on the verge of breaking
and coming begging to you,” he confessed, his voice low.
“Really?”
“Really.” He said.
They couldn't take their gazes away
from each other. They were pulled towards each other like a force stronger than
themselves. Haifa felt the warmth radiating from him, enveloping her
completely. His touch sent a rippling effect from her skin to her veins. Dazed,
she felt a wave of sensation as he dipped his head, and she instinctively
lifted hers in response. The moment was unlike anything she had ever
experienced before—sweet and sizzling. It sent tingles in her stomach and made
her toes curl. When she finally caught her breath, she looked at him
unsteadily.
“Without you, every day was brutal.
I missed you so much,” he murmured, “I came here only to see you, just to see
you once more. I had tried so hard not to. I am so in love with you, life had
lost meaning without you by my side.” He admitted.
“I came here to see you too,” she
smiled at him.
“Does this mean you would be my
girlfriend?” he asked nervously, his eyes held so much hope.
Haifa grinned at him, “I would love
to.”
With a sigh of relief, he pulled her
into his embrace, and Haifa buried her face in his chest. Once again, she felt
herself drifting, savoring the sensation of him against her. She closed her
eyes, a content smile playing on her lips. Zishan leaned his chin on top of her
head. Overwhelmed with happiness, her heart was ready to burst open, and he
felt like the answer to her prayers—so deliciously sweet.
The sounds of chatter and laughter
broke their intimate moment, making them suddenly aware of the numerous people
just a few feet away. "Let's go inside before someone comes looking for
you," he said softly, taking her hand. "Would you have dinner with me
tomorrow night?" he asked turning towards the entrance.
"Like a date?" she asked.
"Exactly like a date," he
replied, grinning.
Haifa couldn’t stop smiling, “I
totally want.”
Once inside, they refrained from
holding hands but stayed close together. The night suddenly felt enchanting for
her; people became livelier and more enjoyable. Some even commented on how
lovely she looked. When Saira finally came to take her to eat something before
the music and dancing began, Haifa's eyes kept drifting back to Zishan.
He, too, seemed unable to divert his
gaze from her. Even when they were at opposite ends of the room, unconsciously,
they positioned themselves in angles that allowed them to catch each other's
view. Every time their eyes met, Haifa felt jolts of sensation coursing through
her body, and it felt wonderful.
Did you love the chapter, please let me know your thoughts
in the comments.
Have a wonderful day!
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