Beneath Guarded Hearts - 94

Previously…

Sul6an

I raised a brow at him, questioning why he didn’t follow my direct orders. I looked back at her, her eyes fixed on the floor, and I thought, same old manipulative Alia. I had to deal with her myself, then.

Me: “Send her in.”

_________________

Sul6an

            I kept my piercing eyes on her as she entered my office. Waves of anger rippled through me at the sight of her, and I wanted to kick her out the instant she stepped in. But I had to be civilized. I wouldn’t stoop down to her level.

Me: “Sho tbain?”

Alia: “Mat3rf etsalim?”

            I continued staring at her and she rolled her eyes at me.

Me: “You’re not in a very good position to be giving me an attitude.”

Alia: “Sul6an…”

Me: “You can’t call me by my first name.”

            Why should I even bother listening to her? She hadn’t changed one bit.

Alia: “I really need this job…”

Me: “Just get out.”

Alia: “Sul- Argghh bas esma3ny!”

Me: “Why? Why should I even bother? You couldn’t even hold up to your end of the deal. You can’t even show me a decent measure of respect. Why should I trust you now?”

            Every single word I had kept to myself came rushing out of my mouth, and before I knew it I was getting a little too heated about the subject.

Alia: “But if you would just listen…”

Me: “Get out. I have nothing more to hear from you.”

Alia: “Sul6an! You’re an adult so stop letting your emotions control you and listen to me! You know damn well that I can do this job properly. Please… I need it…”

            I decided to turn the tables around.

Me: “Why do you need it so badly?”

Alia:  “I’d prefer not to disclose that information.”

Me: “If I’m going to hire you, I need to know everything.”

Alia: “Uff! The reason is because my- Oh who am I kidding? You’re not going to hire me. 5ala9 just forget it.”

            She frowned in defeat and seemed to be deep in thought as she turned around to leave my office. I instinctively stopped her.

Me: “Alia.”

            She turned around, her eyes appearing to be inattentive.

Me: “Just sit down and tell me.”

            I immediately regretted the soft tone in my voice, but she seemed to welcome it and took it as a sign. She sat on the chair in front of me and looked me straight in the eye, the same fearless expression she used to give me when I was still secretly, more or less, engaged to her.

Alia: “My father passed away. I have no one left. I need to take care of myself, and I can’t do that if I don’t have a job.”

            She said all this in a matter-of-factly tone, as if she were repeating the morning’s news headlines. My heart lurched and I felt an involuntary need to help her. But none of this showed as I continued to look at her, my face devoid of expression.

Alia: “I need this.”

            As I looked at her determination, I admired her strong and unbroken spirit. She was a realist to the core and that’s what helped her cope with her situation. She accepted it.

Me: “Ashoofch et7ajabty.”

            I couldn’t help but remark on the obvious transition. Did her father’s death in some way change her for the better? I shook my head, not believing my own thoughts. She couldn’t change. Her behavior today proved it.

Alia: “Sul6an. Yes or no?”

            I sighed, knowing I would regret my decision.

Me: “You can start next Sunday.”

***

            I wiped my forehead and massaged my tensed temples. The meeting had lasted longer than I had expected and I was starved. I headed to the nearest café next to our new location in Abu Dhabi, finally rid of the day’s business errands. Just one last brief meeting was in need and we would be ready to start relocating. We should be settled in in the next couple of months if everything goes as planned. Just as I was about to call Rashid and see where he was, I received a startling text from him.

From: Rashood (Mobile)

Maryam never got married

Rashid

            I sipped my coffee as I walked towards Reel Cinemas in Dubai Mall, wondering if there was anything worth watching. Sul6an and I’s mutual friend, Ahmad, was in the area and told me that he was free if I had some spare time to kill. Just as I approached Sega Republic on my left, I stopped midway and could only hear the hard beats of the pulse behind the curve of my ear. Maryam. It was she, in flesh and body. I hadn’t seen her in so many years that I almost forgot how mesmerizing she was. I saw her emerge with a small hand clasping her extravagant abaya, walking right next to her. Even though he had grown tremendously, I recognized her little nephew, Salim. Why today of all days? I sidetracked to one of the shop booths in the middle of the walkway and turned my back slightly towards her, trying not to be noticed. My ears were wide open. They were close enough for me to pick up their conversation.

Maryam: “Yalla saloomy, we have to leave! Your mom is going to kill me if I don’t take you home soon.”

Salim: “Bas 5alo mawyaam… maba arawi7!”

Maryam: “Aaih latsameeni 5alo, ana mb 3yooz! Hahaha, did you have fun?”

Salim: “Haih! Yeebeny hnee mawa thaneya!”

Maryam: “Inshalla yom 3ndy wagt bayeebk, deal?”

Salim: “Okay deal! La tinsain you pwomised, you can’t bweak youw pwomise now!”

Maryam: “Hahaha inshalla 7abeeby!”

            She bent down slightly and kissed his chubby cheeks. He instinctively rubbed his cheek with his hand, as if despising her kisses, but he smiled bashfully nonetheless. I felt so jealous of that little boy. He was lucky he had such an amazing woman as an aunt. She tugged him along with her and started to walk away, but I caught the last question before their voices drifted off into the noise of the crowd.

Salim: “Mawyam, mta batizzawijaain?”

To be continued…