34
Due to everything that happened in a single day, Larai realized it was stupid to get comfortable in someone else's domain.
Mr. Kasim had proven to be the most irresponsible man she had ever met. In her opinion, he was worse than Zakari. At least, Zakari wasn't two-faced. Right from the beginning, he had made his intention known to her. He didn't try so hard to hide his true colors from her, while on the other hand was Mr. Kasim, who could put a chameleon to shame. At first, he showed her fake sympathy, then he attempted to take advantage of her, he tendered a fake apology, and finally, he did the most despicable thing ever.
Larai had been thinking of filing a case against him in a police station but she knew it would be a total waste of time. Mr. Kasim was well known in his vicinity and being the crooked person he was, he would easily bribe them and the case would be dissolved. Besides, she didn't even have strong evidence against him. She knew his family members would never testify against him, and she didn't have enough money to support her, and asking Yusuf for money was a solid no.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The sound of her phone indicating an incoming call pulled her from her thoughts.
Without checking the caller ID, she swiped up. "Hello."
"Larai, where are you? I just returned and I couldn't find you. Our roommates told me you've left already. Is that true?" Safiya inquired.
"Yes." My response was curt.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Safiya sounded disappointed.
"I'm sorry, Safiya. We were in a hurry, so I couldn't wait for you to return, but don't worry, I'm still in the city. You're still staying in the hostel, right? I will make sure I see you before I leave for my village tomorrow."
"You're going back to the village tomorrow?" Surprise laced Safiya's voice.
"Yes."
"When will you return?"
"I don't know yet, but hopefully, soon." Her meeting with her family would determine if she was going to return to the city to further her studies or not.
For some inexplicable reason, Larai's heart clenched at the thought of going back home. She didn't know what her parents had in stock for her. Perhaps, it was the reason she was getting so worked up.
Immediately Larai ended her call with Safiya, Yusuf's call came through.
Larai lifted a finger to receive the call but ended up stopping herself right in time. She was hesitant to pick his call because she didn't know what to say to him. As she had said, she forgave him for not defending her, but she was still sad about the whole thing.
She hadn't gotten over it just yet.
After the call ended, she placed it beneath the pillow and lay down. She soon fell asleep.
•
The ringtone of Larai's phone woke her at dawn. Her eyebrows came together and she groggily let out a few incoherent words. She turned to the other side of the bed, but the ringing persisted, making her open her eyes.
Larai fumbled around for the phone and picked it up. "Hello."
"Did I wake you?"
Despite not checking the caller ID—a newfound habit of hers—she could already tell who the person at the other side of the phone was. She could single the voice out amid millions. "Yes."
"I'm sorry." Yusuf apologized. "I had been trying to call you since yesterday, but you weren't picking up. I thought something happened...I was worried."
"Nothing happened." I yawned. "I told you I needed time to think. Did you forget?" She asked; her eyelids touching.
"No, you didn't." He replied. "but you can't stop me from worrying about you."
"Okay, bye." Larai was in no mood to talk to him. She just wanted to end the call and go back to sleep.
"Wait!" He was quick to stop her before she could terminate the call. "I'm coming to the hotel. We need to talk right now."
"Alright." Larai saw no point in arguing with him, for she knew he would insist and besides, she was tired of how complex things were between them. She was tired of arguing with him. "Let's meet at the hotel's cafeteria. I will wait for you there."
"Okay. See you." He ended the call.
Reluctantly, Larai got out of bed and maneuvered to the bathroom.
•
When Larai arrived, Yusuf was already in the cafeteria. He was seated in the far end of the room and was conversing with a waiter.
As Larai advanced towards him, she noticed the bags beneath his eyes. It was obvious he didn't have any sleep last night.
Larai pulled a seat opposite from where he was seated and sat.
Yusuf flashed her a smile. It wasn't forced. He seemed genuinely happy that she agreed to meet up with him. It almost seemed as if something extraordinary had happened.
Lara's facial expression morphed from indifferent to confusion. Did something great happen? Had Mr. Kasim been sent to jail?
For about a minute, silence dominated the atmosphere between them. The thing that could be heard, was the voices of other people in the background.
"Good morning." Yusuf finally broke the silence; the smile still glued to his lips.
"Good morning." She returned his greeting in a subdued voice.
"How was your night?"
"Fine." Her response was curt.
"Are you sure?"
"I should be the one asking you." Larai couldn't repress her curiosity anymore. She wanted to know why he was looking so sick. The fact that she was still disappointed in him for reacting the way he did couldn't stop her from caring about him.
"I couldn't sleep." He admitted. "I didn't even try."
"Why?" Even though she already knew the answer to her question, she felt the need to ask. Maybe something else came up that she wasn't aware of.
"You weren't answering any of my calls. I was worried. I...I thought..." He trailed off.
Yusuf didn't have to finish his sentence for Larai to know what he was afraid of. He thought she had run away.
A larger part of Larai felt bad for ignoring his calls and making him worry so much, while the smaller part felt happy for having made him realize he would never be able to take her for granted and go scot-free. "I'm sorry. I slept early." It was partially true.
"How are you? Have you thought things through? Do you need more time?"
Larai shrugged. "Well, yes I have."
"And?" Yusuf readjusted himself on his seat. "What have you decided?"
"I decided to file a case against your father and have him arrested for attempted rape," Larai didn't fail to notice how Yusuf's demeanor changed. She carried on regardless. "but since it's been over two years, I doubt I still have a case, so I'm letting everything go."
Yusuf was silent for a while. He looked down, embarrassed.
"I have decided to forgive him."
"Thank you." He gave a tight-lipped smile. "Thank you for not taking that as an excuse to break up with me."
Larai shook her head. His words made her realize how unfair she had been for ignoring his calls and even saying all sorts of mean things to him. She punished him for someone else's mistakes.
"Thank you." He repeated.
Larai nodded. In a moment's lapse, she had forgotten the promise they made to each other. "I'm sorry." The apology emerged from her mouth before she could think it through.
Yusuf's eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you apologizing?"
"I ignored your calls on purpose. I don't know why but I couldn't bring myself to pick your calls. I wanted to have nothing to do with you anymore but I just realized how much you've been suffering because of me. I shouldn't have spoken so rudely to you."
Yusuf shook his head in disagreement. "You didn't do anything wrong. Absolutely nothing. I completely understand. I also blame myself for just standing there like a statue. You had every right to react the way you did. Everything you said to me was facts. I feel so stupid."
"Let's put that behind us now." Larai forced a smile.
"That's exactly what I want too."
Yusuf smiled. "You're always so understanding. How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?"
"I don't know." Larai rolled her eyes. "I have been asking myself the same question as well; how did you get so lucky?"
"Destiny," Yusuf remarked.
Larai nodded in agreement. "Have you spoken to your mother and sisters?"
"Yes."
Judging by his gloomy demeanor, Larai could already tell what their responses were—they weren't in support of them being together. She gave a small smile. She had seen that coming. "What are you going to do now?"
He raised a brow. "About what?"
Larai suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "About our marriage of course. Will you go against your mother's wish?"
"Of course not!"
Larai was disappointed at how quick he was to object. She would never want him to go against his parents, but at the same time, she expected him to fight for their relationship. If she was able to leave her family, then he should be able to sacrifice his as well.
Was that not what he meant when he said he would fight the whole world for her?
"You should know I will never be able to go against Ammi—"
"Why am I even—"
"Can you let me finish?" He continued. "I will never go against my mother especially since she has given us her blessings to be together."
"What?" Larai couldn't believe her ears. Her brows furrowed.
"Yes," Yusuf confirmed, drawing meaningless patterns on the table. "And you know what's even surprising? she told me she has always wanted you for me. She was so happy when I told her about you. She wants the wedding to take place as soon as possible."
Larai still couldn't believe her ears. "Really?"
"Yeah, and she also wants me to apologize to you on her behalf. She's deeply sorry for everything she did to you."
"That's not necessary," Larai assured. "She did what she had to."
"Yusrah wants to speak to you...Please forgive her for the way she handled things. She's deeply remorseful as well."
"I will speak to her later," Larai responded. Deep down, she didn't want to speak to Yusrah because she still hadn't gotten over the hurtful words hurled at her.
"Okay."
"I'm going back to the village." She voiced.
"When do you want to go?"
"I'm ready to go even now." The trip was long overdue. She couldn't wait to return to her home anymore. She missed her family and the place she grew up in. "You will come with me, won't you?"
"Hmm..." Yusuf wanted to say something but for some reason known to him, he decided against it.
The action of his didn't go unnoticed by Larai. "What?"
"Nothing." He sheepishly smiled. "It's nothing."
Larai became even more confused by the fake smile. Yusuf didn't seem a tad excited about their trip back to the village.
Perhaps, he is just nervous.
"Tomorrow?" He suggested. "Should we go tomorrow?"
"Okay." Larai nodded. "Tomorrow it is then. We should leave very early in the morning."
Yusuf wiped some beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead and ran a hand over his face.
•
Thanks for all the prayers for my dad. Jazaakumullah khairan ❤️🙏
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