"I was on a goddamn vacation in this God-forsaken place. I never meant to get engaged to you. I never meant any of this to happen. You. Me. Us. None of it!"
That was Saira Malik's life in summary. Once a happy-go-lucky girl fantasized about two thin...
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The familiar, awful, churning builds in my stomach. My heartbeat skyrockets as the special puking saliva begin to collect in my mouth. Groaning into the pillow, I turn to lay on my stomach hoping it would die down. I was adjusting the comforter on me when the lights switch on. Mumma enters the room, drawing the curtains open.
"Saira, utho, dekho Fahad aaya."
(Get up, Saira, look Fahad is here.)
"Kiya?!" I shriek, jumping in my place which was a terrible idea. Clutching my stomach, I ask weekly. "Kyu?"
"Milne aaya, areh."
(To meet you.)
"Abhi to mile the hum."
(We just saw each other.)
"You mean on Walima day, 3 days back."
"Sahi pakre hai." I mumble, falling back on my pillow. Mumma clicks her tongue, shaking my leg.
"Utho mumma, he's here."
"Mumma, do I have to? Look at me and the state I am in. I can't face him like this!" I lay in bed, in pajamas, and in my university t-shirt. Empty juice boxes, dirty and used napkins, Vicks, my phone, and a plastic Tupperware portable vomiting box all around me. The last time I had showered was the day before yesterday. My hair was greasy, held together by a claw clip and I smelled of puke. Can't really remember the last time I'd brushed my teeth. Mouthwash was my best friend. True to my words, I was far from a human now and wanted nothing more than to spare myself the embarrassment of Fahad or anyone looking at me.
"Let's clear up a bit, okay?" I opened my mouth to protest but she was quick to shut me up. "Buri baat Saira. He's here to see you aur aap hai ki,"
"Mumma, meri haalat bhi to rehna kisi ko muh dikhaye jaisi. Aysa nahi hona, ke good manners ki chakkar me Fahad mujhe dekh kar bhaag jaye!" She laughs in response.
(Mumma, I should also be in a presentable state. What if Fahad sees me like this and run away?!)
"Nahi bhaagta Fahad kahi bhi. Agar bhaag na hota to, Ayan ko uss din ghusse me dekhke bhaagya hota."
(He won't. If he did have to run, he would have when he saw your beast of a father.)
"Point! But still--"
I'm cut off by a cheerful "Assalam Alaikum!"
Oh no! Fuck, no!
Somebody hand me the invisibility cloth from Harry Potter taaki meri izzat par koi aanch na aaye. Hayee!
Behind Mumma, Hafsa aunty walks in with that big smile on her face followed by Fahad.
