The bitter truth

Aisha

Okay, I knew this dinner was going to be awkward but this is even worse. Salam fits into this scene too perfectly. I hate that he gets along with my family so well. Even Hussaina that came downstairs to watch the awkwardness is conversing with him like she hasn't seen him in years. So far, he has asked her about her job and they have been talking about it for almost thirty minutes. I have been glaring at her all evening. Warning her to stop with all the famzing but it is like she is doing it intentionally.

"So, the client didn't pay her balance?'' he asks her with shock on his face. she is talking about Helen, one of her clients. Hussaina is an interior decorator. She does the design and implementation for homes. Her business has been booming, and even though I told her that she was making a big mistake from quitting her nine to five job. I see now that I was wrong.

"Can you imagine? The woman is posting pictures of her house all over Instagram and she said I didn't give her what she wanted."

This topic is one that I have heard a million times.

"Wow, that is very bad. You could have taken legal action. Why didn't you?''

She sighs "It just seemed like too much of a hassle and I didn't want my first job to end up being a mess. I just take it as a loss.'' She shrugs nonchalantly like that is how she has always thought. I remember when it happened, she wouldn't let me hear the end of it. she was depressed and very upset, now she is all calm and dandy.

"Enough of the business talk. Hussy, you are bombarding our guest with all your drama,'' Baba tells her with a smile.

He likes that she is getting along with him. this just makes him the perfect husband for me. I can see it in his eyes. The daydreams. The wishing and longing. I don't like that I am going to end up breaking his heart.

"It is not my fault that no one else has anything meaningful to say,'' she rolls her eyes and Sal just laughs like she just said something funny. He looks at me and I see that look in his eyes. The longing. He has the same dreamy eyes as my father.

My phone beeps on the table and I jump up to answer it, running out of the room before they can stop me. "You just saved me from such an uncomfortable dinner,'' I whisper into the phone as I walk into the kitchen.

Ada laughs into the background. "Oh, I heard the food at Flowershop is good. I would have at least thought you would enjoy it for the food."

I sigh as I walk into the kitchen and seat down on one of the counter chairs "we didn't end uyp at Flowershop,'' I whine into the phone.

"Oh. What changed?''

"We are at my house with my whole fucking family. He is acting like a son in law and it is creeping me the fuck out.''

"Oh shit. I want to ask you how that happened but I also don't want to know how you fucked things up so badly in such a short period of time."

I sigh again "I don't know how to make it clear to mama and baba. I will never marry Salam.'' I complain into the phone just as mama walks into the kitchen with the empty container of juice. I know she heard me because she has an upset look on her face as she drops the container in the trash and opens the fridge.

"You have a guest. You shouldn't be here,'' she tells me as she takes another juice and walks out of the kitchen.

"I have to go. my mother just walked in on this conversation.''

"Shit."

The rest of dinner goes by smoothly but I see her looking at me as we all try to eat and as I try to act as if I would rather be anywhere but here. After dinner, baba tells me to walk Salam back to his car.

Once we are outside the house, I take a deep breath because I want to talk to him. I have come to the conclusion that I will not be able to convince my family. The only person I can convince is Sal. Once he backs off, they will not have a choice but to let go.

"I love your family,'' he exclaims as we get to his car. My security guard Joel, stands outside waiting, as he always does whenever we are outside late. He is far from earshot but still focused on us.

"This was awkward, you have to see that.''

He furrows his brows "How was it awkward. We all had a good time.''

"I didn't have a good time. I hate when you come over and act like my husband."

He frowns "I wasn't acting like your husband. When did I act like your husband?'' he asks almost like he can't see what he is doing. it is pretty clear to me. he doesn't seem to see what he is doing.

"Why would you come to my house, why do you feel the need to show yourself in front of my parents."

"You invited me. I didn't come here on my own.'' he reminds me and he is kind of right. I mean, I did invite him but it was against my will.

"look, can we just stop all this. I don't want to marry you.'' I yell a little too loudly from the frustration of the whole situation.

"I didn't ask you to marry me, Aisha. I just want you. is it so hard to give me another chance? We made a mistake when we were younger. We are older now; we can try again. can't you see that I am trying?''

I sigh out "I don't want you to try. I want you to let me go. please just let me go,'' I beg him. his eyes flicker and I watch him after my confession. I wait in front of him, silently praying that he lets go of this.

"I have to go now if you want me to let you go so badly. why don't you break it to your Baba and mama? Tell them the truth. Don't use me as a scapegoat just because you are a coward."

He enters his car and drives away from my house. I watch as his car disappears.

What just fucking happened?