*
"You've come a long way," Adnan said, smiling as broadly as anyone had ever seen him. "What brings you this far north?"
"Forgive me, Your Grace," Fahad replied with a distant look in his eyes as he continued to stare at Afrah. "I should have sent a raven ahead."
*To blue or not to blue?The question plagued Afrah all day long. Even now, as she sat on the edge of her bed and watched the clock slowly moving forward, the decision still hadn't been made.
*"Do you like the salad?" Adnan asked, his head cocked to the side. He had been watching her ever since they arrived, never taking his eyes off her. Afrah found it strange, but not uncomfortable as she was accustomed to."I like the salad," she admitted.
*Afrah didn't call until two days later.It wasn't that she didn't want to. She had read somewhere that it was best to call someone three days after getting their number. That way, they wouldn't think you were too hung up on them. On the second day however, her willpower broke and she found herself dialling his number. That article she read had warned against this particular act, but she didn't care at this point.
*"How was the flight?""Too high up for my taste," Adnan replied with a grimace."I can't believe you're still afraid of heights at this point in your life," Nafisa laughed at
*"You're back," Yusuf said as he stepped into the living room. It was exactly five minutes to midnight, and everyone in the house had gone to bed. Or at least they pretended to. Adnan was sitting in the living room, his eyes staring unfocused at the TV, where a boring sitcom was showing. He looked up slowly at his father, waiting to see something which wasn't there anymore.
*"Afrah?""I am not getting married to Fahad, Umma," she said immediately, struggling to keep her breathing steady. "I do notwantto get married to him."
*"Halima, it's Maimuna.""Where is Afrah?"
*"Sit," Yusuf said forcibly, gesturing to the seat beside him. Adnan remained standing, his feet in a small puddle which remained as an aftermath from the rain. Yusuf was staring at the swimming pool, even though it was covered and empty. Beside him was a bottle of coke with two glasses filled with ice cubes. Adnan was thankful it wasn't something else.