A Brazen fate

 "It's ITS!!! It's ITS!!!" My sister was at it again with her amplified voice so early in the morning. I darted down to the sitting room to watch the news. "It's 104 million today by the grace of Allah!". My sister pinched me hard and shhhhed me so my parents wouldn't hear and I oooppsed my way into silence. The elderly don't like them for the apparent reason of two wrongs not making a right but I know that's just an excuse to cover their hypocrisy. ITS is a revolutionary group that started in 2015. There are so many rumors surrounding them and who their leader is but there are no dead ends to the continuous ambiguity. I've followed every single update and activity they've done so far and I'm their biggest aficionado. From stealing funds from the empire to destroying the emirs' properties and airing out their dirty laundry. It was always a sight. I'd love to see the king's expression,  that bloody descendant of Genghis Khan. He's probably clenching his teeth and putting pressure on his fat belly as he takes out his anger on the poor potages and broth. It was an enchanting  morning for me as much as I hated Sundays. 

My comely morning turned into a hideous one after a knock on the door. It was the grumpy old man Hussein. He's been my dad's friend ever since the universe's existence and he was always bad news for me because of his son Abdala. My mum grabbed me and told me to go take a shower and get dressed. There was a new dress I was supposed to wear. I did everything and dressed up as she wanted and my jaw dropped when I went back to the sitting room. There were many gifts, golds, baskets full of fruits and gifts for each member of my family -a family of five. Hussein was with his wife and son, Abdala who was well dressed and his arrogance was part of the outfit. I had every kind of begrimed thought running through my mind. I took my mother's hand after passing my salaams and headed to the kitchen. "Maa, please tell me this is not what I think it is".  "It is exactly what you think it is" she stated so gracefully and it didn't make the words less hurting. "No. God Nooo. Not arranged marriage now, not with Abdala to say the least, no. Not Abdala, please noo!!  You guys had to go behind my back for this because you knew I'd never agree to it so what makes you think I'll cooperate now?"  "You'll have to cooperate or your baba will know about you changing your major at the university" me scoffing and sighing with so much anger. "I kind of expected that from you. You know very well you'll never do anything against my wish and this is one of them".  My mother actually rolled her eyes and sarcastically laughed but she knew very well I wouldn't  be coaxed into the marriage. I just had to play along with the proposal for now. I was just starting my university life, an arranged marriage drama with a guy I sincerely dislike was not in my plans. My dad and Hussein were having such hearty soon-to-be family conversations and how I managed to control myself was beyond me. Hussein, Abdala's dad, was especially fond of me ever since I was young. I believed it was because of how quick witted I was and the awards I won. It had to be a trophy daughter in law. Abdala and I have been going to the same school since kindergarten. Our enmity was worse than that between America and the Islamic republic of Iran. I was sent to the shop and Abdala was told to "accompany" me. 

"Wipe off that smirk on your face before I do it for you" was the first thing I sprouted to him. "Whatever my lady wants". I hated his maverick attitude the most. He always walks around worry free and like someone who has the world at his feet. He was always so unpredictable. "I'm surprised you didn't flare up today considering your usual unruly behavior. Is something up my lady?".  "You must be thrilled with all this but I'll sacrifice my life for Pakistan before I marry you Abdala". He giggled and shook his head in a manner that made my statement look so boorish. "If someone hears you they'd think I badly want to marry you. The feeling is mutual my lady". He always manages to put me in a state of pique with his every word. "So why did you agree to come here dressed like a corrupt official overflowing with chivalry, Sir William Walworth?"  "I had no choice either

my sullen lady. I bet my odds against your defiant self". "I know we have such a vexed relationship but I need your cooperation Abdala. I'm very serious right now and we need to find a way out of this God forsaken cultural cage"  "How about we both just run away and live our own lives separately somewhere else?" He said so calmly. I stared at him blankly hoping to see his smiling face because I'd rather take it as him joking than him being serious about it and woefully my fears came through. 

"No Abdala, it does not work that way!!. Is everything always so easy for you? You had a chance to read the mood but this is what you came up with?? Spare me your sophomoric nonsense and scoot" were the only words I could say to let my frustrations out. The situation was intense, the mood was full of perplexity and my mind just added this moment into the list of complaints I have against life which I'll use to wallow in my self pity again. I wanted us to discuss a way out of this God forsaken arranged marriage but this is all this dimwit could come up with. It was so easy for him. Because he was a guy, because he was rich, because he was always known to be obedient sheep and I on the other hand was the rebellious youth who'd supposedly coax him into the idea. I hated everything about him. From his unnecessary good looks to his overflowing confidence and dense mind. He was the type that liked showing off. He'll go on about his new Jordan shoes today and his new cologne tomorrow. 

Abdala was the perfect example of a boy being trapped in a man's body……