“Haa youba eshfeech?” Faisal asked with a worried tone, “Did everything go smoothly with your brother?”
“Yes,” Dalal whispered and smiled.
“Akeed? You don’t sound convincing.” Faisal replied.
“Faisal wayenk? Ako shay lazem agoolek yah w abeek etrakiz ma3ay shway.” Dalal said with a serious tone.
“Degeega,” Faisal said as he got out of the Dewaniya and got into his car. “Amray 7abebty?”
“Faisal, you can marry me now.” Dalal whispered.
Faisal was speechless, “Dalal, mani fahem?”
Dalal giggled and told Faisal about what had happened with Nasser and 3azeez earlier that night. Faisal sat silently listening to Dalal with his jaw dropped.
Dalal waited for him to say something but he didn’t and it started to worry her.
“Faisal? Eshfeek matrid?”
“Madre Dalal, I just find it too good to be true.” Faisal said coldly.
“Faisal didn’t you say miracles happen? Yala it’s happening now, omy etgoul khal omek teyey eb hal youmain.” Dalal said plainly.
“3abalech it’s that easy?” Faisal asked.
Dalal was starting to get furious with Faisal’s reaction, “Faisal eshfeek? Are you trying to back out or something? Shno kel elkalam ely gelta earlier faj2a nesayta?”
All that Dalal got was a plain “madree.”
“Faisal what are you saying? Isn’t this what you want? Isn’t this why you’re back in my life?” Dalal asked with a heartbreaking tone.
“It’s just too fast.” Faisal replied back.
Dalal tried her best to hold herself from crying as she asked, “are you playing with me?”
“No,” Faisal replied. “I’m not playing with you, I’m just finding it hard to believe.”
Dalal swallowed her tears and cleared her throat, “Jad Faisal matewaqa3t hal reaction menik. I thought you’d be happy. 3al3omom, ana gelt agoolik ely 9ar, la2na it was very important, w ent kaifek, te9araf. Te9ba7 3ala khair.”
Dalal ended the phone call, switched her phone off and went to sleep.
Faisal decided not to go back to the Dewaniya, but to go back home.
He needed to comprehend everything Dalal told him; he needed to come up with a plan, a strategic plan that will work out for him. He knew his mother wouldn’t get convinced so easily let alone go propose to a girl who has completely different family values and morals. He needed to have a talk with his sister. Yes, Haya would know what to do.
Faisal drove off and called his sister hoping that she’d still be up.
After two failed attempts, Haya picked up on the third.
“Aloo?” Haya replied with a tired voice.
“Hayoona nayma?” Faisal asked.
“Not anymore” Haya replied sarcastically.
“7abebty asf ga3dtech bas a7taj aklemch tharoori.” Faisal sounded serious.
Haya sat up and cleared her throat, “sure, what’s up?”
“La la mayenfa3 over the phone, ana kani 3asher degayeg w 2o9al elbait, please latrdeen etnameen?” Faisal pleaded.
“Faisal feek shay? Khaled feeh shay? Omy w Obouy…”
Faisal cut her off and said, “Lat7ateen, nothing’s wrong. I just need to talk.”
“Okay 3ayal yala na6retik.” Haya ended the call and went to wash up and wait for her brother.
15 minutes later Faisal got home and went up to his sister’s room.
“Haya?” He knocked on the door.
Haya came behind him from the kitchen holding two mugs of Chai 7aleeb, “Kanii ehnii”
Faisal looked back and smiled, “Allah walla yah ebwakta! 7adee kent meshtehy chai 7aleeb” he took the mug from her and entered her room and sat on her couch.
Haya sat on the bed and stared at Faisal, “Yalla goul eshfeeha Dalal?”
Faisal wore a confused look, “How did you know?”
Haya laughed, “7abeby, 7asait men wayhik ena elmawthoo3 3an Dalal, you can’t really hide it anymore.”
Faisal breathed out, “Hayoona, Dalal galat ena lazem arou7 akhe6bha, in two days.”
Haya was confused, “laish met’thayeg? Mu hatha ely kent tetmanah?”
“Emballa, bas..” Faisal said.
“Bas shno?” Haya asked.
Faisal explained to Haya how he felt and how the conversation went with Dalal. Haya was very disappointed with how Faisal reacted to Dalal and told him that he shouldn’t have said what he said.
“She got angry with you mu chthy?” Haya asked.
“Eeh, 9aketa ebwayhy.” Faisal said plainly.
“Walla maloomha. Faisal ghala6 ena chthy kanat radat fe3lek. Ehya kanat tabe tesma3 menik ena everything would be fine wena everything you want would eventually come ture, 6ala3t ent elkhawaf w to her you seem like you’re backing out!! Allah ya3lem what she’s thinking now!” Haya said to Faisal.
“Adree adree ana ghala6t wallaa, bas Haya please look at the bigger picture?” Faisal said, “Omy shloun ebteqtini3!!”
Haya smiled, “Shouf ent bas lat7atee omy, khalha 3alay ana”
“Shloun ya3ne?” Faisal asked.
“Well you can say ena mama tadree belmawthoo3.” Haya smiled mischievously.
Faisal still didn’t seem to understand, “Faisal khalas lat7atee ana bakalemhaa!” Haya reassured her brother.
“You just worry about Dalal now, ehya aham. W omy lat7atee enshalla, ebtertha.”
Faisal smiled, he didn’t know what Haya’s up to but he loved how she’s helping him.
He finished his cup of milk and watched a little bit of TV with Haya until she fell asleep. He turned off her lights and went to his room.
It was around 4 A.M. and he was getting really tired. After calling Dalal for what seemed 10 times he gave up and sent her a message:
Daloola please don’t ever think that I’d back out or that I’m playing games with you. I’d never do that, 7abebty I want you as my wife and nothing will ever stop me. I hope you’re sleeping well. Please ga3deeni weyach bacher.
Goodnight, I love you.
- Faisal.
