Chapter 20, Losses

“We are here today to propose to your daughter” said Um Mohammed. The sitting room, that was absolutely full of people when Nawaf proposed to Nadia, was nearly empty. Mohammed and Nadia’s mothers were sitting on one sofa while Mohammed’s two sisters sat next to each other on separate armchairs. In addition to Nadia’s two aunts who were in and out supervising the maids and checking on Nadia who was upstairs in her room waiting to be called.

“I don’t know what to tell you. The situation is not as perfect as we all wish it was. Our daughter is divorced and your son is married. But what can we do. They are grown ups and we can’t stand in their way” said Nadia’s mother. “You are right. I am very worried about my grandson getting lost between all of this. At the same time I know how much Mohammed loved Nadia since they were in college and I saw how unhappy he was with Reem” admitted Um Mohammed. “And if this will bring him back to Bahrain and give him a more settled life then why stand in his way?” said Mohammed’s eldest sister. “I was very ashamed of my daughter being a second wife and getting between a man and his family. But with time I am understanding the situation more and more. Your family is known to be a good family and therefore we have no objection” said Nadia’s mum. Right at that moment, Nadia’s aunt rushed upstairs to call Nadia. She found her standing next to the stairs with Yara in a beautiful short yellow dress with a bow on her waist. “Come down now!” said the aunt reaching half way up and went back down.

“You are one hell of a lucky woman. Just when you finish your 3idda you get proposed to all over again” teased Yara. “Oh come on, what is about to happen was supposed to happen long years back” said Nadia nervously. “I’m so happy for you” said Yara and hugged her tightly with teary eyes.

**

The Studio, 8:00pm:

Boxes were stacked all around the place with thick brown packing tape sealing them up carefully. Yara and Santosh were arranging the store, gathering similar paintings together, rolling some unframed posters and tearing up some old unneeded ones. Nothing was left on the walls. They were as bare as they were back when Yara first got the studio. The desk stood alone since the armchairs were moved out already. The place that was once alive with art and music was now lifeless. And every minute that Yara spent in it was choking her and breaking her heart into pieces.

“I think that’s enough for today Santosh” said Yara supporting her tired back. “OK Madame. You want to take those two cartoons with you?” he asked pointing to the cartoons that were placed on top of each other next to the door. “Yes, I need to take those two to Nadia’s shop. I will open the car's trunk for you” she said picking up her keys and heading out. The moment she opened the door and stepped out she froze in her spot. To her surprise, Fahad was walking towards the café and he slowed down once he saw her. He walked towards her slowly while she stood where she was. “Hi” he said quietly. “Hey” she replied with her face full of unspoken emotions. “Madame?” said Santosh carrying one of the heavy cartoons next to Yara’s car. “Sorry!” she said turning towards the car and pressing on her remote car key. “How are you?” asked Fahad with his fists clenched by his side. “Clearing off the studio. You can imagine how I feel..” she said sadly. “Do you..need help?” he asked formally and hesitantly. “I’m fine.. thanks” she said and moved her hair off of her face. “Madame, I’m done. I am going” said Santosh. “OK Santosh, I will lock the door, Thanks” she said staring at the floor.

“I miss you” said Fahad as soon as Santosh walked away. “Let’s not go there.. The studio is sold and you will get your money back. You will no longer be seeing me by coincidence around this area..” she said sadly but firmly. “I still want you Yara and you know it! You know how much I love you and that there is no one else I’d rather be with” he said passionately. “Again, please let’s not go there. It’s over. Everything is over.” Said Yara harshly. “I deserve a valid reason. Talk! Explain!” he demanded. “A reason? You know what you’ve done, why do I have to repeat it to you!” she said with attitude. “What is it that you can’t forgive? This is what I demand to know” he said. “OK! You wanna know? Fine. I lost trust in you. How can I trust you again? You lied to me about one of the biggest issues that we might have to face! How do you expect me to trust you again? Imagining our future life together, I can’t see myself believing in whatever you’ll say..” she said in a mix of anger and pain. “How many times do I have to explain! I did this only to protect our relationship! I did it because I love you and I didn’t want anything to come in between us especially when it’s something uncertain.” He said trying to sound convincing. “No matter what your intentions were, it only led to me losing trust in you. And I can’t fix it.. I just can’t..” she said and walked back to the studio.

He tried to follow her, but she shut the door roughly in a way that clearly warned him to stay away. She sat on the floor, rested her back on one of the packed boxes and hugged her knees. She was tremendously sad and utterly broken. There wasn’t any starting point for her weeping, she just found herself in the middle of a very miserable state of mind with her tears pouring out. In a matter of one week, she lost the two most precious things to her; the love of her life and her career. And right at that moment, she saw no sign of hope, no better options and no turning back. The End was written all over the walls around her in that semi dark room, that was once called the studio.

She sensed the presence of someone at the door. Someone who was standing right outside and being hesitant about walking in. She knew who it was. And she was hoping that she could run to him fast, throw herself in his arms and tell him how life has no meaning whatsoever without him. But she couldn’t. She felt like her hands were bound with a chain, her legs were tied with a thick rope and her mouth was covered tightly with a piece of material. Moving was impossible. And not a single start-over sign was sensed or felt right then. She cried until she felt every single drop of liquid leaving her body through her eyes. The person who was behind the door made his decision and left. And she was left all alone with her tears and the boxes around her.

**

“Hello?” answered Sara. “Hala Sara, shloanech?” said Osama politely. “Zaina. How are you?” she asked in her usual quiet tone. “I’m good. Am I calling at a wrong time? Or can we talk now?” he wondered. “La it’s ok. Tell me” she said coldly. “How’s everything? How’s work?” he asked to avoid jumping into the conversation right away. “All is good. Same old. Nothing new” she answered not bothered. “Great. Fahad told you that I’m calling to ask about someone right?” he asked finally. “Yes. Let’s see if I can help” she said jokingly. “Alright. Hmm, how can I describe her to you!” he teased. “Don’t you even know her name?” she wondered. “I do. But I wanna know if you’ll be able to guess who she is” he teased again. “Hit me” she said starting to get annoyed. “She’s petite and cute” he said excited. “That is how most Bahraini girls are!” she said with no interest in the conversation.  “Hmm. I’ve known her since she was a little girl” he hinted. “Your cousin or friend or something?” she asked. “Close” he said. “Just say the name Osama!” she said getting fed up. “Come on you’re too close. One more guess. Her name starts with the letter S” he said with a grin. “What? Please tell me that you are not talking about me?” she said shocked. “I am..” he confirmed quietly. “You can’t be serious!” she screamed. “I am serious. You are a very good girl. Why go far? My business is growing and I can provide you with a good and decent life.” he said casually. “Osama! We grew up together. You’re more like a big brother to me! Does Fahad know about this?” she wondered in disbelief. “No, I wanted to talk to you first and  it seems like it was the right thing to do” he said disappointed. “Please don’t get me wrong. I’m sorry if I sounded mean. You are a great guy and almost every girl I know wishes to be with you. But me? I don’t see you that way, and I don’t think that I ever will. I’m so sorry.” She said in an apologizing tone. “It’s OK. You don’t have to apologize and I really appreciate your honesty” he said saddened. “But I can hook you up with girls who are even better than me” she said sweetly and teasingly. “It’s fine, really. I will not tell Fahad about this but if you want to do so feel free” he said. “I won’t. Of course I won’t” she said trying to be considerate.

**

“I’m sorry for showing up so suddenly” said Um Fahad as soon as she was seated in the sitting room. “7ayach Allah anytime. You don’t have to apologize” said Sajida sitting next to her with an upset face. “Is Yara here?” she asked. “No, she is not.” answered Sajida clearly not interested. “I am very sad to be honest with you. Knowing how much Fahad loves her and how sad he is right now breaks my heart” confessed Um Fahad. “We are all sad. But what can we do?” said Sajida with a pale face. “I want to speak to Yara. Maybe I could convince her to change her mind” she said hopefully. “Yara is stubborn! Once she makes her mind about something there is no way that she will break her word” explained Sajida. “What about you? How do you feel about it?” asked Um Fahad concerned. “I’ve never been as happy as I was last week. I felt safe for having a man to rely on in the family. But now and after all what happened I am glad that it’s not happening” said Sajida suddenly switching to a mean mood. “Glad?” asked Um Fahad confused. “Yes! How can I not be? My daughter was about to be fooled into this marriage!” Sajida burst out. “No, not at all. He wasn’t fooling her!” said Fahad’s mum getting defensive. “Then what do you call hiding a fact as big as this?” she asked disgusted. “It’s not a fact! It’s just a small possibility that is far from being proven or something to be fooled about” explained Um Fahad with rising tension. “You will still defend him no matter what. He is your son!” said Sajida while the maid came holding a tray with two glasses of watermelon juice on it.

 “You know how I was against this marriage at first. But then I met you and Yara, and saw how happy Fahad was. Trust me when I say that nothing else mattered to me at that moment” said Um Fahad after sipping the juice. “I was against it too but it was all replaced with extreme happiness later on. Now I’m just hurt to see how broken my daughter is and there is no one to blame but your son” said Sajida honestly with the glass of juice untouched infront of her.

Yara walked in the house right then. She paused in her place when she saw Fahad’s mum sitting infront of her. She then gathered her strength, walked closer to her and kissed her on both cheeks. “Shloanech bintey?” asked Um Fahad as she pulled Yara to sit next to her and wrapped her arms around her by the side. Yara remained quiet while the mother patted her shoulder and rubbed it. “You are my daughter in law and I can’t give that up” said the mother passionately but Yara remained silent. “Is it really worth all this? You both love each other and make each other happy. Why let it go? Please think carefully. Don’t do anything that you’ll both regret later” she said lovingly and caringly. “I can’t..It’s better this way..And it will get easier with time” said Yara hardly speaking.

The land line of the house rang. Sajida stretched to reach for it and picked it up, “Yes?” she answered sharply. “Salam 3elaikum. Is this Tamara’s mum?” said a woman. “Yes. Who is it?” asked Sajida roughly. “I am her friend Fatima’s mother. I’m sorry to disturb you but is Fatima around? I’ve been calling her since morning but she is not answering” said the mother. “Fatima? I.. don’t know.. this is a bad time..” said Sajida and was about to hang up, “who is it?” asked Yara while getting up and grabbing the phone off her mum’s hand, “Hello?”. “Yara?” asked the mother. “Yes. Are you Fatima’s mother?” asked Yara double checking. “Yes I am sorry for disturbing you but I’m really worried about Fatima. Is she and Tamara around?” asked the mother. “Give me a minute, I will check and call you back” said Yara as she ended the call and rushed to Tamara’s room. She didn’t find anyone inside.

“When was the last time you’ve seen her?” asked Yara questioning the maid. “Morning. Their friend’s driver picked them up from here” said the maid. “Which friend? Did you see the car?” asked Yara angry. “No Madame” answered the maid scared. “Her phone is off” said Sajida while she was calling continuously and wandering around the hall. “9alo 3ala el niby I’m sure she is fine. She’s a teenager” said Um Fahad but they were too worried to give her any attention. “It’s 8pm! Where would they be since this morning!” wondered Yara. “Last time this happened we found her in Amwaj!” said Sajida complaining. “But she learned her lesson and has been calling me wherever she goes since then!” confessed Yara.

“Fahad, Tamara and her friend have been missing since morning. They are very worried now and I think that you should help” said Um Fahad calling him secretly. “Where are you now?” asked Fahad scared. “Their house. They can’t reach them on their mobiles and they have no idea where they could be. I think that you should come..” said the mother.

Fifteen minutes later:

“I called my friend, he works with the police. He will look for their names in hospitals and police stations and let me know as soon as he finds out” said Fahad as soon as he reached Yara’s house.

Twenty minutes later:

“Names not found..” said Fahad tensed putting his phone down..