Misbah and I awoke early this morning and said our prayers.
Feeling rather sleepy, I decided to return to bed for a while. With Misbah, I don’t have to worry about being a terrible host.
He doesn’t count as a guest. Besides, he can find his way around the house.
An hour later, a terrible but familiar ache in my lower belly cleared my eyes of any lingering sleep. I rushed to the bathroom and had a purge. There, I saw what I should have known. My period had arrived.
This always happens to me. I don’t know why it had to come today of all days, when I have to go to this wedding thing. I would prefer to stay home, eat whatever sugary stuff I can get my hands on, watch sappy movies and sleep.
Stepping out of the shower area, I wrap a dry, red towel around my body and stick my head out the bathroom door.
The room is empty.
Good.
I turn the key in the lock to be safe; M hasn’t learnt to knock yet.
I’m not so modest as to be troubled if he ever saw me naked, but I’d prefer to avoid that during my period. Carefully, I pick out my previously selected clothes. My ensemble consists of black lace lingerie; a ball-style gown in an Ankara fabric; the matching head piece tied in a fashionable knot; and a lacy white veil around my neck. After arguing with myself, I decide to wait till we get to Misbah’s before applying my make-up. I hold the make-up kit in one hand, along with my glittery high-heeled sandals and gold purse.
On my way out of the room, I stand in front of the cheval glass for a few seconds and then nod in satisfaction.
Misbah is sitting on a sofa, scrolling on his work tablet.
As usual, seeing M brings me a familiar surge of pleasure, making me feel a little less blue.
He looks up with a smile as I walk in. Beneath the quick, charming smile is a tough, headstrong nature. I would know as I’ve butted heads with that stubborn rock several times.
Misbah hardly shows his hard side, though. Brown, dreamy eyes on dark chocolate, a sneaky cologne, an impressive physique and a heap of charm makes for a very potent mix on people, especially unsuspecting females. ‘Hey, sleepyhead,’ he winks. ‘I thought I’d let you catch some while I-’
‘Work, I know.’ I try to return his smile, I really do, but from the arch look on Misbah’s face, I do not quite succeed.
‘Are you okay?’ His voice lowers. With a concerned frown, Misbah puts his tablet away and stands.
‘Yeah, I’m good.’ Still contorting my face in an effort to smile and getting a little frustrated with myself, I nod. ‘Did you sleep well?’
‘Your special bed was surprisingly comfortable. I slept like a baby.’
‘I know. You farted in your sleep.’
‘No, I didn’t.’ M sounds insulted.
I dump my stuff gently on a sofa. ‘Twice, in fact, but there was no smell so ...’ I shrug. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t tell your next girlfriend.’
I straighten slowly, turn around, and am a little startled to find Misbah standing right behind me. I put out my hand. ‘Do you mind moving back? You need to learn to stop invading my space.’
Remaining in place—why do I bother? He never listens—Misbah hands me my favourite mug with steam rising from it.
Taking a sniff of the hot cocoa, my eyes widen and my breath quickens.
‘You are welcome.’
Ignoring him, I sit on a short stool, take the first, hot sip and close my eyes to savor the burn of the liquid going down my throat. I open my eyes with a sigh.
Misbah is now sitting on a sofa across from me. He is watching me with a smirk he probably thinks I can’t see.
‘Thank you. I really needed this.’
Misbah nods. ‘I don’t fart in my sleep.’
His solemn tone makes me smile.
Misbah nods with satisfaction. ‘What’s up, Ree?’
‘M, it’s nothing you want to know, trust me.’
His smile turns into a toothy grin. He leans forward in his seat. ‘We don’t keep stuff from each other, Ree.’
I beg to differ, but now’s not the time to bring that up.
I place the mug on the table. ‘Okay. I got my period and my belly hurts. I am not sure if I want to cry or throw up: probably both. Instead of going to a party, I want to stay indoors for the whole day and just gorge on chocolate. I promised you I’d go with you to this wedding though, so I have to go. Oh, and I have a stupid pimple on my cheek.’
Misbah stays silent for a moment. ‘It doesn’t sound like you’re fine.’
‘No, I am fine.’
‘I can call and cancel.’
‘I would prefer to cancel for sure, but we won’t.’
Misbah nods again, as if he is processing this just-gotten information. ‘You look like you’re about to cry.’
‘Wow. Thanks.’
‘No, I didn’t mean-’ His eyes narrow. ‘Wait, this is a thing, right? You become more irritable on your … um …’
‘Period. Yes.’
‘Hm. Despite the pimple, you look stunning.’ Misbah says it as a matter of course.
‘That makes me feel a little better. Would you like breakfast?’
‘You can cook in your … condition?’
‘You can pronounce the word, you know? Period, period, period.’ Taking pity on Misbah, I stop repeating the word when I see him cringing.
‘The “condition” is not a grave illness, Misbah. Yes, I can cook. Again, I would prefer not to, but you’re here and you hate to cook, so the task falls to me, doesn’t it?’
‘Are you hungry?’
I shake my head.
‘I’ve already had Cornflakes.’
‘In that case …’ Moving to a sofa, I lean back, close my eyes, and enjoy my beverage. ‘When you’re ready, we can leave for your place.’
Misbah goes silent. He continues working on his tablet, but I feel his gaze on me every few minutes. If I were to guess his thoughts, I’d say he’s trying to get used to knowing about my female workings.
I did tell him not to ask.
When the drink finishes, I wash the mug.
Misbah is on his feet when I return. ‘Come here.’
I halt a few feet from him. ‘Sorry?’
‘I said come here.’
Frowning a little, I go to him. ‘What’s this about now?’
Misbah surprises me by pulling me close. He wraps his arms tight around me in a hug.
At first, I stiffen in surprise. Then, I relax and return the embrace. I nuzzle my nose into the crook of his neck and draw in his scent. ‘That feels really good.’
‘What was that?’ He steps back.
‘You smell amazing. How can you smell like a million bucks after using my boring soap?’ I bend gently to pack my stuff.
Misbah collects the purse and the make-up kit from me, leaving me with the shoes. ‘Your soap isn’t boring, and I didn’t use it.’
‘You didn’t use my soap? What did you use this morning?’
‘I haven’t had a bath yet.’
‘Wow.’ We move towards the front door. ‘You haven’t had a bath, and you smell like that. That is so unfair.’
Misbah gives a low chuckle.
I remember something. ‘Wait.’ I narrow my eyes at him. ‘Misbah, you used my toothbrush again, didn’t you?’
He shrugs. ‘I had to use something.’
Every time.
‘I have told you to stop using my brush.’
‘If I can’t find a spare brush, I’ll use yours.’ Misbah shrugs again, unbothered.
‘Next time, bring your own toothbrush.’ With a hiss, I insert the keys in the door-lock and turn.
Outside, the chill of the morning is harsh, while the sun is just starting to peep. We hurry to M’s Jeep parked in front of the house. Thankfully, it has not been stolen.
‘I always find it interesting that you never worry about this huge car in this unsafe area.’
Misbah glances at me with a boyish grin. ‘Is the unsafe area the reason you insist on driving that embarrassment you call a car?’
The laughter erupts before I can stop it. Feeling a loud pang in my belly, I wince and massage the spot lightly. ‘I beg, don’t make me laugh this morning.’
M opens the car door for me. He waits till I’m seated before placing my stuff beside my feet. Then, he gets in the driver’s seat and switches on the heater.
I glance at him. ‘That was sweet of you. The hug.’
‘You looked as if you needed it.’
You have no idea.
Once driving, Misbah glances at me in that strange manner.
We move past small, fenceless bungalow houses similar to mine, that are packed closely together. A bunch of area boys leaning against an abandoned car stare at us pointedly as we drive by. Soon, we reach the main road.
M glances at me again.
‘Darling, spit it out or keep it to yourself but please, watch the road.’
Misbah remains silent for a beat and then sends me another glance. ‘I just wondered something. Well, a lot of things.’
‘I know. You have it written all over your face.’
He clears his throat. ‘I mean, we never talked about that stuff before. I just never thought about you in those terms.’
‘You mean you never thought of me as a woman. Now, you do.’
‘It isn’t that I never thought of you as a woman. I mean, you’re clearly a female … woman. It’s just that you don’t … put yourself forward.’
‘Meaning that I don’t call attention to my breasts the way your girlfriends do.’
‘Hah.’ Misbah erupts in a short laugh before going quiet for another moment. ‘Does it always bother you like this? Every month?’
‘Yep. You should know that this strange vibe that we have here this morning, is why you did not know about it before today.’
‘Nonsense. I am glad I know one more thing about you. But, you know, sorry that you have to go through … all that.’
‘Yeah, thanks.’ I turn my face to look out the window as we gradually enter into an exclusive part of town.
This area is as far from my place as can be, but it is the kind of neighbourhood I am very familiar with. I spent the first part of my life in one such neighbourhood. Dwarf trees line the middle of the roads and the side pavements. The houses are really mansions with lots of spaces between them.
I always have trouble believing I am such good friends with a man who owns a home in an area like this. It shows the kind of person Misbah is. If M weren’t the nicest person ever, if he did not have a beautiful soul that shines through in his character, there is no way I would be caught dead with him.
‘That’s why you’ve cancelled some of our dates, isn’t it?’
I smile to myself. No one can accuse Misbah of being slow.
‘You didn’t have to, you know.’
I remain silent, looking at our surroundings. We come to an even more exclusive area where there are only trees and no houses. At the end of this street is Misbah’s place. The block part of the fence is only about three feet high. Above this, there are metal bars that taper out with electrocuted barbed wires on top.
‘I mean, I imagine you’d want to be alone, but I could also bring you chocolate and help you out around the house and … stuff.’ Misbah stops the car in front of the gate, taps a few times on his tablet and the gate slides open quietly to let us in.
I turn to him sharply wondering if he’s trying to make a joke out of all this.
He looks perfectly serious.
‘How do you know I might need all that?’
We go down the paved driveway flanked by Masquerade trees with the occasional Hibiscus breaking the monotony of the Masquerades up till the front of the house itself. Another word for this house is palace.
He shrugs, ‘Nike was quite vocal about … all that stuff. I took her a care package once or twice.’
‘Hm. You were such a good boyfriend to her. I wonder why she left.’
‘She didn’t leave, Ree. I told you I broke up with her.’
‘Right,’ I return, tongue in cheek.’
‘Here we are,’ Misbah steps out.
Without waiting for him to come around, I open my door and step out with my baggage. ‘M, would it be okay if we didn’t talk about this anymore? I feel quite uncomfortable talking about it.’
‘Ok. You don’t have to be shy with me though, you know.’ Misbah collects some of my stuff and lets us into the house.
‘Uh-huh.’ The scent of pine hits my nostrils the moment I enter the house behind Misbah.
Hardwood floors gleam in the anteroom. We take off our shoes here and proceed straight into the living room.
A huge, white, semi-circular leather settee decorates the room. It looks luxurious but I know just how comfortable it is.
A snow-white rug sits in the centre of the living room. White ottomans with brown stripes rest at several points in front of the curved couch.
Only Misbah can use white so liberally without worrying about stains. This is probably because he treats dirt as his mortal enemy.
I especially adore the nature painting scenes hanging on the walls. My favorite is a waterfall with a clear, almost serene lake at the bottom of it.
Misbah takes my stuff up the stairs and I go with him.
Right beside his room, is a room I use whenever I stay over here. That’s where we go first.
Misbah drops my stuff on the armoire, while I sit on the large, soft bed. ‘I have to go and get ready. Excuse me for a moment.’
I wave him away. ‘Take your time. I am just going to stretch out here for a bit.’
‘Don’t stretch out for too long, Ree. I’ll only be ten minutes. Fifteen, tops.’
‘Okay.’ I struggle to hide a yawn.
Misbah shoots me a look before leaving.
I fall asleep on the same spot and awake only when Misbah, fully dressed, opens the door. ‘Are you—Reana? Are you sleeping?’ Shock covers his face.
‘What? Don’t be silly.’ With my face averted guiltily, I hurry to the bathroom. ‘Just give me five minutes.’
Twenty-five minutes later, we leave for the party.