Diamonds; Part 2

Alya

Tuesday, 5:00 pm

“How was last night?” Alya’s mother asked.

“It was good,” Alya replied, “Where’s Hind?”

“Upstairs. She’s about to go out with Shamma,” Said her mother

Mayed walked into the kitchen, “Halla ume.” He kissed his mother’s forehead. “Oh Alya, I almost didn’t see you there!” He smirked.

“Funny.” Alya said shooting him a glare.

He’d always find a way to make fun of Alya’s height.

“Alya why don’t you go out with your sister and cousin? You don’t spend enough time with your family.” Her mother said annoyed. She would constantly bring up how Alya would rather stay alone than make plans with any member of the family.

“Or how about you take a break from spending too much time with Hind and we could go out for dinner later?,” Mayed said, trying to save Alya from the lecture she’s about to receive.

“Let me guess, all your friends are out of the country?” Alya replied grinning.

“Kinda. You’re the one who decided to come back during summer vacation so you kind of owe me.” Mayed replied a little annoyed.

Alya giggled, “Fine, sushi?”.

Mayed nodded.

Abdulla

Abdulla was cruising around the roads of Jumeirah, trying to get his mind of his very sick grandmother.  He has recently hung up on Maha, his ‘girlfriend’', or she thought she was.  Even Maha, with her seductive voice and words could not get Abdulla out of his misery. He has tried to distract himself in multiple ways but something eventually would remind him of his grandmother.

Abdulla’s train of thoughts ended when his phone rang and the caller ID read Sultan.

“Hello?,” Abdulla answered.

“May I know why you left our grandmother all alone in the hospital today?” Sultan said, obviously very pissed.

“Wa 3laikm elsalam.” Abdulla replied to his older brother coldly.

“Didn’t we agree you’d wait until I arrived?”, Sultan said ignoring Abdulla’s cold answer.

Abdulla was silent.

Not because he had no answer, but because he respected his older brother too much to give back an excuse.

“You need to come soon. The doctor wants to speak to us.” Sultan said, calmly this time, “and I don’t think this is good news.”

Before Abdulla could say anything, Sultan has already hung up. He turned his car around and headed to the hospital.

“What do you mean there’s nothing you can do?” Abdulla said angrily. “You’ll just leave her there?” his voice was getting louder and people were turning. 

“Calm down,” Sultan said, “Go on.” He faced the doctor.

The doctor started, “What I mean is, there isn’t anything to do here, her health is getting weaker and the prescribed medicines and drugs have stopped taking effect on her health because of her old age. The only way your grandmother would get better is to undergo a surgery. But that would not guarantee a very good result.” He went silent for a moment.

“Which means…?” Abdulla was running out of patience.

“Look, she is a woman in her late ages, this kind of surgery would either save her or not.” The doctor said very calmly, while trying to choose his words carefully.

A moment of silence passed by.

“What are the chances of this surgery not working?” Sultan finally said breaking the silence.

“Again, the result of the surgery is indeterminate.” The doctor said.

“Take her to surgery.” Abdulla said sternly.

“What?” Sultan said facing Abdulla, “We can’t make this decision now, not without everyone else.”

Abdulla could not take it anymore, he could not stand watching his grandmother just sit there while everyone just stared, “She’s been laying there for months now.” He said furiously, “And nothing has worked for her, she needs help. Her only chance is this surgery so she must have it.”

“But we cannot just make this decision for ourselves Abdulla,” Sultan began, “I understand you’re hurt, we are too. This must be discussed with everyone else.” He turned to the doctor. “Thank you, but we can’t give you an answer right now.”

The doctor nodded and turned to walk away.

“WHAT?” Abdulla said raising his voice, “Our grandmother is in there on the verge of death and you can’t make a decision to help her NOW?”

“I told you we must talk about this first, with everyone else.” Sultan said calmly, understanding why Abdulla was angry. 

“Then let’s go.” Abdulla ordered. “NOW.”

He turned around to head to his car and drive back home while Sultan stared at his brother’s back.

He could understand Abdulla’s hurt feelings as she was also his grandmother, but Sultan being the oldest and the wisest, knew deep down that nothing could save her now. No medicines or surgeries. Only faithful prayers.

Alya

On their car ride back home, after five plates of sushi each, Alya looked around her now dark city and realized how much she has missed Dubai, and how much she has missed her whole family. Back in London, it was very depressing as it was just her studying alone. Her parents were very understanding people and took Alya’s choice to study abroad seriously for it was what she wanted, and being the open minded parents they were, they understood how it was Alya’s future and how it was not in their place to make her decisions for her.

“I want to come back home.” Alya announced.

Mayed looked at her confused, “You are home.”

“No,” She turned to look at him, “I mean I want to stay here and complete my studies. I miss everything about home, and I’m not very excited to go back to boring London.”

“I know you’re just saying that because you miss your older brother the most.” Mayed said with his boosted ego.

Alya could not help but laugh at him.

“You know,” Mayed said,” It’s not like they’ll stop you, like they said when you wanted to study abroad; it’s your future so you make your own choices.”

The only person who was against having Alya to study abroad was Mayed. Having his younger sister be all alone in the streets of London worried him, especially because most khaleeji men studied there. But his words and opinion were nothing next to his father’s; who’s words stand. 

Alya stayed silent and looked out her window; she would talk to her father about this tomorrow.

Diamonds

Ambulance sirens, unfamiliar voices and screams, were all I heard after the world turned black on me.

I have never been in such pain and agony in my life.

I could feel the blood running down my face, my eyes showed me nothing but blur, and my breathing was short and heavy.

 It was hard for me to see but I could make out the figures running towards me and pulling me out of my car.

….the next thing I knew, I went into a deep sleep.

 

 

One year ago.

“You know,” I said, strutting in my new YSL heels, “I never really believed in expensive shoes, but these are to die for.” I took my brand new heels off and placed it next to my dress.

As my sister always says, “An occasion is like an excuse to purchase more heels.” They were a gift from her, well actually.. all this was a gift from my sister. The dress, the heels, the makeup and the party. It was her way of celebrating the fact that I am back from studying three years of Architecture in London. The year was over and two more years left for graduation! I didn’t see why she had to go through all that; I tried to convince her to have a nice family dinner instead, but no. Hind always gets what she wants.

Pressure on the word always. Hind, my sister, defined beauty. Face features like a goddess; big eyes, full lips and a perfectly sharp nose. Her jet black hair would reach her hips. She had those puppy eyes that would get her anything she ever wanted, growing up I was a little jealous of her and the fact that my parents would spoil her a little more, but we grew up to be the best of friends. I don’t know what I’d do without my sister.

Me? I do have big eyes as well, we both get that from our mother, but I have a small nose and thin lips. My hair reaches my mid back. I was nothing compared to Hind. I’d receive Pretty and Cute as compliments, whereas my sister would be called Gorgeous and Beautiful. But hey, I’m not complaining, I’ll take what I get!

I looked outside my window and looked about my beautiful country which I truly missed dearly. I would spend every year studying, while my family would come to London for a visit every other holiday. Every time I wanted to come home for the holiday, they’d already be in London. Though, I do spend all my summers in Dubai; and I was finally here this summer; summer of 2012.

Please be good, summer.

“If you don’t like the dress,” Hind said from across the room, I almost forgot she was sitting there. “You can just wear whatever you want.”

“No no!” I replied, feeling a bit guilty. She was doing all this for me; the least I could do is pretend to be excited. “I love it. Thank you, for everything!” I smiled.

She smiled widely back, showing her perfect pearl white teeth, “I’m glad! Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go get ready.” She got up and headed for the door.

I looked at the time, 4 pm.

“But there’s three hours left, Hind.” I told her.

“Your point is?” She said back, like it was the most obvious thing in the world for a girl to get ready hours before a party.

Even though parties were not my thing, I did grow a little curious as to what the party would look like. I headed towards our meelas, and the place just stunned me.

Black and silver balloons hanging from the ceiling, lights, round white tables that I’m guessing was for the dinner and she also got those LED bar tables. Wow Hind, you really know how to throw em’.

 

Three and a half hour later

It’s great seeing all my friends and cousins again. Even though these heels were killing me and I could barely breathe in this dress, I kept a smile on for the sake of Hind. Everyone seemed to have good time so I though no one would notice if I sneaked out of the meelas for a while.

I walked to the kitchen and sat on the counter. I took my heels out and let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, a little peace and quiet.

I’ve spend the next half hour enjoying the loneliness, and looking through my phone while munching on Jolene’s famous cookies. I opened instagram and saw that my mentions were filled with people tagging me on photos of the party.

I couldn’t hide in the kitchen forever, (yes I could), I put my heels back on and went back.

Six hours later

The guests were all gone and Hind was already up in her room getting ready for bed. Surprisingly, I did have a good time. But I was exhausted! I headed up to my room and I don’t plan on going out until I have a proper ten hour sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

The next day

Tuesday, 1:00 pm

Seeing my grandmother this way, laying down on the hospital bed with wires all around broke my heart.

My grandmother, my second mother. The woman, who raised me after the tragic death of my mother, was slowly slipping away from me.

I could not bear such a sight.

I, a man, shed a tear over this.

When I was two, my mother passed away due to a horrible car crash. I was too young to understand death and why it took my mother away from me. It was the first time I’ve seen my father weak looking and my older brothers crying. It was the first time that I’ve been put in a 3za, surrounded by depressed people who looked at me in such pity. I was too young for all that.

My father struggled to take care of my two older brothers, sister, younger brother and me. When I was eight, my father could not take it anymore. He could not juggle his work, us and life all together. That is when my grandmother moved in and spent all her time with us. She raised us, taught us, and loved us. She was there when I got sick.

She was there when I couldn’t sleep.

She was there when we needed something.

She was there as a mother.

And now. Now she’s here. Sick and incapable of moving. It was our turn to look out for her.

She held my hand which was holding on to the side of her bed, and turned her head to face me.

I was the only one in the room.

“Yado,” I started. “You need to rest.”

“Abdulla,” her voice weak and shaky “listen to me..”

“No,” I cut her off. “You need to rest.”

 “Please,” She pleaded weakly.

I looked into her tired eyes.

 “Abdulla” she started “I don’t think I’m going to make it far to the day I get to see you happily wedded to someone. “

“Yado.” I cut her off again, sounding stern. “You will Insha’allah, and to see my grandchildren too.”

Her dream was to see each and every one of us married and happy, especially me for some reason.

“I want to give you something” she interrupted, ignoring what I just told her. She reached under her blanket and slipped out a small red leather bag and placed it in my hands and slowly closed my hands together, gripping it with both of her hands. “Give this to the girl you marry, and maybe one day she’ll pass it on to your daughter. It was a special gift from your father.” She told me, her voice getting weaker with every word.

Before I could say anything, the doctor walked in blabbering about how it was time for the medication and check-up. I had to exit the room in order for that to happen. I stood up in annoyance.

“Sultan is coming over in a while; I have to leave to run some errands.” I told her, as I smiled when she nodded her head and smiled back.

Truth was, I needed to get out of there.

I headed towards my car and once I got there, I opened the red bag she gave and a diamond bracelet fell out.

It was the diamond bracelet she’d wear in every occasion and sometimes for no reason around the house. She’d always say how this bracelet was so dear to her.

I put it back in the bag and placed it somewhere safe in the car to give it back to her later on, there was no need to give it to my future wife, whoever she may be, because my grandmother will get better and she would give it to her herself. I thought of that trying to convince myself.

But

Yado was getting weaker and worse

Day by day..

I turned on the engine and drove away.