After dropping Granny back home, I walk to Saadi’s house, which was just two blocks away from mine.
The night air cleared my head, easing away the frustration from tonight’s dinner.
I always hated such dinners.
Hated those greedy looks and fake smiles the parents gave me, and the shy glances and sweet talk their daughters offered.
I look up at the starless sky, thinking once again about my conversation with Mansha.
She wasn’t like those girls, and I wondered what made her different.
What gave her the guts to stand up against the norms of this society and defy the ones she loved.
Granny, on our way back, was already trying to convince me to say yes for Sara, and was even talking about finding an alternative if I didn’t like her enough.
And despite having no will to marry, and a valid reason to not want to either, I couldn’t tell her to stop.
She’d just remember everything all over again, worry and pay extra attention. And that was the last thing I needed right now.
Sometimes, it was better to let somethings just be.
I reach the house, and take out the spare key to let myself in.
It was covered in darkness as usual, even the porch lights were turned off, but I could hear voices coming from the living room.
I walk to it with silent footsteps, noticing the dim lighting shining through the slightly cracked door.
I quietly poke my head in.
He was watching a horror movie, his back to me.
Smirking, I slowly ease in, tip toeing across the room where he was sitting frozen in place, his hand moving periodically to stuff his mouth with popcorn.
Raising my hands, I slam them down around his head, my fingers over his eyes.
The next moment a yell tears through the room, and the popcorn bowl bangs into my jaw, the popcorn raining all over me.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?” Saadi screams.
I’m in hysterics, laughter peeling uncontrollably out of me.
Saadi keeps cursing me, but I can’t stop laughing, so I grace him with a middle finger.
Shoving me onto the couch, he then turns on the lights, and I attempt to calm down.
My side was beginning to ache.
“Fuck you.” He looks angry.
I try to bite down my chuckles, for the sake of my lungs if nothing else.
“Y-your….. face.” I’m finally able to say.
He scowls. “There’s popcorn in your hair.”
He raises a hand and ruffles my hair, and sure enough, popcorn fly out.
“You’re so easily scared.” I tease, finally able to breath.
“I was supposed to be alone.” He picks up a handful of popcorn. “How many times do I have to tell you to tell me before breaking into my house?”He stuffs them into his mouth.
“Where’s Cat?”
He shoots me a look. “You came for her didn’t you? Whenever you come, it’s always for her.”
I roll my eyes, getting up to search for her. “I missed her.”
“Well, don’t let me get in your way.” He calls after me, before huffing and restarting the movie.
I find her in her favorite corner of the room, staring sleepily at me.
When I bend down in front of her, she stands up and jumps into my arms.
Cooing into her ear, I bring her back to the couch.
“Your scream woke her up.” I tell Saadi.
He looks over and rubs her behind her ear. “She’s been sleeping all day anyway.”
I craddle her in my arms, rubbing her silky grey fur.
She purrs softly.
“Are you sick darling?” I murmur to her, tapping her nose with my finger.
She catches it between her paws and opens her mouth to bite down on it.
I pull my hand away. “Hey, no biting!”
Saadi snorts. “Why are you here? Really?” He glances at the clock. “It’s past one.”
I sigh, watching Cat play with my fingers.
When we found her six years ago, she was just a little baby.
We couldn’t agree on a name, and then Cat just stuck.
“Well..” I begin.
How do I tell him? Whatever way I use, he’s gonna freak out.
If I don’t tell him, he’s still gonna freak out when he knows.
However, I don’t know what to say.
I’m fake marrying a girl I met two days ago, who’s a lawyer and hates man, thought I’d tell you beforehand?
He DEFINITELY wouldn’t freak out.
As Saadi eyes me suspiciously, I decide it wouldn’t hurt to keep yet another secret from him. He always finds them out at some point by himself anyway, so why take the burden of telling him on me.
“Well what?” He side eyes me.
“Well, I didn’t wanna say this but-” I smirk. “I missed you.”
He considers me for a long moment.
I know if he even slightly suspects something, he won’t leave me alone about it.
So I grab a fistful of popcorn and pop them into my mouth one by one, my other hand stroking Cat.
“Are you lying to me?”
I give him a look. “Yes, I am. In truth, I missed Cat, not you. But you get very jealous so I didn’t wanna tell you this.”
He grunts. “Liar. I’ll find out whatever it is.”
“Why not now?” I poke him.
“It’s one in the morning. I don’t give a fuck about you unless you’re dying.”
I look down at Cat, grinning. “He’s lying, isn’t he Cat?” I coo, scratching her stomach.
He purrs in the affirmative, then curls into me and falls asleep.
×———×
The next day, I spend the entire day driving to different construction sites.
It was monsoon season, and projects being worked on during this time always needed extra attention.
By the time I returned to my office, it was dark outside, and I was exhausted to the bone.
So when my secretary came in and told me Ms. Haseeb just called, I could only groan in frustration.
“What did she say?” I mutter.
“She said she wants to talk to you.” I look at my secretary.
She was smart enough to know Mansha was important enough to inform me about it if she called, then why on earth was she not smart enough to refuse by herself?
“Do I look like I can meet her?”
It had rained when I was on the last site on today’s agenda, and now I was soaked and even the hems of my jeans were muddy.
She nods. “Should I tell her no then?”
Signing, I rub my eyes. “Ask her if she’ll meet me for lunch tomorrow, and if she says yes, let her pick where.”