Chapter 17
Zamin left immediately after our chat. He booked a flight that night and took off into his world of fame. again, and again I face the pain of having to see him go. This time however it hurts less, this time, I did not cry.
Maybe it was because I had the icy sensei beside me, comforting me. through food, kickboxing and looking into my soul.
On the one hand, life did go on with or without Zamin, it did sadden me to think that he would stay this time. that he would be part of our comforting madness but he had other plans. Plans that worked for him....Owais was planning a camping trip for all of us. The camping trip was set to happen during this short winter break. I am not excited about mosquito bites and running through mud but Owais wanted to book a resort where our fitness would be tested. Its like Omar was filling his head with different torture ideas, I mean fitness could have been tested indoors away from all the discomfort but, we ended up going to a mountain. The mountain Omar took me to the other day. it was beautiful on that night, not sure if it were the air that made it seem that way, but today it looked like a torture machine.
" Can we please just drop the diet for this long weekend please?" I ask trying to use the puppy eye method I had spent an entire night googling about
He silently slipped snacks into my arms walking towards the site where he began setting the tent up. I was super ecstatic and jumped right into a spicy Dorito packet watching them attempt to be alpha males and I won't lie, they were doing a really good job.
Zakira and I weren't that close so we hardly ever spoke, so i always questioned how Owais could mix our polar personalities into his life. Maybe she was a completely different person with him,on the contrary it wasn't to awkward because Saleema did join us on this trip, everything would've been lovlier if Zamin was here to. It would've been like the good old days.
"So are you getting married?" I said pretending to pick up wood as I stopped her
"You won't believe to who?"
"By the looks of it, it can only be one man."
"Zamin proposed last night, he said that once I finish my engineering course we can settle down."
"Damn that was quick and strange, i didn't know that...
"Maybe that's what he wanted to tell me...
"Anywho I'm super happy for you!" I said dropping the wood, and embracing her tightly. i was honestly more shocked than excited but you never know with people. I though he said that he liked someone else...was he lying?
Clearly if he was his marrying her.
"Elizah please bring over the firewood or we'll starve tonight!" Omar yelled
"On my way!" I responded by stealing saleema`s wood and rushing towards him
"Here's your wood; there's no need to be so bossy. This isn't the dojo."
"I'm not being bossy this is my personality okay," he replied leaving
Personality, you are more like a mummie who has no grave to rest in. So he began cooking and after a good hour, we sat down and ate whatever it was that Omar had prepared for us. I think it was a Smash burger, to much Smash no actual burger if you ask me. After our meal the girls went into their tent and the boys into theirs after hours spent melting marshmallows, star gazing and listening to the beautiful Quraan.
With bugs buzzing everywhere due to Owais forgetting the bug spray, I had several mosquito bites all over my arms and legs. I also had indigestion from eating more sweet stuff than I was supposed to. With Omar helping me throw up peacefully in the morning, the rest of the day was a little shaky especially since we went canoeing later. Zakira went with Owais and Saleema headed back home to deal with a family emergency, so you guessed it I was stuck canoeing with an idiot..a demanding one who blamed me for almost drowning. How was i supposed to know that this black belt in taekwondo and kickboxing could not swim? It was fun knowing that such a talented well-built man was afraid of a little water, no wonder he held on so tightly to his life jacket cursing at me for not making the correct turns as if I controlled the water.
"So Saleema and Zamin are getting married soon," I said hoping for a similar reaction
"Zamin, and who now?" Owais asked spitting out his drink
"Saleema."
"He has no feelings for Saleema, he shouldn't have done such a stupid thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Zamin had only ever liked one person, but it looks like she's too busy. Saleema is just a cover-up."
"Don't tell Saleema that or she'll be heartbroken. She's dreamt of this day since she's known the guy."
"Just wish her well, anyone can fall in love with anyone these days. He will learn how to love her now that he has chosen her," Omar retorted.
"Okay, Cupid…" I said standing, "I'm going for that hiking thing they put up this morning, I know you guys won't want to come."
"I want to!" Omar said standing
"Anyone else?"
"We'll pass…" Zakira said before turning to look for her cell phone.
I took left for the hike with Omar, and when we arrived at the guided hike whether shifted. The tour guide said it was safe... so he proceeded to hand us a good old map, a lucky compass and a dimwit overgrown baby wouldn't have had it any other way. Mr smarty's Pants over here got us lost because he wanted to look cool by pretending to know how to use a compass. On our way back I tripped over a rock and, and found myself in his arms. His concerned gaze trapped me. filled with worry, yearning to ask if i were okay and as our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat…slowly drawing me away from reality and my surroundings. I quickly stood up, running away from him. That was strange.
We arrived at the campsite and went over to the private pool in our area, where Owais spent hours trying to get Omar to conquer his fear of swimming, and after a few insults from me, he hopped into the water just to prove me wrong. I laughed telling him about how gullible he could be sometimes, before being dragged into the water for revenge.
It made me remember the times I spent growing up with my sister. Our family outings and little fights we had over almost everything. Her personality was very similar to Omars, cold yet loving. I hope he doesn't leave to.