I missed you

Chapter 45

'Zamin''

"Do you plan on always stalking me?" I asked her smacking my tennis ball towards her

She caught the ball walking towards me, "I'm waiting for your response.

"Do you want revenge now?"

"Even if you pay me, I would never…so stop wasting your time, sweet Saleema."

"Live a little.

"Being a little goody-two-shoes won't help. If you want a little happiness and hope…stir up something between Her and her new lover."

"Why would I, the concept of me being happy is watching her be happy and nothing more. If we have nothing else to talk about, I will personally book your ticket for you," I said, tossing my water bottle

"No need," she said leaving

Saleema wasn't making it easy for me. The temptation was growing…I hated being left alone…revenge was however far from what I wanted right now. I just wanted her to be happy

***

I received a call from my grandmother to go over and pick some of the fresh watermelons which were ready for harvesting. As frustrated as I was with my family, I could not reject such an offer. So after getting ready, I hit the road with Omar and Owais arriving at the area. After a day of hard work and working through some of the other crops we all sat down to a freshly cooked meal. The one thing that cheered me up was the delicious oxtail soup my grandmother would make every springtime, and that is exactly what we had on that night, I felt happy about sharing such a memory with my friends...it was a part of me that I hardly ever show. After dinner, we drove home with a few of the watermelons. I dropped a few off at my parent's place ignoring everything they said. I wasn't up for any of their drama or selfishness.

"Your leaving already?" my sister asked

"Jee, it's late, and we're pretty tired."

"Why didn't you invite Zamin and me to your wedding?"

"Check you're inbox I invited you to almost everything…you never came to one. By the way, I don't play tennis anymore." I said as I placed the racket, she gave me as a child on the kitchen counter, " You don't even know how old I am."

"Wait…Elizah, I messed up. I can get to know you now...

"I don't want you in my life…I'd rather not have you here at all.

"Are we staying, your dad said there's pudding?" Omar said, walking in, "No pudding then?"

"Let's go, "I replied, grabbing his hand as I took off

"Can we buy pudding on the way home?"

" We are on a diet," I said furiously, "since when do you even like sweet stuff?"

"No need to bite.

"I was just craving it."

"You know I hated every second of it, the lonely lunches…the lonely mornings. I hated having everything and not being able to share, missing out on petty fights…but having each other backs. I know these are the things people complained about the most, but it is what I wanted….I wanted her to hold my hand and defend me from bullies. I wanted her to tell me that the fear I had for the future was only temporary…it hurt watching people do things with their siblings when mine refused to even look at me, to open my messages…so since she treated me like I was non-existent…I want her to feel that too."

"You're lying to yourself, you actually want to hug her and tell her how much you've missed her, make other memories...and make up for lost time…"

"Very true, but if she always gets her way so easily…what's the point of it then, I want to see if she's willing to fix our relationship…she is already forgiven, after all.

"I`m just...hurt."

"I finally understand," he said, "now can we grab that pudding?"

I slapped his shoulder as I nodded in his direction. That was the first time I told someone about my feelings towards my sister. The pudding was the best part about it all, it felt like a bowl of relief…

We went over to a perfume shop the next day. It was our first time shopping as a couple, "I like this one," I said, sniffing it one more time

He grabbed the bottle heading towards the counter, "I`ll take this one."

"You didn't even look around," I said, confused

"If you like it, then it must be the best…I mean, you choose me, after all."

He said, smirking in my direction, "Someone's full of themselves…"

"This musk perfume is my official scent now."

We looked around for some home appliances, he only owned a kettle, toaster and stove. The kettle was the only thing that wasn't old and unreliable. After picking out new ones, we had our short lunch date while I submitted my last assignment due for the semester.

"I have a match soon in Capetown."

"You alone?"

"Me and Jamal again, the press still thinks we're funding."

"So just tell them the truth, why go break each other's heads now."

"I'm getting paid as a professional fighter, I wound mind a few broken bones… it's what the sport is all about, after all."

"You're not serious," I said, closing my laptop, "don't tell me he agreed."

"He said he`s down."

"This is stupid…"

"Your stupid, "he said

"Whatever…" I retort, stealing his drink, "I can't stop you can I…make sure you win."

"See, you get me," he said, patting my head.

I rolled my eyes, leaving with our takeaway packet; today was my first driving lesson, "I want a motorbike," I said

"Over my dead body."

"Why not…"

"If that's what you're going to do with my driving lessons, then we leave you as a person who can't drive."

"People who drive motorbikes are attractive!"

"Not you though," he said

"You haven't even seen me ride one," I retort with an eye roll

"I don't have to, my imagination is good enough."

"Whatever, just teach me how this wheely device works.."

"is that even a word?"

"Yes, it is!" I replied, grabbing the keys.

Words are words