Page 7 of First Comes Marriage
‘I think I was knocked out.’ His voice was croaky.
She laughed softly. ‘Yes, you were. You didn’t hear me come up last night or get up this morning.’
‘I wanted to talk to you last night.’
‘Mmhmm.’ She came into the room and sat on the corner of the bed. Her face was open and smiley and Zafar felt the words he needed to say lodge in his throat. He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck.
‘Dad was back from Canada when I left.’
‘Yeah, Daadi told me last night. Did they have a good trip?’
‘Umm, yeah. Yeah, I think they did. Mum was still there, although I think she’s due today.’
She nodded.
Why was this so hard? It was a simple enough thing to do. All he had to do was say that his dad had thought it would be better if he joined Reshma and that’s why he was there.
‘Daadi was up early this morning, and after breakfast, Auntie Ruqayyah came and took her to her villa. She said she wanted to show her some of the clothes and jewellery she’s got. I think they’re just going to spend the morning having a bit of a catch-up with Auntie Bilqis. I’m sure copious amounts of tea will be involved.’
‘How was she this morning? Not too tired?’
‘No, she did better than you. She was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Ready for the day,’ she said cheekily, her nose stud sparkling in the morning light as she smiled at him. It was like he was seeing a different version of her, more relaxed and cheerier than he’d seen before. It made him more certain that when he told her the truth, her happy bubble would burst.
4
Reshma
‘Saleema made plans for us to go and get our nails done, so I’m about to head out for that, but we should be back before lunchtime.’
Zafar didn’t respond. Reshma couldn’t put her finger on why, but she had a feeling that something was troubling him. He seemed distracted. Last night, she had thought it might be tiredness and being around lots of new faces, but this morning he seemed more so.
‘Are you feeling all right?’ She lowered her eyebrows as she asked him. When she’d come up to bed last night, he’d been fast asleep, not moving even an inch as she got into bed beside him. This morning had been the same as she’d got up and got ready. Assuming he must be really tired, she’d not woken him and left him to sleep it off.
‘Huh? Yeah’ – he cleared his throat – ‘just a bit groggy, I think. Jet lag perhaps.’
‘Well, maybe a shower and some breakfast will help. There are plenty of things in the kitchen downstairs, so help yourself. There’s a coffee machine too and there’s a card beside it with instructions on how to operate it. You’ve got the villa to yourself, so just take it easy and I’ll see you in a bit.’
Reshma smiled at him, and after a moment, he smiled back and nodded. ‘Yeah. Have fun.’
She collected her bag and made her way downstairs, wondering if it was more than just jet lag affecting Zafar. She picked her phone up off the island and saw a message from Saleema.
Running a bit late. Will come and get you in about 15. xoxo
Reshma shook her head. Classic Saleema.
Oh, well.
She put her bag and phone on the island and her eyes went to the coffee machine. She decided that since she had time, she’d make Zafar a coffee to save him from struggling with the machine on his first day here. He looked like he could do with the pick-me-up.
She put a selection of croissants and pain aux raisins on a plate and a large mug of coffee on a tray and carried them upstairs. The bed was empty and she could see that the bathroom was empty through its open door.
‘Mum, slow down. Just hear me out.’ She heard Zafar’s voice from the other side of the curtain and saw that the patio door was open and he was standing just outside it.
‘No, you listen to me, Zafar.’ His mother’s voice came through loud and clear on speakerphone in the silence.
Reshma didn’t want to intrude and decided to turn back, but her mother-in-law’s next words stopped her in her tracks.
‘If I had been here, I’d never have let your father force you to go there. I’m barely away for a handful of days and I come back to find out that he’s sent you to Mombasa after that girl.’
