Delving Deeper

[SEVEN]

NUR

The house is like a fish market. Someone's shouting from upstairs to help with rugby practice and the others are laying down on the sofa, passing orders. Mama is working alone in the kitchen and the clattering of dishes is adding up to the noise pollution.

Fahad is the first to notice me. He immediately gets into a sitting position. "Where the hell were you?"

Everyone's eyes fly to me. I press both my lips together and hesitantly step forward. Mama immediately engulfs in a hug and checks me for injuries, hands roaming all across my back.

"You're okay," she breathes out. "Alhamdulillah, you're okay."

But, am I really?

"I'm fine, Mama." I tell her and step out of her embrace, holding one of her hands and squeezing it, knowing how she would've driven herself crazy thinking about me.

Two days. Crap.

My gaze travels to my Dad and brothers. Fahad is standing not even a feet away from Mama, worry lining his face. Kabir is still shouting from upstairs, unaware of the tension in the living room. My other three brothers-Aaban, Omar and Ayaan, are eyeing me like I was in the pub for the last two days, doing God-knows-what.

I get why they're worried but that doesn't mean they start doubting me.

"He asked you something, Nur," Aaban Bhai says in as stern, brotherly voice. "Where were you?"

My heart rate picks up. God, what do I even tell them? I've never lied to them and I can't remember what happened. As far as I know, I'm married now and if I tell the, that they're probably going to lock me in the 'playroom' and go murder Ahyan. I opt for the truth.

"Something weird happened," I say and search for their reactions.

They exchange worried looks.

Dad is the first one to speak. He walks towards me and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Did anyone . . . I mean . . . Did someone . . ."

I relieve him of saying what he obviously can't. "No no, it wasn't like that." I search for the right words. Or any words. "It's . . ." I sigh. "I'm not telling you guys." Then, point a finger at my brothers. "They won't like it."

I see all of them take a cautionary step forward. "Why won't we like it?" This coming from Aaban Bhai.

I remain silent till all that can be heard in the entire room is the ticking of the clock on the wall.

"Tell us, Nur," Omar says, finally coming near. The rest follow his lead. "What did you do?"

I swerve my eyes to Mama, pleading silently. She shrugs, as if to say, deal with it.

"I didn't do anything, I just . . ." Got married. Hah. No way am I saying that. Too weird. Too unreal. Too much of everything.

"Nur," Aaban Bhai grabs my elbow and I wince. "Did you get involved in–"

I cut him off. Because while Dad can't say anything like that to me, my brothers would say it without giving it a second thought.

"I said I didn't do anything! Why don't you believe me? Have I ever done something to gain your distrust?" I breathe out. "Have I?"

They're all silent for a second. Then slowly, the room fills with murmurs of no. Aaban Bhai lets go of my arm.

I know why they're all so angry. Our house is full of males and it wasn't easy for Mama and Dad to discipline them when they grew up and had all sorts of issues. You know, grown-up issues.

But, obviously, I'm the good ol' girl. They have no reason to think wrong of me. I inwardly scoff. If only they knew what kind of a person I really am.

"Then tell us what happened. We were worried, okay?" Fahad says.

"Yeah, I can tell how worried you were." I make a puppy dog face. "Nobody even cares. You were all having fun and acting normal."

Fahad scratches his head sheepishly. Oh God. "Well, Layla said that you were sleeping over at hers, so . . ." He shrugs.

Thank God for best friends. And, just don't even ask what his deal with Layla is. For some reason he likes her way too much and has had for far too long. I don't think there's a need to say that she doesn't like him. At all.

Maybe because she likes Kabir.

Too much drama? I know.

Anyway, I don't say anything because I don't want to lie. But then again, isn't not telling the truth, lying? A new wave of guilt washes over me.

I open my mouth to say it all and that's when Kabir interrupts.

"I'll tell you all where she really was."