Bound To YOU

Chapter 15: The Begining Shock

I sighed as I watched the window from the car. It was night time and we were going to the engagement now.

I looked down my dress and leaned in the seat. I wasn't sure if the dress was okay. I was against the engagement but I did want to believe grandma's words. So after debating a lot, I decided, I should meet the boy. Plus, I didn't have a choice.

I looked down my dress again. When I was getting ready for engagement, I didn't have a single party dress. Uncle said that there are going to be a few guests along with the guy's family, so I should dress nicely.

However, I had no party dress. But, grandma showed me some of my mom's dress that she kept with her. So, in today's engagement, I was wearing one of mom's dresses.

The dress was pink and it was very modest. None of my skin showed and I even had a cardigan to put it over my chest to cover it properly. My hair was tied in a messy bun. I didn't get time to do my bun but it's didn't bother me. After all, I didn't have any feelings for the engagement.

The car stopped in front of a huge mansion. Uncle parked the car in the parking lot and got out if the car. Grandma got out of the car as well.

I saw a huge mention. I couldn't peel my eyes off it. Uncle did tell me that the engagement was going to be in their house and now I knew why. Having such a big house, nobody needed to arrange a party outside of the house.

I looked at the house closely. The house was looked like almost a castle. The parking lot was huge. In front of the house, there was a fountain that had water pouring down which travelled down and reached to the plants that surrounded the fountain. It was beautiful, however, I did found the exterior of the mansion a bit familiar.

"Get out of the car, b***h!" Uncle yelled.

I got off the car. Grandma held my hand and smiled. I didn't smile back though. I didn't want to get engaged. At least not today!

I didn't even know the guy who I was getting engaged to!

We went near the mansion gate where two security guards greeted us.

"Name, please?" The guards asked.

"Radi Hamdi," my uncle said.

The guards nodded and let us enter the house. The house was beautifully decorated. The party was on the main floor which was huge. The floor was titled nicely and the wall was painted.

There were quite a few people who were wearing hijabs and some weren't. Everybody was laughing and talking.

I looked around the house. Suddenly, I felt a flashback. I didn't see anything in the flashback but the house did very familiarly.

"Momoh!" We heard a voice from our side. We turned around and saw a lady dressed in a beautiful modest gown. Her gown was long and her hair was tied in a bun. She wore a silver necklace on her neck. She looked pretty and looked like she was in her 40s.

I stared at her. Her eyes, her face . . . Everything looked so familiar to me.

Had I seen her before?

She came near my grandma and pulled her in a hug. "Assalamualikum, Momoh!" She said.

Grandma smiled and hugged her back. "Walikum Assalam, Aliza," she smiled. "How are you doing?"

"I was good," she said and then looked at me. Her smile grew wider as she saw me. "But now, I am better."

I smiled back to her. I didn't know who she was but she was a kind woman.

She stepped near me and cup my cheeks. "Oh sweetheart," she smiled, kissing my cheek. "I missed you so much."

I was confused.

Was I suppose to know her?

She hugged me. "Assalamualikum, baby girl."

Her hug was warmth. It melted my heart. It had been so long since somebody hugged me like that beside grandma.

I didn't hug her back though. I was confused but she seemed very gentle and kind.

"Walikum Assalam," I said, pulling away from the hug. I looked at her. "Excuse me, but, am I suppose to know you?"

Her smile dropped. She looked at grandma who shook her head. "So, you really didn't forget, didn't you?" She whispered, sadly.

I didn't know what it was but seeing her upset made me felt bad. It was like I had a connection with her in the past.

Who was she?

"Um . . . What about this house?" She asked. She pointed at the interior of the house. "Does this house reminded you about anything?"

I shook my head. I just didn't know.

"Sweetie, you . . . You used to come here, in our house almost every weekend," she whispered, sadly.

I looked at her in shock. "I was?"

"Yes, and that staircase," she pointed at the staircase. "Remember, you used to sit here and play with my son?" She pointed next to the kitchen. "Oh, and there we cooked together when you were like 5 years old for the first time. Can't you . . ." Her eyes became watery. "Can't you remember anything?"

As much as I wanted to, I couldn't recall anything she said. I shook my head. "I am sorry, Ma'am. I cannot remember any of my childhood memories."

She nodded. "Oh well," she smiled sadly. "I guess, we will try making new ones from now on so you can have the same happiness that you used to have when you were still a child."

I smiled back.

I had to say, I didn't know this woman but I was drawn to her. She was motherly. She made me wonder if my own mom was like her.

"Mrs. Chatti," I heard uncle saying. "I want to talk to Mr. Chatti about business. After all, I have come here to do the deal."

The woman looked at him angrily. "Yes, of course, Mr. Humdi. My husband is with my son, talking to some guests."

Uncle nodded and went to the guests to search for Mr. Chatti.

The woman sighed. "Goodness! That guy is so rude!" She ranted. "I should tell Bilal to cut all business ties with him once you join our family."

"Bilal?" I asked.

"Oh yes," she looked at me. "Bilal is my husband. You used to climb on his shoulder all day and sit on his shoulder all day when you were small. Apparently, my daughter was usually in the hospital when she was small so we couldn't have her home with us. So, when you used to visit us with your parents, Bilal used to have you on his arms all day. Let's just say he didn't find our son pretty entertained."

I laughed. So did grandma.

"Come on, Aliza. Now don't say any rude things about my to be grandson-in-law," grandma said.

My eyes widened.

So, I was supposed to get married to her son?

"Oh, Momoh! You have no idea how he acts in school. My daughter, Emily, told me a few days ago that he is currently bullying a new student at school. That boy has no manners."

Wait, Emily?

Grandma laughed.

My mind was filled with confusion. My friend in school had her name as Emily as well.

I sighed.

What was I thinking?

Emily was a quite popular name. Maybe, her daughter just happened to have her name as Emily.

Both Emily was probably different people.

I wanted to believe that.

At least that's what I was believing until I heard a horrifying scream from the back of the door.

We turned around and saw a girl, wearing her long dress and having her hair down running around like crazy.

"Mom! You stupid son just stick a piece of gum on my hair!" She yelled as she ran towards Mrs. Chatti and just before she threw her arms around Mrs. Chatti to cry her heart out, she looked at me.

My eyes widened as I saw her.

I couldn't move my body. My brain was puzzled. The girl was Emily, my high school friend.

Just what was she doing here?

And why was she calling Mrs. Chatti as her mom?