Bewitched

6

MUMTAZ

I lay sprawled across my bed, lazily scrolling through my phone, my mind only half-focused on what I was doing. My thumb flicked up and down the screen, and I found myself looking at the time every few minutes, the anxiety in my chest tightening with each glance. Quarter to three. Not that I cared. I had no intention of going anywhere with that lunatic.

Muntassir was delusional if he thought I would actually show up. I had made it clear, hadn't I? There was no date. I was staying right here, in my oversized shirt and comfy pants, where I belonged. He'd probably gotten the message by now and wouldn't bother coming.

A knock at the door disrupted my thoughts, and before I could respond, Fuhad strolled in, wearing a cheeky grin that immediately put me on edge.

"Ridwan is looking for you," he announced, that grin widening.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why? What's up?"

"He's in the small living room downstairs," Fuhad said, practically bouncing on his heels as he turned and walked out without another word. Something was up. I could feel it.

I huffed, dragging myself off the bed and trudging downstairs. Whatever Ridwan wanted, it better not be something annoying. But the moment I stepped into the living room, I froze, the air leaving my lungs in a rush.

There he was. Muntassir, lounging in our living room like he owned the place, smiling up at me like the cat that got the cream. The audacity. My fury flared instantly, but before I could explode, Ridwan looked between the two of us, a puzzled look on his face.

"You two have a date?" Ridwan asked, clearly surprised, his eyes shifting from Muntassir to me and back again.

My blood boiled as I glared at Muntassir, who had the nerve to smirk at me, that infuriating look of his making my skin crawl. He subtly pointed to his phone in his pocket, reminding me of the blackmail hanging over my head. Right in front of my brother, no less!

I forced a smile, one that probably looked more like a grimace. "Yes," I lied, the words feeling like acid on my tongue. "We do."

Ridwan's face brightened. "You two must have really gotten along then."

"You have no idea," Muntassir replied, his voice dripping with amusement. I wanted to strangle him.

Ridwan looked me up and down, his brow furrowing. "Are you going like that?"

I glanced down at my outfit and cursed under my breath. "No, I was just about to change," I mumbled, turning on my heel and rushing back to my room before I said something that would ruin everything.

The second I was in my room, I let out a scream of pure frustration, muffling it into my pillow. He was a madman! A complete and utter lunatic! He had the gall to show up at my house, unannounced, and then announce to my brother that we were going on a date? I cursed him every which way I could as I rummaged through my closet, yanking out a simple fitted gown. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it on my terms.

I wrapped a scarf around my head and neck, not bothering to make it look pretty. He didn't deserve to see me in all my glory, not after this stunt. A quick spritz of perfume, and I was out the door, determination burning in my chest.

Ridwan was waiting for us downstairs, and as we stepped outside, my father pulled into the driveway, returning home just in time to witness this mess. Of course, he had to pull in now. Of course.

We all greeted him, and to my utter horror, he seemed thrilled to see Muntassir. They shook hands, my father's enthusiasm making me cringe.

"Muntassir is taking Mumtaz out on a date," Ridwan announced cheerfully. I wanted to throttle him. What was he thinking, telling our father something like that?