Something lived, Something felt

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 24

The room was a mess, the dresses that weren't deemed worthy of a date littered on the couch and on the bed. Zinar looked through her things, she had no idea what to wear and the girls kept telling her to wear a Hausa dress.

"No, people's attention will be on me, I don't need that." She slummed on the bed. She was going out on her first date with Ahmad. He had asked her a day before.

"Fine, how about this" Amna pulled out a brown polyester grown slightly flay. The neck region was perfectly designed with light sand brown embroidery covered with stones that reflect the slightest ray of light giving it a glamorous vibe. She wore a matching veil and flat shoe. They snapped her a bit before they left for the living room where Ahmad was waiting. She was wearing a light makeup more than the usual.

"We present to you Mrs Zinar Abdul Rashid Ahmad" Amna and Nafisa said in unison. She shook her head laughing at their theatrics as she got down the staircase and walked cautiously to where her husband was admiring her.

"You look breathtaking" his gaze pierced through her. He was fond of complimenting her but somehow she still wasn't used to it. "Shall we?" he crooked his arm and she linked his with hers.

He opened the door of the car and closed it after she had entered. The ride was mostly a silent one with short random conversations. It was their third day in Riyadh and things had been good so far. She had gone out the previous day, girls time including Jidda. They went to a spa, had a manicure and pedicure, sauna- the whole deal. Ahmad had given her his card and told the girls to make sure she made use of it. They bought so many things to the point she felt extravagant.

They parked outside a restaurant before coming out of the car. The parking lot was sparse with cars, which meant there weren't many people which Zinar found relieving. She had enough people staring at her, Fauziyah and Hauwa when they went out for their girl time and that was with girls. She wished she had worn a niqab but with the feminism act going on the niqab wasn't as proclaimed. 

She walked arm in arm with Ahmad as they strolled towards the entrance and even from there it looked exquisite. They walked past the main door and got on a staircase that led them to another floor, they got outside to the balcony and claimed a few stairs before she saw the best table for two sets. There were candles and flowers, the dark night adorned with stars, the soft night breeze. It couldn't have been better.

"Its exquisite" she grinned. The place breath money, from the setting to the entrance, even the way their workers were dressed, hell even the cutlery arrangement was elegant.

"Your exquisite" he pulled her to their sits and they both sat down. The dishes where served, there were two dishes- the first was a French cuisine and the second Italian. And then the dessert.

The food was delicious, she slightly drooled over the Italian. The drinks weren't as nice, she said hers was too sweet and it tasted weird so she settled for water.

"What were you like when you were younger?" he asked tracing the edge of his cup looking at her.

She smiled before giving a short laugh "quiet, shy" she giggled when she saw him squint his face like he didn't believe her. "What"

"I don't believe" he shook his head

"Well that is the truth, mostly" he kept staring at her with a raised brow daring her to say the truth. "Ok" she rolled her eyes and he chuckled. "I was a little bit stubborn"

He squints his face "a little?"

"Yes a little" she responded in between her giggling. They talked about their childhood and its embarrassing memories. She teased him about the story momma told her when she had dinner with them. They had a very wonderful time. She was getting freer with him and enjoyed spending time with him except for the first few minutes of awkwardness before any conversation.