The Ally - Part Two
“Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow.” The bus dropped me at the grocery store in the compound to buy some stuff on my way home. I got the weekly essentials as a Cake Loaf, flavored tea, American Coffee, a pack of Lindt After Eight chocolate, a pack of colors and coloring book.
It was separable for me. I distrusted this man. Yet, I have to welcome him and be his host for the evening. I wasn’t looking forward to this encounter though. I felt like a 12 year old kid who wanted to ditch the science class, altogether. How will I react? Will it show?
Despite the fact that I became very curious to see his wife, I was equally apprehensive of meeting her. It was like a panel interview ; or rather an endurance test.
“Father, I’m home? Where are you? We have visitors today at 8, come check what I’ve bought. Is it enough?” Mira Said. Emptying the bags on the kitchen table, quickly getting out the spaghetti and meat to cook dinner, she got no response.
“Father, I’m back? What are you watching? Is this game really important? “She murmured in his ears.
“Yes Mira, It is. I’ll be with you in a second.” Her father replied in a distracted monotone. “. She went in kissed his forehead and mumbled “in a second, right! ” Ok, I’ll fix dinner, maybe ,then, we can talk.
“ Nizar, my colleague, and his family are coming over tonight”, Mira said serving her dad dinner.
“Good, that’s very thoughtful of him. None have come over for a visit except our Italian neighbors. “Her father said gratefully and eagerly . “I’d like to know more people here, especially that I have a lot of spare time. “
Thoughtful, I repeated with a cynical smile. Mira, my dad stopped me abruptly. Is there any problem at work today? You seem tensed. Usually, you are very excited to have visitors over, especially from your work. What’s wrong?
“Nothing dad, I’m just very exhausted.” I wanted to break it out, let go of it. But I couldn’t.
Dad welcomed them into the home and Nizar introduced me to his wife. They sat next to each other. Nizar started chitchat with my Dad about his profession and I sat aside next to his wife. Their son sat in between.
She was the opposite. Aida was very tall and slim; she was “petite” and curvy. Aida was loud, extravagant and wild; she was simple, chic and elegant. Aida talked nonsense; she was sophisticated and meticulous. Aida was passionate and persistent; she looked cold and helpless. There was some ambiguity about her. Aida was humorous and talkative; she was concise and brief. Aida was confident; she was arrogant and restless.
I had to make the opening statement. I was the host.
“so, how do you like it here? With a big smile. She turned my smile down and with a cold fiscal gesture, she said” it very different from where I come from. I’m not used to this life over here. My life is full for activities; here it’s mundane and monotonous. But you’ll get use to it. I haven’t.
“ But all married people here swear by their family life because most of the people in the compound are married couples with kids, so they get to do lots of activities together. “ I interrupted.
She smiled and said “maybe; but this is not the case with me. Nizar is a very busy man.” Nizar looked back at me and said” you know how work is demanding Mira, it just never stops” .
I nodded repeatedly agreeing with what he said. ” right”. I supported him. I couldn’t say otherwise, I couldn’t tell her that those business outings, phone calls, messages were from his mistress. I couldn’t but defend him. I sided with him. I betrayed her too. I made no hint or comment about the relaxed nature of Nizar’s work. I’m just another one of her back-stabbers.
She let go of the entire conversation, and didn’t ask a single question. She was aloof. Nizar took over the entire discussions over the weather, the place, the politics and food. It was too formal. The way we all talked, the jokes, the comments and the gestures we made. It was heavy.
There was no chemistry between Nizar and his wife. They barely talked; and their eyes never locked. They were very different and indifferent. There was so much tension and discomfort that I wanted to get into the kitchen, serve the tea and get over with this night.
I wanted to help her. I wanted to intrude and tell her that what she doubts or feels is so true. I wanted to tell her, it’s not about the place; it’s about your husband. I wanted to tell her that he doesn’t deserve you withering next to him. I felt sorry for her. But still couldn’t really tell is this despair part of her? Or are these the remains of a betrayed wife?
I started coloring the Spiderman coloring book with their son ; I was lost. “Mira, do you want anything from Syria? I’m leaving this week” posing a long held question that Nizar’s wife has been holding since the beginning of the evening. But it was late. I retreated. Nizar interrupted abruptly and quickly picking his son by his hand, “It’s your bedtime Mr.”, he stood up. He stands up and asks him to say good night to everyone. We walk them to the main gate and turn off the lights on our way back home.
I rush into my room and cry; cry because I knew I was wrong. I knew I had to do something. I knew I betrayed her too. I could see her anguish when she was trying to look away when he was holding his phone. She was sinking in a deep well. All stood there watching her. Nizar pushed her into it and I cheered. I was part of the parade. Now, she’s travelling back to her homeland. They needed me to deny it all; confirm that her suspicions were just mere doubts. I deluded her too and applauded them. I knew right then I was The Alley.
“Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow.” The bus dropped me at the grocery store in the compound to buy some stuff on my way home. I got the weekly essentials as a Cake Loaf, flavored tea, American Coffee, a pack of Lindt After Eight chocolate, a pack of colors and coloring book.
It was separable for me. I distrusted this man. Yet, I have to welcome him and be his host for the evening. I wasn’t looking forward to this encounter though. I felt like a 12 year old kid who wanted to ditch the science class, altogether. How will I react? Will it show?
Despite the fact that I became very curious to see his wife, I was equally apprehensive of meeting her. It was like a panel interview ; or rather an endurance test.
“Father, I’m home? Where are you? We have visitors today at 8, come check what I’ve bought. Is it enough?” Mira Said. Emptying the bags on the kitchen table, quickly getting out the spaghetti and meat to cook dinner, she got no response.
“Father, I’m back? What are you watching? Is this game really important? “She murmured in his ears.
“Yes Mira, It is. I’ll be with you in a second.” Her father replied in a distracted monotone. “. She went in kissed his forehead and mumbled “in a second, right! ” Ok, I’ll fix dinner, maybe ,then, we can talk.
“ Nizar, my colleague, and his family are coming over tonight”, Mira said serving her dad dinner.
“Good, that’s very thoughtful of him. None have come over for a visit except our Italian neighbors. “Her father said gratefully and eagerly . “I’d like to know more people here, especially that I have a lot of spare time. “
Thoughtful, I repeated with a cynical smile. Mira, my dad stopped me abruptly. Is there any problem at work today? You seem tensed. Usually, you are very excited to have visitors over, especially from your work. What’s wrong?
“Nothing dad, I’m just very exhausted.” I wanted to break it out, let go of it. But I couldn’t.
Dad welcomed them into the home and Nizar introduced me to his wife. They sat next to each other. Nizar started chitchat with my Dad about his profession and I sat aside next to his wife. Their son sat in between.
She was the opposite. Aida was very tall and slim; she was “petite” and curvy. Aida was loud, extravagant and wild; she was simple, chic and elegant. Aida talked nonsense; she was sophisticated and meticulous. Aida was passionate and persistent; she looked cold and helpless. There was some ambiguity about her. Aida was humorous and talkative; she was concise and brief. Aida was confident; she was arrogant and restless.
I had to make the opening statement. I was the host.
“so, how do you like it here? With a big smile. She turned my smile down and with a cold fiscal gesture, she said” it very different from where I come from. I’m not used to this life over here. My life is full for activities; here it’s mundane and monotonous. But you’ll get use to it. I haven’t.
“ But all married people here swear by their family life because most of the people in the compound are married couples with kids, so they get to do lots of activities together. “ I interrupted.
She smiled and said “maybe; but this is not the case with me. Nizar is a very busy man.” Nizar looked back at me and said” you know how work is demanding Mira, it just never stops” .
I nodded repeatedly agreeing with what he said. ” right”. I supported him. I couldn’t say otherwise, I couldn’t tell her that those business outings, phone calls, messages were from his mistress. I couldn’t but defend him. I sided with him. I betrayed her too. I made no hint or comment about the relaxed nature of Nizar’s work. I’m just another one of her back-stabbers.
She let go of the entire conversation, and didn’t ask a single question. She was aloof. Nizar took over the entire discussions over the weather, the place, the politics and food. It was too formal. The way we all talked, the jokes, the comments and the gestures we made. It was heavy.
There was no chemistry between Nizar and his wife. They barely talked; and their eyes never locked. They were very different and indifferent. There was so much tension and discomfort that I wanted to get into the kitchen, serve the tea and get over with this night.
I wanted to help her. I wanted to intrude and tell her that what she doubts or feels is so true. I wanted to tell her, it’s not about the place; it’s about your husband. I wanted to tell her that he doesn’t deserve you withering next to him. I felt sorry for her. But still couldn’t really tell is this despair part of her? Or are these the remains of a betrayed wife?
I started coloring the Spiderman coloring book with their son ; I was lost. “Mira, do you want anything from Syria? I’m leaving this week” posing a long held question that Nizar’s wife has been holding since the beginning of the evening. But it was late. I retreated. Nizar interrupted abruptly and quickly picking his son by his hand, “It’s your bedtime Mr.”, he stood up. He stands up and asks him to say good night to everyone. We walk them to the main gate and turn off the lights on our way back home.
I rush into my room and cry; cry because I knew I was wrong. I knew I had to do something. I knew I betrayed her too. I could see her anguish when she was trying to look away when he was holding his phone. She was sinking in a deep well. All stood there watching her. Nizar pushed her into it and I cheered. I was part of the parade. Now, she’s travelling back to her homeland. They needed me to deny it all; confirm that her suspicions were just mere doubts. I deluded her too and applauded them. I knew right then I was The Alley.
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