"Oh my god!" Sana speaks with amazement as she looks around the hotel lobby. "It's such a big and lavish hotel. David Smith must be very rich to afford to come here."
David wanted us to meet at this XYZ Hotel which looks very much out of our league but he said it was safe to meet here, we'd be safe from paparazzi or any camera eye that could film us together since he was a known public figure while I was still struggling to be one.
"I am getting cold feet here and you're talking about this hotel?"
"Why? What are you afraid of? I am with you and most of all you look stunning!"
I take a glance at my outfit once again and heat rushes to my cheeks. I was wearing a Western outfit with which I wasn't very comfortable.
Although I have been wearing jeans and a shirt at home but never outside its premises, it was easy to go in an abaya but I removed it every time I reached my university and I never wore such revealing clothes even outside but just stuck to my shalwar kameez along with dupatta (the national dress of Pakistan).
Sana coerced me to wear her sleeveless white tank top that revealed my skin and skinny jeans. But I urged her to give me one of her uppers to hide my arms.
Finally, she gave up and handed me her red checkered shirt to use as an upper and it made me feel a little better but still, I was anxious about my western outfit as it was the first time I was wearing it in public. I was conscious about myself and kept on fidgeting and trying to squeeze my body so it wouldn't make my heavy bust prominent.
"I don't know…" I say, dejectedly.
She places her hands against my shoulder. "You are beautiful. Anything will shine on you so stop being so conscious and enjoy the fact that this is one lifetime experience that we'll get to enjoy and all thanks to David Smith."
"Aisha?" We both turn towards the voice of the intruder in front of us.
David was standing at a distance, wearing a blazer with a button-down shirt with his dirty blond hair neatly gelled. He looked more handsome than his pictures on Google.
The closer he got the more potent the scent of his perfume engulfed me. His presence was hypnotizing. His attire, his looks, his smell, all of it yelled money, making me shrink in my place.
Sana nudged me with her elbow and I was brought out of my reverie.
"David Smith?" I blurt.
A wide grin appeared on his face and he moved to stand just feet away from me.
"Yes, Milady, David Smith at your service." He bows gently and takes my hand and places a peck on the back.
Blood rushes to my cheeks and I feel sparks on the place where he pecked. I bite my lower lip to suppress the feeling of turmoil inside.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He looked directly into my eyes, hypnotizing me once again and I felt lost for words. I don't know if it was because of the small peck he gave or his mere presence that was making me go nuts.
"And you must be Sana? The best friend?" He now turns towards Sana and she vehemently nods her head in response.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance." He greets her with a handshake which she was too quick to grab onto. "Follow me, ladies."
David took us to an area where there were fewer people and more empty tables near the poolside.
Sana seemed starstruck as she took in the view of her surroundings while the more steps we took inside the hotel the more worried I became.
"Have a seat please." David retrieves a chair for me and I hesitantly take it. Sana occupied a chair beside me and David was sitting in front of both of us.
A person in a suit arrives before our table with a badge that says 'manager'. "Can I be of any assistance to you Mr. Smith?" The manager asks David and he nods.
"Manager Boris, please take my esteemed guest Ms. Sana, and show her around your lovely hotel and Ms. Sana, please do not hesitate to use anything for your liking. Enjoy your visit." He gives her a cheeky smile and Sana's eyes light up like a giant light bulb.
I grabbed her hand from underneath the table and passed her the message to refuse and stay beside me but ignoring my silent calls, she got up and left my side.
"Sure, Mr. David. Enjoy your time." She gives me a thumbs-up before leaving with the man named Boris.
I facepalm in my head as I see her fading figure while finding it hard to meet eyes with David who had his eyes fixated on me, I could feel it.
"You are beautiful." He comments and I had to meet his eyes but quickly avert them.
"T-thanks." I put a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Aisha?"
"Hmm?"
"Why don't you meet my eyes?"
"No, it's not that. It's just…"
He pulled my chin up so I would meet his eyes. "Just what?"
"I haven't been with any guy before." His mouth lifts in a smile and then he starts laughing and my mouth turns into a grim line.
"I am sorry but I couldn't resist holding back." He says, finally taking hold of his laughter.
"I know, I am a fool at times."
"No. You misunderstood me." He places his hand on mine as if it was natural for him. "You're just too innocent."
"Is that… bad?"
"No, you're too good for me. You're not like the other made-up girls who pretend to become someone they're not in front of me." His words had a weird effect on me, they were scrunching my insides and it somehow felt good.
I laugh at the situation and try to loosen myself up. "Of course, we're friends and you said to trust you and that's what I am doing."
"Friends? Did you really take that?"
I blinked at him and he took my hand to his mouth, placing a soft, long kiss, creating a tingling sensation all over my body. "Do friends do that?"
"I…" I was at a loss for words. I couldn't understand what he meant and most of all why did I like it? Why wasn't I pushing him away?
A part of me was screaming and telling me to run away, telling me that I was deceiving everyone, telling me that I was two-faced but the part of me to be with this very guy in front of me overruled the other.
"I booked this hall to be with you alone. To spend some time getting to know you. Friends don't do that."
He booked this place for me? Holy moly!
"Then… What are we?" I breathed as he ran circles around my hand with his forefinger.
"I wasn't sure when I didn't meet you but now I know… We can be anything but not friends." He looked into my eyes, he was serious. "Would you date me, Aisha?"
Date.
Date?
Date?!
The word kept on repeating in my head like a mantra. This man who had tons of money in his bank account, who had people ready to serve him at his fingertip, who had women flying left and right around him… And he wanted to date me?
But how could I? I don't know anything about dating. It's haram (forbidden) in Islam!
Why do I feel excited to hear it?
Though I only know about dating through movies and stuff… but dating in real life with a millionaire…
"Why me?" The words were out before I could even process them.
"Honestly, right now I'm asking myself the same question. Why, you?"
"I… I need some time to think."
"Of course but don't keep me waiting for long." He winks at me and waves his hand in another direction and a few servants line up and decorate the table with scrumptious-looking food. "This is for you. Have some."
~~~
"Where were you?" My mom questions as soon as I enter through the main house door. "Why aren't you wearing your abaya?"
Shoot!
I didn't think that Mom would be waiting for me at the door or else I would have worn my abaya.
"Where would I be? Sana's of course. Sorry I am late, we were caught up with work."
"Caught up with work in a dress like that?" She eyes my attire with disgust.
"C'mon maa, I was with Sana only. She dropped me off so it's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal?" Mom came to me and raised her hand and almost hit me on the face but stopped her hand in mid-way. "Get away from my eyes before I do something to you."
"It's because of this attitude that I wonder why people are so anti about Islam!" I scurry to my room with tears in my eyes.