Waking up with a headache, heart burn and a general feeling of fatigue I decided there is nothing better than ‘a good cup of coffee talk’ to get me started, and so I made my way to my favorite coffee spot earlier than usual.
But with only a few faces around, there wasn’t much hope of eavesdropping on some good coffee conversations and I soon found myself engrossed in my own mental reflections.
I thought back over my week, work, that I need to get the car fixed, pick up the laundry, buy a new bag, pack and the realization that I would not have any free time next week. Ideas, thoughts, duties all hit at once and my headache grew stronger. I held my head in my hands and ordered a coffee. I looked up to find a piece of raw entertainment walking in.
“I think the only solution we have left is to elope, said Salma with a smile.
“Fine, but you know this is not what I want, Khaled whispered.
Hugging him, Salma continued, “I can’t bear to live without you, and I have already started getting rid of my things.
“You did what?
“I started moving my clothes and personal stuff out of the house without Mom realizing. All that’s left is for me to go to the bank and get the LE 35,000 from Dad’s will, Salma explained.
Looking down, then up at her, he said: “You know how much I love you.
She smiled.
“But you must understand marrying a woman who is willing to do that makes me question what my children will be like. With that, her smiled vanished.
“I don’t see another solution if you want us to be together. My Mom thinks you did something to me and that is why I am so determined to marry you.
Moving back and causing the chair to make a screeching sound, he said, “What do you mean? What is wrong with me? I have a good job in the Gulf. I proposed to your family, Khaled said in anger.
Patting him, Salma said: “I told you she is not well in her head. She hates you, but I love you and we have to elope.
“But my parents have no problem and they want a big wedding.
“Khalas habibi, what do you want me to do? I wanted a wedding, too. My sister arrived from the US and bought a new dress, she responded. My biscotti took a dive into my coffee, so I stopped my eavesdropping to save it from drowning.
Next my ears settled on two young ladies.
“Noha, you don’t know how much I love him, I am so happy he finally called, he called me.
Laughing, “Sally you’ve been waiting years, every day for two years, and now he finally calls you and tells you he is married with a kid and you are happy.
“I am happily married but I love him, I thought with time I would forget the touch of his hand, the love songs he sang. But I didn’t, Sally said with a sigh.
With a frown, Noha reminded her friend, “You know your husband is better in every respect.
“I know but love sees only with the heart, hears only with the heart and my heart belongs to him; he said he misses me, that he loves his wife but I will always be his ‘love’ that no one will compare too.
Noha’s phone rang.
“Hey baby, I miss you, where are you?
“Marwan, I am with my family having lunch, I told you, Noha replied.
Angry he said, “Lunch eh dah that lasts four hours are you sure you are with your family? I am outside the fish market, yala come out then I don’t see your car.
“But I came with my Aunt, what is wrong with you? Why are you speaking to me like that? The phone slammed in her face and rang again, “It’s over, I am sick of your games.
“Maybe you are right Sally, love is better than a good façade.
I ordered another coffee and decided to get back to my own stories.
