The Nanny

Chapter Twenty Three

"You didn't have to pick me up from the hospital." I told Imad, as I buckled my seat belt.

"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. I've missed so much time being away from you, I am not wasting any more..." He said as he stared at me, and smiled.

"You could have slept in."

"Yah I know but I'd rather be here."

"Did you see Naveed in the hospital?" I asked him, changing the topic.

"Yes we crossed paths."

"Well...?"

"What?" He spoke confused.

"You didn't make amends? Whatever happened between you two... shouldn't have easily broken your friendship." I said.

"You know exactly what happened." He said and started the car engine.

"No... I haven't the slightest idea." I said.

"He made a move on you. I heard him, he confessed his feelings for you. You were in the kitchen... Remember?" He spoke quick and seemingly irritated.

"No you must have been mistaken. That was a mistake."

"I know what I heard Anisa." He said in a firm tone.

"Well if you stayed any longer you would have known he apologized once he saw me. Naveed clarified, he thought I was Amal."

"Still. He had no right."

"Oh please Imad. You're only mad because you thought it was me he was in love with."

"Partly yes. But also because he went behind my back to make a move on my cousin, without telling me. So of course I was enraged." He explained.

"It was a long shot. Maybe he wanted to see if Amal felt the same way before approaching you."

"But Amal? I could have never imagined. He never once asked about her or mentioned her."

"I mean maybe he was shy to admit it." I tried to reason with him. While drove off the parking lot, and on to the main Street.

"So you broke off your friendship because of what he felt..."

"If you put it like that. Obviously it sounds trivial."

"But it is, however you put it. He was your best friend. Amal never got to know and now he's married, with a child."

"What?" He briefly looked at me.

"I mean you cut ties with him. What did you expect. A daily subscription to his life?" I commented jokingly.

"Good for him." He said in a flat tone. "So how long do I have to wait to brag about you in public and officially call you mine."

"You've waited four years..." He cut me off and spoke;

"Yes and still counting. I told you I don't want to waist any more time." He's fixed on the road, both of his hands clenched to the steering wheel. It was apparent that this topic made him agitated if not impatient.

"That's why you came to pick me up... you wanted to talk about this."

"No this just happened to come up as we conversed. Tell me why I have to wait any longer."

"Because I am having second thoughts about us... you." I confessed and sighed. A weight had been lifted from my chest and another one immediately replaced. Anxious to hear his reply, after speaking so honestly.

"Is there anything I can do or say to convince you..." He spoke in a low tone. Grateful for his patience and understanding with me.

"No. I just need to come to the decision on my own."