A Vow and a Coffin

Crystal

She left the lounge like a zombie. She even ignored Garcia calling her. He was clearly fishing for gossip again.

“This must be a terrible dream” She kept thinking over and over again.

By the time she reached the entrance of the lounge, she found Laila pacing about. Her legs suddenly turned to jelly, and she couldn't walk. She collapsed in front of the door and burst into tears.

Laila immediately rushed to her side. “Shhh. It's okay. It's okay”.

She peered at Laila through her tears and saw the confusion and worry on her face.

She wiped her face and turned towards her. Laila was still looking confused.

“Now that you've calmed down, can you tell me what's making you cry? Did Mr Amir try to assault you? Did he make you uncomfortable? What exactly happened there?”. Laila bombarded her with questions.

Crystal looked down at her hands. Tears welled up again but she held them in. She handed the envelope to Laila, afraid that if she spoke, the tears would come rushing back.

Laila opened it, and her eyes widened as she read the contents.

“He's offering you a contract marriage? Why? Why would he do that? He doesn't even know you. What's his motive?” Laila asked in quick succession.

“I honestly don't know. And I'm really confused right now. Mr Dexter gave me one month to pay back two million dirhams. At this point, I don't know what to do. I don't want to marry Amir, he gives me the chills. I'm literally terrified of him” Crystal replied, tears brimming in her eyes.

“I'd say you should go and think about it over the weekend. Or what do you think?” Laila asked her.

“I don't even have the weekend. Amir said he's going to pick me up this evening. I'm so confused, Laila.” Crystal said.

There was silence for a while.

“I think you should take it”. Laila said suddenly.

Crystal turned to her sharply. “ What do you mean I should take it? Get married to a total stranger and bear a child for him for money? And just forget I even have a child after 2 years? Are you even listening to yourself Laila?”.

“Look, hear me out. Right now, the fact that Amir is even offering you this is a miracle. Otherwise, tell me where you're going to get two million dirhams in a month. Where? Just go home, sleep on it, and you'll see I have a point, okay?” Laila tried to persuade her.

Crystal nodded. Laila had a point. At this point, she couldn't even think straight. She needed sleep first. The contract could wait a few hours.

“Let me get your things. Just wait for me at the front desk, okay?”. Laila said and headed towards the changing room to get Crystal's things.

A few minutes later, Crystal stood in the cold Dubai midnight breeze. It reminded her that this wasn’t a dream.

As the taxi she hailed came to a stop in front of her, her thoughts wandered to him again.

Ahmad.

She remembered his perfect face and the way his voice had pierced into her soul that afternoon. She smiled.

Twenty minutes later, as she entered her apartment, she stared at the contract in her hand, and tears spilled onto the envelope.

She crumpled to the floor in tears until sleep finally took over.

Her phone alarm woke her up the next morning. She had class and she knew that despite everything, she couldn't afford to miss it. Her scholarship was on the line.

She stared at the envelope again. Then she reached into her bag, took out a pen, opened the envelope, and with shaky hands, signed away her freedom. Ten million dirhams for two years of marriage. Her body, her name, her freedom, bought and owned by Amir Al-Fayad.

She stood up and got ready for class. Her diploma was the only good thing going on for her.

Later that afternoon, as she walked into the restaurant, her coworkers froze. Her eyes looked hollow and cold with dark circles underneath. Even her walk was slow, like she’d aged overnight. She didn’t bother to fake a smile, just straight to the counter after changing.

Laila stood at a distance, watching Crystal with concern in her eyes. She decided to give her some space to process things.

“Crystal, table 8. One coffee and a peanut butter sandwich”. Amanda dropped the order in front of her and hurried away, afraid to piss her off.

Crystal looked up, and only one person came to mind. She couldn't let him see her like this, she looked a mess. But, she still took the order.

As she got to the table, her hunch turned out to be right. It was him, Ahmad. She managed a small smile and placed the order in front of him.

“Hello, Mr Ahmad” She greeted.

He looked up at her and in that moment, all her worries seemed to disappear.

Ahmad

He looked up at her and he was shocked at the sight before him but he tried not to show it.

He knew something was wrong. Crystal’s eyes that had glowed with life and mischief just yesterday now looked cold and lifeless.

“Hi, stranger. You could resist seeing me, right? I thought your co-worker was bringing my order.” He teased, smiling up at her.

She gave a small smile but said nothing. No banter, no words, nothing.

Something was definitely wrong with her. And he was determined to find out what or who was troubling her.

“Are you okay? Is something wrong? You don't look like yourself.” He asked, concern written all over his face.

“I'm fine Mr Ahmad, just a little tired. If you need anything else, I'll be by the counter.” With that, she turned and walked away.

He knew she was lying. She didn't look fine and it wasn't just stress.

Ahmad watched her walk away, her shoulders hunched like she was carrying something too heavy for her frame. It hit him harder than he expected.

He didn’t know her. Not really. But something inside him stirred.

He was worried and angry. He wanted to protect her

He couldn’t explain it, but he felt a pull in his chest. Like fate was trying to scream in his ear and he just didn’t know what it was saying.

And he hated that he couldn’t do anything to fix it.

Crystal

She walked back to the counter and watched him eat his sandwich and sip his coffee, confusion and worry etched on his face.

She hated that she couldn't tell him anything. All she wanted to do was run into his arms and cry till she couldn't no more.

She watched him pay Amanda and leave the restaurant. It felt like her heart had left with him.

Laila came around the counter. “Are you okay? What did you decide to do?”.

“I signed it. I know I was signing away my freedom but what choice do I have? If I don't want to end up dead at the end of the month, I have to do this” she told Laila.

Laila placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You're going to be okay, believe me. I'll be with you every step of the way”.

Crystal looked at Laila and hugged her. She had gained a sister at El-paso and she was very grateful for her.

“Okay, I have to go now before the manager sees me here, okay?”. Laila said, returning to her station

The day flew by. Before she realized it, it was 10:30pm.

Laila ran up to her at the counter. “Mr Amir is here. Do you need me to come with you?”

Crystal smiled and looked at her. “No, I'm going to be okay. Just wait for me here. I won't be long”.

She headed for the lounge and went straight for the VIP section, uncertain of what was waiting for her on the other side of the doors, but ready to face it.