The living room was abuzz with laughter and joy, galvanized by the visitors from Saudi. Everyone had a glass of wine and were happily conversing. They were all astonished by the enormous house.
Abdulrahim was seated at the couch, a smile plastered on his face at the prospect of what could have been his wait for his bride to be, in a short while.
Raymond Ross observed all this seated at the single person velvet chair in silence. He still couldn’t believe that Lana had finally agreed to get married tonight.
Though he understood that Lana was only young he couldn’t risk her daughter getting into the claws of the diseases of today’s world.
As he stood up so as to walk around the room he saw a maid dressed in the usual white shawl staring at him. She was just a few steps away.
“Please refill the glasses for the guests,” he said.
“Certainly Sir,” she said then hastily went to perform the errand.
Raymond was still in thought when a deep smooth voice spoke behind him.
“What is taking her so long,” said the voice. It was Abdulrahim.
“She must be nearly done by now,” replied Raymond. “They should be doing the final touches.”
“Wonderful,” chimed Abdulrahim.
* * *
Lana ran down hastily down the front steps of the house towards the parking lot.
The last five minutes had been a blur. She had told Suraya of her plan and she had agreed to it. Then Suraya gave Lana her white veil and Lana went out. On the living room’s hallway on her way out, she took one last look at her father and the man she would never marry. She had almost dropped dead in shock when her father ordered her drinks without recognising he was sending his own daughter. Then as she pretended to go to the kitchen she went$ out scotch free.
Now as she reached the parking area she realised that she didn’t have the key to any car.
Her heart pounded wildly at the prospect of being caugh while trying to flee. What would she say?
There were six cars and she tried all of them.
Locked.
Then a thought ran in her head.
“It can’t be!” she thought .
She ran to the new silver Porsche. She anticipated that the key would be in the car since it was new. Untouched.
The Porsche’s Convertible roof had been laid in and Lana entered through jumping up the door in the front seat. She checked the ignition. No key.
Then she opened the dashboard.
Bingo!
The key was there.
She inserted it and turned on the ignition. Lana felt a thrill of joy when the engine roared to life. Without wasting time she made a u-turn and took one last look at their house and drove away.
It was the last she was seeing of it.