Page 40 of The Mismatch

‘He’s very good. His coach said he could even be professional again one day,’ his mum added. ‘Inshallah his leg will heal fully.’

Ignoring this, Baba continued speaking. ‘And how are you going to provide for Neda?’

‘I’ve been working at my uncle’s factory part-time,’ Hossein said. ‘I’ve got savings and inheritance money. And once I graduate, I will find a full-time job, hopefully relating to my degree. I’d love to coach football at the very least.’

Maman smiled.

The topic of conversation moved on to her virginity.

‘She’s a good Muslim girl,’ Maman said. ‘Obviously.’ And yet her hands were clasped together tightly. It was like seeing a policeman in the street. Even though you’re doing nothing wrong, there’s still that small ball of anxiety in your stomach, as though somehow you might be. That’s how Neda imagined Maman felt during this conversation – it was how Neda was feeling, anyway.

‘Yes, I don’t doubt that. I would obviously like to see the sheet afterwards, though.’

Maman almost flinched before saying, ‘Of course!’

Neda caught Hossein’s eye. He looked like he wanted to laugh whilst she wanted to cry. He winked at her and she felt the tension in her shoulders release. She almost smiled back, but quickly brought her gaze down. Better not attract attention. But she peeked at him one more time, and though he was now looking at his mother, he still had the glimmer of a smirk on his face.

At the end of the evening it took at least forty-five minutes for Neda’s family to say goodbye to Hossein’s. There were after all thirteen of them, and Iranians are very particular about their goodbyes. A proper leave-taking consisted of: three kisses on each person’s cheeks, an invitation to a future dinner, thank yous, a compliment, another goodbye, another offer to meet up over dinner, additional thank yous, and then a formal goodbye before Neda’s family walked Hossein’s to their car.

Whilst their families were preoccupied, Hossein managed to stand next to Neda. They smiled at each other, giddy that it seemed to have gone smoothly and their wedding was actually going to happen. Neda’s heart beat fast every time she looked at Hossein. He both terrified and excited her. Even standing next to each other, they kept at least a ten-centimetre gap between them; there would be no real touching until their wedding night. And yet despite this, Hossein’s hand found Neda’s – for a few seconds – brushed against hers. It was everything she had imagined it would be; his hand was warm and strong. It sent a funny feeling through her body. She looked at him sharply, denying how her body felt, focusing on what sheshouldfeel.

He laughed, running his hand through his hair. He seemed totally at ease, making Neda feel like a fool for being so uptight. He accidentally touched her and she was making a show of herself.

Neda opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Baba. He leant in to say goodbye to Hossein, shook his hand before kissing his cheeks.

‘Get home safe,’ he said.

Baba was a small man with a kind face. She wished she could have taken a photograph of Baba and Hossein together – her old life with her new life. Instead, she imprinted the image of them in her mind permanently.

As Hossein climbed into the car, he gave Neda a small bow.

‘Goodbye, future wife.’

CHAPTER 18

Soraya

London, 2014

There was something intrinsically special about standing in a well-stocked bookshop. Excitement and longing for all the books there was not enough time to read hung in the air.

Magnus and Soraya had begun their date by walking along the South Bank, and it was there that they stumbled upon Foyles Bookshop. It had been a month since graduation, since they first spoke, which felt like so long ago now.

They were looking at the new releases section when Soraya blurted out, ‘When are you going to tell me what your book is about?’

He looked taken aback.

‘It’s about families, I guess,’ he said, walking over to the paperbacks on one of the centre tables. She thought he would continue speaking but he did not.

‘Care to elaborate?’ she asked, following him.

He laughed and grabbed her face between both hands, locking her in place.

Her eyes widened at this, and he responded with a smirk and the slight raise of one eyebrow.

He moved closer to her, so that his nose was almost touching hers. Her breath caught suddenly; she’d come to realise he had that effect on her. She didn’t like it.

‘You’re nosy, you know that?’ he breathed.