My Fiancé Joked About Me in Arabic at His Family Dinner—I Lived in Dubai for 8 Years
The Quiet Game Laughter bounced off the walls of the Damascus Rose Restaurant’s private dining room like tiny shards of crystal. I sat perfectly still, my fork hovering over untouched lamb, watching twelve members of the Almanzor family speak in rapid Arabic. The words flew past me like a river over stones. Supposedly, I understood nothing. Tariq, my fiancé, sat at the head of the table, his hand heavy on my shoulder. He didn’t translate a single word. His mother, Leila, studied me with sharp, hawk-like eyes, a faint smile