Hi Zayan,

"First moments are great but second chances are greater. When it comes to life in general — every breath you take, every moment you spend, every person you meet, every place you visit — is nothing but a second chance.

Somewhere between celebrating occasional happy episodes and reliving memories of the past, we, human beings, have more or less succumbed to an everyday life of mundaneness that we often forget to give ourselves a second chance to explore and experience newer moments.

If reading this has made you think — 'why did I have to stumble upon these words, right here, at this point in life?' We certainly have an answer for your question.

Let us introduce ourselves first. We are Second Chance — an unusually named spot built with the most beautiful message — Second Chances are important!

So many cafes in the heart of Colombo and why would you choose us? Because we are here to redefine your cafe encounters — not just in terms of the food and coffee we serve, but in the overall experience of it.

Come visit us and treat yourself with a second chance to rekindle your bond with your loved ones. Moreover, give us a chance to prove to you that second chances are indeed the best part of life."

The above write-up is something that I am planning to use for a post on the page. Let me know what you think about it. Will discuss more once you give your feedback.

Cheers,
Ilhaam
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I hope Zayan likes the write-up. After all, I've been up all night thinking of how we could promote the cafe with a unique story to it, and finally penned down this.

My phone vibrates thrice and it's all WhatsApp notifications from Zayan's number. Uh oh! Why hasn't he replied on email? Is my writing that bad? Does he hate it so much that he doesn't even want to work with me anymore? Is that why he wants to let me know the deal is cancelled via WhatsApp because I check it faster than emails? Oops! What have I done? I shouldn't have sent it to him.

I click on the messages to find this:
Zayan: wow 😯
Zayan: it's beautiful
Zayan: I even started feeling emotional about my life and the second chances I have missed out 😝

Woah! Do guys like Zayan double text? I didn't know that. Impressive! Plus, it looks like the deal is still on, which is good. And he hasn't commented anything negative about the write-up, which is good too. But he hasn't asked me to go ahead with it either. Does that mean he approves the idea or disapproves it?

He probably doesn't like it but just wants to be nice to me, I guess. Perhaps that's why he even responded on WhatsApp without replying via email, because it's not worth an official discussion. It ends as an informal chat here. Also, what's with his last message? Is that supposed to be sarcasm?

Why overthink? Let me just text him back and find out!

Me: is that a compliment or sarcasm? 🧐
Zayan: compliment of course
Zayan: are u a writer? 👀
Me: lol no. I don't think so 😄
Zayan: but u are good at it 😊👏🏼
Me: so does that mean, it's a yes or no about the post?
Zayan: yes yes positive 👌🏼
Me: thanks 👍🏾
Me: why didn't u just email it btw? 🤔
Zayan: I figured u were more comfortable with WhatsApp that's why 😊
Zayan: anything wrong?
Me: Nah...all good 😅
Me: Btw I would like to visit the cafe today to shoot some videos and capture some pics. Possible?
Zayan: Absolutely 😀 let me know the time
Me: By 4 pm?
Zayan: done 👍🏼

I wish I could go to Second Chance now itself but I have to wait till evening because right now I'm stuck at yet another brown family gathering. The first one I'm taking part in, after ages — after that last time I created a scene.

There were other gatherings in between too but I successfully avoided them. But today, mom and Salima somehow convinced me to come saying that I am 'cured' after the therapy, as if I had a disease or something.

I agreed to come only because I wanted to see how I act with family once again. I mean, for the past four months the only way I met my relatives were when they came home. So, either I must've completely forgotten how to interact with family members, after the break or I must've become a pro at it, after Amer's therapy. Spending a few hours here is the only way to find out.

So far my experience has been alright. People only smiled with me and didn't bother to ask me stupid questions. Probably my previous explosive behavior has frightened them for life — good for me. Also, because mom particularly advised me that I should not say anything rude to Zainab as she is going through a tough time because of her husband losing his job or whatever. So, I guess Zainab and I — both are consciously avoiding each other today. Again good for me!

"Ilhaam, can you give my bag to me?" asks Salima as I keep thinking of whether to reply to Zayan's last message or not. I mean, it doesn't really require a reply but I feel like sending one anyway. I pass her the bag. "You are smiling...smiling endlessly. Anything I should know about sister? asks Salima with a wink.

What the hell? How is it that my sister always finds out when I'm interested in a guy? Also, why isn't my resting bitch face coming to my rescue now? The more I try to hide my emotions, the more my face reveals them in situations like this.

Zayan is not even anything close to being a boyfriend for me to act like this. It's all professional and I know it too. But you see, some of the things he does like the way he appreciates my efforts or how rightly he said that I prefer WhatsApp, makes my stupid heart feel special. I'm sure this is how he treats everyone because he is just a nice person and that is what nice people do.

Even though, I try to explain to myself I shouldn't care about any of these, I guess my heart doesn't want to accept it and that's how I end up smiling like a fool and getting caught to my sister. What do I tell her now? Obviously I can't agree about having a crush on a client I met just two days back! That would be ewww!

"Nothing Sally. Just happy to be around the relatives after a long time, I guess" I say with a fake smile. Salima laughs and says, "Oh come on! I know you better. Not even your therapy could make you happy around relatives. Just tell me the truth." Oops! There goes my sister revealing ugly truths about my life. I can't lie to her, can I?

So, I say, "Nothing like you think. It's just a new client with a good deal." Salima sighs and says with disappointment in her voice, "Ah your clients. Must be yet another old guy. Why don't you meet potential husbands like they show in movies?" I smile and say, "Because life is not a movie like you always say. And your sister only cares about money now. So it's all good." Salima makes a face at me and walks away.

I decide not to text back Zayan because it might come out too needy, so I open Instagram and scroll through it when all of a sudden, I get reminded of Sameer. Like, out of nowhere, I start thinking of him. It is strange though, because I haven't had the urge to stalk him even once over the past few months. Wonder whether it is because I'm too bored seated here now.

There's no harm in checking his socials anyway. That part of my life is over and I have moved on. This is just inquisitiveness. Nothing bad, I know it.

So, I unblock Sameer's profile on Instagram, expecting to find something about Aisha or a new girlfriend. But I only get disappointed when I see the profile being private with the same old quote he updated soon after our breakup. I quickly switch to Facebook and do the same, again to find a very private account there too.

Wonder what's happening in Sameer's life! It would be nice to know. I mean, if even my dull and drab life has suddenly gotten interesting with Mr.Perfect Jawline's entry, I'm pretty sure Sameer's must be much better.

I arrive at Second Chance by 4:10 pm, and start clicking pictures and making videos of the place, when Nehara walks upto me and asks, "Hi! Can I get you something?" Let me think. Do I really need it? I just had lunch a while ago. I'm full. But spending time around the relatives has been a little exhausting, even though they did not annoy me with hurtful comments today.

So, perhaps I should have my favorite piece of cake as a feel-good thing. You know, like rewarding myself for being social and not going psycho on anyone. "I'll come and get it once I'm done" I say with a smile and she leaves.

Once I finish work, I walk upto the counter and say, "Can I get a piece of chocolate cake, please?" The girl who Zayan was talking to yesterday, serves it for me. I give my card to pay when she says, "No, it's on the house." Wait, what? Why shouldn't I pay? Has this girl mistaken me for someone else?

"But why?" I ask. The girl smiles and says, "Because Zayan strictly told us not to charge you for anything. So, sorry ma'am, we can't accept it." This is ridiculous! Even yesterday when Zayan insisted that I shouldn't pay, I felt a little bad. But that was fine, since it was our first meeting. How can I not pay for it today too? I'm not used to getting anything free from anyone!

I think I know why Zayan is doing this. He is just pitying me after the speech and is trying to be nice to me in every possible manner. Maybe that's his idea of being a gentleman towards girls who have faced colorism. What he doesn't understand though is that it's making me angry now, for I'm not a beggar for him to treat me this way. Is this his impression of me for asking chocolates from him? I wasn't even serious about that!

"Umm...maybe you should put it back then. I don't need the cake" I say to the girl and start messaging Zayan.

Me: What the hell is going on?
Me: Why aren't your staff accepting payments from me?
Zayan: Because I told them not to 😊
Me: Why?
Zayan: I don't know 🤷🏻‍♂️
Zayan: Just felt like it
Zayan: who doesn't like free food right? 😝
Me: not funny!
Me: Do I look like a beggar to u?
Zayan: I never said that 👀
Zayan: I'm sorry if I hurt u in any way
Zayan: wasn't my intention
Me: yes, u very well did
Me: it's just disrespectful 👎🏾

And then instead of a text reply, my phone starts ringing and it's Zayan.

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Ilhaam is very much overreacting, I know 🙊
But honestly, how would you feel if someone who you barely know offers you free food? Would you be upset too? 🤔

Please search for @BIGMADEBROWNIE on Instagram & Facebook and follow me to enjoy short meme-like posts and updates about the story 🥰🙏🏾