After 3 months
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"Aiyo! Why do you all even like this?" asks mom with an irritated face as I mix the cake batter. She absolutely hates chocolate cake. Dad doesn't like it either. Wonder why! Is it just my parents or do all brown parents have a dislike for chocolate cake?

"You will like this. I'm making it mom. It will be awesome" I say with a chuckle. Now, I'm not a professional baker or anything but baking with Zayan a few times at Second Chance over the past few months, has definitely given me the confidence of one. Zayan is a great teacher. I love learning from him. If only I had male teachers with a sharp jawline like his when I was schooling, I would have become a scientist by now.

Mom who didn't even pay attention to what I said, starts scolding dad for something, mentions that the kitchen is too crowded, and then shouts at the kids for running around. She is clearly annoyed. I can see that. But there's nothing that I could do about it. It's a typical brown mom trait to be mad at the entire household on Eid festival morning. She will be fine after sometime.

I continue to mix the batter when my phone vibrates. I unlock it to find a text from Zainab that reads, "I've sent the emails Ilhaam 🙂 Anything else to be done dear?" Well, yes it's my cousin Zainab who I used to despise sometime back. She works for me now and it looks like I don't hate her much anymore.

I know this sounds strange but ever since mom and Salima kept talking about Zainab going through a tough time after her husband lost his job, I kind of started feeling sorry for her. And I really wanted to help her in some way but I didn't know how to. Anyway, two months back when I had assignment submissions, I found it very hard to handle work all by myself and I happened to mention it to Zayan one day. And it was he who suggested that I recruit someone to help me with some of my work.

At first, of course I thought his idea was ridiculous because employing someone and managing them seemed like such a huge task for me. Besides, I'm a perfectionist and I don't like sharing work with anyone else. But then Zayan was so convincing and wise with his words when he spoke. So, I agreed to do it.

Initially when I considered offering this job to Zainab, part of my brain kept flashing bad memories of the nasty comments she has made to me over the years. But the other part reminded me of Amer's words about kindness. So, I decided that I would just give it a try and as of now, I don't regret it a bit. Zainab has been very helpful and her work is pretty neat too.

"Hey thanks so much. But pls don't work today. Just enjoy the festival. Eid Mubarak 🤗♥️" I reply back to Zainab. See, she is nice to me now and I am nice to her too. So, I guess like Amer says, perhaps being kind for no reason, indeed has the power to change the world!

I reply to a few other Eid wishes from people I've never even spoken to before but somehow there's none from Mr. Perfect Jawline. The truth is I've been kind of expecting a message from him since the time I woke up. Well, I can't exactly say "woke up" because I never slept in the first place. I mean, that's what Eid is normally like, right? Everyone stays up all night, being too excited and waiting for the festival to start, isn't it? Or is it just me? I don't know.

Somehow the point is that it's 9:00 am and he still hasn't hit me up, which is making me a little anxious. Not really upset about it but there's this slight expectation. I mean, I know he is just a client and I shouldn't be expecting such gestures from him, but maybe my silly heart does and I don't know how to stop it.

In a way, it's justifiable to expect it because Zayan and I have been pretty close over the past few months, especially after he left to Australia last week. He messaged me quite a lot during the last few days. Nothing personal though. We are still not friends or anything. He is just my client. But then there are times when he suddenly says or does certain things which makes me feel like it could be more than a professional relationship.

Anyway, I think that there's a fine line between professionalism and harmless flirting in our interactions, and somehow we both are very careful of the way we walk on this line, making sure it does not reach beyond limits. And it's good this way. I don't want it to be anything more than this.

But you see, sometimes, just sometimes the heart has its own demands and it is kind of hard to stop feeling things. Like right now. I mean, Eid wishes have never meant anything to me before but for some weird reason I expect it from him and suddenly it feels like my Eid is incomplete without it.

Of course I can drop him a message first but I'm not going to do that because then I would look too needy. I'm okay with texting first for official purposes but not for personal reasons like today. It's okay. I'm going to leave it. The kids are here. Salima is here. In a while my true love biryani will be here too. So, things will be fine. I shouldn't spoil my mood on a special day thinking of a dude.

I get back to my work and as I put the cake in the oven, my phone vibrates and this time as expected, it is a text from Zayan. My face instantly lights up and I quickly start replying to him.

Zayan: Eid Mubarak to u and ur family Ilhaam 😊 May God bless you with all the happiness that you deserve 🙌🏼
Me: Thank you! Eid Mubarak to u too! 😇
Me: too late to wish btw 😛
Zayan: was a little busy with something sorry
Zayan: how's it going? 😄
Me: trying to bake a cake 👀
Me: pray that it comes right 😂
Zayan: u won't fail 😉
Me: I hope so
Me: don't want Eid to get ruined 😅
Zayan: it won't 😎
Me: thanks 💛
Me: how's your Eid in Australia?
Zayan: all good with fam 😀👌🏾
Zayan: missing SL a bit tho
Me: lol
Me: missing me much? 😜
Zayan: for sure
Zayan: u are definitely the reason why I miss SL 😉

Okay, I know I'm smiling like a fool now and I need to stop it. It was just a joke and it doesn't mean anything. Of course he doesn't miss me. But I kind of wish he did for real though.

"You are all smiles" says Salima with a chuckle as she enters the kitchen. Ugh! Here comes my smile detector. She always knows it when I'm upto something. "Just replying to Eid texts from friends" I say, trying to hide my stupid smile. "Doesn't look like just a friend though. You have started baking. You are smiling endlessly. You have been always on your phone lately. Tell me tell me" she says.

I shake my head and say, "You know what? I think I like you better when you play the serious sister role." Salima puts her hand on my shoulder and asks, "Serious role? Like talking about proposals? Well, I think I have something to tell you. I can get started if you want me to."

"Hell no! Leave me alone" I say with a chuckle. "Okay fine. By the way you haven't denied anything that I said earlier. So is there really someone?" she asks. I shake my head in denial and before I could say speak, mom says, "I hope Ilhaam would be in her husband's place next Eid." And with that they both start discussing about an imaginary wedding for me. Generally this conversation would annoy me but today it's much needed. At least Salima is distracted now, so she won't notice me smiling anymore.

I keep checking the oven when Salima says, "Ilhaam, why don't you apply some henna? You will look nice." I make a face at her and say, "Nah not my thing." Salima says "Aiyo!" and mom joins the conversation with, "Drama queen doesn't like henna."

I just roll my eyes because seriously what has not wanting to apply henna got to do with me being a drama queen? Not denying the fact that I'm a drama queen but this has got no relation whatsoever.

They both laugh at me and Salima walks away when my phone vibrates. It's a text from Zayan that reads, "fainted after reading my text? 🤔" Oh crap! I just realized that I opened his message a few minutes ago and left him on read when Salima came.

Now that she is gone, I can finally respond. So, I start texting Zayan.

Me: lol sorry
Me: my sister was annoying me asking me to apply henna 🤦🏾‍♀️
Zayan: haha so why don't u do it? 😃
Me: not really interested 🤷🏾‍♀️
Zayan: I thought all girls liked it 😄
Me: Perhaps I'm not "all girls" 😉😛
Zayan: always the different one huh? 😃
Me: I dunno about that but my mom just called me a drama queen for saying that 😂
Zayan: suits u 👀
Me: excuse me?!
Zayan: I mean I agree with the queen part 👸🏻
Me: 😤
Zayan: don't like being called a queen? 🧐
Me: it's not that
Me: wrong smiley!!
Zayan: 🤔
Me: disappointed 😏
Zayan: I don't get it 😬
Me: it should be 👸🏾 not 👸🏻
Zayan: same, isn't it? 🤔
Me: !!!!!!!
Me: 🤦🏾‍♀️
Zayan: oh the emoji color
Zayan: sorry
Zayan: didn't think about it 😬
Me: fine I'll forgive u 😒
Zayan: thanks ma'am 😍
Me: 😅

Oh God! Did he just use heart-eyes emoji on me? Of course this is exactly what I felt when he first used the wink emoji too, and now it's so common. So, maybe this is nothing. But still using heart-eyes has to mean something right? Okay, I need to stop feeling this way. It's not right.

I just hope that what I have for Zayan is just a crush and nothing more. Because having serious feelings for a guy who will never reciprocate it, is the last thing that I want in my life right now. Of course I'm very strong about my decision of not falling in love again, after what happened with Sameer. But you see, when you have a guy like Zayan in life, things can get a little unpredictable because he is different and just too nice.

The thing is, I've known Zayan for around four months now and he still seems to be the same person who I met at Amer's event that evening. He still gives me the same amount of respect like he did on the first day. Same infectious smile. Same positive vibes. Same genuineness in his words. I mean, there is no change in his behavior like what happened with Sameer overtime.

Honestly, I don't even know what I am trying to say, but it's just that this guy is constant, which seems too unreal for a man. So I'm kind of afraid whether I would fall in love with him without my knowledge, and then get disappointed because he won't feel the same. I hope nothing like that happens. Anyway, I better get on with Eid celebrations and stop overthinking for now.

"Your cake is so yummy!" says Haya. I say "thanks darling" and give her a kiss when Caira says, "Yeah it tastes like the one we had when we met that uncle who gave you chocolates." Oh God! I thought she would've forgotten it by now. Hope Salima didn't hear it. If she did, there will be another round of questions about who this 'uncle' is.

I just get up and walk straight to my room, without uttering a single word, because I don't want this conversation to proceed further. As I close the door, I get a text from Zayan that reads, "I'm returning back tonight 😊"

Woah. This is weird. He is not the kind of person who initiates conversations unnecessarily, especially not after I ended the last chat with a smiley. Wonder why he is informing me about his arrival. It's not like I don't care. Of course I wanted to ask him that. But felt a little awkward. It's good that he is telling me this on his own. But why suddenly? Does he know that I have a crush on him now?

I sit on my bed and start texting Zayan. There's nothing much to do on Eid day anyway, other than overeating, feeling full all the time and pretending to be nice to guests. So, at least this will be fun.

Me: cool 😀
Zayan: will u be coming to Colombo tomorrow?
Zayan: there's something that I need to tell u
Me: work-related? 👀
Zayan: I will tell u tomorrow 😊

He wants to talk but doesn't mention about what. What could it be? When he left to Australia last week, he said it was for a personal reason and not official. Could he be sick or something? Is he slowly dying and wants me to take over the cafe after his death? Or is he planning to get rid of me because he has found someone better to offer Marketing services? Oh my God! I hope not.

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I kept thinking of what to write in this chapter and finally wrote about Eid since it's the that season 😁 Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating! 💫♥️ Hope you guys had a good one! 🤗
So, what do you think is Zayan going to tell Ilhaam in the next chapter? 🤔

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