| Mia |

And I wondered.

If I should tell Gloria about what happened? As she walked right by my side asking me to check if her foundation looked fab.

It was right on my tongue.

So hey you know Zack—

The name Zack was right on the tip of my tongue. .and then  I decided not to tell her.

Because what was there to say?

It was just one measly encounter.

Nothing of a big deal. So the hot guy talked to me. .and the next second he forgot all about my existence.

Yay! Not!

I was done and dusted in his head.

Hot guys went for hot girls.

It was kind of shameful and pathetic how girls starts to imagine marrying the hot guy if he so much as blinks in her direction.

I was the girls.

So hopping into her car, I kept my mouth shut and promised myself to deep dive into over thinking when I was in my room.

At least I could over think right?

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Slipping into my building, I was beat up. Tired to the bones. We walked we talked and we stalked.

As best friends , our weird obsession with couples continued and we shared it with each other without any shame.

It was 6 :30 and mom would be home by 10 so I had to prepare the dinner . Clean my room and the bathroom. Looking up at the stairs . .the zillion stairs—alright i was exaggerating .I just didn't have it in me to climb up. And the elevator seemed inviting to me.

The reception was empty.

The silence was hollow and defeaning.

Looking left and right , I headed towards it.

Thanking the lord above for no creeps.

But the lord had different plan than me. I was so intensely involved into my thoughts. .I didn't see the two bodies zooming in. Right towards the elevator.

Just as I slipped in , feeling happy for being alone. .two bodies flashed in right behind in!

And that one second of happiness went on its merry way as I turned around and saw two people in front of me.

Their backs at me.

Occupying the space.

So much for being happy!

Sighing dejectedly, I leaned across the metallic wall and watched as one of them pressed the ⬆️ button.

The elevator dinged to life and it groaned as it started to move up.

Since I had nothing to do so I observed whatever was available and that was. . .a tall lanky guy and a girl. Probably my age. .but she had her back to me and her arms were crossed kind of like in defensive manner.

Her head was covered with hijab.

The  guy's head turned towards her and almost instantly I could see the sleazy look he casted her way.

He opened his mouth.

"Can I see what's under that?" He said in a low voice as if i was deaf and couldn't hear him or I was some ghost.

The girl didn't reply.

And what happens when a girl don't answer to a bitch of a man? He tries harder!

His lanky body turned towards her.

"Yo, come on. I'm just joking. No offense." He raised his hands in surrender.

Still she remained stoic.

Like a statue.

That's when his arm shot up like he was going to snatch the hijab off her head—the girl's head turned at him in alarm —

But he didn't reach her.

Because I stepped in.

Catching his wrist and twisting it around his back!!

"Oww!! Fucking shit!" He tried to move but I didn't let him!

"If you so much as touch her I'll break your fucking neck! You dickless shit!!" I twisted his arm at an odd angle and he cried out in pain. Just like a ten years old.

" I'm sorry I'm sorry! Fuck, let go!"

The doors of the elevator snapped open and I did. let him  go !

By kicking his butt—he went barreling out of the elevator. Right on the floor.

Gasping.

A string of abuses leaving his foul mouth.

The doors of the elevator closed up and I didn't realize I was breathing so freaking hard like I had run a marathon.

My chest raising and falling.

The girl turned around at me and she had the most beautiful pair of eyes I had ever seen! Not just eyes but her face ! Like a concoction of Kate Winslet and Jennifer Lawrence. An exotic face; And her eyes were flashing with worry . For me.

She came towards me in an instant.

"Are you okay?!!! " She said now her delicate hand on my arm trying to see if was actually okay.

"I'm fine . Do you know him?" I asked only so I could report him to the building administration.

"By Allah I don't! He was following me and I tried to escape him by rushing here but—" and then her almond eyes kinda turned glossy . . filling up with gratitude. " Thankyou so much! No one has ever— thankyou!"

I shook my head.

"Aw no! It's every women's job to protect every other women. We run in packs." I winked .

"Please you have to have dinner with us. " She said in the most earnest way.

And I tried to sweep the whole incident under a rug but she didn't let me do it. She kept on insisting until I gave in and now we were going towards her apartment.

Turned out she wasn't far away from mine.

Only 5 apartments distance away.

On the way to her apartment I did  introduce myself and she did tell me her name.

"Iqra. Wow! Never heard of it. What does it mean?"

She smiled at me.

"It means ; read."

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I felt right at home!

Her mother , who looked like the older version of Iqra, welcomed me with open warms and when I hugged her. .it was equivalent of hugging my mother.

She was warm and. . safe .

The wrinkles on her face, the shine in her eyes, the gloss of her skin. . . everything radiated safety and . .home.

I was home.

As I got seated on a couch, Iqra started to take off the hijab from her head and with wild eyes and gestures she was telling her mother how I fought with a wolf  like Bell from Beauty and the Beast.

The middle aged woman came towards me and she occupied the space beside me on the couch. .her gentle smile never wavering from her face.

"Mia, shukran for standing up for my daughter. " She placed her hand on her heart as if being thankful.

I turned beet red.

"Its—its not a big deal . If anyone were on my place they would have done the same."

She shook her head.

"No, my dear. Only the kindest of them have the most courageous of heart . Not everyone has it in them to stand up . MashAllah it is obvious , isn't it Iqra?" She looked at her grinning daughter and then at me. " Mia,  looks like a Queen raised you."

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A/ N

Shukran = Thankyou