Chapter Three

                                                    "An Old Friend"

 “Zayed”

I heard the twins walk over to their grandmother and mother. My sister ordered her daughters to get back to their rooms and change.

“Go change, both of you.” She shooed the girls away with that sentence. I opened my eyes and looked at her and watched as they disappeared.

Directing my words to my mother, “Omaya, (Mother) her girls are just like her.” I said, pointing to my sister, Laylah. “Both are mouthy and envious.” I noticed her narrowing her eyes but pretended to ignore her.

“Excuse me?” She demanded for some attention. I enjoyed her reaction. I rarely saw her smile ever since she had had a divorce. It was when the girls were five when she had split up with her husband.

“Like mother, like daughter.” My mother took my side. This made her even angrier.

“Mouthy and envious?? I was nothing like that!” She spat making me smile. I thought she would defend her daughters.

I replied with a raise of my eyebrow. “Really?” I challenged.

“Don’t make me reveal your childhood stories.” She threatened, rolling her eyes. She was the eldest in our house and the first to get married. She had been really young back then, about eighteen years old I guess and I was twelve. And just about five years of having a troubled relationship with her husband they decided to get a divorce. It had been his fault and I remembered the reckless way I had behaved back then. I had threatened her husband that I will make him regret what he had done to her. I wasn’t to be blamed; I was eighteen at the time. Always young and reckless.

My thoughts were interrupted as my phone buzzed, reaching for it in my pocket I stood up and walked out of the room. I read a very familiar name on the screen.

‘Rashid’ my cousin and a very close friend, was calling me. I headed for the stairs and answered my phone.

“Salaam Alaikum,” I heard him greet.

“Alaikum as Salaam Rashid, how have you been?”

“Alhamdulillah I am fine. It took you an hour to answer the phone!” he stated.

“Yeah, I was with the family. Just came back from work and I’m now heading to my room to get some rest.” I ascended the stairs slowly as I spoke.

“Okay, so are you coming to the yacht today?” he asked. I considered that. “Today?” I asked.

“Yeah, there are a couple of people that I’d like you to meet. Ever since you came back you’ve been busy with work.” I listened without commenting. “Speaking of work, how was it?” He asked as I got to my room and opened the door.

I shifted the phone from my right ear to the other and walked over to the dressing table. “It was better than what I’d expected it to be.” I said, taking out my walet and my other phone from my pocket and placing them on the dressing table.

“You say it like it’s a bad thing.” Rashid encountered.

“It isn’t but there are lots of changes that need to be made.” I took out a couple loose trousers from the cupboard and looked for a shirt, “And who are those people that you’d like me to meet?” I asked unable to think of who those people could be.

“Why don’t we let that be a surprise, Huh?” I huffed, loudly.

“You know I don’t like surprises.” I came clean.

“Well, that’s exactly why I am doing it.” I heard him grin on the other end. “Okay so I’ll see you in 2 hours.”

“Yeah, 6:30 is fine.” I confirmed, looking at my watch.

“Okay, I’ll see you there.”

“Yeah, pay my regards to your family.”

“Insha Allah.”

After taking a warm shower and changing, I slipped in my bed and realized how exhausted I really was. It had been hard for me to sleep last night. I doubt anxiety was the reason that kept me up, It had been responsibility and expectations.

I felt the weight of all the faith my family had in me, especially my father. It wasn’t a scary thought but it did strengthen all the plans I’d build for myself and this company.

With these thoughts, I drifted to a deep sleep and woke up as my phone rang, warning me to get up. The exhaustion from earlier had drifted away with sleep. Remembering what Rashid had said I jumped out of bed and began started to get ready.

I was buttoning up my clothes when I heard a soft knock on the door. It was my youngest sister ‘Mona’ standing there, hesitantly, with a soft smile on her face.

“Come in Mona,” I ushered with my hand. “Did you want something?”

“No, Dad wants you to accompany him to the prayer.”

“Yalla (Come on) I am ready.” I collected my wallet and keys, walking ahead of her as she followed me downstairs. I noticed that she was wearing her ‘Abaya’ (A loose, usually black robe worn by Muslim women)

“Are you going somewhere?”

“No, I just came back from college.” This made me turn to her, a little quickly which took her off guard.

“Why did you come back so late?” I saw her expressions turn into fear.

“I had a class at 5:00, and then me and my friends stayed there to work on our presentation.” She came clean.

“Till 6:30?” my voice held surprise.

“Yeah, we had to work soo..” she trailed off. I felt guilty for not knowing what time my sisters get home at. I have been busy with my own life unable to pay these small details enough attention. So I didn’t say much.

Once downstairs, my father and I headed out to the mosque when we ran into ‘Jassim’ my younger brother, who walked out of his car and smiled when he saw us.

“Ya Halla, (Hello)” He greeted, walking towards us.

“Where are you coming from?” Father asked him.

“I was in Khalid’s house, we and a couple of friends gathered there.” He confessed, as I remembered Khalid, his best friend, ever since he was young.

“Then you’ve got good timing. Let’s go to the Mosque.” Father told him walking to the door. I noticed ‘Jassim’ thinking of an excuse to run away. He looked at me and smiled.

“Yeah, I’ll just change and follow you.” Jassim replied, winking at me as my father walked past us saying ‘Allah yahdeekum’ (May God lead you to the right path)

I followed my father while still smiling at my brother’s youthful acts. Those were the excuses that we used to make to run away from prayers too. He sure is following his big brother’s steps.

After prayer, I headed to the place where Rashid said he’ll meet me, on his yacht. Just like he had said, I was surprised with what he had in store for me.

Almost all of our friends were gathered in the yacht and so was a very old and dear friend of mine, Hamad. I looked at him as he stood up to meet me. This wasn’t something I’d expected.

Hamad welcomed me warmly, reminding me of the old days we had spent together in high school. Both he and Rashid had been my closest friends back in the days. Sitting there talking to him I realized I had missed him and the connection that we once shared.

“It’s been a long time.” He remarked, as I went through all the years that I had been away from here, away from home, away from friends.

“Yes, It has,” A light smile played on my lips as I looked at him; “It was my old man’s wish to complete my higher studies abroad.” He nodded, knowing my reply before I had said it.

“I hear you will stay this time.” Hamad paused, “For good.” He then added, making me chuckle.

“Yes, so are my intentions.” I declared, looking away from him because one of our other friends, who was excited about a new car, interrupted us.

We heard as he went on about how fast the car runs. He was planning to buy himself one. My interest was building up as I once again was interrupted by Hamad.

“Man, Don’t tell me you got over your obsession for cars?” He questioned as I went back to the times when we would sneak out of school to go see the Motor exhibition in Dubai.

“No number of books could ever do that.” I replied. He smiled a smile which reached his eyes and then looked at the phone in his laps.

“It’s good to have you back. I missed you, friend.” He admitted looking from his phone to me. There was sadness in his tone and I could tell where it’s coming from. I felt sorry for not being here for him when he had lost his father, when he needed me, because he had always been there for me. Always.

“I heard about your father.” I paused, “I am sorry I couldn’t be there.” I finished. I had heard it from my father for Mr. Ali was his close friend. He was a nice man I remember.

From his silence I felt that he didn’t want to talk about it. He gave a short nod and I took that as the only answer I was going to get and so I went on; “So, What have you been doing lately?” I asked changing the topic and saw him welcoming the change as well.

“I am handling my father’s company.” From what I heard they had a construction company. I thought about his family, he had two sisters and his mother to take care of. Both his sisters were younger than him. The eldest was married and I remember that I attended her wedding. As for the other, I think she’s too young. It might be hard for Hamad to take care of her.

A memory of her standing near the door watching us, as we played in their lawn came to my mind. I remember her because she hated Rashid, who loved pulling her hair whenever we went to Hamad’s house. 

Right then, Rashid came to join us. As he sat, his phone buzzed making him smile broadly.

“Who is it?” asked Hamad, on purpose as we both knew who would bring that smile on Rashid’s face.

“It’s my mother.” He joked, turning his phone screen towards us. We both read ‘Sara’ It wasn’t hard to guess who that might be. His new girlfriend.

We all shared a laugh as he went over to answer his phone.

“Do say my ‘Hi’ to your mother.” Hamad called out.

The rest of my stay, there went by as me and Hamad caught up with stuff. Even though we hadn’t seen each other for years but upon leaving we felt like we were back to the old days. I look forward to seeing him again.

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hey there guys, how've u been??

We're utterly sry 4 the late post, we both have been having exams but now we are done so we posted the chp. Hope u guys like it. Plz do tell us that in ur comments.

We know, we know, that u think that we have just been over confident bcuz some ppl r reading our story but it's really not like that, we've just been busy. So sry 4 that. In fact we love love writing and to see that ppl appreciate ur work, seriously nothing feels like that.

So thx everyone who read this story and Love ya:)

~~Edited by: U. BH

~~Lots of Love from the writers: Witty & Witch.