EID MUBARAK!!❤️

After a steamy shower that practically melted away her tiredness, Jadwa snuggled into her favorite pajamas. Phone clutched in hand, she scrolled through her social media with a small smile on her lips. A notification from her cousin Adam popped up. Unlike his usual countless texts, this one was just a simple Eid message  so she decided against ignoring him with a quick "thanks"

She saw a new follow request from "Lily Moriki" she viewed the profile and realized it was Anaya's friend request, she immediately followed back and went through her story.
The girl was undeniably beautiful, one photo captured Anaya and her brothers, her gaze snagged on Muhammad. "Does this guy ever smile?" she thought, scrutinizing his brooding expression.
A laugh bubbled up from her chest as she watched a video of Anaya playfully annoying him with her camera.
Intrigued, Jadwa went back to Anaya's stories again, she replied to Anaya's recent solo picture to start a conversation.

Another message from Adam buzzed in, and she rolled her eyes. Adam wasn't bad, not by any stretch, but there was no way on earth they could ever work out because of his mother and she had never seen him in that light, he was just another well meaning guy trying to stake his claim. Family ties and problems, however, couldn't be ignored. She typed out a reply, and their conversation flowed easily. He even offered to take her to the spa she told him she wanted to go to during the week but politely declined it with an excuse of going with friends.

Boredom gnawed at her. With Abdulhakeem fast asleep, she got up and peeked into her sisters' room. They were lost in a world of their own, giggling and reminiscing about the day's events. Jadwa joined them and the room filled with laughter as they recounted the event.

"I was so glad I saw Anaya and her brothers again" Hannan said, her voice filled with excitement.

"I know right, they are so nice! We should definitely hang out with her sometime" Zara chimed in.

"They just moved back, right? I bet Anaya would love that" Jadwa agreed with a nod.

"Spa date, anyone?" she offered, flopping dramatically onto her sister's bed.

"When?" Zara asked, her brow furrowed.

"This week?"

"I have plans sorry" Zara shot down the idea with a sigh.

"Hard to pass but I have to resume work Jadu" Hanan groaned.

"Guess it's just me then" Jadwa chuckled, grabbing her phone and booking a session online as she drifted off to sleep in her sister's room.

****

The next morning, she woke up with a strange urge to get her life together. Pursue a master's degree, find a job, or take a leap and start her own business? To her, a master's would please her father and dismiss the "marriage talks and threats" but none of the programs offered by the universities truly satisfied her interest.

"Maybe a business?" she murmured, a sigh escaping her lips.

Instead of dwelling on the uncertainty, Jadwa dove headfirst into research. She spent hours analyzing the interior design landscape in the country, meticulously comparing competitors and taking copious notes. With newfound determination, but dissatisfaction lingered in her mind. It wasn't something she was ready for or would be able to do on her own in this stage of her life.

Finally, she came to a decision, A master's degree.
A Master of Business Administration.
Ammi had constantly bugged her about it but she didn't give it any importance so she chose to surprise her.
Gathering her documents in a flurry of activity, she applied online at a prestigious private university in the city before meeting Ammi in the living room but ended up coming across Baba as well. "Perfect" she spoke under her breath out of excitement.

With a huge smile spread on her face, she sat on the carpet and greeted them. They had a small chat about Eid before she made the announcement.

"Ammi, Baba, I've applied for an MBA in the school you told me about"

"Really?" Ammi clapped her hands in excitement.

"I finally got tired of staying at home" she joked and earned a hearty laugh from both of them.

"That's great Jadu, Allah ya bada sa'a, (Good luck) let me know about the necessary steps later" Her father spoke with a warm smile.
He was finally back to himself and there was no awkwardness in the air which made Jadwa the happiest person in this moment.

***

The day of her spa appointment arrived. She had nothing much to do with her face or what to wear. She opted for a casual outfit then secured her hair with a brown headband before bidding farewell to Ammi. she drove herself to the spa, its secluded location was a major selling point. Stepping inside, the receptionist greeted her with a warm smile.

"Welcome, Miss Jadwa"

She confirmed her appointments which was hammam, pedicure, manicure, and massage then  followed the receptionist to the changing room.

An unsettling feeling prickled at her skin as she entered. This wasn't the usual space, more akin to a visitor's room with a big bed, Pushing aside the unease, she shrugged out of her clothes.

She stepped into the hammam, the steam from the hammam clung to Jadwa's skin like a comforting embrace, the session was one of the best she ever had. Her worries about career paths and family expectations were the only thing on her mind the whole time. She spent time reflecting on her life before she stepped out.

After getting out, she got into a robe that stopped right below her knee. Legs crossed, sitting on the sofa in the room she was taken to as she picked her phone to snap pictures to pass time.

The door creaked open, shattering the peaceful silence. A faint scent of cologne filled the air Jadwa looked up expecting to see the receptionist or another woman. Instead, a man stood framed in the doorway.

A jolt of unease shot through her. This wasn't a women's-only spa, was it? Had she misunderstood the website? Panic started to claw at her throat.

"Excuse me?" she started, her voice barely a whisper.

The man tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips. He took a step closer, the scent of cologne intensifying. "Is there a problem?"

Jadwa's gaze darted around the room, searching for an escape route. The only door led back into the steamy hammam. "I... I thought this was a women's only massage" she stammered, her voice gaining a hint of strength.

The man chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "It is" he said, his eyes finally catching the light.
He took another step forward and sat on the same sofa as she was and that's when Jadwa knew she had to act. With a surge of adrenaline, she got up and he did the same.

"Stay back!" she yelled.

The man's smile faltered for a moment, but it quickly returned, wider and more unsettling than before. He held up his hands in a placating gesture.

"Whoa, there's no need for that" he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Just a little misunderstanding, is all."

Jadwa didn't waver. "Misunderstanding? I don't think so. Now get out!"

She knew she couldn't hold him off forever, but she hoped the commotion would attract someone's attention. As if on cue, the door to the hammam burst open. A young woman, presumably another staff member, stood there, eyes wide with shock.

"What's going on here?" she exclaimed.

Jadwa seized the opportunity. "This man! He shouldn't be here!"

The man's facade crumbled. He shot a glare at Jadwa, then turned to the new arrival. "Just a little confusion" he muttered, his voice losing its smooth edge.

Before he could say anything else, Jadwa lunged towards the door. She walked through the hammam, as fast as she could ignoring the searing heat, and didn't stop until she reached the reception area.

she recounted the ordeal to the bewildered receptionist. The woman, her face a mask of concern, immediately ushered Jadwa into a private room and offered her a glass of water before bringing her clothes to change.

The rest of the day was a blur. The spa manager apologized profusely, offering a full refund and a complimentary treatment at another time. Jadwa refused politely, the experience leaving a sour taste in her mouth.

What was supposed to be a day of pampering had morphed into a harrowing experience. But Jadwa wasn't one to let a bad experience ruin her spirit or people around her. She knew telling Ammi or her sisters will only brew unnecessary drama so she focused on the positive, and called Abdulhakeem.

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