To say that I was tired would be an understatement.

After sitting through hours of traffic and walking around the crowded mall getting pushed and shoved by random people I didn't know whether to feel exhausted, angry or committing murder.

The building was teeming with so many people it was as if ants had taken over the world.

On top of that some rude people shot me nasty looks even though they were the ones who bumped into me and left after muttering profanities under their breath.

I was fuming with anger. The heat and claustrophobia were getting too much for me to bear.

I trudged along like a zombie behind my mother while she battled indecision about what to buy and bargained about the prices with the staff.

" Which one do you think is better?" Ammu asked me as she held up two kameez which both looked the same to me.

" Just get any one please and let's go home." I whined quietly so the shopkeepers couldn't hear.

" You always behave like this when we come shopping Maha." Ammu scolded me.

" You know I don't like this crowded shop ! Plus you take so long to decide and I don't get why everyone has suddenly decided to come Eid shopping two months earlier just like you." I huffed as I tried fanning myself with my palms.

" Tch- I will not bring you along in the future."

" You always say that but end up dragging me along."

I was saved by my mother's wrath as she got distracted by someone behind me.

" Maria ! What a surprise!" Ammu yelled as she dodged me to greet her friend. " You're here for Eid shopping too ?"

" Yes Asha, I was planning to get the shopping done before every place got crowded but look at the state ! The place is buzzing with people even two months before Eid UL Adha." Asha aunty replied while shaking her head in dismay.

" Exactly! Imagine how much more crowded it will get as Eid approaches."

" True, on top of that I'm in another dilemma. I accidentally left my purse at home and only realized it when I reached the counter to pay. Standing in line for nearly half an hour all for nothing." Aunty sighed, her voice laid with exhaustion.

" Haye! That's so unfortunate. Let me pay -"

Aunty cut off my mother, " No it's okay! Besides, I've already lost my place in line. I have to stand again anyway. What did you purchase Asha ? And oh Maha! How're you doing dear ?" She asked as she came to hug me.

I returned her hug and said Salam to her.

" She's been whining for hours. This girl never wants to come shopping with me." Ammu complained while aunty laughed.

" Anyway Maria, come stand with us in line , I'll pay for you."

" That's not needed, I've called Isahaq. He should be here soon."

I immediately straightened up from my slumped position.

Isahaq was coming here !

I discreetly faced the mirror by the side and tried fixing my appearance.

Due to my laziness I had just thrown on an oversized green hoodie and a pair of black leggings and wrapped a black jersey hijab around my head.

I should have put on some lip gloss. Alas there's no point in regretting now.

" Ma, here's your purse." A familiar voice which never failed to awaken a zoo inside my stomach spoke from beside me.

Maria aunty took her purse from her son's outstretched hand and let out a relieved breath.

" Salam aunty." Isahaq greeted my mother who as always looked at him with a beaming face.

I tried my best to not look at him and stared straight ahead. Seeing Isahaq had temporarily evaporated all my tiredness into thin air and shot a burst of energy through my body.

We did not bother greeting each other apart from him passing me a small formal smile when I accidentally looked at him once.

He was wearing a denim jacket over a white shirt and matching white trousers.

Why did he have to have a good fashion sense too ?! Let him do something wrong so I could stop feeling my heart running miles whenever it concerned him !

" Good that you're here beta. Choose a Punjabi for Eid. Quick, I need to pay soon."

While our mothers went to stand in the long queue of waiting people I leaned back against a wooden wall and observed my surroundings.

Isahaq was rifling through punjabis in the rack to my right.

Suddenly his voice called out,
" Which one do you think is better ?"

My head whipped to the right and I saw him holding up two options of clothing.

He was asking me which one he should buy. Me ? 

" Ah, the gray one looks better but ultimately it's your choice."

" Yeah I like that one too." He responds before putting the other Punjabi back at the rack and trudging forward to pay for the gray one.

On second thoughts he probably asked me for random advice as he couldn't decide. Nothing special.

★

When all the items were done being paid for, we gathered by the entrance and stood in a circle.

" Asha, there's a jewelry sale going on upstairs, let's go check it out!"
Maria aunty said excitedly.

" Really?! Let's go!" My mother paused before looking at me, " But this girl will start complaining about being tired again. How about we go shopping and Maha can wait in the food court in the meantime."

I nod enthusiastically at her suggestion. I'd prefer food over another round of shopping any day.

" Oh, in that case Isahaq can join her too. He has nothing to do with jewelry shopping either."

" Yeah, unless he has some work and needs to go ? Then no need to disturb him." Ammu adds as an afterthought.

" No aunty, it's okay, I was supposed to pick up ammu after all." Isahaq says with his hands buried in his jacket pocket.

" Great, then we'll go upstairs, you two wait here and eat something."

With that our mothers leave and Isahaq and I make our way towards the food court.

Stalls of various cuisines were arranged in a circular manner while multiple tables rested in the middle.

We chose a table near the AC and sat down after placing orders for what we wanted to eat.

Isahaq sits opposite to me and an awkward silence descends over us.

I look around at our surroundings to see people shopping, mothers shouting at their toddlers to be careful and groups of friends or couples chatting , laughing and eating.

As my eyes sweep across the perimeter of the room, my eyes meet Isahaq's and he passes me another formal smile while I return one back at him.

I nervously fidget with my fingers in my lap and I am very aware of my above normal heart rate. The fluttery feeling in my stomach is something which I wish I did not have to experience anymore but alas my stupid heart had paid no heed to rational thoughts and decided to beat wildly for a guy yet again.

The silence between us hung like a heavy curtain of awkwardness and I wondered if I should start a conversation.

But what exactly should I talk to him about? I'll probably end up saying something embarrassing.

What if he's feeling bored and regretting sitting here with me ?

Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I'd be sitting alone in a restaurant with him in front of me.

But now that such a situation has arisen, I had no idea what to do with the blessed opportunity.

I'm saved from my thoughts as the sound of a phone ringing fills the air around us.

Isahaq picks up his phone and starts talking to someone about some medical related thing.

I bring out my phone and start scrolling absentmindedly to pass the time.

Isahaq's call has ended and now he seems to be tapping away on his phone too.

I have nothing to do but keep tinkering with my phone nevertheless rather than sitting idly and glancing at him every few seconds which would only make me suspicious in his eyes and make the situation more awkward.

One of the waiters soon arrives with our food and places it in front of us.

Isahaq ordered some kind of pasta while I opted for a burger.

We start eating and after finishing half of my burger I realize that I forgot to order any drinks.

Isahaq has a strawberry smoothie and I watch as he happily enjoys drinking it from a straw.

" Want some?" He asked and pushed his plate of pasta towards me.

" Thanks, but I'm already full." I reply with a grateful smile.

I did want to try the pasta but we weren't that close that I could share food with him yet. Also how was I supposed to share my half eaten burger ?

" Oh, at least have the smoothie then." Without waiting for my response he asks the waiter to bring another straw and dips it into the glass before extending the drink towards me.

" Thank you so much." I say before taking a sip. The cold smoothie feels refreshing after spending the day walking around the shop in this heat.

" Do you want to have something else?" He asks as he looks at me waiting for my answer as I take the last bite of my burger.

I point towards the waffle stall and get up.

" Let me get this one." I owed him for the smoothie so I decided to treat him to the waffles.

After five minutes I arrive back with the hot piping waffles dripping with Nutella.

" This looks so good." Isahaq says with a wide grin.

" I know right! I always try the waffles whenever I come here."  I say sitting back down and placing the desert between us.

We eat the waffles in silence and after we have finished eating once again there's nothing to say.

I ram my head to think about a topic for conversation but he beats me to it.

" So, you don't like shopping huh?"

" It depends." I answer, " I do like shopping but only when it comes to things I like. I could spend hours in a bookstore and I have no problem when we're talking about food. But walking and roaming around for hours in clothing stores is not my favorite thing to do. I prefer finishing shopping as quickly as possible but ammu usually takes a long time to decide plus this particular shop is super crowded during this time of the year. I hate all the pushing and shoving full of rude people you know? I'd rather be resting at home."

" That makes sense." He nods in agreement and wipes his hands with a tissue paper.

We both stay quiet again . When I spot some people having ice cream it reminds me of that rainy night when I had ice cream with Isahaq. The conversation with his cousin Zamar passes through my mind and I fiddle with the end of my hoodie as a light blush hints at my cheek when I remember him implying Isahaq and I should get married.

" So what're you studying?" He once again starts the conversation.

" First year of university, I'm majoring in computer science."

" Oh that's cool! How're you liking it so far ?"

" Honestly, I'm kinda struggling. It just keeps on getting so difficult."

" You remember Zamar right? He's actually super good at it so you can ask him for help if you ever need it."

" Oh he studied computer science too ? That's great, I'll keep it in mind." I smile gratefully.

" I heard you're in your last year of medical school right?"

Isahaq nods, " Yeah, only a few months left till graduation. The stress is killing me right now."

Before I can ask him about some other topics our mothers arrive back with their arms laden with shopping bags and faces beaming with happiness. Seems like they had a good time.

" I can't wait to show my sisters the things we bought." Ammu says, already planning when to call my aunts in a group call.

" What did you two eat ?" Maria aunty asks as she discards the shopping bags in a chair and sits down.

" Let's order some takeaway for home. I need to take something for Amma too." My mother says referring to Nanu.

" Yeah, I have to take dinner from here." Maria aunty agrees and they start ordering the takeaway.

When it is time for the bill to be paid, another typical fight breaks out between our mothers over who will pay.

" I insist Asha!"

" No, we just went to your house the other day, Maria. Let me pay!"

" We also went to your house on Eid!"

I sigh and smile at their never ending battle.

Isahaq's eyes meet mine and he shakes his head with a tired expression.

I notice him calling the waiter and he secretly slips the guy the money for the food.

Maria aunty grins in triumph while my mother looks shocked.

" Isahaq? What did you do beta ! I was supposed to pay."

" It's okay aunty, it's the same thing."

" No it's not! Come now at least let me treat you guys to some ice cream."

" Okay sure." Maria aunty nods and we make our way over to the ice cream stall.

My mother is still reprimanding Isahaq for paying instead of her and Isahaq just laughs out loud.

Watching the scene warms my heart and once again I can't look away from him.

Why does he have to be so perfect?

✨

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Does the story and plot's pacing feel too boring and slow ?