It was the first time my parents had ever asked me to leave the house alone. I was braiding my little sister's hair when my mom called me and said "Shaheen! Please go out and give your older brother his wallet. He's waiting at the corner of the street."
I was slightly confused because my mother usually never let me leave the house alone with the excuse that 'the outside world is dangerous for women'. But that one day, I got permission to go outside because my brother had gotten a parking ticket and needed his wallet urgently. I quickly draped a long scarf over my head so that my hair and chest would remain hidden and walked outside.
It was around evening time when I was out, so most people were coming back from work or their late university classes and going home. I felt really scared because this route (even though it was really close to home)felt very unfamiliar for me, who never really was allowed to leave my house. While walking, I slowly started to ponder on the lessons my parents had taught me since young.
My parents had told me not to ever look into a man's eyes so that no hopeless fools or creeps would follow me or harass me. But, it was this fateful day when I first met him. Zain Khan.
I was walking on the street facing the ground so that I wouldn't attract any unwanted attention. But because I wasn't paying attention, I didn't notice that a bicyclist was coming right at me. As soon as I thought my life was over and shut my eyes, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me aside. I looked over and it was a man. A MAN. The same creatures my parents had said that harass and take advantage of girls. I immediately tugged my hand out of his grip and without even looking at his face, while looking down, I said "Thank you. Many blessings upon you." I quickly tried to move around him and stay on my original path but then I heard him say something.
"I have never seen you around before. May I ask who you are? If you need any directions or anything, I can help you."
Paying close attention to what my parents taught me, I still didn't raise my head to meet his gaze (even though I could feel that he was trying his best to see my face). I just replied "No thank you. I know where I am headed. Goodnight." and I turned away and didn't look back until I found my brother and completed my task. After that, I immediately walked home and forgot about the man.