A mouth watering aroma of meat filled their nostrils the very moment the chef handed Saliha and Farida their shawarma. They had dumped the reservation Aabid made for them and opted to have street-food. Their conversation centered mostly about badminton. Most of Zara's conversation would direct to Aabid, hinting Saliha about his interests in sports or any other thing they conversed about. They seemed to get along pretty fast as if they had known each other for years.
After a while of conversation, Zara dropped Saliha at home and went on her way. The rest of the day, they reminisced about the fun they had-part of the excitements of early friendship.
She kept it a secret from home.
Days later....
"Jaya's Abba called a few moments ago," ma'Amina informed her sister. "He ordered we have tea with Jalaludeen's family. It was a mutual agreement they had. Seems like we have become puppets of their business activities,"
Ma'Hanan laughed it off, and said nothing. A while later, she asked, "Where is the venue? Choose somewhere that is not too crowdy."
"It must be expensive. Elegant. Best tea. We must show them class,"
"Expensive things show class huh?" ma'Hanan raised an eyebrow at her sister.
A nod from ma'Amina whilst she grinned, flashing her slightly yellow denticulations. "I sincerely desire to be classy like you. On certain occasions I can't believe I am married to Yusuf. We're entirely different," she admitted. "He's so... he's so... composed... I doubt if he's ever climbed a tree in his teen before,"
Ma'Hanan cracked up helplessly. Her reflections moved to when ma'Amina was a teen. She would ascend unto mango trees to pluck edible fruit, despite there exist the servants to pluck them for her. She was incredibly splendid at tree climbing.
Ma'Hanan on the hand was a controlled, smart and lazy girl. She profitably spent most hours reading literary works. Barely wasted time outdoors. She was their beloved father's favourite. She always thought fit to wed a full professor, prominent journalist or distinguished statesman; but destiny planned in other ways. Of all the occupations, she married an American navy captain.
"But at least he isn't complaining," ma'Hanan mumbled, holding a book in her hand.
"True talk. By the way, I decided to bring the issue of Zara,"
"What about her?"
"Hani, they are taking too long. I am feeling he has no interest in Saliha," she explained as she combed her curls. "Besides, Zara will even be a better match for the young Jalaludeen. Saliha will mess up with no doubt!"
Time came for ma'Hanan to open up a new page. She was reading a biography of her favorite writer. "Yes, try that please,"
"Are you even listening?" ma'Amina questioned.
"Absolutely," a smile from ma'Hanan.
"I'll set the PA [U1] to find us a suitable quiet tea place."
The very next day, the mothers had their teatime at an artistic chinese tea-room. Additionally, Zara was properly introduced to Jalaludeen's side.
Saliha on the other hand gradually came to have knowledge of this and was left wrecked.
"Wait!" Aabid heard a voice behind him. He turned to find Farida walking fast towards him.
"Hello, Farida," he greeted back, waiting to hear what her problem was.
"Abbu can we please play volley?" she asked excitedly.
That name. It was what she always called him when they used to be best buddies.
"I really can't," he reluctantly told, his hands sweaty in his baggy trousers.
"Please. Please. You're always busy!" she intertwined her fingers, begging. He felt it rude to decline her offer. Therefore after hearing her constant pleas, he finally succumbed and followed her to the yard for the volleyball
She began the game by forcefully hitting the ball up in the air towards Aabid's side.
"I see you haven't forgotten your skills," he chuckled as he hit the ball back.
They played for nearly 16 minutes.
"I forgot to tell you. Today, Sadiq's mother, one of her friend, and the head maid had tea. You can't guess what happened!" Farida began the moment she placed the ball on the ground. They had rounded up the game, Aabid being the winner. Sadiq's mother meant ma'Haleema. Farida still hadn't learned to call her stepmother by a more appropriate name.
"Tell me more, what took place? I don't even know of that,"
"Well, father ordered for the reunion. Anyways, what happened was that," she chugged water from a transparent water bottle then continued after heaving a sigh. "Now the Loharanis want you to marry Zara and not Saliha!"
Aabid was still slightly confused. "Who are those Saliha and Zara?" he dumbly asked, scratching his beard.
"What? Saliha is your fiancé. Zara is her relative or what? I don't even know their relationship. But however the case is, they want Zara as your spouse now and not that sweet woman you talked to,"
Aabid quietly stared, squinting his eyes because of the sun. He was sweaty.
"Why?" he simply asked, not caring a bit. Wanting to correct the 'sweet woman' to 'strange, timid, and incapacitated woman' but he knew another long conversation will build up so he kept mute.
Farida shrugged.
"Whatever, I'm okay with any," he said casually and began walking away.
Farida felt disappointed and wanted to talk to him more about it but decided to keep silent. She did not like the new decision at all.
As for Aabid, he hardly thought about it. After freshening up, he drove to an arcade game station to while away time with Othman, and Daanish who recently landed in Istanbul.
---
"Yes, we've met," Aabid stated as his hands made their way to place coins in the game machine.
"Did you feel anything special?" Daanish grinned, his attention completely drawn to this conversation they were in, not noticing as Othman walked away to greet a few friends.
"Nope. Nothing special I tell you,"
"That's saaaaad."
Aabid playfully hit Daanish with his arms and they both sat to play the two player game.
"Where's Othman?" Aabid inquired, looking around for his friend.
"I dunno. Ayy. Let's concentrate here first,"
They continued their game, enjoying each other's company. Nearly half an hour later, Othman appeared with two ladies one of which Aabid identified as the 'singing girl' Safeeya.
"Bidman and Daan, this is my cousin Amal and her friend Safeeya,"
"Hello, Ladiessss," Daanish greeted, getting up from the racing chair.
"Hi," Aabid simply greeted and turned around to the screen, opting for a single player round.
"Hi everyone," the females chirped at the same time.
"You twins?" Daanish asked, "Cuz you talk at the same time,"
"Same age, yes. Siblings nah. Sisters yes," Amal said and giggled after that.
"You good at basketball?" Othman inquired, his eyes searching round for a basketball court.
"Amal is. Not me," Safeeya said, shooting glances at Aabid who was completely engaged with the racing game.
"Why don't we all try?" Othman suggested, "Bidman you joining? C'mon man,"
"Well, after this game, I will come I promise ya," Aabid told, his eyes glued to the screen.
"Well, we'll be there then," Othman said, and they all followed except Safeeya.
"You coming?" Amal asked, glancing at her friend.
"Um. I'll just try the race game here. Looks really fun,"
"Okay." Amal wondered if Safeeya knew Aabid, as the way she constantly glanced at him made her feel she did. As for Aabid, he did not even mind their presence.
"Can I play too? Two player category," Aabid heard her say, making his eyes drop off the screen and towards her. He said nothing. She sat on the chair next to his and the moment his round went off, she selected a two player round.
He said nothing and simply let her select the categories for the round
They began the game and seemed Safeeya was a pretty skilled racer too.