Black Silk

CHAPTER 5

NADIA'S POV

I sat quietly on the sofa while Dad answered the door. My mind drifted back to earlier today—the texts, the strange messages—but I shook it off. This moment was what mattered.

I heard footsteps approaching. First, Mum walked in with an older woman—probably in her early fifties, with fair skin and soft blue eyes, wearing a neat hijab. She looked calm and kind; I guessed she was his mother.

Then Dad returned with a man in his sixties, dark brown hair streaked with grey, and warm brown eyes. The last to enter was tall, with light brown hair kissed by blonde highlights and sharp blue eyes... Malik. I forced the smile on my face to stay steady, even as my heart fluttered.

My parents sat down beside me; Malik took the sofa opposite. The adults greeted each other in unison, "As-salaamu alaikum."

"Wa-alaikum salaam," I replied warmly. "I'm Nadia. It's nice to meet you."

Malik laughed softly. "They already know all about you."

Everyone chuckled lightly, easing the tension.

"So Malik," Dad asked, "what do you do? Work or study?"

"I actually work with Nadia," Malik said, flashing me a quick smile. "I'm the overall manager."

The adults did most of the talking, but Malik and I chipped in when asked.

I caught Malik's gaze lingering on me longer than usual. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the room fell away — it was just him and me, silently connecting. I never realized how handsome he was until now.

Suddenly, the older woman called my name softly. I looked away, cheeks warming. Malik chuckled quietly at my reaction. His dad nudged him, whispering, "Why are you laughing at her?"

Malik blushed but played it off, mumbling, "Nothing."

Once the introductions wrapped up, the adults excused themselves to eat, leaving Malik and me alone.

"This feels a little strange, huh?" Malik smiled, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," I said with a smirk. "So... you told your parents about me?"

He shrugged, his cheeks flushing. "Yeah. I like you, Nadia. Thought they should know."

I blinked, surprised. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Wanted to do things the right way — halal."

He added quickly, "If you don't feel the same, that's okay. I'll back off."

I looked down, thinking for a moment. Then quietly, "I do like you... It's just a lot all at once."

Malik's eyes lit up. "You do?"

I teased, "Say that louder, I barely heard you."

He opened his mouth to respond but I gave him a playful glare, and he sat back down.

"So," I said, "tell me more about you."

He smiled. "What do you want to know?"

I grinned. "Anything — your favorite way to spend a day off? What makes you laugh?"

He thought for a second. "I like chilling with family, playing football when I can. And I laugh at the stupidest things — cheesy jokes, silly videos."

I laughed. "Same here. I'm a sucker for bad puns."

He smiled, relaxed now. "What about you? What's a perfect weekend look like?"

"I love a good movie marathon, trying new recipes, and just hanging out with friends. Lowkey stuff."

We fell into an easy rhythm, sharing stories and laughing softly.