After the truth

~7~

Zulfa applied her lip balm for the last time before highlighting from the car. If someone walked up to her and ask why she was looking that good because she was walking into a restaurant, her reply would be that she wanted to fight the owner. Truth be told, she had a major crush on him right until she found out he couldn't return the love. She couldn't understand why she was playing dress up now.

Muttering a mantra to boost her confidence, she placed the strap of her laptop bag on her shoulder and began the short walk to the restaurant. A smile graced her lips as she stood in front of the cute building, pride welling up within her. She knew Imran was crazy about cooking. He would make any and everything, trying to create a new recipe.

"Good morning and welcome to the white stone."

Zulfa forced a smile at the workers warm greetings. Not that she was jealous or anything but the fact that he always had her sister in his heart hurt her a bit. Who names their business 'the white stone'?

"What would you like to have?" A waiter approached her, minutes after she had settled at a far corner where she could see everything.

"Uhm, I'll have your special white coffee and the noodles sandwich, thank you." She grinned. Hearing noodles sandwich would irritate people who ate like all normal people did but she was adventurous and so was Imran. He loved to try new things, make great combos and she was always there to taste the delicious greatness he conjured.

"Sorry, when will your boss be in?" She stopped the waiter as she pulled out her laptop. The man checked his wristwatch before replying.

"He's usually here before eleven to make the well loved special."

"I'll have that also, if you have any left."

"Sure."

Zulfa nodded before typing away on her laptop. She was a baker, food connoisseur, and a writer. She owned a blog where she gave heavy critics on restaurants and whatever it had to offer. She began typing on how cozy the inside was, which gave a homey feeling to whoever felt lonely. After about 200 words explaining the beauty of the restaurant and it's rich and weird name, her meal arrived.

She let out a soft groan of surprise as she bit into her sandwich. It tasted as amazing as ever. She sipped her coffee and began to wonder what was it that made it taste this delicious. She wrote on the warm, tingling feeling she had after every sip of the coffee and how the noodles sandwich brought back memories.

She finished up her writing and waited to be served the 'special' everyone spoke about. Zulfa used the time to reply some messages and check through some Instagram post.

"Well, well. If it ain't the princess of the rouge." A plate was placed before her.

A smile graced her lips before she even looked up at her cousin. He looked more handsome than ever and she felt like she was committing a crime. She chuckled at his fake accent that was struggling between black American and British.

"Imran." It came out in a whisper, all form of anger vanished into thin air.

"You're here." Imran smiled.

She wanted to know how he knew where she lived, why he never visited but informed her cowardly brother where she stayed. Now she understood him. He wanted her to come. Zulfa looked away from him and down at her plate, the smile leaving her face. Of course, the special had something to do with what her sister preferred.

"Where have you been?" She asked instead, pushing away the plate.

"Places." He sighed, obviously tired. "I was going through stuffs."

"The great and mighty Imran? I thought Marwa was your safe place, your best friend." She swallowed the bitterness she felt, saying the word.

"Humans have limits."

"Okay. I won't ask you."

"Thank you. How have you been?"

"I'm fine." She shrugged. "I see you're doing well."

"I'm trying."

"What of umma and Abba?"

"They're okay. Angry but okay."

"Cool." Zulfa nodded, looking around. It was weird. Imran was literally the life of everything. He was never this boring. "Is everything okay?"

"I'll be fine." He stood up from his seat. "I have to go. Hopefully I'll see you around."

"Sure."

***************
"Wow, look mummy. I look like a rockstar."

Marwa chuckled at her little girl flipping the beaded hair. Finally, she could rest after the whole tantrums Lisa threw just to get cornrows like 'aunt kiki down the road.'

"Do you like it?"

"Do I? I love it." She jumped happily, clapping around the salon.

"Your daughter is really lovely." Kaesha came over to Marwa's side. "You must be blessed to have her."

"I am." Marwa smiled.

"I pray for you everyday M. Your story might be sad but it's a blessing from God himself. My daughter has been married for over seven years now with no child and several miscarriages."

Kaesha had always been there for Marwa ever since she moved to the area. She was the hairdresser that helped her care for Mukhlisa while she was busy attaining a degree online and juggling two jobs.

"I'm grateful to have met you."

"Same here darling." The woman smiled lovingly at Lisa as she ran around chasing the tabby cat.

"Mummy can we get a kitten?"

"Sure. Once you're ten." Marwa smirked.

"Okay mummy."

"Wow that's a change." Kaesha laughed

"I know right. In the past she would throw a nasty fit."

"She's growing so fast. I feel she understands."

"I wish she didn't. That she was normal."

"She is normal Marwa. She's a blessing remember. You don't have to explain to her all the time."

"I guess so. I'm just panicking. I'll have to get her a dad." Marwa joked.

"You don't have to hurry about it. You're taking care of her just fine."

Marwa thanked her for her kindness and paid for the hair. She called Lisa and together they exited the salon. Mukhlisa was resuming school the next week Monday and although she was a bit late, the principal was glad to accept her after the test she passed exceedingly well. They also suggested advanced classes to help her but Marwa wanted her daughter to be able to relate with her peers and not feel pressured. She wanted things at her daughter's pace.

"Mama, I'm super excited about school." Lisa grinned, hopping on her feet. Marwa returned it with a smile, feeling happy.

"Uncle Zayad." Lisa shouted, pulling her hands out of her mum's hold before bounding off to meet the person at the far corner of the street. Marwa frowned, wondering what her brother was doing and how her daughter knew him well enough to act friendly with him.