The Flying Dreams

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I woke up late the next day and my first instinct upon waking up was to check for my phone. I had, quite obviously, fallen asleep on the sofa last night. The sunlight came through the window, but I still hoped I was imagining it and at last, when I did find my phone face down on the floor, my heart sunk and also, my neck ached and my back felt numb. I had missed the morning prayer. The alarm was set, I must have slept through it. That happened a lot of times before at home, but I had my cousins or mother to wake me up; I only had my phone to do the job here. It was a mystery how I hadn't gotten used to waking up early as I had been doing that for as long as I could remember. Besides, Shifa never prayed and as soon as her name came to my thoughts, I sprung to my feet in a desperate state to clean up the sofa. I picked up the cushion from the floor and sat it in the right place, I was in the middle of folding the light blanket when the door opened and Shifa came in, looking not at all exhausted. She wore a different t-shirt, and her hair was perfectly combed, in her hands, she held to large brown cups and when she met my eyes, her brow raised unnaturally high. I should be the one to raise my brows. She absolutely hadn't come home last night, so how could she refresh herself without waking me up? She must have made some noise.

A moment passed, and neither of us said a thing. My hands, gripping the blanket, remained in the air and Shifa stood still near the door, her eyes going everywhere. Awkward, that was all I could say about the situation, and I hated everything awkward.

Clearing my throat, I put on my best fake smile, trying hard to not let the discomfort show in my voice, "Good morning."

Shifa finally looked at me and to my surprise, smiled. Her smile didn't seem fake, she must have thought mine wasn't either. As if some barricade had been removed from before her, she stepped in and toward me, extending one hand, she shook the cup a little.

"Coffee?"

Quickly folding the blanket and dropping it on the edge of the sofa, I took the offered cup. Shifa went inside her room after, without uttering a single word but as I grasped the warm cup, my mind started running and weaving so many webs. Where had she spent her night? Why did she bring me a coffee? Why hadn't she said anything about last night? Did she speak to Wahab? Ratted me out? Not like I had done anything wrong; I only did what my fiancé asked me to. What was wrong with that? But Shifa's attitude made me feel that I did something criminal.

I took a sip and immediately wished to be asleep again. My classes were to start in 2 days, and I had to buy some books and Shifa was the only one who was to take me to the bookshop, I could not afford to offend her. I picked up the phone and dialled my father's number. He picked up on the last ring.

"Adia? Is everything alright? Do you want to talk to your ummi?"

I took another sip and thanked Shifa in my head for bringing me the cup. I couldn't do this without it.

"Assalam-aleykum, abbu. No, I called to ask you something."

I heard some noises in the background and my father stayed silent for a few seconds and then the noises stopped, he answered, a little too eager, if I guessed his tone right.

"Yes, absolutely. Anything! Do you need money? I'll transfer it to your account. Or perhaps, you don't like the metro crowds? I could always arrange for a driver for you, you don't have to go on your own."

His concern brought a smile to my face and suddenly I missed him. I hadn't till now which did make me feel guilty but spending time with my own father had been rendered limited after I got my first periods at the age of 13 and if I needed anything, instead of asking him directly, my mother became the medium of our conversation. I could count on my fingers how many times I had talked to him personally or asked him for money.

The cup in my hands became the best distraction as I told him what I wanted.

"A laptop? Of course, I'll transfer the amount to Shifa's bank then. She will buy it for you. Sounds fine?"

I nodded and said, "Yes. It's fine. Today? My class starts in 2 days."

"Alright. Where is Shifa? Let me talk to her."

My eyes fell on the locked door, "She is out to buy something."

"Oh, okay. Anything else? You want to talk to your mother?"

I said the first excuse that came to my mind, "I will. Later, I have to go make some breakfast."

He didn't persist I talk to my mother after, and I felt something shift from my heart. Finishing my coffee, I stood and cleaned the flat, excluding Shifa's room, of course, since she hadn't opened the door. She came out after I had taken a long bath and made simple rice and beans for lunch. I didn't think breakfast would be needed. I wasn't really hungry and Shifa usually let me know if she wanted to eat something. And she hadn't done that. I was sitting on the sofa, browsing the list of books I needed to buy when I heard Shifa's door creaked open.

"Your father called me."

I looked up, "Hope he hadn't disturbed you."

A strange look crossed her face, and she cleared her throat, her eyes were still unfocused and now a little red. I opened my mouth to ask if she was alright, but she beat me to it.

"We'll go to the shop in the evening."

And with that, she went back inside her room. I wondered what did she do in there? Didn't she get bored? Of course not. I had seen the number of friends she had on the very first day of my arrival in her flat. But I hadn't seen anyone visit again. But then again, she had stayed the night somewhere and came back in fresh clothes. My thoughts were disrupted again.

"Adia?"

I moved my body to the side to face her and smiled, "Yes?"

She shifted and the redness in her eyes had darkened, perhaps she was ill and came out to ask me for help.

"Are you okay? Your eyes are red. Like really red."

She shook her head and closed her eyes, "I am fine. But I wanted to apologize. For last night."

I didn't think she had anything to apologize for but since she was all nice about it, I nodded and said nothing. Not because I held her at fault; I had nothing to say regarding the matter but she took my silence wrong or so I thought.

"How about we dine out tonight? After we buy your books and everything? My treat."

I couldn't stop the smile, the genuine one, from stretching on my face, "Yes. I would love to."