Forever Yours

Chapter 7

14th Feb, 2022

Saim moved when he felt sun rays falling onto his face. Groaning he tried turning around but almost stumbled out of his seat. With a scowl plastered on his face, he opened his eyes looking around to take in the surrounding eventually letting the previous night come to his mind. He looked at the time to see it past 8, only to have his eyes widen.

He had missed Fajr.

Hurriedly sitting up straight, he started his car and made his way towards the café. He parked it at a little distance, getting down checking his clothes. He moved his hands onto the shirt to straighten the wrinkles that had formed before adjusting his hair.

He walked in, finding the place to be busy then the times he had visited them at an unusual time. He looked around the café for that one particular face, when his eyes found the same old man looking at him through his glasses, with skeptical eyes.

Fake coughing, he walked towards him, ruffling his hair in nervousness at the penetrating eyes on him, when he noticed Fariha walking out with a tray, giving him a surprised look that was soon turned into a wide smile.

"Assalamualaikum," He greeted the men who replied to his greeting with a nod, waiting for the young lad to come to the point, "Uh, actually I missed Fajr, could you tell me any nearby masjid so that I can pray?" He questioned giving him a weak, nervous smile.

The men studied his figure, before pushing his glasses back on and giving him a genuine smile that instantly made Saim smile a little.

"Well there is one at a further distance from here but if you want you can pray here and then we make you some breakfast?" He said politely and even though Saim wanted to deny, his stomach growled making him flush in embarrassment that made the men chuckle before he stood up showing him the place to offer his missed Salah.

Saim completed his prayer and walked out feeling a freshen, taking a seat at the further spot that he found empty. He looked around the café once again for the particular face he was here but when Fariha came into view he quickly looked away, pretending to look at the view.

"Your order?" She questioned and Saim lost his words, unable to come up with some dishes, "Just the same from last time." He said quickly while she gave him a confused look before walking away while he sighed.

By the time he received his order, he had checked his watch and place a few times. He smiled at her but before she could smile back, she rushed away attending another table making him wonder if she had left the job.

As he took the first morsel, he instantly was met with a different taste of the pasta. He played the pasta with his fork, finding the flavours and the colour different from the previous time.

"Excuse me," He called out to Fariha who was about to walk away from the next table, "The pasta is different from last time." He pointed out to his plate making Fariha furrow but eventually realization drawn upon her,

"Oh the last time it was Yusra who had prepared it," She said and he kept mum, his mind urging him to question away, "Okay, so where is she?" He questioned before he could stop himself.

He maintained eye contact with the girl and he was sure he had seen different expressions on her face within a second. Overcoming her astonishment, she had fake coughed to hide the smirk that was threatening to escape.

"She is on a leave," Fariha made up a lie, knowing Yusra, "You like her?" She questioned looking at Saim, who looked in thoughts making his head to move towards her in confusion, "Huh?".

"You liked the pasta?" Fariha questioned pretending to be innocent, while controlling her giggle and when Saim nodded his head she moved away from him, chuckling. She looked at her father who had his brows raised at her and she shook her head at him, giving him a thumbs up making him more confused.