The Sky Between Us

Chapter Eight - Treacle

I felt bad. 

I felt even worse when I saw the restaurant he had taken me to. I wasn't one for materialism but you would have to be blind not to admit the beauty of this place. It was clear by looking at the place, that Amir's definition of small and mine were entirely different. 

It looked extremely classy, with slabs of bespoke wood carved to perfection, with hanging plants that I couldn't even identify, all I knew was that they were beautiful bursting with colour, and real and not the synthetic kind.

There were sparkling lights that were dim enough to provide a romantic ambience, with soft chatter at the wooden tables that were also rustic and sturdy. There were even some spots in the restaurant where the chefs were preparing the food in front of the customers, and I saw flames rise high as the chefs dressed in black uniforms were tossing assortments of vegetables and meat into pans and setting them on fire.  I assumed they were flambéing without alcohol as there was a carved sign at the front that read halal in Arabic, but it was impressive nonetheless. 

My jaw must have been hung open pin in amazement as I got a few curious looks in my direction but I was having way too much fun taking in the sight to care. 

"This is amazing," I breathed out, searching the room in pure wonder. 

"I'm glad you like ie Bhabi," a voice I didn't recognise chimed in and I very nearly jumped which would have resulted in me crashing into the waiter and spilling a lot of food on the floor, but luckily Allah saved me from that embarrassment. 

My eye snapped to the man that had spoken just as Amir had clapped him on the back and pulled him into a hug, "Assalamualaikum Farhan, it's so good to see you,"

The man in question, Farhan, had the broadest smile I had ever seen, he was grinning from ear to ear, leaning against the counter with his chef's uniform, though it looked like he was on a break as his chef's cap was lying on the side and the top two buttons of his chef's jacket were undone. 

"You must be Khadijah Ansari," he turned to me, offering me a dazzling smile, his eyes were pure blue, but his skin was a dark shade of brown a combination of features I didn't see often. He was a striking character who incited a certain amount of warmth, from all the smiling. I don't think I've ever met anyone that happy, I whispered a quick Allahuma Barik la hum, to make sure that I wasn't accidentally going to give him nazar.

"Yes, that's me," I waved slightly having absolutely no idea what to do with my hands, so to save them from faffing about in the air I pulled on my brother's arm bringing him front and centre so I could hide my own awkwardness with his super awkwardness, "And this is my brother Yusuf, he has to keep an eye on us," 

I wanted to face palm myself and I wanted to face palm myself, even more, when I saw the embers of a grin on Amir's face. 

He was laughing at me.

I wanted to slap him round the back of the head, but once again, no touching. 

"Assalamulaikum, brother," they shook hands and it seemed that Farhan was a bit overactive when shaking Yusuf's hand when he finally pulled back, it looked like Yusuf thought his hand was going to fall off. Which I, personally,  found hilarious. 

"Well Khadijah and Yusuf, a pleasure to meet you, I can't wait for you to be my Bhabi, though we aren't technically brothers me and Amir might as well be, we've known each other before we could even talk,"

"The good old days, when you couldn't talk, I really do miss them," Amir added and my jaw nearly hit the floor. 

Did Amir just make a joke?