CONNECTED HEARTS

30: Shifting Gears!

Kaltoom's pov
I

t's been three months since that life-changing phone call with Adyan. The excitement and anticipation that followed were palpable. Two weeks after our conversation, when I was starting to think he might just be talking, I received the news that his parents were coming for the "Gaisuwa". I was shocked – I had been disappointed by the silence, but I hadn't expected things to move so quickly... it all felt surreal. A lot had transpired in these three months, and our circle of friends hadn't been left out.

Jalal, the guy from school who had harbored a secret crush on Laila for what felt like forever, had finally gathered the courage to confess his feelings to her. The question now was, how would Laila respond?

Laila initially played hard to get, but Jalal's charms eventually won her over. I was totally rooting for them.

As for Farouk and Amani, I was still trying to figure out the dynamics between them. Whenever I thought they might actually like each other, they'd suddenly become aloof, insisting they were just friends. It was confusing, and thinking about it gave me a headache, so I decided to let it go for now. We'd find out eventually.

Khalid had returned two weeks ago without Maimoona, but she had promised to come later, before my wedding, which didn't even have a fixed date yet.

As for Adyan and me, we'd grown incredibly close – so close that I couldn't go three hours without hearing from him. Amani and Laila might think it was pathetic, but I didn't care; I was happy.

I'd gotten to know him better, and I thought he was a very interesting guy – really cool, too. Let's just say his looks had already won me over on our first meeting.

I'd also learned to love him more with each passing day, even though I hadn't mustered the courage to say it out loud. Meanwhile, he seemed to have no problem expressing his feelings.

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a cold liquid against my chin. It was Laila, playfully pressing the bottle of cold soda she was sipping against my face.

"What the heck, Laila? Amani, control your friend, she's trying to freeze me to death!" I complained, rubbing my chin.

"Tell us what you were thinking about that made you smile so sheepishly," Amani said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I feigned hurt, trying to hide the blush that had crept onto my face. "Of course, it must be about my brother – that's all she does these days," Laila chimed in, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, please, like you aren't the one who's always with Jalal, ignoring our existence," I shot back, defending myself.

"Yes, and I'm left to my single self," Amani said dramatically. "Allah, when will you send down a miracle to your servant?" She threw her hands up in mock despair, playing the drama queen to perfection.

"Oh, please, spare us – don't think I don't know what's going on with you and Farouk..." Before Laila could finish, I cut her off, curiosity getting the better of me.

That's when I learned that she and Farouk had been secretly talking and making calls. I felt a mix of surprise and amusement, playfully accusing Amani of betrayal for keeping it from me.

Laila seemed to take pleasure in spilling the beans, and I couldn't help but wonder how she had kept this from me for so long. Just as she was still talking, with Amani looking speechless and blushing like a tomato, I noticed Jalal watching us from afar. When our eyes met, he made a discreet sign for me to keep quiet.

He walked over to our table, and Laila froze, looking utterly embarrassed – good for her. "May I steal her for a minute?" he asked politely, after we exchanged pleasantries.

"Of course, we very well know it's all planned," Amani said, shooing them off, and we all laughed.

"Now, Amani, tell me everything," I said, giving her my best glare. The look on her face was priceless – anxiously cute, really. My brother was lucky!

She told me the whole story, from how Farouk had dropped her off at home that day she visited me and had to rush back late... I remembered now that Farouk had been heading out at the same time – stupid me, I hadn't put two and two together.

She explained how he got her number and started picking her up whenever she needed him. For a moment, I thought she was taking advantage of my "poor" brother, but that's how their love story began.

I ordered another drink to process this new information. I was excited to share it with Ammi, Abee, and Khalid, but first, I'd have to use this to blackmail Farouk a little.

As Amani and I ordered burritos – this place made the best snacks, trust me – she pointed towards the entrance door with a facepalm. I lifted my head to see Laila and Jalal walking together, looking like the perfect couple. They were so cute, and I couldn't help but envy them.

"Thee, Kaltoom," Jalal said with a grin that rivaled Laila's. She was smitten with this guy, and it was adorable.
I'd often been tempted to tell Adyan about Jalal and Laila, but Laila had begged me to keep it a secret for now. Since I'd promised her, I decided to keep my mouth shut until she was ready to share the news with her brother.

I wondered why she wasn't telling him yet – was she scared he wouldn't approve? But that seemed unlikely, given her age and independence. The thought of Laila with a child was amusing, though!

I was genuinely happy for Laila; she'd found someone who could tolerate her tantrums. As Jalal interrupted my thoughts, asking if we were ready to go, Amani replied that they were almost done.

When Jalal playfully teased Amani about her manners, I mumbled with my mouth full, earning a glare from Amani.

Speaking of growing connections, Adyan was indeed growing on me, and I found myself thinking about him constantly.

I explained to the group that I'd called the driver, but his phone wasn't reachable, so we'd have to order a cab to get home.

I wished I had insisted that the driver wait for us, but the girls had convinced me to let him go since we weren't done eating. Now, with my calls going straight to voicemail, I was stuck.

Jalal offered us a ride, joking about his car not being too small for all of us. We laughed at his silly remark. His black GLK looked new, and I was excited to try out a new car, but unfortunately, Jalal was driving.

After he paid the bill, we packed up and hopped into his car. Midway to my house, Jalal received an urgent call from his brother, who wanted to see him right away. We argued about letting us go solo, but Jalal insisted on taking us with him to his brother's office.

Jalal managed to persuade us to follow him by emphasizing the importance of his brother's urgency and assuring us it would be a quick visit. He also promised to drop us off at home afterward, which somewhat alleviated our concerns. With a bit of convincing, we reluctantly agreed to accompany him, despite initial reservations about the sudden change in plans.

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