Twin Rivalry Unleashed

10 shadow of solitude

Zia carefully carried the meat that Ejaz had bought for him back to his mother, Umma. She was seated on a traditional chair, engrossed in cutting onions for their meal. As Zia approached her, he settled down not too far from her, finding his balance before speaking. "Umma, are you cutting onions?" he inquired, not because he could see the onions but because he could smell their pungent aroma.

Umma raised her gaze and met her son's eyes. "Yes, I'm almost done," she replied with a warm smile. Zia then informed her about the meat Ejaz had brought, suggesting they could have it once she finished cutting the onions.

With a twinkle in her eyes, Umma asked, "Did you two fight again?" She knew that whenever Ejaz and Zia had a disagreement, one of them would have to make amends with a small gift.

Zia burst into laughter at her question. "Umma, that was in the past. We hardly ever fight now, maybe just a few misunderstandings sometimes," he reassured her.

Relieved, Umma sighed and said, "Okay, I'll be there in a moment," as she gathered the bowl of cut onions and headed to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Ejaz went back to the meat seller to purchase more meat, this time for his family. Back at home, he changed into fresh clothes and settled on the sofa, reaching for the remote to switch channels on the television. Calling out for his sister, Ummi, he requested her to warm up the food he had brought.

Ummi, who was engrossed in chatting with her friends, reluctantly left her room and hurried to fulfill her brother's request. Despite her initial annoyance, she quickly warmed the food and returned it to him. Ejaz thanked her and pointed to a packet of meat as her reward, causing Ummi to joyfully express her gratitude before leaving happily.

Elsewhere, Aroush finished a phone call and checked her messages anxiously, hoping for a reply from Jad. Disappointed by the lack of response, she decided to step outside. Before leaving, her roommate Chika asked her to buy Nutri milk on her way back. Aroush initially planned to collect food from Sahra but changed her mind upon Chika's request.

As Aroush made her way to Nas's room to ask for help with purchasing the milk, she ran into Sarah's roommate. They exchanged greetings in Hausa before Aroush helped herself to some pasta with fresh fish from Sarah's plate. Though pasta wasn't her preferred meal, she savored it gratefully, lacking the energy to cook something herself.

Aroush returned to the hostel, her heart lighter after catching up with Nas and receiving his assurance of help. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as she made her way to the student garden, a place where time seemed to slow down and worries melted away. Under the comforting shade of a lemon tree, she settled into a chair and dialed Nas's number, the anticipation of his voice bringing a smile to her face.

As Nas picked up after just one ring, Aroush couldn't contain her excitement. "Hey, I've been missing our chats. Sorry for being MIA, just feeling a bit drained lately," she confessed, feeling the weight lift off her shoulders with each word.

Nas chuckled at her admission, his voice warm and reassuring. "No worries, that's just you being you. So, what do you need this time?" he asked, always ready to lend a helping hand.

Aroush didn't beat around the bush. "Could you please grab three bottles of Nutri milk for me? I'm starving, and my roommate is too. I'll pay you back when you get here," she requested, knowing Nas would come through for her as always.

Nas agreed without hesitation, promising to bring the milk along with his thermodynamics notes for a study session. Aroush couldn't help but laugh at his playful banter, grateful for his unwavering support.

Meanwhile, in their shared room, Salim couldn't help but question Nas's willingness to always assist Aroush and her friends. But Nas's response was simple yet profound – gratitude and kindness were the currency of their friendship, not obligation or servitude.

Back at the garden, Sarah finally answered Aroush's persistent calls, teasing her about the frequency of her dialing. Ignoring Sarah's jests, Aroush swiftly requested her to fetch her belongings from their room, including her thermodynamics notes and a meal.

Sarah complied with a grin, gathering everything in a basket before meeting Nas and Aroush at the garden. As they reunited, Sarah handed over the items, leaving Aroush with one bottle of milk before heading back to the hostel.

Chika, waiting eagerly in their room, welcomed Aroush with a smile as she arrived with the milk. Grateful for Aroush's thoughtfulness and assistance, Chika expressed her thanks, understanding the selflessness that defined their bond.

With Nas and Sarah setting up a cozy spot on the carpet, they shared a meal together, Nas expressing his gratitude for their friendship and the nourishing food before them. The evening passed in laughter and camaraderie, a testament to the enduring bonds that tied them together in moments of need and joy alike.

Aroush sighed and shook her head in exasperation. "You couldn't even wait a few seconds for me?" she complained, a hint of playful annoyance in her voice.

Sara and Nas chuckled at Aroush's impatience. "Since when did you become a pasta lover?" Sara teased, taking a bite of her own meal. "Help yourself, Aroush," she added, gesturing towards the spread.

Aroush couldn't help but grin at Sara's comment as she settled down and began eating. Sara watched in surprise but said nothing, serving herself another helping without missing a beat.

Aroush reached for one of the bottles of milk and handed the other to Nas. Sarah, allergic to dairy, abstained from milk and its products. They shared a meal together before delving into their study session, spending hours immersed in their books under the shade of the garden.

As the evening drew to a close, Nas helped them pack up their belongings and carried everything to the hostel entrance before bidding them goodbye. He headed towards the male hostel with the remaining food and milk in hand.

In their room, Salim was engrossed in his work when Nas returned, holding the flask of food. His face lit up with delight at the sight of Nas. "I've been eagerly waiting for you! Thank God you're here with food; I'm starving," he exclaimed.

Nas raised an eyebrow at Salim's sudden change in demeanor. "You may not approve of my friendship with the girls, but you can't have any of this," he said firmly, pointing to the flask.

Salim nodded in understanding and quickly served himself before retreating to his bed after Nas left the room.

Upon his return, Nas noticed the empty plate and called out, "Don't tell me you ate all that food! Where are you hiding?" Salim hurriedly finished his meal and tried to evade Nas's playful attempt to snatch the plate.

Meanwhile, Aroush felt a pang of disappointment at not hearing from Jad. His words and soothing voice had become a source of comfort for her, and his absence left her feeling lost. She scrolled through her messages, finding no sign of him online.

To distract herself from the loneliness and frustration, Aroush decided to step out of the hostel, craving the company of strangers to ease her troubled mind. She avoided encountering Sara and Nas, not wanting to burden them with her emotions.