Destined Hearts

Chapter 7

It's my first day at my new Uni and I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. This was a whole new other environment, and I wouldn't know anyone except Asma. I would have to make friends and open myself up to more. I was terrified.

I wore a simple black abaya with a cream veil. Yesterday Asma surprised me with a new laptop, which she said Aunty Salmah had ordered for me. It was obviously an expensive one because Asma had the exact same one, although hers was in black while mine was pink - Asma's doing.

Me and Asma ate breakfast earlier than the others, then we headed out. Asma wanted to drive today so we went to her white car, which was next to Ya Muhammad's own. The school was a bit far from the house so Asma just put music on as she explained to me about the school.

"The Architecture building is pretty big and easy to find. I'll take you there before I head to class." She says. "Do you know what classes you are having?" She asks me as we turn into the road of the school.

"Yeah I do. I only have two classes today." I tell her

"Okay me too. Just call me and we'll go home when you're done."

Hours later and I'm sitting on a random bench, eating a sandwich I bought from the cafeteria, and people-watching. There are so many random people doing random things. Some are studying, others are gisting, some are leaning against the wall with a cigarette between their lips. There are so many couples around, some just talking, some doing way more than that.

I haven't managed to make any new friends, especially since everyone already has their own groups. I'm the only new student in fourth year. The classes I've had were pretty easy considering it's a private university. Although it may because I spent every hour I could in the school library trying to learn more. I'm a nerd, I know.

Asma calls me to tell me she's done with classes and she'll come meet me. Instead I tell her we should meet at the parking lot since I know where we parked. I make the long walk to where Asma parked, to find her standing by her car door.

"Hey. How was your first day?" She says with a huge smile on her face.

"It was good actually. Haven't made any friends yet though." I tell her as we enter the car and drive off.

"It's just the first day. You are too likable not to get friends." She bumps my shoulder.

Aunty Salmah is standing at the door when we walk in. "Madeenah, how was school?" She wrapped her arms around me as we headed upstairs to her room.

"Mami, why won't you ask me?" Asma whined.

"It's because I have a new daughter now and I've replaced you." Mami rolled her eyes

"Mami, how could you say that to me? I could have been really hurt if not because I actually like Madeenah, and she is my sister." Asma dramatically collapsed on Aunty Salmah's bed, with a sigh.

At that moment I feel a lump get stuck in my throat. This family that I've been with for just three weeks have treated me more like a human than Anty and my father have in the past 10 years. Baba wasn't always this bad. I was his baby girl, always with him and even though Anty hated it she couldn't do anything about it. I would follow him to the office at times and he would take me and Hamma Ahmad for ice cream and getting new toys. It was after Mama got diagnosed that he started pushing me away. I know he loved her, and it hurt to see her dying but I did nothing wrong. My mother was dying too, right in front of my eyes. I can remember the first time he pushed me away and the smugness on Anty's face and the sadness and resignation on my mother's. He would ignore me when I would speak, sometimes shout at me for having an 'attitude', make me feel like I wasn't enough.