𝐴 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑤 𝐴𝑡 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝐴𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑛

'If you associate with eagles you soar to greater heights but if you run along with dogs, you learn how to bark'.
~anonymous.

Rahma stared at her reflection in the mirror, wondering if she would be standing here if her brother's hadn't found her unconscious in her house years ago. A part of her knew that she would most likely be with Ali, enduring everything. But as Allah has promised, he will not hurt a soul with too much that he can't bear it.

She let a genuine smile take over her features, she was proud of herself. She thought Ali had destroyed her, that she wouldn't be happy again but she knew that today everything was going to change, this restaurant meant everything to her. To her, it represents her salvation. Her strength that she was more than anything Ali made herself to believe she was.

A knock came on her room door and she turned to where the sound came from then gave the person permission to come in. Her mother stepped into the room and smiled when her eyes settled on Rahma.

"You look wonderful my darling". Salma came to stand behind her daughter in front of the mirror. They would look the same height from afar but closer up, Rahma was definitely few inches taller.

"I'm proud of you. We all are".

"Thank you, mummy". Rahma smiled.

"Let's go, we can't be late on your first day". They both laughed, the sound mingled together and sounded as one.

The both of them left the room and headed downstairs. The others were already downstairs and Rahma could make out halima and Hammad's voices clearly bickering over something stupid.

"CEO!". Halima exclaimed when she sighted Rahma and her sister in turn rolled her eyes.

"Shut up halima".

"Okay, I am very hungry, please let's go". Hammad stood up and the others agreed then they were making their way out and into the different cars.

Rahma was driving her parents, Hammad drove his siblings. Hameeda and her family were going to meet them there, so was sudais and rukayya.

The opening was in like thirty minutes and she hoped people would turn up even though halima assured her people will. The whole week was booked out by her family ofcourse. Baba was going to bring his friends, then mummy, anty, ya sudais, ya hameeda, Hisham, halima and Hammad. She knew this whole week was going to be nothing, the following week was going to be the real start.

She had gone over to the café earlier in the morning and they had started everything with her other employees, then she left them to get ready at home. She reserved the terrace for her family and when they got there, she led them up and went back to join the workers inside.

"Is everything okay?". She asked the lady that could be said to be the most experienced in the whole place, Rahma let her be in charge of the others.

"Yes". Rahma followed her inside and checked everything again until she was satisfied. People were starting to show up but had to wait outside until they were officially opened.

She had people take brunch to her family upstairs while halima got herself ready for the official opening, Rahma told her she was being dramatic and making people wait.

She opened her doors with a smile and moved aside for people to troop in. She gave credit to halima as people showed more than she expected.

After she made sure the workers could handle everything downstairs, she went up to join her family for brunch. She received praises and even though at some point she thought they were overdoing, she let them be happy as she was also happy.