𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 ✓

-28-

As soon as I stepped into the shop, a chorus of voices greeted me. "Good morning, Siddique," everyone said with warm smiles. Their welcome felt like a familiar embrace, something I had missed more than I realized.

I returned their smiles, feeling the corners of my mouth lift almost instinctively. "Good morning, everyone," I replied, trying to match their warmth.

"How are you feeling today?" Hamid, one of my employees asked as he approached me, concern evident in his voice.

"I'm good, Hamid. Thank you for your concern," I answered, appreciating his sincerity. I headed toward my usual spot at the desk, the place where I would dive into work and let the hours slip away.

"You're welcome, Boss," Hamid said before disappearing into the storeroom to check on the stock.

As I settled into my chair, Uncle Rahman appeared, as he did every morning, with a cup of coffee and some cookies. He placed them gently on the desk without a word, just a nod of acknowledgment before returning to help Hamid. It was a routine that had been in place for years—one of those small, unspoken rituals that brought a sense of normalcy.

I took a sip of the coffee, feeling the warmth spread through me, and thought of Naaz. She was the reason I was here today.

It had been over a month since I’d started coming back to the shop, and each day, I thanked her silently for pushing me to take that step.

My hand instinctively touched the cotton cap on my head. My hair was slowly growing back, just enough to cover the worst of it, but I still couldn’t bring myself to walk around without the cap. The thought of people like Zahir whispering behind my back made my skin crawl. But Naaz’s idea had been a lifesaver. She had given me a way to ease back into the world without feeling exposed.

I took another sip of coffee, the bitterness grounding me. In Naaz, I had found more than just support—I had found someone who understood my fears and pushed me to face them anyway. She was the reason I was here, and the reason I could start to see a path forward, even if it was just one small step at a time.

I finished my coffee and cookies, then dove into work, letting the rhythm of the day take over. As the hours passed, customer after customer came in, keeping all of us busy. Some were here with serious intent to buy, some had issues with items they’d purchased previously, and others were just browsing or comparing prices. It was a typical day, filled with the usual hustle and transactions.

By the afternoon, the shop was in full swing. A man came in looking for a fridge, while a couple was interested in buying an air conditioner and a home theater system. My focus was entirely on the couple, as Uncle Rahman was busy assisting the man with the fridge.

“Let me show you our best models,” I said to the couple, leading them to the section where we had a range of air conditioners and home theater systems on display. “This air conditioner here,” I pointed to a sleek, modern unit, “is perfect for cooling a large room quickly and efficiently. It’s energy-efficient too, which will save you on electricity bills in the long run.”