FATE INSPIRED

Chapter 3

Layla

The heated early morning sun shone brightly on my face, waking me up instantly. It's a trick I used when I must wake by the aurora, opening my curtains so that as soon as the sun went up, I was up. A smile was spread on my face while I stretched both my arms while muttering some duas. I rose up and went to the curtains, dragging them to cover my room so that I could have a little of privacy. By that time, people might be awake.

That was just an introduction to my daily routine. I immediately rushed inside the bathroom for a bath, one of the few moments I loved. I dried my hair with the magical hair dryer that stretchered my stubborn thick and coiled hair before I stood in front of the mirror for a quick check-through.

I tied my hair in my usual style and slipped into my long black skirt, white ruffled dress shirt, and black jacket. I found my white-coloured veil which went well with my garb dress and rolled it up in a beautiful turban. I was pretty much good to go.  I just powdered to brighten my moisturized face.

"Ummi, I'll meet you two at the graduation ceremony," I said as I washed down the breakfast I had with a hot cup of tea after.

"Okay. Be careful on your way. Allah Ya bada sa'a." Ummi prayed for luck with a smile from across the table.

"Ameen," I said kissing her cheek before making my way out.

I opened the passenger's seat and dropped my load of textbooks. Being a law student wasn't the worst except when you had to carry a great deal number of kilograms with you in form of textbooks. I was allowed to drive by myself most of the time, but I used the driver's service sometimes, and my brother's whenever he was less busy and wanted to spend time together.

I was supposed to meet my family at the graduation ceremony of my nephew, Adnan, at noon and I've only one class before then so I should be good.

"Hello, girls." I greeted before sitting at the table.

"Pretty girl, how're you today?" Rahina said with a big smile. Too big for Rahina because it's Rahina, she wasn't the biggest fan of smiling or being nice at all.

"What does she want, Rahilatu? She's scaring me." I turned to her twin sister, Rahilatu with a questioning look.

"No idea. But she definitely wants something."

"What do you want? Stop smiling at me, it's scaring me. For real."

Smiling? Normal, of course. But the thing was, Rahina was the meanest friend among us.

"I didn't want anything but since you're bugging me now, I'll request something." She said dramatically.

I huffed. "Finally. What do you want?"

"Do my essay. Please." Rahina said with begging eyes.

"No," I said.

"Please, baby."

"Nope."

"Please."

"No."

"Pretty please."

"No."

"Oh, common on. You'll run out no to say."

"Don't do it for her, please. She deliberately refused to go for that particular class." Rahilatu said. "Because apparently, she wanted to rebel."

"Oh, you knew what she wanted?" I asked in interrogation.

"Well, yes but I didn't know that's what she wanted to ask," Rahilatu said while laughing. "But don't do it. At least not for free."