Ties That Bind

EP24

It was Monday morning, the first day of Kabir’s highly anticipated campaign. The early dawn light barely filtered through the windows as Kabir sat on his prayer mat, having just finished his Subh prayers. He muttered a quiet dhikr, seeking calm for the day ahead, but his mind was already whirling with thoughts of the upcoming political events.

After folding up his prayer mat, Kabir rose to his feet and checked his watch: 6:30 AM. His thoughts drifted to Zara.  They were supposed to leave for one of the key communities in Lagos for the campaign rally, and there were a lot of moving parts to manage.

He took a deep breath and made his way down the quiet hallway to her room. The soft knock on her door echoed in the stillness of the house. “Zara,” he called softly, his tone a bit hesitant.

There was a brief silence, and then the door creaked open. Zara appeared in the doorway, pushing only half of her body out. She wore a light pink pajama gown that stopped just at her knees, the fabric loose and comfortable against her skin. Her hair was untied, cascading down her shoulders in soft waves. Even though she was clearly still waking up, there was an effortless cuteness about her—one that caught Kabir slightly off guard. He found himself staring for a moment longer than he intended.

“Good morning,” he finally managed to greet, his voice quieter than usual.

Zara nodded in response, her eyes still a little heavy with sleep, but she was alert enough to catch his gaze. She didn’t offer any words yet, just stood there, her hand resting on the edge of the doorframe, as if ready to close it as soon as she could.

Kabir cleared his throat, pulling his thoughts together. “Andre and Doyin will be here by eight,” he started, his voice more businesslike now. “We’ll leave for Mushin by nine.”

Zara blinked a few times, processing the information. She shifted her weight, adjusting her position slightly, the movement bringing a subtle rustling sound from her gown. “Okay,” she muttered softly, her voice carrying that early-morning rasp that was both endearing and distant at the same time.

Kabir shifted on his feet, feeling a momentary awkwardness. There was so much more he wanted to say—something to bridge the widening gap between them—but his mind drew a blank. Instead, he focused on something practical. “Don’t forget to take your inhaler... just in case.”

“Sure,” Zara nodded again, her expression neutral, though there was a hint of distraction in her eyes. She didn’t make a big deal out of the reminder, though Kabir knew how important it was, especially with the bustling crowds they would be in later today.

For a moment, Kabir just stood there, not knowing how to extend the conversation. She was clearly not in the mood for small talk, but the silence between them hung heavy in the air.

“Is that all?” Zara asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm but distant, her face betraying none of the emotions she might have been feeling. It was almost like she was waiting for him to just leave.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s all,” Kabir replied quickly, feeling a small pang of disappointment that he couldn’t explain. He scratched the back of his neck, unsure of what else to say.

Zara gave a brief nod. “Okay.” Without waiting for any further pleasantries, she slowly closed the door, her form disappearing behind it as the latch clicked softly shut.

Kabir stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door. There was an uncomfortable tightness in his chest—an unfamiliar sensation he didn’t know how to shake off. He let out a soft sigh, turning on his heel and heading back to his room. His mind was already shifting back to the campaign, but that odd moment with Zara lingered in the back of his thoughts. Something between them had changed, and he wasn’t sure if it was for the better.