Threads of love

A glance that lingers

Chapter two

A few days later, my sister Mary and I strolled through town, our laughter mingling with the lively chatter of the bustling streets. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow over everything. I wasn't expecting to see the afghan man today, after all i was with my sister.

"Look!"  Mary exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she spotted our older brother.  "Ibrahim!"

I turned to see him walking toward us, a broad smile on his face that made my heart swell with joy. "Asalamu alaykum!" He greeted us, enveloping us both in a warm hug.

He'd been in London studying at university for the past 3 years. I smiled at him filled with pure joy.

"Does mama and dad know you're back?" I asked, my excitement bubbling over.

"Not yet, don't tell them," he replied with a mischievous grin.

"I want to surprise them later, insha'Allah. Come on, let's grab some food i'm starving after that flight"

Linking arms with him, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and safety. "How was university?" I asked, gazing up at him, eager to hear about his experiences.

"It was amazing, the best years of my life," he said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "But there's nothing like being back home, surrounded by family and familiar faces."

I nodded, smiling again. "Mama will be so pleased you're back!"

As we turned the corner, I caught sight of the Afghan stall from a few days ago, and an unexpected flutter stirred in my chest. I hesitated, and Ibrahim noticed my pause.

"What's wrong?" he asked, glancing back at me.

I quickly brushed it off and continued walking "nothing what"

Ibrahim raised an eyebrow but soon changed the subject.

"My friend Abdullah works here, he's Afghan, living in Turkey."

My heart dropped when the words escaped his lips. "You know the guy here?"

"Yeah, he was on my course but left a year early. I haven't seen him in so long," he replied casually, walking toward the stall.

The second Abdullah spotted Ibrahim, his face lit up, and he stepped out from behind the counter to embrace him. They exchanged friendly banter, their camaraderie evident. But when Abdullah's gaze shifted toward me and Mary, his demeanour changed. He recognized me instantly, and with a slight bow of his head, he returned to the stall, avoiding eye contact.

"Do you want anything to eat?" Abdullah asked politely, his voice warm yet distant.

"Yeah, just three chicken kebabs, please," Ibrahim replied, oblivious to the undercurrents between Abdullah and me.

"I was just telling my sisters we studied together in London but that you came back early."

"Sisters? That makes sense," Abdullah murmured, his gaze lingering on me. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks and quickly looked away, feigning interest in my phone.

"You've met before? What do you mean, that makes sense?" Ibrahim asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.

"That one, who came here a few days ago, said she was English and Syrian," Abdullah pointed at me, his honey-brown eyes shimmering and then returned his gaze to ibrahim,

"You're the only English-Syrian I know."

I opened my mouth to respond, but Ibrahim cut me off. "Aalya, she's a good kid. She'll be married soon."