Forbidden

4. Salman

The thought of buying a new SIM card for my phone was quickly dismissed by Kashifa, who raised an eyebrow at me. “Why do you need a SIM card? We have Wi-Fi here,” he said, a teasing lilt in his voice. “You can just update Kristoff through WhatsApp.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing he had a point. Still, I missed the independence of having my own number. “Yeah, but it feels weird not having a local number. Kristoff has been calling me every day since I arrived.”

Kashifa smirked, leaning back against the wall with a knowing look. “What does he want this time?”

I picked up my phone and opened WhatsApp, my fingers hovering over the screen. “He insists on talking to you every time. You know how he is.”

Kashifa chuckled, clearly amused. “Of course. He never could resist a chance to catch up. Let him know I’m here.”

With a reluctant grin, I swiped to answer Kristoff’s call. “Hey, Kristoff! What’s up?”

“August! Finally! I’ve been trying to reach you!” Kristoff’s voice crackled with excitement. “Are you having fun? And are you with Kashifa?”

I glanced at Kashifa, who was still smirking. “Yeah, I’m with him right now.”

“Put him on!” Kristoff insisted, his eagerness palpable. “I want to talk to him!”

I hesitated but saw Kashifa’s playful expression, making it hard to resist. “Okay, one second.” I handed the phone to Kashifa. “Here, it’s Kristoff. He wants to chat.”

Kashifa took the phone with a flourish, holding it to his ear. “Kristoff! It’s good to hear from you, man! How’ve you been?”

“Not too bad! Just keeping busy. How’s August treating you?” Kristoff’s voice was filled with warmth and genuine curiosity.

Kashifa shot me a wink, his tone light. “He’s doing alright. I’ve been showing him around, and I think he’s finally starting to like it here. You know how he is with new places.”

Kristoff laughed. “Yeah, he can be a bit of a homebody. But I know he’s in good hands with you. So, what’s the best part of your reunion so far?”

Kashifa leaned closer to me, a teasing grin on his face. “Honestly? Watching him struggle with the heat. He’s changed clothes like three times already!”

“Typical August,” Kristoff said, laughing. “But seriously, I hope you guys are having a blast. I miss hanging out with both of you!”

As the conversation continued, I felt a sense of camaraderie and warmth wash over me. Even though I was far from home, in this moment with Kashifa and Kristoff, I felt a connection that made everything else fade away.

We rode the motorcycle toward Salman’s house, the afternoon air wrapping around us like a warm embrace. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft golden glow that seemed to paint everything it touched in warm hues of orange and pink. As the light began to fade, it illuminated the road ahead, where the asphalt shimmered like glass, dotted with patches of dried grass and wildflowers that danced gently in the light breeze.

The terrain around us shifted from the bustling village to more open fields, the tall grasses swaying rhythmically, almost as if they were welcoming our passage. In the distance, I could see the silhouettes of palm trees standing tall against the horizon, their fronds swaying softly, casting playful shadows on the ground. The sweet scent of blooming jasmine wafted through the air, mingling with the citrusy notes of Kashifa’s cologne, which enveloped me like a familiar blanket. It was intoxicating, heightening my senses and igniting a warmth deep within me.