Wherever my heart is

•SILENCE AND CONNECTION•

The next day,Sunday,Fadeela arrived at Mahreen's house,her arms filled with bags of ingredients for their cooking adventure. She wanted to take her friend's mind off everything that had been going on. As she entered, she met umma in the parlor,and they exchanged warm greetings.

Suddenly,Fadeela felt shy,remembering that Umma is now her Mother in-law.

"Omg,why did I forget? I'm so stupid"she thought to herself closing her face.

"Stupid kuma,what did you forget Fadeela?"umma asked, and Fadeela's mouth hung open,realizing she had said it out loud.

"Nothing Umma,sorry" she quickly replied,standing up and hurrying upstairs to Mahreen's room after placing the shopping bags in the kitchen.

She knocked on Mahreen's door and found her lounging on her bed,still in her favorite silk pajamas,a half-eaten box of cookies beside her,completely absorbed in her iPad sketching away.

Mahreen finally lifted her head,a look of surprise crossing her face when she saw Fadeela. In an instant,she sprang off the bed and leaped onto her friend like a playful cat.

"Abeg , break my bones,ya Ahmad won't spare you" Fadeela laughed,trying to catch her breath.

Mahreen opened her mouth wide in mock shock and exclaimed, "Arghh,oppress me ,make I kuku get man before you people kill me with love. Just give me two minutes to finish this design. Please sit down and relax"

"Okay take your time,no wahala, I shopped for the items we're going to use for the tresleches and lasagna ,they're all in the kitchen downstairs. Once you're done ,let's get to work. It's been ages since we've had a fun of cooking session together"

"Sureeee," Mahreen replied dragging the word lazily while her eyes stayed glued to the screen.

"By the way please help me double check this. What color do you think I should pair for the paint and curtains? I'm kinda stuck here,"Mahreen asked,her excitement bubbling over as she turned the iPad to show Fadeela.

"Go for white and grey . You know those colors never disappoint. They'll give the room that chic vibe you love," Fadeela suggested,her eyes sparkling at the thought of their project.

"Okay , I was actually leaning towards that too,let's dash downstairs then and get started." Mahreen said,finally putting the iPad aside,ready to dive into their culinary adventure.

"What's that on the vanity? Who sent you flowers?" Fadeela exclaimed,her eyes lighting up as she dashed towards the mirror. She picked up the vibrant flower bouquet,inhaling the sweet fragrance,and noticed a handwritten note tucked within. Just as she was about to read it, Mahreen swiftly snatched the paper away from her grasp.

"What is it you're hiding? I tell you everything,but look at you keeping your gift a secret,you didn't even bother to tell me, who's the guy? Arghh ,Mahreen,I'm seriously going to kill you" Fadeela ranted ,pretending that she has no idea who sent it ,after all she told Asad Mahreen loves cookies, her curiosity morphing into playful frustration.

"Fadeela ,breathe!!!!! It's no one,it's nothing. You saw it on my story,ai ," Mahreen said defensively,trying to hold her ground against her friend's relentless questioning.

"I was just waiting for you to come,ya Asad sent it yesterday," she finally admitted,a hint of a smile breaking through her earlier resistance.

"What's going on between you two, I don't understand, what am I missing" Fadeela said.

"Seriously nothing" Mahreen replied innocently

"Okay,let's head to the kitchen then! You gotta gist me!!!!!" Fadeela replied,her excitement bubbling over as they made their way downstairs, the mystery of the flowers only heightening her anticipation.