Thorns and Roses

4

"Who said law is a thing for me?" Sameera complained to her brother on phone as she walked back to her apartment.

"Who forced Sameera to study law?" He answered in response causing her to roll her eyes.

"Talking to you is baseless you know."

"I love you too. Are you there?"

"In a minute..." she said walking faster.

"And I am here. Thank you for your services MR. Your payment will be coming through soon." She informed laughing out loud.

"Get yourself a boyfriend and don't call me again." He said feigning annoyance and ending the call.

Sameera walked into her apartment, the scent of her burnt tularen wuta mixed with her orange scent hit. Home is definitely a need for everyone. She unload herself, throwing her jacket, scarf and her tote on the couch. Life lately has been beautiful. Living outside the four walls of the castle is so far the best thing she has done for herself.
She released her full blown black hair from the knot of a scrunchy, letting it drop just a few inches below her shoulders then proceeded to unclip her bra.
Unsure of what to cook, Sameera punched her phone, placing an order for a pizza. Before it arrives, she took her journal and wrote a few things, from the lectures she had to the chit chat she had with her friends.

Minutes in, her order arrived and without wasting time she delved into, ravishing the taste of the extra pepper she requested for.

Her phone rang, it was her mother, they spoke for a minutes while she ate and immediately after that, she hit the bed.

************
A part of Sameera's routine is laying down on the grass beside the lake, the scent of earth and nature hitting her nerves while she read her reality out through a book and a cup of banana smoothie. Today, she did the same only that she chose to zero the sound of cars moving using her headphones. Playing Taylor Swift songs at a low volume.
The words of Khalid Hussein has never disappoint, the reality of each of the word he wrote aligning perfectly with the truth of life, In as much as she hates to admit it.

Her emotions twirled around, forming tears in her eyes. Soon, her stomach joined, the unpleasant and unfamiliar disturbance from where she could not predict chirped in. Her nose sniffed, regretting it almost immediately as the scent of tobacco reached the depths of her nostrils.

Annoyance got the best of her; cursing whoever is trying to pollute both the air,himself and herself. Determined, she stood and walked towards the scents and there, a male figure stood there, his back facing her. His hands movements from his mouth and downwards near his hips. She is sure the man is black from the shade of his hands even with the long sleeved black turtle neck the person is wearing.

After few seconds of getting herself ready, ready to pour down her brewing anger on the person, she walked close to the person.

Aggressively she tapped on his shoulders saying 'excuse me' with the rudest voice she could muster. The man's tall frame turned, intimidating her with his muscular features, his face almost perfectly carved with a scar just above his left brows.

"Yes." He responded in a very calm voice. She almost gave up on living. Her anger converted to fear as she tried to speak again. At this point, the scent of the cigar became unbearable that she felt nauseous.

"I..." she started but the pizza and smoothie content in her stomach couldn't hold back. Uncontrollably, she emptied them on his shirt.

"What the f***.* his voice came through, laced with poisonous anger that can never go unnoticed.

Unsure of what to do at the moment, Sameera threw her book by the side and ran; not forgetting to pick up her cup and headphone. Her legs knows not when to stop until she reached her apartment. Her chest heaving as she jammed the lock behind her.

She calmed herself down, hoping to never meet the person again and making peace that she's lost her highlighted book. She braced herself and walked to the bathroom, cleaning her mouth and her body. Today was too chaotic for her so instead of studying like she usually do; she slid into her bed. Before the night could finally register, She drifted into a deep slumber.

                           *********
The next day; Nigeria 10:00am

Returning to her home was the best thing she did to herself yesterday. Being a public figure is definitely not Maleeka's favorite image of her dad. Their house always gets filled with unnecessary people as she likes to tag it whenever Eid approaches. From people that are staying for a month to people that are just there to get Ragon Sallah.

She woke up feeling the best of herself. Yesternight is one of the best she had in months. Her husband even though he is not around organized a solo event for her. He made arrangements with his sister to decorate Maleeka's room with balloons hanging up in the ceiling and below on the floor. Given her lack of taste for sweet, he ordered her favorite grilled fish with stir fried spaghetti and also some smoothies.

She smiled at the memory of his note;

I want to redefine love with you so it raises a question to Shakespeare's definition...see, i am not an artist but if you present yourself as a canvas, i will paint you in 99 shades of love, my love.

Over the years of their marriage, Maleeka never really understood the emphasis on the hakuri the elders kept saying. Five years and counting, her husband has been nothing but perfect. Even with their careers being the cause of them not spending soo much time together, they always find a way to make it up to each other. Nothing beats the time they spend together and that's a treasure they both will always cherish.

She smiled as she mixed her breakfast: she opted for something simple: oats with fruits and nuts. She placed her bowl on the center table and turned on the Television; changing the channel to food network, one of her source of comfort.

She finished eating within a few Minutes then checked her phone's to do list. Eid is in eleven days from now and her clothes and her husband's are yet to be ready so she dialed the tailor's number. They made arrangements to bring the clothes later that day. She proceeded to call her snacks vendor and then the decorator. After all the plans, She took her bath and decided on wearing sweatpants and her husband's polo shirt.

Just as she was about to settle, she called her husband's phone but it wasn't reachable. She noticed a missed call from him on her other phone and a text reading.

"Take care of yourself  My Leeka and have a good morning."

She smiled at it and continued watching till the early hours of the night
At exactly 9:31pm; her doorbell rang.

"Ina zuwa."
she shouted and ran upstairs to grab a jilbab. She threw it over the sweats pants and rushed to the door.
Her mouth opened widely at the sight in front of her.

"NURRAIN!!!!"