A Lifetime For Jannah

Stuck with nowhere to go (I)

Yesterday's gathering was a bore. To me, it just felt like my parents used baby Faruq's 'birthday' as an excuse to meet people and be the centre of attention.

Yesterday, I went outside the house where the gathering was taking place. But all I saw was everyone and no one. Wierd looks and stares was all I recieved and me being me, I literally ran to my room and sought solitude where my thoughts became my companions. Nonetheless, meeting Yasmeen completely made my day although at first the conversation was so awkward that I was having second thoughts on staying in the room. But it would have been rude if I'd left.

It was wierd that she left right in the middle of our conversation. We hadn't exchange numbers but I wasn't going to let it at that.

Snapping back to reality, the worst thing happened today. Grandaunt had asked Yasmeen to meet her after the party but, for some reason she left without saying goodbye. So grandaunt asked. No, ordered, Habib and I to go visit her after having breakfast. Luckily, she lived just two blocks away. At first I was reluctant to follow her command but my parents thought it'd be a good idea to have a change of environment.

Habib and I shared a knowing look. And after a few protests and lame excuses I had no choice but to agree. And my two egg heads were of no help either. Their contributions onto the conversation just made it worse and they didn't seem to get the hand gesture I signalled. I'd have to deal with them later.

On the other hand, Habib and I hadn't spoken to each other since..well since the 'fake' introduction. He seemed completely different. I noticed a change in character. He wasn't the talkative, companionable, hail-fellow-well-met person I once knew him as.

Now he was just the 'look down every time you see me' kind of guy.

We've had some pretty awkward encounters.

A night before, I had come down to the kitchen in the middle of the night answering the wish of my rumbling tummy.

It wasn't like me to get hungry at night. But that night I couldn't help it.

I had gone into the kitchen to search for something edible. Rummaging through the fridge, I spotted a frozen pizza. I threw the pizza into the microwave and left it to warm while I made some tea. I opened up one cabinet after the other searching for sugar when I heard a loud thump in the background. I turned around only to find Habib struggling to pick up a heavy carton off the tiled floor.

Only when I chuckled did he notice my presence. Our gazes locked and I hurriedly turned around, the atmosphere suddenly turning tense.

I started pouring the steamy hot water I had earlier boiled into the tea cup when he leaned in trying to get the sugar. It made me even more nervous than I already was leading my hands to start shaking and I mistakenly poured the hot water over my thumb, which I used to hold the cup. I yelled in pain and ran to the sink. He asked if I was okay to which I made no reply. I picked up the tea and pizza and ran back to my room.

That wasn't the only awkward situation we two have faced. And it probably won't be the last.

I wanted to go visit Yasmeen, but I didn't want to go with him. So I went to the library which had always been left open for a reason I know not.

I stared at the door, wondering what would happen if I closed it. So I did.

"No! Don't!"

I heard someone yell from behind. I turned around to find the one and only.

"Once you close it, it locks automatically and we can't get out until someone opens it from the outside." He said in a distressed manner.

Someone should get the door fixed.

Does that mean...I'm stuck here? With him?

Can this day get any worse?!