When Two Worlds Collide

Chapter 1: A Dreamer's Reality

Acceptance. As individuals in this day and age that's all we strive for from one another. We want to be accepted in a society that is different and wants to not be normal but not be so different. With our different cultures we're only just at the beginning of accepting everyone's culture and views, but it is working, kind of. Being accepted by one another is what we all want... That and love. However love is such a taboo subject for me especially being a British Asian girl who is the youngest in the family and knowing that in my family finding my own love will be a great challenge, not only for me but the joker who wants to be part of my crazy family. But as my father says, "Too young for marriage, too old for dreaming" Which kind of sucks for a girl who only dreams. I've been told that I'm just stuck in a constant dreamland and I'm not making any effort with life which is passing me by. I know I have to start thinking practically and not impractically. I mean, I know those types of things could never happen to a girl like me... Could it?

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Great British weather descends on the streets of Birmingham making the time feel like its 5pm when it's only 11am. The mixture of the bitter cold and gushes of wind blowing in my face every minute makes me curse myself for not wrapping up even more. I hardly ever go shopping. So when Saira, my cousin, decided to get engaged to her boyfriend she said she would personally take me out and get some stuff for the wedding and the days leading up to it. So here I am, sacrificing my Saturday lie in with her and my best friend, Liza.

"This better be flippin worth it." I mutter under my breath whilst getting out of the car with my cousin and best friend.

"Make sure you guys stay safe and call me when you're finished." My brother calls out before Saira shuts the door. She smiles and nods to him. "Oh and don't forget to feed the grinch over there!" He points at me and laughs. I stare back at him while the other two are cackling away.

"Don't make me dent your car." I say while he drives off leaving us on Ladypool road. Last time I came wedding shopping was for my brother's wedding a couple of years back. Why I couldn't just wear the same shit again is beyond me. I look around at my surroundings and take it all in. The shops, the people, the smells, the thoughts I have. "Kill me now." I mutter. Liza smirks and whispers to me,

"Come on Sof, do it for her. She'd do it for you." I look back at her to reply with a sarcastic remark but some idiot Asian guys walk past us, whistling and shit. I shoot them a dirty look and swear loudly to them. They're so taken back their walking has just turned into jogging. I look back at Saira and Liza who are just smirking.

"What?"

"Nothing." Saira says still smirking. "Shall we make a start?!" By this point I think the sparkles and jewels in every shop were getting to Saira's head and getting her all excited. Liza nods and links arms with me and pulls me forward to follow Saira into the first shop she saw. I moan and grunt at Liza pulling at me as I kept trying to resist her and tried to walk the other way where the kebab shops were. Liza and I barely got into the first shop and Saira was already out. We looked at her, confused.

"Not worth it. Next shop." Says Saira as she walks into the next shop. I looked at her then to the ground. I thought to myself 'this is gonna be a long day'. The expression on my face was clear and as Liza laughs at Saira she looks at me and says,

"Try not to loose your cool." I stare down at her. "And most definitely, do not punch anyone... again." I smirk and reply,

"Can't promise anything." I take a deep breath in and out and then get pulled into the shop.

A couple of hours pass and by this point I was so done. Even more then I was when we got dropped off to do the shopping. We hardly bought anything because we couldn't find anything we agreed on and I was so hungry I was getting even more pissy. Saira and Liza where over by the bridal wear as I sat down by the shoes and handbags. I stared at a matching blue and red handbag and shoe set and just started thinking about this wedding. What it meant to Saira and her family and not to be selfish but what it also meant to me. You see me and Saira are cousins and we used to be so close, but as you grow up you drift slightly. And within that time things happened and in particular something that changed mine and Saira's relationship. I feel a hand on my shoulder and someone sitting next to me. I hoped it wasn't another old woman trying to talk to me about her son and trying to match make, I get enough of that at weddings and family gatherings.