Lost

Chapter 52: Perplexing Relations

The chapter is set in Salma's high school time. So it's a flash back. Apologies if it's not that good. I managed to squeeze it in my tight schedule when my a few of my classes got cancelled unexpectedly.

Comment as you read ;) Enjoy!

Salma's P.O.V.

*Flashback*

Salma opened the door, grumbling under breath. She was in a bad mood. High school can be so traumatic sometimes, and to add to it a growling stomach, a terribly hot day and a tiring walk home, high school becomes hellish. Salma was lucky she had befriended a whole clan of boys and girls in the previous years, otherwise life as a fresh niqaabi would have been a such a recipe for a disaster.

Her stomach growled like a hungry beast, making Salma grit her teeth in frustration. She was fasting that day. Wanting nothing better than a relaxing long nap in her air conditioned room, Salma decided to pray quickly and go to sleep until 'asr.

However, as soon as she entered the house, a fresh dose of mood deteriorators welcomed her in the form of unfamiliar voices of unwanted and unknown guests.

"Great!" Salma groaned as she kicked her shoes off.

She relaxed a little when she heard masculine voices. Unless they were Mahram or really close family guests, the men were seated in the drawing room. Thinking that to be the case, Salma hoped to slip into her room, unnoticed.

"Assalamo'Alaykum Salma!" her mother's voice stopped her just as she placed her foot on the first step.

"Wa'Alaykum Assalam mum . . ." Salma replied in a tired voice without turning around.

"Guess who came to visit us?" Alley said cheerfully.

"Tormentors from hell?" Salma replied in a bored tone as she threw a casual glance over her shoulder.

Her eyes bulged out, trailing over the other inhabitants of the sitting room. Seated next to her mother was a blond, middle aged woman with kind brown eyes and pleasant smile. Beside her were two boys. Both with chestnut brown hair, one had sharp blues eyes and a devilish smile, and the other soft brown ones like his mother. The two boys had identical grins plastered on their face.

Salma had not seen them in years.

"Tormentors from hell?" The brown eyed boy snickered at Salma. "Looks like she hasn't changed much, James."

"Isn't that refreshing to know?" the blued eyed monkey replied.

Their cheerful expression made Salma's gut twist in a painful, anxious knots. Why were Dean and James here and why did they have to hear speak?

"Come over." Alley smiled. "They've been waiting for you."

Trying not to glare at anyone, Salma forced the downwards corners of her lips upwards into a smile. With the niqaab still firmly fixed on her face, she hoped her mother would have made her new situation clear to them. She was not in the mood of being asked to do what she did not want to. Taking a cautious step towards them, Salma greeted the boys' mother in what she hoped to be a cheerful tone.

"Hi Karen!"

"Hi love, c'mere!" Karen gushed. "I haven't seen you in ages!"

"It's good to see you too." Salma smiled genuinely when Karen pulled her into a hug.

"Take this off." Karen chuckled, pointing at her veil. "Let me take a good look at you."

Salma's heart sank at her request. Although her back was turned to the two boys, they were only a foot away and she was still uncomfortable. Salma threw a side glance at her mother. Apparently, she had not explained anything about her decision to them. Alley gave her an impatient look. Clearly demanding her to do as Karen said. Clamping her annoyance, Salma removed the cloth. Although she plastered a smile and blinked back frustrated tears, she was sure Karen could see how her nostrils flared with anger.