His Hijabi Anchor

»4«

Paras had tagged along with Esme, Dylan and Kai as they wandered about in the hallways. After touring the whole school, they took out their Bus card and made their way towards the parking lot. The School was really grand and had many buses for different routes all around the city and even the towns surrounding it.

Esme and Paras had the same bus so they said their goodbyes to Kai and Dylan and got on the bus.

"So you're here from?" Esme said as they took a seat towards the back.

"Pakistan."Paras said as she adjusted her bag on her lap. She had taken some books out of her locker to take home so she could read them if bored.

"What's it like there?" Esme got comfortable too and turned sideways to face her.

Paras smiled and leaned her head back against the seat, "I miss it. So much... I loved it there. In the area that I lived everyone knew everyone and it was such a tightly knit community. I loved my friends there and everything in general." She finalized and looked at Esme who was listening with utmost interest. "What do you miss the most from your country?"

"Mhmm... My mom, obviously. And the fact that the Adhan, the calling for us to pray from our Masjid, could be heard in our home all five times of the day." She smiled and turned to Esme, "What about you?"

"Okay...I have been to many countries because of my dad's embassy 'business' but I miss Manchester the most. I don't know why but I just do... The thing I miss the most is the food there, it was just purrrrfect!" Esme literally purred like a cat that had Paras laughing rather loudly, that turned some heads.

They both noticed that and giggled as they settled back against the backrests.

"Are we playing 21 questions?" Paras smirked and asked Esme who shrugged and then nodded, before smirking with a glint in her eye, "But that would imply mostly that we're on our first date!" and winked at Paras who laughed and shook her head, pinching her cheeks, "Wouldn't you want that, huh little Esmiiiii?" Paras coo-d and Esme pouted and blinked up at her. A second later, both of them were doubling over in laughter and wiping their eyes.

"Okay my turn." Esme sobered up and leaned her head back, "you said you missed your mother. Didn't she come with you?"

Paras shrugged and pursed her lips, "She's sick. She didn't want us alone when she got admitted to the hospital and sent us to our father." Paras looked outside the window and Esme placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Hey, it's going to be okay. She'll get better!"

"In Shaa Allah! (If Allah wills it)" Paras exclaimed and turned to her, "okay... what's your favourite food?"

"Has to be tacos! I LOVE tacos! Yours?" Esme asked and Paras answered without even thinking. "Biryani!"

"What's biryani?" Esme asked with skeptic eyes while Paras's own eyes widened, "Oh you poor deprived child! You have to taste the wonder that is biryani! Come over this Saturday and I will make it for you! Or have dad make it as he's better at it." Paras grinned and Esme nodded with a smile, "Done and Done! Now... how many siblings are you?" Esme asked and Paras thought for a moment, "Well I have a brother but now I have a step-brother and step-sister too. Isha, my step-sister is off to med school and Mujtaba is in middle school I think. Ikram is my brother from my mother." She chuckled and Esme nodded, "I have a brother too! Kyle."

She took out her cellphone and fetched a picture from the gallery to show Paras.

"Ma shaa Allah, girl!" Paras said because Kyle in a suit was looking like- he'd put Corbin Blue from High school musical to shame.

"What?" Esme frowned.

"Ma Shaa Allah. It shows appreciation to some God's creation to whom it's referred to." Paras said in a low voice and Esme smirked, "And in this case it's Kyle! I'll so hook you guys up!"