-Chapter 2
The next morning. I decided to take Mama to Fortaleza, I couldn't wait to show her how amazing the company I worked for was.
We were greeted by the welcoming scent of their famous coffee beans being roasted and the signature bread being baked. Gosh how I love the smell! Fortaleza was rather empty, for what was usually a busy hour. No one sitting on stools joking or taking selfies, no hijabis in their private booths. No first timers or tourist 'Instagraming' that they were here. That was odd. I looked up and caught sight of Layla. She is not only my boss but also a very close friend.
"Mama, this is Layla," I said by way of introduction.
"Assalamualaikum," greeted Layla with a smile, still piping the perfect swirls, while her eyes kept in contact with ours.
I've seen her chop blindfolded.
"Wa alaikum salam. It's a pleasure to meet you," replied Mama.
I then guided Mama to one of the velvet booths. It was really nice and private here.
I took off my coat and my hijab.
"What are you doing?" asked Mama, glaring at me.
"It's fine Mama, no one will see us" I said, sitting down.
"What about the waiters?" she asked wearily.
"Only waitresses are allowed here," I explained, putting her at ease.
Relaxed, Mama sat down.
"What do you want to order?" I asked her casually, looking at the menu. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"The cheesecake is amazing Mama, you have to try it," I said, pretending I didn't notice her crying. Mama quickly wiped her tears away.
"You still love cheesecake. Do you remember you used to make dua to have a cheesecake palace in Jannah?"
"Gosh Mama, how do you still remember such things? The cheesecake here is the baklava kind, wrapped in pastry, covered with nuts and soaked in syrup."
"That's, as you kids say these days, 'hashtag-drool-worthy'," she said.
"Oh my word, you're squad goals Mama!" I exclaimed with a giggle.
It had been so hard to laugh properly with her for so long.
I swallowed down my emotions. No, not today. Not in the week of my wedding.
I cleared my throat and went back to the menu. I ordered a latte and mama ordered a cappuccino. After sharing a piece of the amazing cheesecake she looked up at the ceiling.
"Subhanallah," she said, marveling at the paintings on the ceiling.
"Rodrigo did that-" I broke off halfway, noticing a familiar face sitting in a nearby booth.
"Excuse me mama," I said, getting up to get a closer look.
The girl rubbed her eyes, her long white blond hair damp with tears and sticking to her face, from what I could see. Wait, that's Ameera.
"Do you know that girl?" Layla, who was also watching, whispered to me.
Switching to Arabic, I quickly told Layla how I met Ameera.
"Why don't you go talk to her, I'll bring her some hot chocolate and a blanket. Poor thing." she said, sympathy evident in her voice. She walked off towards the kitchen. I took a step closer to Ameera's booth. She looked so pale and thin. A completely different person from the one I met on the train. I breathed deeply and asked Allah for help.
Ameera's problems are most likely worse than yours, she deserves a friend more than you do. "Stop taking so long!" I snapped at myself, internally.
"Asalamu Alaykum," I greeted sitting down next to her.
She sat up shocked to hear my voice.
"Sorry dear, I didn't mean to scare you." I spoke softly.
Without warning, she threw her arms around me and sobbed into my shoulder.
"I lost him," she sobbed. Not knowing what to do I softly patted her back.
"It's okay, you going to be okay," I said softly in almost a whisper. Her grip on me was getting tighter, it was as though she depended on me for the rest of her existence.
"I'm pregnant," she managed to mumble through her sobs. I slowly let go of Ameera.
"That's amazing, congratulations!" I said trying to sound as joyful as possible but she just cried harder. Leaning her arms on the table, she buried her head in her arms, her jersey now wet from all the tears.
"He doesn't care about me anymore, I don't know why but he constantly makes me feel like l owe him for marrying me," she cried, her shoulders heaving as she did.
"I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" I inquired, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Could you go back in time to when I was high school? I wish I never met him."
"You don't mean that. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time, but then that would undo all the good I already have," I tried to reassure her.
Layla came over with a tray.
"Here you go sweetheart," she said, putting down the small tray with hot chocolate along with two red velvet cookies in front of her. Ameera pushed it away seeming not at all interested.
"We were great until his sister came along and started whispering stuff about me. You have no idea what's it like to have a mean sister-in-law or a best friend who has stabbed you in the back," she said her voice thin, barely able to carry her words.
"Believe me, I have had my share of both of those."
"Really? How did you manage?" she asked, perking up all of a sudden.
"I'll tell you if you drink the hot chocolate," I said, pushing the small tray back towards her.
*Asalamu Alaykum- a commonly used greeting amongst Muslims which means 'May peace be upon you'
*Wa Alaikum Salaam- the reply to 'Asalamu Alaykum' which means 'And peace be upon you also'
*Bismillah- Arabic for 'with the name of Allah'
*Subhanallah- All praise is for Allah
