Rhythm and soul..

4. "Yup, all one needs is love, but a little chocolate now and then won't hurt."

LAILA

STRAWBERRIES. These juicy heart-shaped delights have much more to offer beyond sweetness and flavor. I consider them a powerfood.
Apparently, I had a bowl of melted caramel x chocolate placed in front of me. Setting my strawberries in a parchment paper, I picked each, dipping half of it into my chocolate pummel then drizzled a separate piped white chocolate atop.
Yup, all one needs is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.
It was just some minutes past 3pm and a Saturday. I set my tray containing the beauts into the freezer and went back to the room to get ready for some work I had to do with Mama's secretary.
I was all set in 45minutes, picked my car keys and headed out, not forgetting to pick up my Chocolate covered strawberries.
I placed them beauts in my In-car refrigerator console and turned on the ignition, driving out of Maitama.
It was a secondary school reunion I was supposed to attend, I honestly didn't want to, Mama insisted I go.
Instead I branched to Umar's house (sure he must be in office because I'm actually not ready for inconspicuous awkwardies; If there's any word like that).

I salaamed going directly into their 'posh' home, like Umar says.
Hanifa is a high-end couturier, what do you expect?
Home filled up with clients and all, She works at home.
I walked up to the section of the house where she works and we exchanged pleasantries. She explained how swarmed up with work she is at the moment, I told her to take her time. Ayra wasn't home so I was not actually planning to stay for a long time.
I got a bottle of Snapple and left.

Now, six years later again, I'm more just plain curious about how other people's lives have evolved. Perhaps that's a sign of maturity. Or perhaps I have just given up on the 'rat race' a cackle of girls can sometimes provoke, and the ambitions that drove me 6-odd years ago have somehow gone by the wayside. I'm not sure if I have gained perspective, or just become plain lazy.

Which means that by now it will be two full decades since I will have met, or seen, 99% of those classmates with whom I spent seven hours a day, five days a week, for nigh on six years of my life. I still feel a small prickling of apprehensiveness, like the feeling you inevitably get whenever you're forced to sit down and review your CV.
So to distract myself from thinking about me, I got to thinking about what surprises might lay out there.

The first set of people I met were my seniors and minutes later, most of my classmates popped in.
Masha Allah, some were photographers, chefs, bankers etc. There was a lot to eat and drink.
Last last, I met Amina. She was my best friend in high school, and somehow we lost contacts after I went to UK.
She blamed me entirely saying technology is advanced, I couldn't use 'losing contact' excuse.

We were chatting heartedly with Amina and some group of friends when I heard my name being called. How could I forget that god forsaken voice?

"Laila Ahmad Kabir!" I heard her call after me.
The pretty but vapid and pretentious girl who tricked people into thinking she was smart by hanging a Breathless poster in her room. AMAL.
Amal was mean, and I resented her.
She wore a fake smile and engulfed me into a hug, she smelt of tobacco.
"Didn't think you could shed off all that weight," she spoke with a rueful laugh. I smiled instead.
"You don't look bad yourself." I stated.
"Well, enough you two," Amina spoke, "my wedding is in three days, y'all have to come." She added.
"I'm not missing it for the world." I squealed in excitement.

**
Amina's wedding was scheduled in a weeks time. She sent the invitation cards home, I couldn't attend the first event because I had to get mama from the airport.
The wedding Fatiha held today (Saturday) and the dinner party was holding by 8pm today.
It was past 6pm and I was still stranded on what to wear. I sat, listening to Mama suggest random laces which I think they weren't just good enough.
I should have gotten the asoebi. Sigh.
Lastly, I settled for a silverish-blue cape sheath long dress studded with pearls all over.