Rendezvous of a hijabi

Chapter 8• Esteemed guests

The distinct sound of my mom shouting at my younger siblings awoke me.

"Waryaa Hamza! Get up now we have guests coming you need to clean your room!" Hooyo screeched.

I yawned and wandered over to the chaos that is my home. 

Maya ran around shrieking with laughter as Hamda chased her making growling noises. Smiling, I pushed past them in search for our mother.

I found her washing the dishes humming to her earphones.
"Hooyo, who's coming today?" I asked curiously.

"It doesn't matter who's coming, Safa. The house should always be spick and span," She lectured, after pulling out her earphones.

"Faduma's daughter is your age and she mops their entire house, cooks dinner for everyone, gets the highest grades, has finished the Quran AND looks after her little siblings, mashallah. While you sleep all day,"

I almost burst out laughing. If she meant Sumeya in our block then she had to be kidding me.

It took everything not to reveal to my mom that those 'study clubs' she attended various times a week were hosted by many different boys, notoriously in their bedroom.

"Let me just clarify, you are lucky to have me as a child," I smiled angelically.

She ruffled my hair and sent me upstairs to check if Hamza awoke.

I threw his door open without knocking and instantly recoiled.  The thick stench of unmistakable body odor wafted straight into my nostrils.

"Hamza what the hell!"

He lay under his duvet sleeping surrounded by miscellaneous items of clothing scattered around like a shrine.

I was greeted with a single grunt.

"Mom told you to clean your room, get up before I drench you," I threatened.

Needless to say he hopped out of bed in alarm and hobbled to the bathroom.

Perks of being the eldest.

                 *+*+*+*

"THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY!" Hooyo screamed darting around with a hoover.

Me and Hamza laid the table hurriedly, setting down fancy china and cutlery that we rarely saw.

"So who's coming anyways?" I enquired.

"I think it's her childhood friend, Ifrah." He shrugged, "She's bringing all her kids,"

I groaned. I was not bothered to socialise at all. Having to make forced polite conversation and smile did not appeal to me.

Just when I had hopped out of the shower, I heard the doorbell ring.
Crap. Crap. Crap.

I sprinted to my room in my towel before I flashed our esteemed guests.

Opting to go for a casual look, I put on skinny black jeans, a long flannel shirt and a black headscarf. Done.

I grimaced hearing laughter as I went downstairs.

Before sitting at the table, I smiled warmly and said Salaam to my mom's friend.

A stout woman with kind bright eyes beckoned me, kissing both my cheeks, "Last time I saw you, you were this high!" She gestured just under the table while chuckling.

"Kids say hello to your cousin!" She ordered to the people I had no blood relation to whatsoever.

In Somali culture, it didn't matter if u were related or not- out of respect that random woman your mom knows is your aunt and that man is your uncle. It's just the  way it is.

I flushed with embarrassment, shifting from foot to foot giving anything to avert attention from me.

My eyes scanned the table and I was met with a boy a few years younger than me, a girl Hamda's age and a little boy about 3 or 4. Something about him looked adorably familiar.

"Hello..." They all mumbled in sync, waving awkwardly.

I flashed a warm smile and sat down without warning.

Damn my mother outdid herself. I was greeted with plates of samosas, sabaayad, suqaar, rice, lamb, fish, tabouleh and a platter of fruit.

My mouth watered and I greedily filled my plate with the first thing that caught my eye. 

Hooyo's sharp gaze reached me and she spoke through gritted teeth, "Safa, calm down the food isn't going anywhere,"

My face grew hot and my siblings snorted at my public humiliation. They were so dead when the guests leave.

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance when really I was dying inside.

Shoveling food into my mouth in order to avoid conversation, Auntie Ifrah's voice called out, "I'm so sorry my eldest son couldn't make it today, god bless him he was sick,"

My mum sighed sympathetically, " It's fine sister don't worry, inshallah he makes a quick recovery,",

"Keyth! Keyth!" The toddler rambled excitedly at me with his lisp.

My eyes widened. It was Ahmed who gave me my keys! Faisal's brother.

I felt light headed as I smiled at  him to keep quiet.

"Safa, my son goes to your school you may know him," Ifrah told me, "Faisal?"

I spluttered instantly through a mouthful of rice, "h-huh?"

Hamza came to my rescue, "Yeah he's a chill guy, seen him around,"

She beamed happily, removing her gaze from me and chattered about his wonderful grades.

Given that he barely attended class, they were surprisingly good. Better than mine, may I add.

"Mashallah!" My mom marvelled, "Safa is really bright but she struggles in maths, bless her,"

"No I don't," I muttered even though she was right.

Faisal's brother, Tariq opened his mouth, "You should go to Faisal's tutoring class, it's really good from what I heard,"

My mouth dropped as the mothers chirped in agreement.

"Safa you will start next week, inshallah,"

**Authors note**
Thanks for getting this far guys 💞💞
Don't forget to...
Vote
Comment
Share