A Thing, Beyond Forever

9.

 One of the most basic things that I enjoyed doing during weekends was grocery shopping with Mumma. I used to accompany her often mainly to get my snacks and less to be of some help to her.

On one of such Sundays, I happened to be shopping at the supermarket. Checking out which flavour of Baskin Robbin's ice cream to try next. And for a split second, I thought I heard Yazan.

I turned around, looked to my left and right but he wasn't there. Must have been some kind of misunderstanding I thought to myself. Why would he be here? No one from my school comes to get their grocery from this Supermarket. But...I was wrong.

I picked one tub of ice cream and hid behind a shelf. Peeking slowly from that position. He was standing in a queue near the counter. I was grateful for the fact that before he could see me I spotted him so that I can have an upper hand and also do something to take my revenge.

I didn't know for how long I stood rooted in that very position because I got startled as soon as mom started calling my name out loudly. I noticed how Yazan reacted to my name. He turned around to see if I was anywhere nearby. There was confusion and curiosity written all over his face. Instead of looking ahead towards the counter he turned around and was trying to search for the voice that was calling my name.

I walked to Mumma from the other side instead of walking from in front of him but when I reached where she was, Yazan was already there pretending as if he was in that aisle to get something. When we made eye contact, He gave his signature smirk and I just rolled my eyes. He mouthed 'hi' and I didn't say anything.

Now that he has spotted me my revenge game could become easier. I just had to come up with one.

When I and Mom stood in the queue towards the counter. I excused myself to the washroom but instead, I went looking for Yazan. He was standing in a queue near the fruits and vegetable section behind a lady to get the price tag. I walked as slowly and silently I could behind him and slipped my leg under him and made him fall over the lady.

I passed away as fast as I could to see what happens next from afar. He was strong enough to resist falling fully over the lady however his hands held the lady by the shoulders. It didn't even take the lady a second to turn around and give him a tight slap.

The man giving out the price tag asked her what happened. Yazan with his head lowered simply mumbled sorry. The lady was raged and she told him that Yazan had touched her inappropriately. The man came out from around his counter, screaming at Yazan. By this moment, everybody present in that section left everything they were previously doing and began seeing the drama that had just begun.

Yazan couldn't say a word in his defense. I started to feel bad. What has my desire to take revenge done to him? The man held Yazan by the collar and I froze. Oh my god. What was he going to do?

"I am sorry. I just slipped and held her by mistake. I am sorry. I was not trying to assault her" Yazan spoke as calmly as he could. Before anything major could take place, I started walking towards him. When Yazan saw me coming towards him, the look he gave caught me by surprise. He looked hurt. And before I could do anything, the man who held him warned him that he would call the security and make him kick out of the supermarket if he is seen doing this to any woman next time. A woman about my mom's age came from nowhere. She looked angry too.

"Excuse me" She began..."Does he look like a guy who touches women inappropriately on purpose? Does he look like that kind of a guy? And why isn't anybody listening to what he has to say? When he is saying that he slipped, he might have slipped? You want me to go to the manager and ask him to let us see the CCTV footage to know what did he intended on doing? Do you want me to?" She asked, her voice was echoing in the section. Very stern and full of authority.

"And Ma'am..." She then turned around to the lady by the counter who was staring at her with her mouth half-open. "I assure you if we go and check the CCTV footage and if my son is proven guilty then I will come along with you and let you complain about him to the police. Let's go. Shall we?" She asked as she turned around to shoulder her purse.

The realization hit me. So she was his mom. I must say even though it was the first time I saw her, she had this amazing aura with her. The way she talked with so much of authority and she had so much trust and confidence in her upbringing. The way she was dressed in a light pink salwar suit and a cream color hijab. I was in awe of her persona.

Yazan looked at me. He might have seen the fear in my eyes because he stopped his mom right away. Him and I, we both knew if they were to see CCTV footage then everybody including his mom would know that it was me. I mouthed "sorry" from the spot where I was standing. He didn't say anything. He looked hurt.

"Mom, I have apologized for my mistake. I really don't want to see the CCTV footage and create a drama here. Please. Let's just go" He insisted.

His mom turned towards the lady. "If you want to, I won't say no" She kept her hand on the lady's shoulder as if saying the lady that she was with her.

"No. It's okay. It must have been my misunderstanding and I am sorry I slapped you" She said to Yazan. "It was kind of a reflex action. You know, when a strange man touches you, it just makes you lose your nerve and I couldn't think for a straight second" She continued.

"I understand. I completely understand your outburst" Yazan's mom said. "But you should have listened to his side of the story too. You should have seen him first. I am sure my son doesn't look like a pervert for that matter" She gave a slight smile and at that moment I saw how much of his mom's reflection Yazan was.

"Oh C' mon mom!" Yazan rolled his eyes. The lady smiled too. "I must say you have done a great job in raising your son!" She said as she shook her hand with his mom and left.

I walked away too now there was nothing left for me to say or do. I walked towards where Mom was sitting on the bench waiting for me. "What took you so long?" She asked. I didn't reply and silently held the shopping bags and started walking.

Yazan and his mom walked past by me and I was hoping that he would turn around to see me or do something but he just walked away and I was left feeling disgusted by myself.