Mutuals

[9]

BE  CONTENT  WITH  LITTLE  OF  THIS  WORLD
~~~~~~

"Congratulations on all the headlines by the way" Adam says
"Thanks it's all a bit weird to be honest, I've just done a radio talk and now my names on headlines , it feels really weird" I explain
"You deserve it you did really well and we should all celebrate sometime instead of congratulating you over FaceTime" he laughs

"Okay but I don't know the next time I'll be free I'm gonna be really busy now"
"With what?"
"Jason and Alice thought it'd be a good idea if I started my own modest fashion line and I shouldn't be telling you this so keep it a secret"
"Ayyyyy that's a good idea, when you thinking of telling everyone?"
"I want to tell everyone about my fashion line, a week before it comes out because I want to have it done by Christmas time but I was thinking of just releasing some halal nail polish before my birthday"

"So you have a lot of work to do then?" He asks and I nod my head
"Which reminds me I have to go, Jason wants to start early today" I say looking at my watch
"Okay well we'll all see you soon, hopefully when you've released your nail polish?" He asks
"Yeah see you soon" I end the FaceTime and put my phone in my purse

I run out my front door and jump in my car. I listen to some music on my way to the studio and quickly run into the studio as I park up, locking the door behind me.

"You're finally here" Jason says and I put my bag down, breathing slightly heavy
"Give me a second" I say sitting down to regain myself
"You really need to workout more" Alice says walking into the room
"I thought you were gonna meet us at the factory?" I ask
"I was going to but it's just easier for me this way" she says but I notice she's looking at Jason when she says that

Honey you're talking to me here?

"Lets go we don't want Farhan waiting for too long" Jason stands up putting his iconic laptop into his bag
Alice hastily follows behind him and I roll my eyes grabbing my handbag, following them knowing I'd be in the backseat now

"Can I choose the radio station?" Alice asks and I sigh
"No offence darling but your music taste isn't the best" I comment and Jason laughs lightly
"Let her choose it Zara" he says and she smiles triumphantly

She switches over to Capital UK and they're playing a throwback, Love Story by Taylor Swift

"Oh my god this song" me and Alice say in unison and then laugh

"This is my fave bit everyone shush" I say preparing myself and the world for my solo
Alice and Jason wait quietly for me to sing, Jason with a slight smile on his face

"And I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith is you fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town and I said
Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I keep waiting for you but you never come is this in my head I don't know what to think he knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said marry me Juliet you'll never have to be alone I love you and that's all I really know I talked to your dad go pick out a white dress Issa love story baby just sayyyyy yeeeesssss
Oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Cause we were both young when I first saaaawww you" I finish off and fall back in my seat

"Erm wow" Alice says but my eyes are caught with Jason's in the rear view mirror
For some reason we hold our gaze until he realises he's meant to be driving and I'm meant to be an innocent passenger. We both look away and I clear my throat

Loooool what was that

"Okay we're here" Jason says rushing out the car and so does Alice
Me behind me, I slowly get out of the car and walk up to Farhan who's waiting outside the factory doors
"What's up with you"
"Ugh don't even ask, that ride was torture" I roll my eyes and he chuckles

We follow Jason into the factory and an old man welcomes us
"Welcome" he smiles warmly, "and salaam"

Me and Farhan reply his Salam and smile at each other, I can tell this will be good
"My names Mohammed Rab and I'm the founder of this company, I run it with my wife" he introduced himself

"I'm Zara Ali nice to meet you" I smile and he nods his head
The rest of them introduce themselves and then we get down to business
"So Jason has already sent me the business plan and now we just need Zara's choice on colours and packaging which obviously can only be altered to a certain degree" he explains taking us through to the back office

"Take a seat guys" he gestured before sitting on his own chair
"So Zara what are your ideas?" He asks taking out a book and pen

"So obviously this is all happening because of the awards night and I was thinking of the colours to be along the lines of the theme of that night, so like the colour of the lights, my dress, the trophy, the table decorations, etc"
"Wow you have some good ideas, seems like you've thought this all through" he says jotting down what I said

"And the names of your polishes or has that not been thought of yet?"
"I do have an idea, so going with the theme of Islam and my awards, I was thinking 'Alhamdullilah'?"

"As in alhamdullilah for all of this" Farhan further explains and I nod my head
"Would that be Arabic writing then?" He asks and I nod my head

He writes some more down and I wait nervously for his take on what I see for my nail polish line
"Well, your ideas are different and I actually like them I think a lot of people will identify with you mainly because you're a hijabi in today's world and I would like to go through with this"

I smile happily and take a deep breath,
I'm finally putting my mark on the world