The Rough Tide

chapter 3

***Sadiq***

It had been a whole month since Zara’s heart breaking open up, but Alhamdulillah the real Zara was slowly coming back to us. She laughed more, she was being her normal silly self and she was actually reading her novels and not staring at them, none of us could be happier about this improvement. I was just heading over to their place from work for a game of chess with Abbas when he called me on the phone

“Hello Abbas, salamu alaikum” I greeted

“Wa-alaikummussalam Ya Sadiq”

“What’s up?”

“Change of plans”

“Why? What happened?”

“Ya Zee all of a sudden decided she wanted to go for a race, so we are all headed to the family ground, Mami said it’ll be good for her after all she loves the sport and hasn’t done one in ages, so you coming?”

“Sure, I’ll meet you guys there and tell Zara to get ready cause she’s losing to me”

“Ok will do” he laughed and cut the line.

***

“I beat you Sadiq, fair and square” Zara said

“No way, it was a tie, you know it and so does everyone”

We were back from the family ground, we could always go to the race track because Zara’s father was a share holder along with a close family friend, this allows us to be able to go there anytime we want as long as we call ahead and sometimes we were lucky enough to have the place to ourselves.

Zara had refused to accept the fact that it was a tie between us and she didn’t beat me, but I didn’t mind the little banter, she had fun and she was laughing, that was all that mattered to me.

“Nope…” she said popping the ‘p’ “…I won so stop being a sore loser and take heart” she said laughing

“Hey, you know what…” Abbas said “…why don’t you two settle this with a game of chess, Saturday afternoon, the loser is the one who lost the race, easy” The little devil was grinning

“No” I said quickly but Zara’s very audible “yes!” drowned my voice, she had this devilish look on her face and I knew I was done for

“What’s the matter Sadiq, scared? Not to worry, I’ll go easy on you, or…you can just forfeit”

“You know that’s not gonna happen, and you…” I said turning to Abbas “payback’s coming your way”

“Oh c’mn Ya Sadiq. i just thought that it’s time someone beat Ya zee. And who’s better to do that other than the great Sadiq Kabir” he said the last part with a deep voice like some TV show presenter

“Flattery is not gonna get you out of this…though I can’t help but agree with you…I am great” I said smoothening down my hair with my hand. Aneesa who had been quiet since we came in doubled over in laughter and Abbas joined her while Zara made a gagging noise

“Why so full of yourself Sadiq?” I heard Mami’s voice ask behind, I quickly turned around in embarrassment to look at her, and she had an amused look on her face

“Err…” I began scratching my neck “I’m not mami” I said giving her room to walk into the sitting room

“Excuse me? You have an ego the size of Texas” Zara said

“I second that” Abbas said

“I third that” Aneesa said raising up her hand

“Is that even a word Aneesa? And what did I ever do to you three to gang up on me like this?” I said “seriously Mami you children just want to tarnish my image before your eyes”