Scarred For Life

Chapter 20

*
There were very few things in this world that could make Afrah laugh. Rebel Wilson or Mellisa McCarthy movies were at the top of the list, closely followed by her siblings arguing. Unexpected flatulence was on the list as well.

But seeing a grown man falling flat on his face had suddenly topped the list in a matter of seconds.

Her laughter hadn't been immediate, but it was triggered when she heard Hauwa snigger beside her. All of sudden she found herself laughing as well, desperately trying to keep her voice down. Both of them seemed to be the only ones paying attention to the collapsed man however, as everyone else continued to go about their business without even pausing to look at him.

Adnan remained on the floor for a few seconds longer than was necessary, properly soaking in the embarrassment. The last time he had fallen on his face was when he was nine years old. And even then, he had been pushed by his friends at school. A hot and prickling feeling of shame crept all over him, and he cursed himself internally a thousand times over.

Steeling himself, he pushed himself off the ground and took a deep breath before straightening up. Mercifully, no one was paying attention to him.

No one except the woman who had caused him to fall in the first place.

In spite of his awkwardness, Adnan grinned weakly, adjusting his lopsided cap so it sat more gracefully on his head.

"Excuse me," he said slowly. "I didn't realize how slippery these floors were in the first place."

"That's okay," the woman beside Afrah smiled at him. "It happens to everyone."

Meanwhile, Afrah continued to stare at him dumbfoundedly, the smile completely gone from her face.

It was him.

The hunk of a man whom Maryam had been unable to shut up about ever since they saw him at the seminar. Afrah never forgot a face, and his was certainly unforgettable. Although she didn't want to acknowledge it, he was a good-looking man, as far as men went. The beauty was more pronounced up close, with just a tiny hint of a very feminine touch to his features. It was obvious he took after his mother, like most boys did.

But his eyes...

Those terrible, terrible orbs of terrifying terror...

It seemed the universe was taunting her, by tainting such a perfect specimen of a man with the eyes of the devil himself. As his gaze lingered on her, she found herself falling into the dark pit which always consumed her thoughts once again. It was familiar to her, like an old friend she had come to know so well.

Adnan meanwhile continued to stare at her with a mixture of awe and curiosity in his eyes, completely oblivious to the discomfort he was unknowingly putting her in.

"Forgive me," he cleared his throat just before his staring became creepy, "but you wouldn't happen to be Afrah, would you?"

Although her mouth was open, Afrah's vocabulary seemed to have gone on vacation, leaving her standing awkwardly with her mouth opened halfway. She nodded instead, since it was much safer than actually trying to talk.

"Well, Afrah, it would appear that you are my cousin," he said with a smile. "My name is Adnan, and I'm here to pick you up. I'm sure your mother must have told you about me."

She nodded again, still refusing to talk.

"Afrah," Hauwa touched her lightly on the shoulder, "I'd better get going. It was nice meeting you though."

"It was nice meeting you too," she replied, smiling as she walked away. Little Noah kept turning to look at her, not quite understanding what was going on. When it became clear to him that they were leaving however, he began to cry hysterically, causing his mother to groan for the umpteenth time that day.