Thorns and Berries

Chapter Twenty-two

Husna

I got along with Hameed's mother quite easily much to my own surprise. I had thought at first sight of the woman as cold and frigid. As we ate and I talked about myself, I mentioned the demise of my mother, the woman who had given birth to her, and Hameed's mother's face turned gloomy and sad and she said a short prayer for the dead. Another time Hameed said something about his mother being a chef, my eyes lit up.
        
"Wow. A chef? I really had no idea."
   
Hameed's mother seemed rather amused by my ignorance.
      
"Are you for real? Never heard of Tima's Tantalizing Cuisine?"
    
I squinted my eyes and racked my brain, trying to figure where I had heard the familiar name before. Perhaps from social media.
       
"It does sound familiar." I said.
      
"Well, I own the eatery including its other branches in London and Dubai." The woman said with an air of subtle pride. "And a few culinary schools as well."
   
I could not help a large smile. Gradually, I was beginning to lose it to this elegant and fascinating woman. I found herself talking more than I intended now, admiring the woman's reputations and mentioning also, my passion for catering which was however shattered and left to die in the dark because father had felt catering was not a reputable cause to take in life, unlike journalism.
      
"But why would he think so? Whoever told him that?" Hameed's mother protested quite in alarm, probably in surprise that parents with that mentality still existed even in the twenty first century.
      
"Well, I guess it's because my grandmother didn't really hit it big in that field when she first gave it a try. I'm sure he was afraid that mine would go down same path as hers."
   
Hameed gave a scoff as he dug his knife and fork into the grilled turkey in front of him, coated with tomato and pepper sauce.
      
"I'd never do such thing if I were in your shoes." And when he caught my eyes peering at him, expecting finer details, he grinned and added.

"...the whole displeasing yourself to please your parents or anyone else for that. It's really not my kind of thing. Mom here knows that."
   
I simply nodded at his opinion and focused on my dish also. What was to be expected from someone like Hameed? Rebellious attitudes of course!
      
"I'm so sorry about that, Husna." Hameed's mother said calmly and with sympathy, but not after eyeing Hameed terribly.
   
And when I gave a closed mouth smile in gratitude, she added,
      
"If someday, you wish to change your mind and decide to go for what best suits your heart desire, please do not hesitate to let me know. I'll be more than glad to help in any way I can."
   
I gave a small smile together with a 'thank you', although unsure a day like that would ever dawn upon me, considering the dictator family I was born into.
  
We rounded up dinner few minutes later and the servants in matching aprons and uniforms stalked in to clear the dinning. Hameed then offered to show me around the house and when we were outside and by the pool side illuminated with golden yellow lights, he asked a servant passing by to serve us any drink of my choice. I asked for an orange juice and Hameed got the same.
   
We both stood shoulder-to-shoulder, sipping from the drinks in our hands, our gaze fixed to the glistening blue waters of the pool.
       
"I think Mother likes you." Hameed said with a small smile. "You guys got along quicker than I thought."
   
I nodded in agreement. She had taken notice of that too and was glad it had taken not much time for me to relax and take comfort around the intimidating and perfect looking woman. I appreciated that the woman was informal.  And even though I had not been here before, I felt a lot comfortable, maybe because of Hameed's presence and how he had never left my side since they got here.
      
"And urm,... I'm sorry." He said lowly this time and I looked at him, a bit taken aback by his apology. Why was he apologizing?
   
He nodded gently in confirmation of his own words as if he could hear my inner thoughts clearly.
       
"I know I was being an ass. I disrespected you in front of everyone." He exhaled deeply. "And I'm really sorry for that."
   
I lowered my gaze to the water again and my heart skipped a little faster. I felt numb and could say nothing in reply. Was he really apologizing for all he had done? Is this really happening?
      
"I was being a spoilt brat, just as you had said." He continued. "I felt stupidly superior to everyone else. I was so childish and I did crazy stuffs that I regret so much now. And... I really appreciate your second coming into my life, Husna. It changed me."
    
My brows furrowed at his last statements. My second coming into his life changed him?