GRATITUDE: A Lifestyle (A Short Story) | ON HOLD

Chapter 5: True Friends

Manal sat in the living room with a smile plastered on her face as she watched her mother chat with the aunty from their neighbourhood. Sehar had come over with her mom and they had been talking over tea and biscuits for the past hour now. Aunty Najma, Sehar's mother was informing Manal's mother about the cheapest vegetable stalls around the market place. It couldn't get anymore boring and annoying.

Sehar was busy gushing over Asim. She was playing a clapping game with him. Her excitement to play with a toddler seemed a little bit beyond normal. Manal rolled her eyes every time she heard her laugh over something minor Asim did.

"She is my youngest. Born five years after my first", Aunty Najma said, "She desires a young brother or sister so much. But it is Allah's Will to grant whomever He wishes. Anyways, two are enough for me", she giggled, "Oh, did I mention my older son Abdullah? He is seventeen now Ma Sha Allah. He has grown taller than his father", she laughed clapping her hands together. Manal eyed Maria awkwardly. Maria covered her mouth suppressing her laughter. No wonder where Sehar got her chatter box mouth from.

"Ma Sha Allah", Mrs. Malik smiled, "Manal is my eldest. She's going to turn sixteen in a few days. Then Maria is only a year younger than Manal and then Mona was born after a five years gap and then Asim. He turned four this year"

"Ma Sha Allah. Such a beautiful bunch of children. I'm amazed by how you've managed with the kids"

Mrs. Malik gulped. Only she knew what she had to go through because of Mr. Malik's desire to have more than three children. It was manageable with some years of gap but now another was on its way. She was more than terrified as she had no idea how she would manage the kids with this pregnancy.

"Please come visit us soon", Sehar said holding Manal's hands, "I would love to have you all over at our place. You can even stay the night if you'd like"

"I will send them to your place Sehar beta but I can't allow them to stay the night over there", Mrs. Malik interjected.

Sehar nodded, agreeing. She was over flowing with happiness to have found a beautiful bunch of girls in her neighborhood to make friends with. Manal frowned not agreeing with her mother's idea at all. She just wished she was back in the old home, in the old neighbourhood where she could visit her old friends. She could never bond with Sehar.

****

"Hi guys!", Manal said waving her hand at her old friends who were sitting in a circle on the grassy recess ground. Manal had her lunch in her hands and was going to join them as usual.

She noticed them whispering to each other as she approached them. "What's the secret you guys are hiding?", she asked, hoping to join in the secret with them.

"Manal, is it true that you live next door to that Sehar girl now?", the girl on her right asked.

"Erm... how do guys-"

"I told you Khadijah. I wasn't lying", Iqra said.

"Eww", Fatin made a disgusted face, "Manal lives next door to the Onion girl." Everyone laughed. The mockery felt potent in the air. Blood rushed to Manal's cheeks. She had never told anyone about this or Sehar.

"I know right, everyone says Sehar smells like a bucket of oil and onions", Iqra gagged.

"Guys, cut it out", Manal warned them.

"Yo, once I was standing behind her in line before the canteen and I had to pinch my nose so hard, I thought I was gonna pass out", Fatin laughed and high-fived Iqra.

"Manal you better move out before you start smelling like onions too", Fatin added making everyone fall into a pit of laughter. Manal felt insulted.