Fleeting Glances

3- Coffee Shop Confessions

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Didi said from behind the counter as Amal approached her.

Amal grinned shyly at her friend, who was working, and said, "I just wanted to stop by and say hi." She enjoyed visiting this coffee shop because she used to work there part-time—not out of necessity, but to have more opportunities to socialize. Sanni and Najwa had been concerned about her limited social circle, so they encouraged her to get a job, and Didi became one of the people she grew close to.

Didi looked Amal up and down and teased, "Let me guess, you were at the gym?"

"Actually, I was at Pilates, and I wanted to check in on you," Amal replied.

"Goodness! You should be at home, Amal! Not here!" Didi shook her head in disbelief, glancing at her wristwatch.

The sound of Amal's laughter filled the cafe as Didi joined in, causing heads to turn in their direction.

"Say that again!" Amal said, trying to contain her laughter. "Goodness!" she repeated in the same way Didi had said it, which only made them both laugh even harder.

"That was great," Amal said, trying to catch her breath.

"It was. Now go back home before I kick you out!" Didi joked with a playful glare.

Amal raised her hands in a surrendering gesture, assuring, "Relax, it's not that late." Her smile widened. "I'm just here for my usual drink."

Didi responded with a nod and a smile, quietly adding, "By the way, your friend Batool and her husband are here with some company," as she swiftly prepared Amal's drink. Amal nodded but refrained from glancing in their direction; it would be too obvious if she turned to look around. After receiving her smoothie, Amal settled comfortably on a stool by the window, away from the direction Didi had indicated with a slight lift of her chin.

Soon after, her phone started to buzz.

"Hmm?" Amal looked at the name in confusion. She took her phone in her hands and answered.

"Hi, Amir," Amal said back. "What is it?" she asked. "Yeah. Yeah, sure." Amal told him where she was, and after fifteen minutes, Amir showed up. Amir was her uncle, her father's younger brother, and the youngest in their family. He sat across from her. They exchanged greetings and asked about what was going on in each other's lives before Amir opened the topic he had said he wanted to talk about. And deep down, from the moment he told her he wanted to speak to her on the phone, she had a feeling about what he was going to say.

He had the same facial expression he always had—a kind of blank face with a hint of a grin-like tug at the corner of his lips to make the situation a bit more comfortable. Amal never liked this energy Amir brought with him. She had seen him interact with the people he felt close with many times, and it wasn't the same way with her. Though he was family.

Amir was quick to get to the point. "You know, I know some people in the masjid. I mean guys. A friend of mine asked if you're interested in getting married."

Of course, it was a proposal! What other news would Amir ever bring her?

"I—" She hesitated, her mind racing with so many words that she was scared they would come out clustered. The fact that Amir had brought up the same topic she dreaded made her wonder how long this cycle would continue. Amal realized she didn't have to say anything. The same way he was straightforward, she should be as well.

"No," Amal said, cutting the magnetic stare she had on the table to look at Amir.

His disapproving frown reflected irritation, caused by the answer that seemed to hit a nerve. "Why not give him a chance? He's a good guy," Amir snapped, clearly agitated.