Two Brothers, One Heart (Rewriting)

Chapter twenty~four 24

      ~A special guest~

Islam was reviewing her to-do list after adorning herself in an old leaf gown and scarf, complemented by glasses with red frames. As she sat by the window, the gentle morning breeze brushed against her skin through the open blinds. She diligently wrote in her journal, determined to accomplish everything and manifest her desires as a way of moving forward.

Suddenly, Zaynab entered the room, dressed in a glimmering red velvet tuxedo, even in the dimly lit space. She had a message to deliver: "Get ready, your grandma is visiting today."

Islam was taken aback but masked her surprise with a smile. Curious, she asked, "Why is she visiting today?"

Zaynab's tone turned somber as she replied, "Are you questioning her visit?" Zaynab hoped for a harmonious relationship between Islam and her mother-in-law, despite them not being related.

Islam couldn't help but imagine what would unfold during her grandma's visit. She anticipated her strict diet, the insistence on morning jogs, which proved tiring, and the assigned household chores that were typically meant for the servants. Her grandma believed it was a way to prepare them to be good housewives. Additionally, Islam knew her grandma would encourage her to embrace local cuisine instead of Western food.

Zaynab interrupted her thoughts, saying, "After school, we'll go to the supermarket." With that, Zaynab left, and Islam finished her tasks before grabbing her bag and slipping into her stilettos. She joined Firdausi, who was waiting in the car.

The journey to school began in silence, with their minds filled with honks and the revving of the car. Islam eventually broke the silence by saying, "You know Goggo is coming."

"Freaking out!" Firdausi interjected, hastily fastening her seatbelt. "What about us, Yaya? We'll be tortured the whole time," she lamented.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. We're old enough to handle ourselves," Islam reassured her as they entered the bustling school building and parked in the car park.

                          *

*Cling, cling*. The timekeeper rang the bell, signifying break time. Firdausi and Afra grabbed potatoes at the cafeteria and had them before heading out to the bleachers to enjoy their refreshments while watching the boys play basketball on the court.

"I've got a new movie for you if you're bored," suggested Afra between bites of her shortbread.

"What's it?" asked Firdausi, leaning in next to her, secretly hoping Mubarak would notice her and forget about what happened the previous day. She wasn't sure if she should apologize for being distant or just let it go as usual.

"The movie is called H2O, just add water," explained Afra.

"Oh, that's the formula for water in chemistry. What's it about?"

"Yeah, it's about three girls, Cleo, Emma, and Rikki..." Afra's explanation trailed off as Firdausi's mind wandered. She felt an adrenaline rush when Mubarak's brown eyes finally met hers, leaving her frozen and unable to fake a nonchalant expression. She kept gazing at him as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, his hair glistening in the splendid sunshine.

She gazed at him, her heart filled with anticipation, hoping for a smile or a sign that their friendship was still intact. And then, like magic, he grinned at her and waved his hands. It felt like a wave of relief washed over her, erasing any awkwardness. She couldn't help but flash a dashing smile in return, but before she could fully respond, Afra waved before her, causing a momentary pause. Quickly realizing the reason Afra chose that spot, she packed her books and gracefully left, leaving behind any lingering discomfort.