The Love I Was Looking For (Halal love story)

||Chapter 3: Reputation||

It's been two weeks since Sajid, the exchange student, arrived at Norman High School. Initially, I thought having him follow me around would hinder my ability to get the best grades and get into a top fashion school. However, I was wrong.

Sajid is incredibly smart, but he processes things slowly. When I speak, it takes him a while to understand what I've said. Despite this, he learns things quickly.

"Aisha, try changing the format of line 24 and space it out a bit," he suggested.

I adjusted the format on the computer as he asked. "Like this?" I asked.

He looked at the computer and then at the script before nodding. "Yeah, it should work now. Try running it."

I pressed start, and the sprite moved. "We did it," I said, smiling.

"It was easy. There's nothing to it, but yeah, we're done." Sajid and I had to code a small game for our computer and technology class, and we were ahead of everyone else, both of us having the highest grades in the class.

Since we finished early, I pulled out my sketchbook and began working on a new design. I drew a body reference and then sketched the top for a lehenga (an ankle-length skirt from South Asian countries). The base color was rose gold. I wasn't sure about the gota patti embroidery yet, but I thought light gold might look nice. I continued sketching, adding more and more detail to the lehenga.

"What are you doing?" Sajid asked, staring at my sketchbook.

"Just working on a new design," I replied, handing him the book. "It's not done yet, but this is the formal lehenga I started working on."

"So, you want to be a fashion designer?" he asked.

"Yeah, I've been sewing since I was little and even got a sewing machine for my 12th birthday. I love making clothes. I started with dolls' clothes and flags but then wanted to try more things. Since I'm obsessed with South Asian clothes, I wanted to design and have my own fashion brand," I explained, flipping through the pages of my sketchbook.

The bell finally rang, and I put my sketchbook in my bag while Sajid saved our work on the computer. We headed out to lunch next. As we were walking, two people approached us. They looked South Asian, but I hadn't seen them around campus before.

"Yo, Sajid, what's up, man?" the boy greeted Sajid.

"Nothing much, dude. How was class?" Sajid replied.

I looked at the girl standing next to them. "You must be Sajid's friend, Aisha, right? I'm Shyla, and that's Haris. It's nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you too," I said, wondering when Sajid had made friends with these two.

Sajid looked at me and then at them. "Anyway, guys, this is Aisha, the girl I told you about. We should all sit together at lunch."

They both agreed, and we all went to the cafeteria. We all had home-packed lunches. I had a chicken and naan wrap with garlic sauce. Sajid had beef samosas and mango juice. Shyla had aloo paratha. I couldn't tell what Haris had.

"Uh, so where are you guys from?" I asked, not wanting to seem like the quiet one.

Shyla answered first. "I'm from India. What about you?"

"I'm from Pakistan but was born here," I replied.

Haris joined in, "I'm half Pakistani and half Bengali." He looked at Sajid and laughed. "I don't know if Sajid even looks South Asian. He's so light."

I laughed hard, and Sajid just rolled his eyes. "You know, you look like you're Sri Lankan, not even Pakistani," Haris said.

I looked him dead in the face. "How do I look Sri Lankan? I don't even know what those people look like," I replied.