Changing Relations ✔

Chapter 21

The ceiling is domed higher than any cathedral and made of the most beautiful glass. The walkways flow like tributaries to the main rivers of people, not a sharp angle to be seen. It smells like heaven in a hand-basket and the floor shines like the surface of a lake at sunrise. In the background there is music to soothe, gentle flowing notes to take the shopper's cares far away.

It was the biggest shopping mall. A moving platform ran along all the walkways in both directions just like in the airports. There was a shuttle service from the far ends of the car parks to the entrance and food outlets were scattered throughout instead of being on one courtyard. There were professional shopping guides smiling at every entrance, always ready for more business.

Hanya loved shopping. She loved the perfumed, air conditioned mall. She basked in the attention of the sales staff and pawed over different fabrics and textures. She would try on new sandals and dresses, get a free make-over and then head to the spa for a manicure. The garments she brought home would often never be worn or maybe worn once. She wasn't a shop-a-holic, but still she loves to shop.

Zain hated everything about shopping. He hated the crowds, the queues and the aching feet. He also took exception to overly attentive shopping assistants, the perky seasonal music playing in every store and all the special deals tempting him to spend even more. He even hated the free food samples, seeing them as ideal flu spreading agents. He hated shopping for himself even worse than for his wife, when he had bought an anniversary gift for Hareem.

"So where do we start from?" He asked in a bored tone adjusting Adeel in his arms. Seriously? We haven't even started shopping yet, and he is already bored!!

"Let's start with Adeel's" I said and went inside a shop. First and foremost, I bough a feeding bottle and steriliser for him. Then we bought some sleepsuits and body suits
a couple of pairs of socks, a pair or two of scratch mitts, caps, a blanket, cardis, jumpers and a warm pram suit. Adeel was Masha Allah very happy with his shopping. He kept on smiling and making noises whenever we picked up something interesting for him.

I have always preferred to walk around shops, relax, and concentrate on my shopping.

For myself I bought some apparels, cosmetics. I also bought gifts for mom and dad and Sanjh too. After that I even forced him to buy something for himself and reluctantly he had to agree. After we finished shopping, I decided to fill myself with some junk food.

"I'm hungry" I said

"Okay, let's go to a restaurant" he said.

"Why restaurant? Why not here?" I pouted.

"Here, most probably you can only have junk, but there you can have a full three course meal" he explained to me as if I'm a class one student.

"But we do normally eat three course meal at home also, so why not something new?" I said wiggling my eyebrows.

"Here, the food must not be good. If you so wanna eat junk, then there's an another restaurant who serves junk!!" He said and I mentally face palmed myself.

"And how can you say that the food will be good over there? What if I don't like it??" I shrugged.

"See, here, even the seats are not comfy, and we have Adeel with us, he'll not be comfortable" he said and I was gawking at him.

"I'm going to eat here only, if you wanna come then you're most welcome and if you don't, then you can wait for me in the car." I said and stomped passed by him.

The rich aroma of the dish wafted down and beckoned me. I could not resist the delightful sensations that whipped up inside the memory at the mere thought of delving my teeth deep and fast into the pulpy texture of the pizza. Cheese spread atop in copious amounts and the wide assortment of condiments sprinkled in the perfect amounts mingle to produce a taste unlike any other: salty,peppery,cheesy with a whiff of Italian cuisine and a tinge of Greek taste.