Afraah is one of those warm people that you just can't hate,she is my roommate in the hostel. She is very kind,sweet and innocent. Bilkisu(Bee) is the comedian,kind of like Zahra,she is stubborn but also very careful. And Zahra...No! I'll let you figure out who she is on your own.
Zahra and I picked up the other girls-with my mum's car-from the school gate and headed to Safara.
The familiar orange and green paint welcomed us to Safara. It is quiet big and it offers a lot of dishes although we mostly went for snacks. It wasn't as full as it usually is on saturday evenings.
We settled down on an empty table and placed our orders ranging from ice cream to soft drinks.
"Girls,I have definitely met the one" Zahra bragged. "I just knew it from the moment I laid eyes on him.
"Huun un" The girls crooned in unison excluding me.
I still couldn't believe it. I've always known that Zahra was fearless but I just didn't expect what she did.
Zahra narrated everything that happened to Bee and Afraah with special emphasis on 'The one'.
Bewildered faces stared back at the ecstatic narrator.
"Haba Zahara'u!" Afraah exclaimed.
"How could you shamelessly flirt with a random stranger just because of his looks" Afraah scolded.
Zahra let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Just because? Haha...You really don't know what you're saying" Zahra said eyeing Afraah playfully.
"Anyway, I won't blame you,I would have said the same thing had I not seen him for myself" Zahra conceded.
"So tell us about this 'The one',Bee said with interest.
I sighed.
"Yauwa!,(O yes!) Bee,now you're talking."
Bee and afraah listened with full attention while
I deliberately engrossed myself with Instagram still in an attempt to show Zahra my disapproval. Although, I could hear her babbling.
The stranger's real name is Imran,A final year student of Architecture in a university London.
Zahra snatched my phone from my hands trying to get my attention.
"Enough about me,I want to hear about you girls," Zahra announced.
I rolled my eyes. The never-ending topic of relationships was always brought up by Bee but it wasn't surprising that Zahra brought it up this week.
Although as annoying as it got it was still the most fun part of going out
"Here we go again," Afraah crooned.
"Yes Afraah! So I'll start with you, How is Ahmad?' Zahra asked with excitement.
"Ahmad is fine" Afraah replied curtly. It was obviously that she had deliberately cut her answer short.
"You know you can't get away with that,Oya". she clapped her hands.
"A detailed explanation,how are you and Ahmad?"
Bee and I exchanged glances and burst out laughing.
"All of you are ganging up on me right? Fine I'll spill the beans" Afraah said feigning anger.
"No,no,no! Afraah dear,its just one of those things you know." I said winking at her.
"Sharrap and let me talk" Afraah ordered.
I kept quiet.
"Ahmad is still the same religious,caring and gentle guy. He is very supporting and encouraging too. I turn to him most times I'm down and he is really good to me."
We were all too distracted to notice a lady walk up to our table. She stood right next to Afraah.
"Afraah!" the plump fair complexioned lady called. She was wearing a long ankara gown and her veil was folded on one side of her shoulder.
Afraah unconsciously turned towards the lady in response.
The plumpy lady swiftly raised her hand towards Afraah's face. Luckily Afraah blocked the attacking hand with a puzzled expression on her face.
We were all rather shocked.
"Who are you?" Afraah queried.
"You even dare to ask who I am huh?" the lady thundered-as she freed her hand from Afraah's grip-drawing attention to our table.
We exchanged glances but not one of us could speak.
Within split seconds,the lady dragged Afraah by her shirt and sent her flying in to the next table. Afraah crashed into the empty table.
The entire restaurant became alarmed.
"Look at this shameless tiny thing" the lady announced to the restaurant.
"Toh,I am Rukkaya, Ahmad's wife,"she announced.
"Zahra,take Afraah out through the back door I'll handle this" I instructed as we all got up and rushed towards Afraah.
"Hell no! You know I can handle this better," Zahra disagreed.
"I'll take her out,"Bilkisu offered.
I helped Bilkisu get the moaning Afraah up. I did not notice that Zahra walked up to the fuming woman till I heard her voice.
"Ahmad is not married so who are you?" Zahra demanded.
Ahmad's so called wife raised her hand to slap Zahra but her attack was expertly stopped.
Just then the restaurant workers and customers came rushing towards the two and started asking questions.
I was surprised that it took that long for them to intervene. Perhaps they were all enjoying the site.
Bilkisu and Afraah had already gone out safely through the back door thanks to Zahra's distraction skills.
Rukkaya was busy lamenting to the audience. So I signaled Zahra to sneak out from the very embarrassing scene but she ignored me.
Before I could say a word,Zahra had managed to get close enough to the woman and the next thing I heard was a resounding slap.
I froze and my jaws dropped open.
Zahra quickly made her way out,took my hand and we ran outside.
I somehow managed to find the car keys,opened the car and struggled to fit it into the ignition.
I saw Rukkaya run out of safara most likely to avenge her slap.
I quickly started the car and headed towards the gate. Another car almost hit mine because he was speeding in. I instinctively turned to look at the driver and guess what? It was Ahmad.
"Subhanallah! Its Ahmad," I blurted.
"Please just get me out of this place!" Afraah said speaking for the first time since the incidence.
Ahmad signaled me to stop but I ignored him and zoomed off!
To be continued...
P.S: Haneem's diary is fictional. The characters and the stories are not real,although sometimes are inspired by real life happenings.
