Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 4
I had no idea what just happened, why
does it feel so weird when he is around.
It gets so weird when he is around and
it almost feels like my brain is in a war
zone of some sort. I looked around to
see if he is anywhere near, but thank
god he wasn’t. I quickly walked towards
our little cupcake set up and sat next to
Sobia.
“What happened to you? I thought you
passed out or something.” Sobia said
while browsing over Instagram on her
phone.
“Nothing happened, I just got lost” I
said.
“Why are you so red?” She said looking
at my face. I instantly felt conscious
because now auntie Mariam was
looking at me as well.
“Yh I was walking very fast so probably
that’s why.” I rubbed my cheeks to
remove the color from my face. Why was
I feeling so embarrassed?
“Here have some water beta”. Auntie
Mariam grabbed a bottle of water from
the water stand next to her and passed
me the bottle.
“Thank you” I smiled.
The rest of the evening seemed okay. I
got busy with serving the cupcakes at
the party and whenever our stall wasn’t
busy, Sobia and I just walked out the
playground and talked about stuff. Since
both of us didn’t have any sisters, we
shared everything with each other. I
remember the first time we met 4 years
back in our local library where we both
were looking for the same book and
spend the rest of the afternoon talking
about our love for English literature and
Adele. Since then we have been
unrepeatable, she also doesn’t have a lot
of friends, and I think that’s because she
is way too honest and doesn’t live to
please other. Just like me. Ever since my
dad left us, I have stopped caring about
others. I do have my doubts and fears,
who doesn’t? But I still fight. I choose to
move forward, not just for myself but for
my family.
It was almost 7 pm now, and the big
birthday cake cutting celebration was
about to happen soon. The thought of it
again made me anxious. Nonetheless, I
went ahead and started decorating the
table with little fairy lights since it was
getting dark and gift packs that were
made for the guests. The clock hit 7 and
peopled started coming towards our
table. Everything looked beautiful, almost
unreal. I could see the bright stars in the
clear sky and feel the sweet September
breeze across my face. The colorful fairy
lights sparkled throughout the stage
where the cake was put on display.
Sobia, auntie Mariam and I stood in the
corner of the stage to dodge the
photographer who was taking pictures
of all the guests. After the pictures were
taken, we came up to the stage again to
light the candles that were spread
beautifully all across the birthday cake.
When I finished lighting the last candle
and looked up, I saw him looking at me
right across the lawn. The Ibrahims
were making their way toward the
stage. Auntie Mariam and Sobia noticed
them as well and quickly got off the
stage . I was about to get off as well, but
auntie Mariam suddenly stopped me.
“No no you stay here, we are going to
get more plates and napkins from the
stall. Just stay here and make sure
everything is okay.” Before I could say
anything, both of them disappeared out
of my sight. I felt super awkward and
didn’t know what to do, so I gravitated
towards the very far corner of the stage
and waited silently for Sobia and auntie
Mariam to come back. When the
Ibrahims got to the stage after meeting
hundreds of their guests, they finally got
to the cake and when I saw a little pretty
girl dressed in a beautiful lilac dress, I
instantly knew it was Ruba. Her eyes
lightened up when she saw the cake
and ran moved towards the cake as if
it’s the best thing that has ever
happened to her. It was too cute. Behind
Ruba was her mother I am assuming.
She was tall and skinny, with beautiful
black straight hair. She looked like in her
late 30’s. With pouty red lips and crisp
cheekbones, she was giving a
competition to the young girls who
were here in this party. She looked
poised, but whenever I saw her smiling,
it didn’t reach her eyes. It looked fake
and she seemed uninterested in keeping
up with the conversation with the
guests over a minute. Right behind them
I saw Ibrahim Raza who still seemed
humble enough to stay back and talk to
the guests that his wife walked away
from. With him was the same guy I met
earlier today near the washroom, the
same guy who took my phone in the
college. I didn’t know his name, not that
I was interested in finding out anyway.
Once they were done talking to the
guests, both Ibrahim Raza and his son
joined the rest of their family at the
stage. The boy glanced at me and I
looked away not knowing what to do.
Thankfully I saw auntie Mariam and
Sobia coming back with boxes of plastic
plates and napkins. They placed the all
the plates and napkins next to the cake
and joined me in the corner of the stage.
The little girl, Ruba blew out the candles
and the entire lawn chanted “Happy
Birthday”. After everyone finished
singing the birthday song, Ruba took a
beautiful silver knife from her mother’s
hand and gently cut the bottom layer of
the cake and everyone in the lawn
began clapping and blessing the little
girl for a happy and healthy life ahead.
After that, Mrs.Ibrahim came to us and
told us to cut the cake and give it to all
the guests in the party and walked
away. Everyone got off the stage, except
the little girl Ruba, who still had her eyes
on the cake. Talk about first love. I
smiled at her and walked towards her.
“You want some?” I asked her. She
looked at me as if I caught her
committing a crime.
“Oh no I’ll wait.” She said even though I
could tell that she was dying to have that
first bite of her birthday cake.
“I tell you what, you can have the first
bite of the cake and then I’ll make the
pieces for the guests.” I offered her and
the most adorable smile crossed over
her face and I took that as a yes. I
grabbed the silver knife again and cut
up a small piece of cake of that. Then I
placed a slice a cake on a plate and
attached a spoon with it and offered it
to Ruba. “Here”.
She took a huge bite from the cake and
didn’t take long to eat the rest of the
piece.
“Good huh?” I said laughing.
“Very, thank you” She chuckled and
joined her friends near the swings area.
I offered to cut the cake and give it the
guests andSobia and auntie Mariam
went back to the cupcake stall to start
packing things up.
I was too busy cutting the cake by
myself that by the time I looked up I
realized I was being watched by the boy
with hazel brown eyes. He had his messy
hair pulled back by a black baseball hat,
and his white tee shirt was now layered
with a denim jacket and finished out
with a black pair of jeans. Out of
everyone else in the party, he stood out
the most. All I saw around him were little
boys and girls in their bright colored
outfits and men and women in formal
wear. Except him, he looked the most
normal one here surprising. We both
stood there looking at each other and
when I finally got my senses back and
looked back down to continue cutting
the cake, hoping that he would just go
away. But he didn’t, instead he walked
towards me.
“Hi”. He said, waiting for me to look up.
“Here.” I offered him a piece of cake.
“Did I ask for it?” He asked me.
“Why are you here then?” I looked up to
him.
“Are you always this feisty?”
“No, you just bring out the worst in me.”
I moved away from the table to get
more plates.
“She really liked the cake.” He said.
“Good.” I tried to keep my answers short
but failed.
“Farid Bhaijaan” I heard Ruba coming up
to the stage. So that’s what his name is.
“Yes my birthday girl.” He picked up his
little sister in his arms and spun her
around and she laughed.
“Stop I am getting dizzy bhaijaan,” This
reminded me of the time when Sabir
was young and easy to carry. I used to
pick him just like this. Farid put his sister
down and she came running towards
the cake again.
“Can I have some more?”
“Of course.” I picked up one of the plates
which were ready to serve and gave her
it to her.
“Here bhaijaan, have some too.” She told
Farid.
“I would, but she is not giving it to me.”
He said pointing his fingers toward me.
“I just offered you some but you said
no.” I defended myself front of the
young girl, not that I needed to defend
myself. But I hated lying, small or big.
“You didn’t ask me nicely.” He winked at
me.
“If you want it, take it.” I took the tray
that had cake slices in it and stepped
down to the lawn to serve the guests.
Sobia joined as well and took the second
tray to serve. Everyone loved the cake
and there were so many people that
asked for our bakery which made auntie
Mariam really happy. Events like this
were really helpful for the business, so
auntie Mariam got herself busy with her
potential clients and started telling them
about our business.
All the cake slices were finished except
one and even though I wasn’t a fan of
Farid, I still felt bad that his he didn’t get
to eat the cake from his sister’s birthday
party so I went back to the stage to look
for him, but he wasn’t there. I found
Ruba playing with her friends so I went
up to her.
“Hey, where is your brother?” I asked
her.
“He umm…he went to the pool.” She said.
There is a pool here too? Of course
there is.
“Where is the pool?” I asked her again.
“In that building” She pointed towards
the same building where I went earlier
today when I was looking for the
washroom.
“Okay, thanks birthday girl.” She gave me
high five and went back to the swings
area.
I took the last piece of cake and walked
towards the building. When I opened
the big wooden doors of the building, I
was taken away with the beautiful
chandelier that was hanging in the
beautiful hall. I looked around and didn’t
see anyone. Maybe he isn’t here. When I
turned back around, I heard people
laughing from the other room, the door
of the room wasn’t locked but it was
definitely closed shut. I debated whether
I should knock. Before I could make up
my mind, the door filliped open and I
saw something which I shouldn’t have. I
saw Farid shirtless; he was only wearing
his boxers. We both were shocked to
see other like this and equally
embarrassed.
“Where are you going?” I heard a girl’s
voice from the room. Oh my god, they
were making out in the room. This is
way out of my comfort zone. Before it
gets any more awkward, I took a step
back, turned around and exited the
building. I didn’t make it too far from
the building until I was grabbed by my
arm and pulled back. It was Farid, he
had his jacket on this time.
“What?” I yelled. I don’t know why. I
don’t know why I decided to be that
person who saved the last slice of cake
for someone who never fails to give me
a hard time.
“Were you looking for me?” He asked
straight away. His eye seemed darker
and he was way too close. I could see
each feature of his face clearly. He had
sharp jawline, olive skin tone, stubble
beard and long black hair that were
pulled back.
“Yes” I said and I guess the answer
wasn’t good enough because he still
didn’t let go of my arm and kept his eyes
on me still. “I mean no I wasn’t. I was
looking for the washroom.” I said and
he let go of my arm this time.
“Do you like to eat in the washroom?” He
asked me. Where is this even going?
“What?” I was so confused. He pointed
towards the plate of cake I was holding
in my hand.
“This, yeah… I was looking for the
washroom and then there was an extra
plate of cake so I thought you might
want some.” I hated this. He should be
explaining himself being half naked. Why
was I explaining this to him?
“You came all the way here to give me
this?” He asked, almost sounding
amused.
“No” I said and he started laughing.
“You just won’t admit it would you?” He
challenged me.
“I don’t know what you are talking
about. Do you want it or not?” I
snapped.
“Yes, I want it.” He said looking at me, I
wasn’t too sure if he is talking about
this piece of cake “Yeah..I’ll take it” He
explained. I pushed my hands forward
and offered him a plate. His hands
brushed over mine and I suddenly pulled
away. He looked at me as he felt
something too.
All of a sudden my phone rang and I
thanked Allah in my head countless time.
I really needed a rescue. I immediately
took my phone out and looked at the
screen. It was my mother calling.
I shook my phone in my hand to give
him a sign that I am heading back. I
turned around and began walking away,
knowing that there are set of hazel eyes
still looking at me from behind.
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