chapter 15

Chapter 15MishalI rushed back inside my room as soon as I heard the creaking sound of the door. I realized I was still shaking. My mind couldn’t get off the way Daniel brushed his fingers tenderly across my hand when I was set to leave. His eyes, his smile, his hands, his touch, and all about him were all over my mind. As soon as I entered the room, I realized the door of my room was slightly ajar. It proved someone—probably Amma—came into my room, looking for me. It couldn’t be Rayaan as he was sleeping at the time, and he had to wake up early for school the next day. I reached for the door and opened it only to find Amma making her way down the stairs. ‘Amma,’ I called out to her, breathless. She looked up at me, a surprised look on her face. ‘I came to look for you.’Before I could respond, it suddenly dawned on me that it wouldn’t be suitable to tell Amma that I was in the washroom when she came looking for me as it was likely she would have already looked for me there. ‘Um, yes, I was on the terrace,’ I told her, and I didn’t falter because I was telling her the truth. ‘Was reading a book.’‘Beta, it’s too late to be out on the terrace. Jaldi sojaya kero (you should sleep early).’I nodded in agreement. ‘Acha Amma, but why were you looking for me?’‘Oh, haan. I came to tell you that Khadija might come for Rayaan’s birthday next week.’My mouth opened in excitement. ‘What? Really?’ Amma nodded enthusiastically. She seemed as excited as I was at the prospect of seeing Khadija and her toddler after a year. Due to Covid-19, she couldn’t travel to Punjab with a small baby. I was glad the Covid cases were gradually declining across the country. In the wake of the current situation, the government had eased the traveling restrictions within the country. Otherwise, Khadija could have never planned this trip. ‘You should give her a call tomorrow. She seemed upset with you.’I scowled. ‘With me? Why?’ Amma shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Deal with your sister on your own.’ ‘Hmmph.’ I sighed. ‘Chalo, now go to sleep. Stop with reading already.’I smiled. ‘Sure, goodnight Amma.’‘Goodnight.’ She sent me a flying kiss, and I sent her one in return. As I returned to my room, I checked my phone and found a new message from Daniel. Daniel: Is everything okay, mate? Mishal: Yes, everything’s fine ☺Daniel: Was it your Mum? Mishal: Haha, yes. Thank God she didn’t catch us. Daniel: Catch us doing what? Lol. Nothing would have happened even if she caught us. It’s not like we were making out on the terrace. xDMishal: Eww. No way! I sent a vomiting smile followed by that. Daniel: Is the thought of making out with me that repulsive for you? :PMishal: Where did this topic come in between all of a sudden? (rolling eyes)Daniel: (thinking smiley)Mishal: Why are we even talking about this? Daniel: Fine. Let’s not talk about this. What was it that you wanted to tell me?Mishal: What?Daniel: Didn’t you say you wanted to tell me something? I gulped as I deeply thought about that. When we were on the terrace and Daniel brought up that topic on Hammad’s mention, I was on the verge of telling him the truth. I was about to tell him everything wrong that I did to him back in the day. I could not understand how I gathered the courage to tell him the truth at that moment, but now, as I thought about the idea of it, I shuddered. I could not begin to tell him anything. Not as yet. The fear of abandonment enveloped me, and I did not like that feeling at all. Mishal: Yes. Daniel: What is it? Mishal: My elder sister might visit us next week. Daniel: Good on ya. That’s great! I didn’t know you had an elder sister.Mishal: Well, now you do ☺Daniel: Of course ☺Mishal: She will be coming to my brother’s birthday party. Daniel: Whoah. I didn’t even know you had a brother too. Mishal: Lol, you never asked about my family. He’s younger, though. Daniel: Haha. Too right. I was kidding, actually. I know you have a younger brother. Saw his photos on your IG ☺Mishal: Haha, okay Daniel: So when’s his bday? Mishal: Coming week. Daniel: Am I invited? Mishal: Only if you want to come.Daniel: I want to come.Mishal: Lol, okay, then you’re invited. Daniel: Hey, are we friends now, mate?Mishal: Ummm, what made you think we weren’t? ;)Daniel: You’re an unpredictable, woman. Thought I should confirm ;)Mishal: I’m many things apart from being unpredictable. xDDaniel: Like what?Mishal: I have clinomania. Daniel: Clinomania what? Sounds like some serious disorder :OMishal: Lol. It means severe addiction to bed, and I usually have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. Daniel: So you’re telling me this because you’re sleepy?Mishal: You’re clever, Aussie boy ;)Daniel: That I am, Mitchelle ;)Mishal: Catch up later, then. Night ☺Daniel: G’nite. Cheers xI closed the messaging app and took the glasses off my face before I snuggled in the bed. I could not begin to think that he had just sent me a kiss for the first time ever on a text message. Did our newly found friendship really come down to this that he had started sending me kissing emojis on the texts? Deep down, it felt good to me; I felt happy because I could see us finally going somewhere. I may not have mustered the courage to tell him the truth, but I had managed to make him like me. I could be just another friend for him, but for me he had always been important. He paying so much attention to me and wanting to spend time with me was more than enough. Way more than enough. Just when I was about to doze off, I heard the message alert sound on my phone. Half-eyes closed, I turned around to face the nightstand and grabbed the phone in my hand only to see a new message from Daniel—a voice message. That was a novelty in our growing friendship. Another one was added to the list of our first-evers. Didn’t we just say goodnight to each other like a minute ago? Tempted to hear his first-ever voice message to me, I sat up on my bed and brought the phone in close proximity to my ear. I melted right away after hearing his voice in his thick Australian accent. Daniel: Hey, mate. Apologies for sending another text right away. I just figured I forgot to say something. I wanted to say that you do not need to pay any heed to what Hammad says or thinks about us, alright? We know we’re friends, right? And that’s what matters. And even if what he thinks about us matters to you, I’d be careful not to meet you in front of him. We’ll do whatever you say, okay? We got this. Cheers! My heart melted more when he said, “we got this,” in the voice message. That sole phrase solidified my faith in our friendship even more; it made me believe in him a bit more. I did not care whatever the future held for us. I had feelings for him—no, there was even more than that—yes, I was in love with him, and there was no going back.  Daniel‘Pass me the Biryani masala,’ Mum instructed me as she looked for another grocery item on the rack. The next morning, she woke me up from sleep abruptly and asked me to go with her for grocery shopping. She let me drive her outdated car that I wasn’t really fond of and guided me throughout the way until we reached the convenience store. Confused, I looked for the item she asked me to grab. Several types of brands were selling Biryani masalas, and I had no idea which one to opt for. ‘Which brand?’ I turned around to ask her. ‘Shan Biryani masala,’ she directed as she disappeared into the next aisle. I picked the one she asked me to and tossed it in the wheel cart, and then trailed behind her, pushing the wheel cart in front of me. ‘Mum, are you planning to cook Biryani today?’ I asked her.She continued to scan the rack for items and nodded. ‘Mmm. You’re intelligent, kid. You know what I am going to cook today.’I rolled my eyes. ‘Duh, of course. I do.’She smiled. ‘I thought of making Biryani and sending over some to Rubina’s.’‘That’s sweet, Mum. I think you should, considering how she and Mitchelle care for you.’Mum stopped mid-way and turned around to pass me a curious gaze. I grinned. ‘What?’‘Mitchelle? Did I hear her name correctly?’ She raised her brows. I patted her lightly on her arm. ‘I know her name is Mishal.’ I shrugged before I added, ‘I guess I just like callin’ her Mitchelle.’ She rolled her eyes at me and moved on to the next aisle, leaving me smiling sheepishly. Leaning on the wheel cart, I fished the phone from my jeans pocket and typed a text to Mishal. Daniel: Guess what we’re bringing over to your place tonight ;)She read my message instantly and sent out a reply. Mishal: What??Daniel: It’s a surprise. Keep guessin’. Mishal: I don’t like guessing. Please tell me ☹Daniel: I thought girls liked surprises (raising brow emoji)Mishal: I thought you knew I wasn’t like other girls ;)Daniel: Haha, that you aren’t. Mishal: Now tell me, what are you bringing over?Daniel: Mum’s making something. Don’t wanna ruin the surprise for her. Hope you understand. Just then, I heard Mum calling me. Mishal: Sure, okay ☺Daniel: Cheers xWith that text, I closed the messaging app immediately and tossed the phone back into my pocket to follow up with Mum.  After arriving back home, I helped Mum set the grocery items in the kitchen and then watched her as she began to prepare Biryani for dinner. I offered her help with the things I knew.‘It’s okay, Daniel. I can help myself,’ she said as she took out the chicken from the freezer. ‘No, I can help you, trust me. I can cook a lot of things.’She was amused. ‘Really? Like what?’‘Like I can make some really nice steaks and vegetables, chicken or roast lamb, and spaghetti bolognaise.’‘Wow, son. I’m impressed.’ She shook her head and began to chop the veggies. I held her arm and stopped her mid-way. She passed me a frozen stare. ‘Let me help you with that.’ I winked at her and took over the knife from her hands. In just a few minutes, I helped her dice the onions, tomatoes, and green chilies. Again, Mum shook her head approvingly. ‘I didn’t know you were so good with chopping and everything.’‘Mum, I know more than choppin’.’She laughed. ‘Okay, enough with the chopping. Now go and rest for some time. I’ll look after the rest of the things.’‘You sure, mate?’‘Yes, mate. I’m sure. Now go.’ She patted my arm casually and occupied herself with cooking. I exited the kitchen and walked into the TV lounge where Hammad was already seated, his eyes fixed on the TV screen. ‘Hey,’ I said to him and took a seat on the other couch. In response, he looked at me thoughtfully and gave a slight nod before averting his gaze back to the screen. I felt the urge to have a small talk with him, regarding Mishal, of course. I wanted to know why he still had problems with me and couldn’t stand me anywhere near Mishal. He had no right over her, and he could not stop her from being friends with anyone, including me. Yet, he had the guts to go over Mishal’s to tell her how much he despised her bond with me and wanted her to stay away from me. The more I looked at his face, the more I felt animosity towards him. The deeper I thought of how he talked and warned Mishal the other day, the more I hated his existence. Sometimes, I really wanted to have a conversation with him and ask him how he felt about me now. Though I was already certain of the answers he’d give to me, I still wanted to probe him. What happened in the past should have become a history for all the members living under this roof. Perhaps, except for Hammad. Or even me. If he still had some remaining bitterness towards me, he should have been brave enough to talk to me about it. I could have made him feel better. Perhaps we could have patched up and buried the hatchet. But, going out of the way and asking Mishal to maintain distance from me was not a sensible move. It wasn’t something that I was expecting from him. I thought him way more mature than that. ‘Do you like football?’ Hammad’s voice brought me back from my thoughts. I looked back and forth between him and the TV screen and then realized he was watching some football. ‘Yes, I do but not more than Rugby league.’He passed on the TV remote control to me. ‘You can switch the channel if you want and watch something of your choice.’I grabbed the device from his hands. ‘Are you goin’ somewhere?’He stood on his feet and began to walk towards the door. ‘Going outside for some work.’‘Hey, mate.’ I called out for him, standing on my feet. He turned his neck to look at me, his body still angled towards the main door. ‘Can we like catch up sometime?’ He furrowed his brows slightly. ‘Sure, why not.’I pressed my lips in a thin line. ‘Thanks.’He passed me a quick half-smile and walked outside.  It was high time that I talked to him and asked him why he still had problems with me and why he wanted Mishal to stay away from me. I had to get his perspective to understand things better and make things easier for me.Â