"Assalamualaikum," Farrah said with a small smile to Syafiq. He was tall, with a smile on his lips he greeted her with a nod of his head. Farrah studied him and tilted her head to the left. He looked vaguely familiar. And then it clicked when Saif slung an arm over Syafiq's shoulder and asked, "How are you bruv?"
"Uhum," Syafiq cleared his throat trying to catch Saif's eye that was trained on the dance floor.
"So, where's that bird you were to supposed to reject?" He said offhandedly, craning his neck as though looking for someone.
Farrah looked at Syafiq, and he looked mortified. With her lips twisting, trying not to break out in a laugh, "She's right here."
Shocked eyes looked at her as she smiled innocently at the two men standing in front of her. She saw the similarities almost immediately - the same broad shoulders, the same wavy black hair, the defined square jaw; they were definitely siblings.
"Syafiq, aren't you going to introduce me to your future wife?" Saif said with mischief twinkling in his eyes.
Farrah pressed her lips together, slightly irked by the 'future wife' comment especially considering what he had said earlier, but before she could say anything Syafiq's mum rushed to join them. Farrah could not believe her eyes, but it seemed like she pushed Saif away from where they stood. She watched as his stance went rigid, his jaws clenched with his hands fisting at his sides.
"I'm sorry, Farrah this is Saif. My brother," Syafiq said calmly as he slung his arm around Saif pulling Saif closer, as if trying to diffuse the sudden tension.
"Step hai ji. Matlab, step brother hai ji," Syafiq's mum said with a forced laugh. (Step. Meaning, step brother)
"Jao, jao. Tum dono kahi ja ke gal-baat karlo," (Go, go. Both of you should go somewhere to chat) Syafiq's mum said as she pushed Syafiq and Farrah towards the doors heading outside. Farrah looked back and saw Saif standing in the same rigid manner as Syafiq's mum talked to him. It didn't look like a pleasant conversation.
"Fuck, I could really use a stiff drink," Syafiq muttered.
Farrah looked towards Syafiq, who stood with his back to the door, hands on his hips looking up into the starless sky. "I think you and Saif both," she murmured shocking him again. He looked at her as she quirked her eyebrows at him.
"You noticed?" he asked.
Shrugging her shoulders, she walked to stand next him, as she faced the doors that they came through.
Syafiq exhaled harshly, she could see his hot breath in the wintry night. "I'm sorry, Farrah."
"What for?"
"My family is a fucking circus."
A small smile played on her lips as she looked into the distance, "Every family has their own issues."
"Look, you seem pretty chill. You're beautiful, educated-"
"Syafiq, you don't have to say it," Farrah cut him off.
"Say what?" Syafiq, cocked his head.
"Whatever that you were going to say before rejecting me."
"I...what...?"
"I heard the 'but' coming miles away..." she smirked playfully. "And also, what Saif let slip earlier."
"Aaah, he's a bloody twat," Syafiq cursed.
Farrah laughed heartily, throwing her head back. "Perhaps," she said still smiling broadly.
"I'm just not in the right place for such a big commitment like marriage right now. With family, with work. I barely get enough time to sleep, I don't think I'll be able to allot time for a wife. It's a shitty time to be a doctor right now," he sighed deeply.
"I know. You guys are run ragged. Not enough funding, doctors, midwives, nurses; but an overflow of patients. It's tough." Farrah said understandably. "Besides, we're probably not as suitable for each other as the others think," she shrugged.
"I'm sorry if I wasted your time," Syafiq apologised.
"No, don't be. Mahira is a family friend. I'd be here regardless. You're not all that special," she said teasingly.
Placing a hand on his chest with a big grin on his face Syafiq exclaimed, "You wound me."
"Besides, I feel like I should apologise. You could be at home getting some rest instead of being here," she said sympathetically.
"I wish. I'd still have to be here. To diffuse the tension between mum and Saif," Syafiq said releasing another big sigh.
"Sounds messy," she said offhandedly.
"You have no idea," he said, exhaling deeply.
"Chalein?" (shall we?) Farrah said after a pause. "I'm freezing," she said rubbing her hands together.
As they walked up to the door, Syafiq paused and looked at Farrah, "Can we be friends? Just friends?"
"Sure. I could always use another doctor on my speed dial," she said grinning at him before she walked through the doors and disappeared into the crowd.
Syafiq stood at the door and craned his neck for Saif and found him brooding in the corner. Syafiq walked to him quickly and again slung his arm around his step brother. "Chill the fuck out man, you know mum is just mum," he said trying to snap Saif out of his broody mood.
Squinting his eyes, Syafiq followed in the direction that Saif was looking at and realized that he was watching Farrah on the dance floor. "She looks awfully happy after getting rejected," Saif observed.
"Nah, I don't think she was into it as well."
"Did she say...anything?"
"Well, she said a lot of thing, be specific," Syafiq stated.
"I...uh...propositioned her...in the ladies room."
"What the fuck?" Syafiq exclaimed, simultaneously drawing the gazes of a few people towards them. Looking sheepish, he set his eyes back on Saif.
"She didn't say anything?" Saif said, surprised.
"No, she didn't," Syafiq confirmed it.
"Yeah..." Saif trailed not knowing what to say, suddenly feeling utterly self-conscious.
"What did she say?" Syafiq asked curiously after a short pause.
"Nothing. She just laughed," Saif said feeling embarrassed.
"She laughed?" Syafiq questioned unbelievingly. Getting angry or feeling embarrassed were the more normal responses but laughing; she was definitely different, that's for sure.
"Yeah. She laughed until she cried. Literally," Saif admitted.
At that Syafiq's shoulders started shaking as he too started laughing. Watching his younger brother laugh, made Saif's lips twitch as he tried to hold back a smile.
"She's different alright," Syafiq said in between chuckles.
"That she is," Saif breathed as he watched Farrah laugh as she danced with Mahira.
"You like her," Syafiq said wide eyed.
"Don't be a pussy, bruv. I want in her knickers that's about it," Saif said callously.
"When you say shit like that..." Syafiq shakes his head continued, "You are so mentally fucked that you can't even admit that you could possibly like a bird for more than a quick fuck."
"Chal chod-d," (Forget about it) Saif said, finally looking away from Farrah. Noticing Syafiq's temper quickly flaring, he said "My place tonight? I've got a brand, spanking new bottle of Scotch."
***
Hey lovely people, it's been a bad week. I have been so sick the last couple of days. I've only managed to type this much without falling asleep from all the meds.
But hey, any update is better than no updates right?
So, what do you guys think of the Syafiq and Saif brothers? Cute yeah? But very much the modern, ultra-liberal Muslims.
Anyways, vote, comment, share. Make sick ol' me happy again.
love and peace out <3