Laila My Love - S01 E04

Story 3 years ago

Laila My Love - S01 E04

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 4

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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.