"And then when I do the correct thing, he just comes back and makes me look like I have no idea what I'm doing!"
Shaheera carefully maneuvered the cleaning cloth across the sparkling countertops, humming a cheerful tune under her breath. Sunlight spilled through the billowing curtains, casting a warm glow that enveloped the room. The sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of jasmine, creating an inviting atmosphere. Behind her, Jasra kept going around with the broom stick and not doing a thing, grumbling over and over how she hated her boss.
"Could you believe it, Shaheera?" Jasra exclaimed, her voice laced with equal parts of frustration and disbelief. "Hasan keep thinking he owns the hospital! I'm telling you, I've never seen someone as delusional as him. Man thinks we're at his service. Les hommes vraiment. "
Shaheera couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she nudged Jasra with the cleaning cloth. "Oh, Jasra, you and Hasan are like two magnets repelling each other. It's like a never-ending battle! You should get an award for keeping that rivalry alive."She responded in a perfect french. After years of living in Toronto, the two friends took english as their native language, practicing even when no one was with them. But sometimes during heated conversation, their old core native tongue would come back and manage a way throughout their mouth.
Jasra shot her a mock glare, her lips curling into a reluctant smile. "Very funny, Shaheera. You have no idea what it's like dealing with his lectures and those icy glares he throws my way. I would love to see you an-"
A sudden shrill ring interrupted their banter, causing Jasra to fumble with the broom sticking her hand. She dashed towards the small wooden table in the middle of the living room, where her phone buzzed with urgency. "En parlant du loup." she quipped, before answering the call.
While she spoke on the phone, Shaheera continued her cleaning frenzy, her movements mirroring her song. Their new apartment was all she wanted. After years of financial complications, they had finally been able to move into something other than a tiny studio. Jasra had now a permanent position at the Toronto hospital, and Shaheera, on the other hand, had been recently promoted from an intern to a real employee. Life was finally taking on a colorful hue that not even the grayest of sky could fade. As she continued her cleaning, she almost forgot about Jasra, engrossed in a lengthy conversation with someone who seemed to be Hasan, judging by her furrowed brow.
As the conversation continued, Jasra's eyes widened with surprise. She hung up the call, her lips curving into satisfying smile.
"Guess what, Shaheera? We finally have the date for that charity event I talked to you about!" Shaheera exclaimed, excitement bubbling in her voice.
Shaheera paused, her brows knitting together. "A charity event? That sounds...interesting. But what's the catch here? You look way more excited than you should be."
Jasra leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You, my dear friend, have the honor of attending as my plus one!"
Shaheera's eyes widened in astonishment, her mouth forming a perfect "O." "Are you serious? I get to be your date for this extravagant event? Jasra, you're a life saver!"she finally said in an ironic tone. While she usually enjoyed events, the fact that this particular one fell right in the middle of the month of Ramadan greatly bothered her. Over the past few weeks, she had been invited to numerous gatherings where the moment to break the fast always coincided with the midst of the event. It was impossible to eat properly or pray in peace without drawing attention to herself. The broad smile on Jasra's face perplexed her. Normally, her roommate was even more reluctant than she was to attend this kind of event.
"What makes you smile like that? I thought you weren't going anyway."she finally said, lowering the music in the living room.
"I know, but Mr. I-Am-Always-Right, aka Hasan, made it so the feast would be after Maghrib. I have to get him that, he's a good negotiator."
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Being two Muslims women living by themselves, a knock at the door when waiting for no one was always odd. The two friends looked at their outfits. Shaheera roll her eyes and take the praying hijab on the couch. She putted it weirdly and after a last look in the mirror she swung the door open to reveal a deliveryman, his arms laden with a bouquet of vibrant roses.
"For you, Lady. Are you Shaheera Saidi ? " he said with a charming smile, handing Shaheera a bouquet.
"Uh y-yes"
Jasra peered over the door separating the corridor with the living room when she heard the door shutting. "Wow, Shaheera! Looks like someone have an admirer."
Shaheera blushed, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes. "Oh, stop it, Jasra. They're probably from that book club I joined last month. They love surprising members with gifts."
"Well who knows? It might a beautiful man, ready to ask for your hand. Is there a card with it?"
Both of them looked around the bouquet not finding anything, concluding it was indeed the book club Shaheera had joined.
As they resumed their cleaning duties, the apartment buzzed with excitement. The whole day Jasra tried to make Shaheera agree to accompaign her next week for the charity event the hospital was hosting. After several minutes, she agreed, and they kept talking about what outfit they would wear, their laughter echoing through the rooms. Jasra leaned against the kitchen counter, her eyes dancing with excitement.
"It actually could be Mark" she finally said out of the blue.
"I have no idea what you're talking about" Shaheera responded innocently, even though she knew her friend was referring to the bouquet coming an hour ago.
"Don't act innocents when you're the least here. I'm talking about the bouquet! It might be him after all. You told me he sounded sweet."
"I mean... He surely IS nice. Always asking if I need help, always having a respectful distance. He's been dropping hints and giving me those flirty smiles. And to be honest I kinda like it?"
It was weird to talk about those things out loud. Shaheera was always fully honest with jasra and every type of conversation could occur. But talking about Mark so freely was something else. He was sweet, and sometimes she could envision a life at his side. A family together.
Jasra's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and happiness. "Oh ! See? I TOLD you! I knew it. I. Knew. It."she exclaimed dramatically. "It's time for you to explore the possibilities. Who knows, he might be the one to sweep you off your feet."
Shaheera's face broke into a radiant smile, her round eyes sparkling with anticipation. "You're right, I should keep an open mind. Life is too short to resist a bit of romance."
"That's my girl."
***
The following morning, Shaheera glided into the bustling office, her vibrant energy filling the room like a warm breeze. Her infectious smile greeted her colleagues, spreading joy in every corner. As she settled into her desk, Rima, a dear friend and colleague, approached with a cup of steaming tea.
"Morning, Sweetheart! I thought you might need a little boost to kickstart the day," Rima said, her eyes twinkling with affection.
Shaheera accepted the tea with gratitude, inhaling the fragrant aroma of herbs and rose petals. "Thank you, Rima. You always know how to make mornings brighter."
Rima leaned against the desk, her voice softening. "That's the least I can do after the help you gave me last week. I don't know what we'd do without you."
Rima was a happy mother of twins. Two little boys full of energy and ready to discover the world. Her colleague was a Syrian sponsored by some family member in Canada. Most of her time outside works consisted of paper work and rejected demands to make her husband join them here. He was still caught in the revolution back to Syria. All I could do was looking after her kids when she was too sad to face them or occupied with paper work.
Shaheera blushed, her heart warmed by Rima's words. "Oh, stop it. You're making me blush. How did it go by the way? Any good news? "
Rima's breath shook instantly but a small smile appeared on her face. "Its getting more and more difficult. But I think it might get better. I think it's finally going to be the last demand for his visa. Al'hamdoulilah Hamid lives in the capital, he still have access to most accommodation. Soon enough I hope."
"Inch'Allah" Shaheera responded.
The silence that followed was interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice. "Ladies, I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
Shaheera turned to find Thomas, their boss, standing with a warm smile. "Good morning, Thomas. Not at all, just enjoying a little chat before diving into the day's tasks," she replied first, giving time to Rima to get back to reality and leave the terror she went through to get here, in Toronto.
Thomas nodded, his gaze shifting between Shaheera and Rima. "I need both of you to conclude the budget for the third volume of "Magical Land." We went through your first proposition, but we'll have to lower the budget ok? "
"On it !" they said in one voice.
The morning whirred by, filled with Shaheera's infectious laughter and genuine interactions with coworkers. At noon, during their lunch break, Shaheera found herself seated at a table with Mark, Rima, and Thomas.
As Thomas savored the homemade lunches Mark prepared, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Laughter erupted, intertwining with the aroma of aromatic spices and the clinking of cutlery. Mark, ever the charmer, engaged in light-hearted banter with Shaheera. His playful compliments and quick wit elicited giggles from her, their connection building like a delicate dance.
Rima observed their interaction, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You two make quite the dynamic duo," she teased, raising an eyebrow.
Shaheera blushed, playfully nudging Mark. "Oh, stop it, Rima."
Thomas chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I must say, it's delightful to see such camaraderie among our team. It's a testament to the positive environment we've created here."
Upon arriving at the company, Thomas was responsible for Human Resources. However, after several changes and layoffs during a challenging financial period, he had to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief. For the past year and a half, Thomas had protected this position as if it were his own child. Shaheera was happy to have him as her superior. Regardless of the context, he always emphasized teamwork and events that allowed their team to be more productive. It was like an old HR reflex for him.
Shaheera glanced around the table, her heart swelling with gratitude for the genuine connections she had forged. Her gaze stuck with Mark's, he smiled at her, his teeth as wide ad a cloud and a fading laughter in his eyes. She smiled back at him and remembered the bouquet she received the day before. Her eyes lightened with realisation and she muted a "Thank you" to him." He looked confuse for a minute and understood when she texted him. "You're welcome," he said voice low. This lunch break encapsulated the essence of their workplace—a harmonious blend of friendship, support, and shared values.
As the sun began its descent, casting a golden glow over the city, Shaheera bid farewell to her colleagues and embarked on her journey home. The streets bustled with the energy of a city in motion, but her mind was filled with dreams of words and stories as she listened to Imagine Dragons new album.
Arriving back at the apartment, she relished the quiet solitude that enveloped the space. With Jasra on a night shift, Shaheera had the rare luxury of having the apartment all to herself. She sank into the plush couch, savoring the softness against her tired body. She heated up the rest of Shorba Jasra made the day before and broke her fast before praying Maghrib.
Grabbing her phone, Shaheera dialed her sister's number, their connection spanning the miles that separated them. The familiar voice of Samia greeted her, instantly bringing warmth to her heart.
"Salut, ma chérie!" Samia's voice danced through the speaker, filled with affection.
"Bonjour! How's life in France treating you?"Shaheera replied, her tone infused with love and excitement.
As they caught up on the details of their day, Shaheera listened intently to Samia's stories of life abroad—the bustling streets of Paris, the aroma of fresh petits pain and the challenges of navigating a foreign land.
Their conversation turned more serious when Samia mentioned their father's recent stress. Shaheera's brow furrowed with concern. "What's been bothering him, Samia? Is there anything I can do from here?"
Samia sighed, her voice tinged with worry. "It's work-related, Shaheera. The pressure has been mounting, and I can see it's taking a toll on him. He's been working long hours, trying to keep everything together."
A sense of longing washed over Shaheera as she yearned to be by her father's side, offering comfort and support. "Tell him I love him and that I'm always here for him, even from a distance. Remind him to take breaks and care for himself too."
As the evening progressed, Shaheera and her siblings continued their conversation, their bond growing stronger with each passing minute.
The TV flickered in the background, their voices intertwining with the images on the screen. Across the miles, Shaheera and her sister found solace in the simple act of being together, even if it was through a phone call and a shared love for K-Drama.
As the clock ticked, signaling the end of their conversation, Shaheera's heart swelled with gratitude for the treasured relationships she held with her siblings. They were the pillars that supported her, the unwavering sources of love and strength.
With promises to talk again soon, Shaheera bid her siblings goodnight. She settled into the comforting embrace of the couch, the memories of their laughter and conversation lingering in the air.640Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf0BYHEMHv
