Chapter 3- Talks at Morning Walks

AMYRAH

I was working on the billboard of Palm hotels as my other creative designers were out on yet another project for a new brand of perfume. Add onto the fact that they wanted me to do it personally, i decided why not? I mean lately i was too busy with the whole business to do what i love the most, design

My phone began blaring beside me causing me to stir from my position

I checked to see the caller ID to be my mother

again

"As salaam mama" i said, pausing my work and placing the pencil down

"Was salaam, Amyrah! How are you?" she asked me as i stood up to walk to the balcony

"Alhamdulillah, You?" i asked her, staring out at the snow covered city

"Alhamdulillah. Hows work dearie?" she questioned and i sighed

"Hectic mama, like always" i replied and she laughed on the other line

"Well, you chose your life like always! Remember Amyrah, when you were in year one, and you told off a little boy on woman's rights even though you had no idea what it was?" she asked and i laughed with her

I remember it clearly

I had heard it on the TV about rights of women and children and this guy who was older than me, was bullying the kids and saying girls can't play and all. So i went to him and told him off saying everyone should be granted equality and that starts in school. I have no idea where i got the whole idea from but oh well, i was a smart kid

"Of course mama, i was in year 3 by the way" i corrected her and we began talking of the past times

"Mama, how are didi and jiju?" i asked her and she sighed

"Same as always. I guess they both have to work really hard on their relationship before anything goes right" she muttered and i instantly knew what was going on

My mother was reflecting her past on my sister's happenings

Both the males of the relationship once or twice or Allah knows how many times cheated on them even though they are very loving with their wives

"alright mama, then i shall go- i have pending work to do" i said and she chuckled lowly

"Pending work or Korean drama's of yours?" she asked me and i smiled at the window

"Mama you know me too well to answer that question. Bye. Allah Hafiz. Salaam to all" i said and with her reply, i hung up

I set on the window pane and stared at the city covered in snow at night. I had prayed Isha an hour ago so i was free for the night, i guess

I let my thoughts run wild. From my mothers problems to my sisters.

One of the few reasons why i don't want to get married. I can't stand betrayal and that too from someone so intimate to you. I can't stand the pain and tears of my own. I have spent too much time building myself, finding myself and creating myself to let it all go to waste because of one man

I knew many will be like them, cheating and deceiving liars so i stayed free of them.

I am not saying all are like them but lets face the reality of life, i am not thin nor am i pretty. I am not someone you will want in your life. I learnt that a long time ago

I closed my eyes as painful memories rushed back into my mind. My times in Fiji and my leaving of Fiji

Somethings will never change no matter what, and that somethings included memories

I shrugged, got off the window pane and walked to my bedroom

i would finish the designs later, i guess

Switching off the lights and talking off my warm shoes, i got under the covers

I lay on my plush bed and stare at the ceiling

My phone lying beside me when it hit me that today was the update of some of my favorite books so i went online to read them

I don't know when or how i fell asleep but i did wake up with the phone on my neck and blaring in my ear

I lazily lay on my bed knowing its a Saturday and i have to be at work by 9am rather than 8am like every week day.

"Amyrah get up, you have work to do" i muttered to myself sleepily

Tomorrow would be the day i sleep in

I groggily got out of bed and headed to the bathroom

After I was fully awake, i did my whudhu and prayed Fajr namaaz before deciding to walk to the park near my apartment

I got dressed warmly in thick leggings, hoodies, gloves and socks before checking the window for snowfall

The snow was no longer falling, the lights outside gave me enough illumination to see that. I guess it would be a good workout for me

Taking my phone, wallet, iPod and headphones, i headed outside my room to the door all the while tying my hijab

I wore my boots and got out of the penthouse just in time with my neighbour

"Salaam!" he said brightly and i managed a smile as i walked to the elevators

"Going for a walk?" he questioned and i nodded

"You don't talk much?" he asked me and i could not help but roll my eyes

really dude?

I don't even know you!

'But you know him. You took his offer of billboards, remember?'

My inner voices were sometimes very smart!

We got into the elevator and he pressed ground floor

"Okay so lets start again?" he asked me and i tilted my head and raised my eyebrows

"Its obvious we did not get on the right foot- so how about a restart?" he asked me, shooting one of his wide smiles

i guess his smile was contagious because after a while i was smiling back at him

"Salaam, I am Kayan. People call me Kay" he said and i nodded

"Was salaam. Amyrah. people call me....... Amyrah" i said and he chuckled

"So Miss. Amyrah, why are you out this early morning?" he asked me once we were in the lobby

"Because i wanted to" i replied "-You?"

"Because i was afraid my brother would wake up and have a fit that i am still sleeping?" he made it sound like a question

I nodded but did not say anything

We walked out of the building when the cold winter air hit us

I rubbed myself for more warmth and pulled my hood over my head

"Hows the project coming along?" he asked me after a long silence

"Good i guess" i replied walking down the concrete path

"You always wanted to be an advertiser?" he asked me and i turned my face to him

"Why?" i asked him in return

"Maybe because you seemed passionate about your work" he replied smiling

"You were observing" i stated raising my eyebrows at him

He shrugged

"It is something i always do. And usually my observations are accurate" he said and i chuckled

"Of course" i muttered walking slightly ahead

"woah wait up- are you angry that i observed you without your concern?" he questioned me and i shrugged

"It really does not matter to me because the result would always be the same" I replied and he smiled widely

"Of course. So you are passionate about what you do" he said and i merely nodded

"Where did you get the passion from?" he asked me

"Why are you asking so many questions?" i fired back and he shrugged

"Curiosity is my nature" he replied

We are not that close for me to be telling you those things, Kayan Sir.

"What do you do?" i instead asked him

"I run the hotel and estates business of my family. I also happen to look after half the empire of Zaeef" he replied as if it were a mere thing

"Where did you get the idea about Palm hotels?" I asked him

"Fiji"

at that, my whole senses began to slow down

"F-Fiji?" i asked him and he nodded stopping infront of me

thats when i realized i had stopped walking too

"You been there before?" he asked me

I am from here, i wanted to scream at him but i didn't

Fiji is a small country and basically every muslim is related one way or another, especially in a town or city

"Which place?" i asked him, calming down finally and walking

"Nadi- my grandma lives there with my cousin so i go to visit them" he said and i nodded

I was from there too

"You from Fiji?" i asked him casually and he shook his head

"We are originally from Australia. My great great grandfather and grandmother went there years ago and since then we have been there. My grandma is a different case. She is from Fiji you see so she likes it there with my cousin, the rest of us are in Auzzy" he explained and i did not question the fact that he was a talker

"What about you?" he asked me and i shrugged

"Ooo mysterious lady!" he teased causing me to laugh

"Of course" i replied and thats when i realized it was really easy to talk to Kayan Zaeef

"I think we should head back, its almost morning" said Kayan and I chuckled

"Its already morning- its almost dawn" i stated as a matter of factly

He shrugged

"Same thing" he replied as we turned to walk back to the building

I did not realize we were so far away now

"Its not- morning is after 12am and dawn is when the sun rises like now" I said making sense

"No- morning is simply the time when everyone wakes up" he stated

"Thats your definition of morning?" i asked him and he nodded

we then fell into silence as we walked back

My mind put together the to-do list of today like always

First thing, morning Yoga and meditation before shower and then my clothes choices

Today i feel like wearing color but dark colors

Hmmm maybe dark blue?

"You alright?" he asked me and i snapped out of my 'mind list'

i tend to do that alot

"Yeah" i replied smiling slightly

once we were in the confines of our building, we got into the elevator and headed to our floor

"Alright then, i will see you when i do" he said and i nodded before walking into my house

Perhaps Kayan Zaeef was not all he seems in the tabloids

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