New Friends
917 Words
Chapter Two — New Friends
Saturday morning came quietly at Ridgewood University.
Aaliyah woke up to the sound of the Fajr adhan coming from the nearby mosque.
She opened her eyes slowly and glanced at the time.
Mariam was already awake.
“Mariam,” Aaliyah whispered.
“Hmm?”
“Let's pray.”
They got up, performed their ablution, and prepared for Salah.
A few minutes later, the two girls returned to the room.
Aaliyah climbed back into bed, hoping to sleep for a little longer.
Then came a loud knock on the hostel door.
“Aaliyah! Wake up!”
She pulled the blanket over her head.
“I'm awake.”
“No, you're not!”
The door opened, and Mariam walked in with a towel over her shoulder.
“You have exactly thirty minutes before we leave.”
Aaliyah sat up immediately.
“Leave for where?”
Mariam stared at her.
“The cafeteria. You promised yesterday.”
“Oh.”
Aaliyah looked at the time and jumped out of bed.
“Thirty minutes? Why didn't you wake me earlier?”
“I've been calling your name for ten minutes!”
Another girl appeared at the door.
“Both of you are going to make us late again.”
That was Zainab, another friend Aaliyah had met during her first week.
Aaliyah grabbed her clothes.
“Give me ten minutes.”
Mariam laughed.
“You said that yesterday.”
“And I was ready in fifteen.”
“Exactly.”
Twenty minutes later, the three girls were walking across campus toward the cafeteria.
Aaliyah was beginning to enjoy having friends at Ridgewood University.
The first few days had felt lonely, but Mariam and Zainab had quickly made her feel comfortable.
They talked about everything.
Lecturers.
Assignments.
Hostel rules.
Food.
And, of course, boys.
“So, Aaliyah,” Zainab said suddenly.
Aaliyah looked at her.
“What?”
“That senior we always see you with…”
Mariam immediately laughed.
“Rayyan.”
Aaliyah rolled her eyes.
“What's with you two?”
“Nothing,” Zainab said innocently. “We're just asking.”
“He's my friend.”
“Hmm.”
“That's all.”
Mariam smiled.
“We didn't say anything.”
“You don't have to.”
They reached the cafeteria and found a table.
Aaliyah ordered her food while Mariam and Zainab continued teasing her.
“You know,” Mariam said, “he's actually handsome.”
Aaliyah nearly choked on her drink.
“Can you people eat your food?”
They burst out laughing.
Before Aaliyah could respond, her phone rang.
Mum.
Her smile softened.
“Excuse me.”
She stood up and answered.
“Hello, Mum.”
“Have you eaten?”
Aaliyah smiled.
“Yes, Mum. I'm at the cafeteria.”
“Good. How is school?”
“It's fine. I'm enjoying it.”
“Are you taking care of yourself?”
“Yes.”
Her mother paused.
“And your hostel?”
“It's good. I have friends now.”
“That makes me happy.”
They spoke for another few minutes before her mother finally said goodbye.
Aaliyah returned to the table.
Zainab smiled.
“Your mum?”
“Yes.”
“Mine calls me every morning.”
Mariam laughed.
“Mine calls three times a day.”
Aaliyah laughed with them.
For the first time since arriving at Ridgewood, she felt like she was beginning to have a real university life.
That afternoon, the girls decided to go to the nearby market.
They needed a few things for the hostel—snacks, toiletries, notebooks and some other small items.
As they walked through the market, Mariam suddenly stopped.
“Wait!”
Aaliyah turned.
“What?”
“Look at those bags!”
They all moved toward the stall.
Zainab picked up a small handbag.
“How much?”
The seller told them the price.
Zainab immediately put it down.
“That's robbery.”
The three girls burst out laughing.
Aaliyah shook her head.
“Let's go before you start negotiating for an hour.”
“You don't understand business.”
“Come on, businesswoman.”
They continued walking, buying a few things along the way.
By the time they returned to the hostel, they were tired but happy.
As the afternoon went on, the girls took a short break before preparing for Asr.
They went together to pray, then returned to the hostel and continued arranging the things they had bought.
That evening, after Maghrib, Aaliyah was arranging her things when her phone vibrated.
Rayyan: You disappeared today.
She stared at the message.
Aaliyah: I was with my friends.
Rayyan: So I'm not your friend anymore?
She smiled.
Aaliyah: I didn't say that.
Rayyan: Good.
Aaliyah shook her head.
Before she could reply, another message arrived.
Rayyan: How was your day?
She smiled at the screen.
Aaliyah: Good. Busy.
Rayyan: Goodnight, fresher.
She laughed.
Aaliyah: Goodnight, senior.
She put her phone down.
Mariam looked over from her bed.
“Who was that?”
“No one.”
Mariam raised an eyebrow.
“Aaliyah…”
Aaliyah laughed.
“It's just Rayyan.”
Mariam and Zainab exchanged a look.
Aaliyah noticed.
“Don't start.”
They both laughed.
Aaliyah smiled too.
She didn't know what was happening between her and Rayyan.
Maybe nothing.
Maybe something.
For now, she was simply enjoying her new life at Ridgewood University.
And she had no idea how much that life was about to change.
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