Imperfect Perfections

[13] Friends

Famisha's POV

"Aww...look whose here"

An aunty in a hijab and abaya, a well-known dress of Muslims, came running at the sight of us. Her arms went around Harith, who was now smiling hard to maintain a good countenance. What difference does it make, I don't know. Whatever it is, they enjoy it.

"Oho..look whose happy to be here. Come..come...", she dragged him along. His fingers however were intertwined around his, they pulled me too. It was when the inertia caught her attention. She rushed her gaze to me and looked at my body like my invisibility had just taken leave.

"Assalamu alaikum"

I gave back the greetings. The silence stood between us, and Harith had to speak for the awkward nature.

"Another friend from school."

The aunt didn't seem concerned, but a bit hesitant. 

"I couldn't come alone. Besides, she doesn't like school so much"

I threw him a glare, but he fought back one.

The aunt laughed,

"Come in...come in..."

I bowed respectfully and pulled the scarf over my head. 

We walked into the big heritage, which was a large bungalow. Kids ran around, near the chairs, while teenagers did the decorations. Everybody was dressed in silky rich clothes. For the girls, their clothes were long and concealed their entire body while the men were typical shorts reaching up to their knees.

The fashion itself was based on strict religious rituals. 

I sighed. This is what history taught, and this will be how it will be, until when one understands what lies in a man isn't religion but the beauty of what one wants. 

"This is Harith, the old friend, and our dear son...and she is..."

They turned to me, and I rushed back to my present state of mind. I took a palm and shook it in front of me, like Muslims do in front of elders, and answered softly,

"I'm Famisha"

The grandma before me seemed to be a very important person. Her grey hair was turned into a bun, and a shawl covered it. Long-sleeved blouse and a saree till the tip of her feet. The fingers of her right hand were on a tasbeeh, the beads giving value to every dua she said. Her eyes went up to mine and held my gaze strongly. 

I winced and bowed again.

She looked me from head to toe and laughed,

"You are fit for a girl your age!"

I looked at myself and corrected my glasses, shyly. I was in a traditional pink top and a pair of jeans. A hoodie did hang on my backpack but I did think over this modern separation in every tradition like how my ancestral did see me too. Knowing it, I was prepared beforehand. 

"Thank you, Nani"

She smiled.

"I like you"

I laughed and gave her one of my hearty smiles. 

There was this shiver behind every statement, saying her age was deteriorating fast. But before I could ask more, there were more people waiting to meet her. I moved to a side with Harith who had even gained a kiss from her due to his familiarity, and we went upstairs. Many random faces were talking loudly, a lady came in a shy red abaya, and served us laddoos

I munched on it hungrily, making my day.

It was those amazing sweets you get only when you go to your ancestral. I missed home, for once.

The lady who was going after Harith took him upstairs and I followed like a third wheel, addressing the surroundings. 

It was plated in sandalwood, and the downstairs had three bedrooms each with a large pantry and outhouse. Every room had attached bathrooms, for many guests stayed here. The upstairs opened to a balcony, a swimming pool (strictly for men) which I didn't understand, two more bedrooms, and a laundry room.

There was a big spacious hall too, which was marked for dressing and doing other dress tutorials. I peeped through a door and saw many girls having the time of their life there. They didn't even care I had looked, making me chuckle.

"What's funny is you can stay here, and she will stay down"

I turned to Harith who smiled and tried to explain,

"Actually Biba aunty, she has different fears. She cannot sleep with strangers"

The aunty stared at me, and I nodded at the stupidity which had come out of his mouth.

"...So for a few days, let her stay with me"

To that, she gasped,

'No no...Oh, Lord! If Big Gran finds out, it is a big problem! How in Allah's name can you even think that? Do one thing, bacha, you stay in the hotel room which we have already booked for your entire school"

I nodded happily. Even better.

Harith heard my happiness and tried to join in,

"Then me too. aunty..I will also stay with her!"

But she wouldn't allow it.

"Oh no! It's because of her fears she is staying there..You, meri bacha, stay here. How can you just go away from a house, Farhan needs you, baba...Famisha, please pack! It's right around the corner, okay?"

I nodded, feeling happy upon the idea for I badly wanted to be the real me, as fast as possible. 

And before she left, she turned and whispered, to Harith in his ear,

"Biba aunty's little Babloo was waiting for you~~"

Giggling, she slowly covered her face and went off in her hijab. I gasped and broke into a huge laugh, while a stunned Harith stood rooted to the ground as he had jumped into the fire. 

I laughed, rolling on my tummy.

"Oh, God!.. Is that why she pampered you like you were in your diapers?"

I was on the floor, laughing my head off when an enraged Harith jumped onto my body, tickling me. I kept laughing, kicking him like he was mad, and kept joking around,

"Babloo loves you..hehe....tsk tsk...."

He gave me one friendly punch just before he slipped to my side on the wooden floor. The ones you would see in an old sort of construction. Ones you would miss even when you die.

"I miss home"

"And I miss Babloo"

I laughed, at his dumb joke. So did he.

"Thanks, Harith. I cannot even think how this journey would have been possible without you"

"Just do what you came here for and then thank me with my Babloo"

I laughed, at his dumb jokes. Somehow, he did make every serious incident vapourize off.

"So I'm leaving...stay here and let me know the happenings"

He turned his head to me.

"What is your plan anyway?"

I sighed,

"I need to get closer to his family"

"And then conquer him with my ..."

"....your love?", he teased,

I nodded.

"yeah, my love. It's too much to handle for me. He needs to know, I love him"

Harith stood up and looked at me,

"Can't you just tell him, without any drama?"

I shook my head,

"I wish I could. But after everything that has happened, trust won't be there in our relationship...

"Who said so?"

The tone threw me apart. So did Harith who stared at the door which had spoken. For, from behind the wood, appeared Fahim, in blood and flesh, wearing a blue tucked in shirt along with black jeans. His hair flew around and he walked in, letting the door ajar. 

Harith flew up and stared at him.

His glum face lit in a grin.

"You sexy dumbass!", Harith screamed, hugging him while the former laughed. Not so loud but enough for a close one to hear. They had their bromance brimming on while I stood, to a side, staring at him, with two puppy eyes, not knowing how to start our welcome performance.

As the hug withdrew, he turned to me and so did the funny joker. 

"It was all her idea"

I hung my head down at the comment.

Fahim came closer and hit our forheads, like the last touch we had had before our departure.

"Let's be friends"

The atmosphere froze.

So did Harith.

So did mine.

While Fahim held my hand and gave me a short embrace, I failed to engulf it in.

He said it.

The worst part of it.

I had come for love, he had made it into friendship.

Harith looked at me, blinking awfully fast.

"Yeah-h-h....lets-s-s be...."