How Love Happens - Chapter 22

 

Zishan warmly greeted Aish with a welcoming smile, and Haifa could see her friend was instantly charmed by his friendly demeanor. Throughout the journey to the resort, the group engaged in cheerful conversation. Haifa was pleasantly surprised to see how effortlessly Aish fit into their little circle. The discussion flowed naturally, making it feel as though they had all been friends for a long time. Haifa felt both relieved and happy that she didn't have to make any extra effort to keep the conversation going.

Despite her active participation, Haifa found her thoughts wandering back to the topic her friends had brought up before Zishan arrived. Was he truly single? Who was the woman that had broken his heart? And was he over her?

The questions swirled in her mind, Haifa was well aware that her friends had orchestrated the entire conversation to pique her interest, and she knew she shouldn't dwell on these thoughts. But she was still a woman and a curious one when it came to Zishan it seems.

When they arrived at the water sports area, Khalid explained that due to the high demand for skyboarding, he could only offer three spots. Haifa and Zishan quickly stepped back to allow Aish, Saira, and Afa to enjoy this thrilling activity. Haifa's main role was to capture the moments with her camera, not to participate, but she knew she could always come back later to give it a try herself.

The clock neared four in the afternoon, and the sun, while still shining brightly, cast a gentler light. It was the perfect time for a photoshoot on the resort's beach. Guests were scattered about, some enjoying the water and various water sports, while others relaxed on wooden lounge chairs, soaking in the sun as staff members served refreshing beverages.

Haifa set up her camera gear, adjusting her angles for the best shots. She laughed when she heard the delighted squeals of Afa as she got her turn on the skyboard. Time flew by as she was engrossed in capturing their excitement and enjoyment. It was only after they finished their skyboarding sessions and went to get changed that Haifa noticed Zishan was unusually quiet.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concern in her eyes. He had taken a seat in the chair nearest to her, sheltered by a large blue and white striped parasol. He was dressed in a comfortable grey cotton shirt and blue jeans, with his sunglasses casually hanging from the front of his shirt.

He gave her a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "Yep. Did you get nice shots?" he asked, swiftly changing the subject.

“Yes, I did. Tell me what’s wrong,” she urged.

“I just had a problem at work. Nothing big.” He said

“I don’t mind hearing. If you want to share.” She insisted.

Zishan hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and chuckled. "You are bossy, aren't ya?" he said.

"Guilty, now spill," she replied.

Zishan rubbed his chin "Remember I told you about the project I was working on? I had sent the requirements, and they had almost approved it. But now they're telling me there's a budget issue," he explained, disappointment in his tone. "I really had looked forward to it. I thought it would work."

Haifa's heart went out to him. She wasn't used to seeing him sad; he was always so cheerful and encouraging. "Oh. Isn't there someone you could talk to?" she asked. "You do have many connections."

He shook his head, his expression downcast. "Everyone said the same thing. It happens. We're so far away from the capital that our problems seem small to them," he replied. "They asked me to submit the same proposal next year. But there's no guarantee even then it would get approved."

"Okay, then we can think of some other solution," Haifa tapped her finger to her chin. "Have you thought about using social media?"

Zishan frowned, "What do you mean?"

"You know, create awareness. Share your project on social media. Highlight the issues, show the places of damage, erosion, or the risk of extinction of animals," Haifa explained. "You said we're far away and our problems seem small to them. Then make it big, so big that they can't ignore it."

Zishan stared at her, the wheels in his head churning. "How will that help me secure a budget?"

"The budget is approved somewhere; we just have to make our cause loud enough so they can't ignore us," Haifa said, her voice filled with determination. "It might not happen overnight, but it's a start. We need to reach the right audience. Once we create enough hype, all the right doors will start to open. Nowadays, media plays a crucial role in making issues important."

Zishan looked uncertain. "I'm not sure if that's the path I want to take."

Haifa brushed aside his uncertainty with a wave of her hand. "Sure, most people who use the media do it for self-gain, but you'd be using it for a good cause," she explained. "You can reach out to local news outlets, and see if they'd be interested in interviewing you about the issue. Take them to the affected areas, show them why we need trained professionals to monitor and prevent further damage."

Zishan looked pensive. "You think it could work?"

"I can't say for sure, but it's definitely worth a try. I'll help you coordinate the whole thing," Haifa reassured him. "We are all responsible for our environment, and the way you talk about it reflects your deep compassion. Many of us aspire to be the bigger person, yet only a few truly go out of their way to make it happen," she told him with tenderness in her voice. “I think you are a wonderful person for caring so much.”

They locked eyes for a moment, communicating volumes without uttering a single word. "Here, smile." She smiled as she aimed her phone at Zishan, and he had a confused expression for a second but complied.

Haifa sat down beside him, “All you have to do is present your work as a matter of legitimate concern, emphasize its importance, and let your natural charisma and charm do the rest." She displayed the photo she had just taken, smiling at him. "And with this face. You can steal everyone’s heart with the face.” She told him confidently.

Zishan turned to her, looking into her eyes, and asked, "Anyone's?" He searched her face intently.

Haifa turned to face him as well, and she became acutely aware of their close proximity. Their faces were mere inches apart, and suddenly, she felt a rush of warmth as her mouth grew dry.

The unspoken question in his eyes, “even yours?”, was one he had never voiced but was silently deafening to Haifa. For a fleeting moment, her common sense abandoned her, and she felt an overwhelming urge to tell him that her heart was already his. Instead, she averted her gaze and let out an unsteady laugh.

Standing up she took two steps towards her tripod, pretending to dismantle it. She took deep breaths to calm her heart and clear her thoughts.

"Anyway," Haifa continued, "as I was saying, if you want people to pay attention to your issue, you need to present it in a way they can actually see and understand. Once the local news covers the story, you can share it on social media to get people talking about the issue."

Zishan looked at her and also stood up, his hands deep in his pockets. "Yes," he nodded, seemingly aware that she didn't want to discuss the moment that had just passed between them. His expression became unreadable. "I'll contact the local news and see if anyone is willing to do a feature."

During the ride back home, they all chatted away, seemingly unaware that Haifa was avoiding making eye contact with Zishan. She uneasily felt the awareness of Zishan’s feelings for her. He hadn't explicitly said it, but the way he talked and looked at her made her sense it.

Simultaneously, she found herself getting drawn in as well. She knew she had to put a stop to this, somehow, and return to reality. She needed to distance herself from him before she found herself caught in the tempting tornado of emotions brewing between them. The longer she stayed, the more she feared succumbing to her feelings and regret the consequences.

***

Haifa paced anxiously in front of her mother's room. It was just past seven-thirty, and she estimated her mother would be done with her prayers and reciting the Quran for another fifteen minutes. She needed this time to mentally prepare and summon the courage required to face her mother. She had a clear idea of what she was going to say, but the challenging part was actually saying it.

Checking her phone time for umpteen times, she mustered the courage to knock on the door. When she heard a "come in," she took a deep breath and entered the room.

Her mother was sitting on the bed with the Quran resting on her lap, reading glasses perched on her nose. She looked up at Haifa. The last time they had truly spoken was when her mother had revealed the reason for bringing her to the island. Since then, Haifa had avoided conversing with her unless it was absolutely necessary. It was the longest period of anger she had held against her mother.

Haifa hesitated for a moment before speaking. "If you're busy, I can come back later," she said.

Nasreena removed her glasses and placed the Quran on the nearby bedside table. "No, it's okay. I'm done," she replied, patting the bed next to her. "Come, let's talk," she said, offering a warm smile.

“I wanted to ask if you could lend me some money. I promise to pay you back once I receive my salary,” Haifa said, standing in front of her mother.

Nasreena immediately moved towards her wardrobe and pulled open the bottom drawer. “Of course, how much do you need?”

“Enough to cover the cost of a round trip to Malé,” Haifa replied.

Her mother counted the money she had and handed it to Haifa “Are you going to stay with Aish?” she asked, trying not to pry.

“Yes. She said I could stay with her for some time.” She replied as she took the money.

“Will you be on the same flight? If you can't tell me, I have a contact who can help secure a ticket,” she offered, a warm smile on her face.

Haifa looked away nervously from her mother. "No, I plan to go to Malé after a few days," she replied.

Her mother seemed puzzled. "Is your workplace not giving you leave?" she asked.

Haifa hesitated before responding, "No, I... I wanted to meet Aseel. He's not in Malé right now."

Her mother's frown deepened. "Where is he?"

"He's in Dubai," Haifa answered.

Her mother's disapproval became evident. "So, he can't come here to visit you, but he can go to Dubai?" she questioned.

"It's not like that; he must have had his friends pressure him to come with them."

Her mother continued to scrutinize Haifa's flustered face. "He must have? You don't know why he went?" she asked softly, a hint of concern in her eyes.

"We had an argument; it's no big deal," Haifa responded defensively. "When he comes back, I will meet him and make things right. Thank you for the loan," she said, turning around to leave.

"Haifa, please don't go to him. How many times does he have to break your heart for you to see he's just playing with you?" her mother implored. "Don't go, stay with us. Leave him for good. We're just beginning our life here."

Haifa turned back to her mother. "I love Aseel. No matter how many times you tell me otherwise, I know he loves me," she said, her voice cold.

"Then ask him to come see you. If you're this sure of your love, tell him to come here and show how much he loves you," her mother insisted. "But he won't, would he?" she asked knowingly.

Haifa didn't reply. She simply walked away, her determination to see Aseel when he returned still burning within her.

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