How Love Happens - Chapter 24

 

The next day, Aseel finally replied, and Haifa held a flicker of hope that he might explain the previous day's silence or address the matter concerning Rizu. However, her hope quickly faded as his message only mentioned his whereabouts and how amazing his trip was going. There was no mention of whether he missed her or any apology for not responding.

Haifa's initial sadness transformed into anger. She was fed up with always being the one waiting for him, yearning for something he seemed unable to provide. She was tired of being the obedient girl, hoping that Aseel would eventually notice her efforts. She had had enough. Haifa decided to use the money her mother had loaned her and contacted the people on Rasdhoo for a drone shoot. They had scheduled her for the next week.

Haifa chose not to respond to Aseel's messages and removed the wristband, placing it in one of her wardrobe drawers. She made a firm decision not to wait around and be miserable. Instead, she resolved to enjoy her life, and if Aseel wanted to be a part of it, he would have to catch up with her.

That night, the three girls dressed up for their girls' night out. Haifa wore a simple teal-colored kurta paired with skinny jeans. Her light green head wrap had tiny yellow flowers and was styled to drape down one shoulder. Saira donned a knee-length ruby-red tunic with long sleeves, paired with leggings. Her head wrap was a light shade of grey.

Aish was the showstopper in her peach sequin-embellished, long-sleeve maxi dress. Her hair cascaded loosely around her shoulders. She completed her look with cream-colored heels and a rhinestone bedazzled clutch.

The girls arrived at the restaurant, and it was just as glamorous as it had been advertised. The exterior was adorned with elegant lighting, and waiters moved gracefully through the crowd, serving the guests who were eagerly awaiting the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A small podium with a stage had been set up, and people from the island and neighboring areas had dressed in their finest attire to attend the event.

After a brief ceremony, the owner warmly welcomed everyone. The interior was as opulent as the exterior, with glittering drapes, drum chandeliers, and silver and gold balloons. It took them about half an hour, but they managed to secure a table.

"This is really top class. I didn't expect it to be this grand," Aish remarked as she settled into her seat at the four-seater table.

"I know," Saira added. "Hey, look who it is." She grinned at someone behind Haifa.

Haifa turned around to find Zishan strolling toward them with a smile. The lights cast intriguing shadows over his handsome face, and his perfectly styled hair accentuated fell softly to his forehead. He was dressed in a crisp blue shirt and dark pants. She felt a skip in her heartbeat when he smiled at her.

"Hello, glad to see you all here," he greeted them as he stood near Haifa's side.

Aish beamed at him and gestured to the seat next to her. "Come, sit. We just got the table."

As Zishan took his seat, Haifa quirked an eyebrow at Aish, "Yes, it's lovely to see you here." She said to Zishan.

"There's a line for cakes, so you guys check the menu," Saira said as she stood up. "Hold the table. I'll go with Aish to see what cakes they have." She grabbed Aish's hand, pulling her to stand.

“Why do you both have to go?” Haifa asked mischievously eyeing them, trying not to laugh at their obvious charade.

Aish replied quickly, "Oh, I want to see what they've got. Don't worry, we won't be long." She smiled and took off with Saira.

Haifa turned toward Zishan, leaning her hands on the table. "They set us up, didn't they? Tell the truth,” She playfully demanded.

Zishan leaned in closer and replied, "I'm not at liberty to deny nor confirm." His solemn tone was equally playful.

Haifa burst out laughing, “I knew it. They think they are so smart but I am more surprised at why you would agree”

Zishan chuckled, “Who am I to say no to dinner with three beautiful girls?" he replied, "Although I'm still not saying they asked me to come."

Haifa rolled her eyes, "Sure," she replied amused.

"It's pretty nice here, isn't it? Do you want to pick out a cake or go straight for a meal?" Zishan asked, taking a menu.

Haifa opened her cake menu without interest, "I'm not much of a sweet tooth… They have Basque Burnt Cheesecake! It's the best cheesecake. I love it." her eyes widened as she exclaimed.

Zishan laughed and said, "I'll let them know." He then stood up and walked towards her traitorous friends who were still in line, secretly watching the two of them. In a few minutes, he returned to his seat, making himself comfortable across from Haifa.

"This place is really beautiful, isn't it?" Zishan asked. "Great decorations. Did you see the photo corner?"

"It is beautiful. Though if it were me, I wouldn't use balloons. I would rather go with flowers," Haifa replied. "They had so many options, and they went with red décor on the outside and gold and silver on the inside. I mean, don't get me wrong, those are very classic looks. But they could be more creative. Besides, it should be themed inside and out, with the same color palette in different shades or maybe one or two pairings. It's all about creating a harmonious atmosphere." She shook her head.

Zishan cocked his head and asked, "How would you do it?" His eyes twinkled with interest.

Haifa thought for a moment and replied, "I really love fairy lights, a minimalistic theme with lots of flowers. Or maybe go all white, like their name board outside, something less glittering. I know I might be looking at too many Pinterest wedding pins, but that's just my view." She laughed. Then her face lit up, "Oh, and those masquerade feather decorations, I love those. They give it a real Renaissance-era feel."

Zishan was amazed and said, "You are just so fascinating, you know that?"

Haifa blushed and replied, "I'm not really. I just spend way too much time on my phone." She averted her eyes and played with her place settings. "Have you got any update on your feature?" she asked, changing the subject.

Zishan responded, "Yeah, they were pretty excited. I guess we don't have much news around here. I informed my supervisor about it and he was delighted. I was worried for a while he would oppose." He continued, "I have one scheduled for Saturday. Would you go with us?"

Haifa looked at him shyly and said, "They would probably have their own camera crew, I doubt you would need me for anything."

He looked into her eyes and said, "I would love it if you could come. For moral support." He smiled warmly, "It was your idea in the first place. You should be there with me," he replied softly.

As the moment lingered, Haifa's heart rate began to accelerate. She knew she had to tell him about her boyfriend. It was wrong of her to lead him on, making him think she was available for him to court her. Yet somehow, the words wouldn't make it out of her mouth. She felt so wonderful being with him, sharing and talking about everything. He made her feel like she mattered to him, like she was special.

"I would be there," she replied before she could stop herself. "You've already given so much of your time to help me with my work, never left my side. I wouldn't leave yours now," she added with a smile that widened as she gazed at the handsome man who was looking at her with such adoration that she felt like crying.

Haifa knew she was a real sucker for romance, she had yearned for it from Aseel for so long she was starving. She had longed for the kind of romance she saw in movies and read about in books, but it had always been missing in her relationship with Aseel. sure, he would go on dates with her and maybe take her for rides on his motorbike. She sometimes sees people carrying bouquets of flowers or beautifully wrapped gifts for their loved ones. And she felt part of her missed that.

She had given him gifts on various occasions but he wouldn’t give her anything. He wouldn’t even take her on romantic dates, he would opt for open-air crowded places. Like the places you go with your buddies. He rarely did anything special for her, opting for casual outings and never surprising her with flowers or thoughtful gifts. These thoughts about Aseel made her feel sad, she pushed them aside, determined not to let them overshadow the festive night.

Haifa lowered her gaze to the table. Their hands were so close, and she saw him move his fingers closer, grazing hers. Tingles of intense emotions shot through her. It was a wonderful feeling. She wondered how it would feel to hold his hand, to touch his skin. She was so consumed in the moment that she felt a strong impulse to link her fingers with his.

Aseel was never comfortable with public displays of affection, and he had even refrained from holding her hand when they were outside. Haifa had secretly yearned for those moments of intimacy and hoped he would initiate it. She found something deeply romantic about the simple act of holding hands. However, she never expressed her desire when he refused the first time. Since she wasn't particularly keen on excessive PDA either, she hadn't brought it up again. For the most part, it was fine with her.

She understood not everyone was romantic at heart. As she was a classic romantic to her bones, she understood there would be people opposite to that. Aseel for instance was not a romantic man and she did not want to demand something from him that wasn’t his style just to satisfy her. She was fine.

"You have no idea how much it means to hear you say that. Just having you by my side is everything I would ever want," his soft words carried toward her like a gentle caress. Haifa lifted her gaze and met Zishan’s eyes, her heart clenched. The promise and love in his eyes melted her heart.

"Okay, I've got the cakes," Aish announced as she arrived with a tray, her attention focused on the food she was carrying. Haifa and Zishan both quickly jolted, pulling their hands away. Zishan stood up to assist her with the tray. "Saira is coming with her friend, bringing the rest."

Aish sat down heavily and immediately pulled her plate of cakes closer. Within moments, the table was filled with cakes and coffee. Saira took a seat next to Zishan, while Firey pulled up another chair.

“I don’t understand why they built such a big restaurant with such elegance,” Saira commented. “Do they really expect people from this island to come here every day?”

Firey explained, “Oh no, they are not just targeting this island. There are like five islands a fifteen to thirty-minute ferry ride away. Every island is now opening new guesthouses every day. They've recognized a developing trend and are the first to seize this market opportunity. I think it's a very smart business strategy.”

Aish looked confused, “Why would tourists go to guesthouses when there are such classy resorts?” she asked.

Zishan replied, “Once upon a time, tourists were more inclined to the resort idea. The issue was that they had to spend a lot for the trip and to stay at a resort. Now, more people want an authentic Maldivian experience, and tourists at resorts only get a luxurious hotel vacation. With guesthouses, more people can enjoy a Maldivian dream vacation at a lower cost. Every island has the beaches and the sunny life.”

“That's pretty smart,” Haifa said, her mind blown. She had never seen it that way.

Firey nodded in agreement, “Plus, it helps the island as more income is distributed among regular people. I mean, resort owners are millionaires, right? Guesthouses can be operated by you or me. We just need a nicely built residence and good customer service.”

Saira playfully teased Firey, "Are you secretly thinking about starting your own guest house business?"

He chuckled and replied, "Well, why not? This seems like the perfect time to kickstart a business. We're young, we understand the current trends, and we have the potential market right here."

The night passed quickly as they all enjoyed each other's company, filled with merriment and laughter. They barely made it to the last ferry.

They were still in high spirits when the boys dropped them off and they entered the house. Haifa felt wonderful, free of stress or sadness. She didn't even bother to check her phone that night. She settled into her bed and fell fast asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

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Have a wonderful day!