How Love

ed sigh and decided to send him a text instead. Yet, there was no response. She rolled her eyes in exasperation; Aseel's habit of not replying w

eeling the need to talk to someone. Haif

1! NEED

came almos

Sure, c

g berry blush chiffon burqa scarf around her head, following a new style she had picked up from a TikTok tutorial. With meticulous attention, she applied lipstick and eyeliner, then grabbed her bag and cautiou

ver Haifa went out, she had to jot down where she was headed and when she expected to return. This way, her mother wouldn't need to c

bout avoiding a confrontation with her mother at the moment. Her mother had never been overly controlling, not even during her high school years. As long as she was

e past twenty years in a lift-less building with their apartment on the 4th floor had b

s had lost their charm, but the motorbike held up well. Her face twisted in annoyance when she spotted another bike crammed up next to hers, encroaching on he

ke. Grumbling under her breath about their lack of parking manners, she squeezed onto her own ride. A few

les. Her mind was still spinning from the bombshell her mother had dropped earlier. The idea of starting a new life in that unfamiliar place felt overwhelming and nonsensica

had to swerve to avoid crashing into the vehicle's tail light. The driver seemed to be in a hurry and showed little

hicles were a rarity and bicycles were the primary mode of transportation. As a result, the road system was designed to

distance of barely a kilometer. She mused that she could have walked faster. Parking was a nightmare, and she ended up parking three blocks away from her destination. Haifa walked down the familiar but uneven

that her father later developed into a home. It wasn't overly spacious, but it radiated warmth and the sense of a true family abode. Haifa knocked

, Aish's voice cal

l face were half hidden behind her large glasses, which apparently was her style. She wore a loose purple shirt over her custom

the large online shop Shein, which had started shipping to Maldives. Haifa didn't have enough allowance to reach the $200 limit for free shipping, so she usually piggybacked on Aish's orders. Fortunate

nce. "What happened?" Aish dropped the package and rushed to her side. "I've

breaking, "Mamma said we have t

omprehend. "For how long?

g for good," she said, watch

NO! You can't go! What about the job? What ab

zines in the city. They had spent days stalking their website and social media, crafting the perfect resume.

or someone without prior experience in the field," she sa

t listen to me," Aish had been Haifa's friend for so long that they had become like

decides something," Aish said, letting her head fall back onto the

onvince her to let you stay," Aish sug

aifa replied, her voice tinged with dramatic despair. "I can't leave her now, Aish. She's do

elieve her. I think now that my studies are over and our lease is up for renewal next month, she's finally made up her mind." She explained, a hint of resignation in her tone. "Mamma has been bringing up

I don't know what to d

ce scrunched up in thought. "I hardly doubt I can change her mind once she has decided

howing her that it's not the life you want. Live there for a while and make her thi

a bit, show her I made an effort, and then let her see that I don't belong. Act like I'm struggling, an

ur mother loves you too much to see you unhappy. You can tough it out fo

ir scheming. "But that's not enough. I need to find ways to make her realize that coming back is the better option,"

ld you that your aunts and uncles wanted her to come back after your dad passed, but they refused to help out if she stayed here?" A mischievous gl

grin forming on her lips

g up with mystery plots so quickly? Is that your secret all-day activity?" Haifa quirk

to know what's happening up here," she said, tapping her temple with her

sappointment. "He didn't answer my call, probably caught u

ll. Haifa held up her hand, "Please not you too, I think Mamma wants to take me to Vavathi

ish said pointedly. "You just think you ar

It's not huh, so tell me,

cheesy cliches? When it starts to happen in real

ou have dated?" Haifa asked, her tone teasing. "H

w what I want," Aish explained. "And my first big no-no is when a pe

Haifa's pho

can't talk.

smile and her heart flut

K. I l

e cared about her; he wasn't very romantic in a tradition

Yeah, he's taking me f

lied without showi

but he has changed. And I lo

, "Here, open these and try the tops so I can tell whi

don't like him doesn't mean I would let you go