Thursday, October 6th, 2016...
It was my first day at work and I did not expect it to be this hectic. I was swamped with tasks I needed to complete, but the good thing was the tasks really made time fly.
"Fajer, everything okay?" my boss, Mr. Michael said as he stopped by. He was a tall, large guy with gray hair and a thick english accent.
"Everything is perfect, I'll place the reports on your desk first thing in the morning," I said with an assertive smile.
"That's great, thank you," he said before he went on to check on my other coworkers. I was literally the only Kuwaiti there. The other co-president was Kuwaiti too, I'd met him at the interview but I'd yet to see him again here. I had to really represent my nationality well.
Everyone started packing up and I realized it was 5 already. That was it? It went way better than I'd thought.
Khalid: shloun ildawam?
I texted the girls first that I'd be arriving to the gym pretty early as it was just seven minutes away from me.
Me: I'll call you itha you're free
Khalid called me just as I was shutting down my computer.
"اهلا"
I said, grabbing my Celine bag.
"ها شلون الشغل؟"
He asked me.
"ناطرة الإجازة من الحين"
I confessed and he chuckled.
"انزين يالله عزمينا انا وياسمين على اول معاش"
He said.
"حبيبي انا خل اعوّض اللي صرفته اول بدّعت"
I replied.
"اخذي وقتج بس عزمينا ها"
He said, sounding busy with something else.
"ان شاء الله، وينك الحين؟"
I asked him.
"رايح اخذ قهوة قبل لا ارد البيت"
He said.
"احح وما تقولي؟"
I said with a smile, joining my coworkers by the elevator.
"شسوّي خلاص داومتي"
He teased.
"انا اعلمك ان ما رحت الحين ايبلي قهوة"
I teased back.
"خلاص الاحد انا عازمج"
He said.
"Can't wait," I said with a chuckle before we both hung up.
I got into the elevator and walked to my car. I decided to grab coffee later as I wanted to workout on a light stomach. I didn't know where to go anyway.
I drove to the building that contained my gym, parked, grabbed my gym bag and walked to the elevator leading to the gym.
Fouz: ba6leb mu3ajanat 7ag il3asha ta3alaay
Me: gym. ayeech at 7:30 ok?
Fouz: khoush
The elevator arrived at my floor and I walked out of it to enter the gym.
"Good afternoon Miss Fajer," the receptionist welcomed me as usual.
"Good afternoon Irma," I said with a smile as I walked to the changing area, where I got dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a fitted black shirt. I changed from my heeled sandals to trainers and pulled my hair up in a pony tail.
I locked my gym bag in the locker and went to the usual machines to warm up before the Thursday spinning class.
I slowed down as I saw Muneera, Danah's sister jogging on the treadmill. I couldn't imagine what Danah had told her. Why was Danah so pissed that we'd met?
I contemplated whether to talk to Muneera or not. I decided since Danah was not here I'd go for it.
I walked towards her now as she slowed her pace, still not realizing I was walking up to her.
"Hi," I said, stepping on the treadmill next to her.
"Hi," she said as she slowed down the treadmill to a walk. Beads of sweat were formed on her forehead and her face was red from jogging so much. She also tensed a bit before looking around.
Why did Danah scare her so much?
"Sorry ga6a3tech," I said with a chuckle and she shook her head.
"لا عادي"
She replied with a smile, I noticed she was trying hard not to pant.
"واسفة اني قلت حق دانة اني تعرفت عليج...ماتوقعتها بتنفعل جذي"
I said, hoping it wasn't too awkward.
"لا عادي"
She said with a smile, still walking. I smiled back.
"يالله عيّل اخليج"
I said before I stepped off the treadmill to go to the elliptical. I hated the elliptical, but I wanted to make it seem that I didn't want to, for her sake, keep my distance in case Danah would show up. I could defend myself, but god only knows what she had to endure from her.
I spent five minutes on the elliptical before I quit and headed to the lounge to meet up with the girls.
"Oh hi," I said to Lulu, who was also surprisingly there early. She looked pretty in her pink shirt and black yoga pants with her curly hair in a high top bun, revealing her feminine baby face.
"Hello belmuwathafa!" she said as she hugged me. "Akheeran?"
"شفتي شلون؟"
I told her as I sat down next to her.
I began to talk to her about work but paused for two seconds when I saw Muneera leave the gym. I held my breath, I really hoped Danah wouldn't be walking out of the elevator at the same time Muneera was about to get in.
Lulu looked like she didn't sense anything was fishy. How could she? I was Danah's best friend and it all happened under my nose.
The remaining three girls, Mariam, Danah, and Sarah finally arrived.
"مبروووك"
They said, each taking their turn to hug me. I hugged Danah back but this time it didn't feel so warm and I wondered if she felt the same way too.
"الله يبارك فيكم"
I said.
"امبيه جنه مال نكشت بالكلاس ونكملها سوالف؟"
Sarah said as she sat down next to me and I chuckled.
"يالله عاد انا وراي معجنات قومي قومي"
I teased, standing up. It was almost six.
Lulu extended her hand for me to pull, I definitely wanted to skip the class. I felt so lazy too.
I pulled her, almost bumping into Mariam behind me and got into the classroom.
"Worth the wait?" Danah asked me with a smile.
"Too soon, bas I think so," I said, smiling back.
We sat on our seats and the instructor walked in, greeting us "her usuals".
We began to spin now and I focused my thoughts to my breathing, plus the time left to the end of the class.
I almost gave out. How was I supposed to do this after work three times a week?
How did Danah even manage?
Yet besides our usual Wednesday coffee meet up, spinning classes were our guaranteed way of being together. All five of us. Danah didn't come to our coffee meet ups as she was busy with her own business. Spinning was her idea of fun.
If I left then I didn't know if I would ever belong to the group anymore. It shouldn't be this dramatic...but those little absences really added up in the end.
I wasn't willing to take that risk.
*
I arrived at my sister's house where she was sitting in the ground floor living room with at least three boxes of pastries as she'd promised.
"الحمدلله لعبت رياضة"
I said as I plopped down on the couch next to her.
"شخبار الدوام؟"
She asked me.
"اذا احد سألني هالسؤال مرة ثانية برجّع"
I said, grabbing half a labna pastry.
She still expected an answer so I gave her the copy/paste answer I'd given everyone else.
I didn't tell her Abdullah recommended it or had anything to do with me getting hired. No one had to know.
I chewed slowly as I contemplated whether or not to tell her everything about Danah. I needed her opinion.
"فوز...ابي رايج بشي بس تكفين بيني وبينج"
I said and she lowered her fa6ayer, ready to place all her attention on me.
"وتعرفت عليها، فقلت حق دانة اني تعرفت عليها وفجأة اشوف ويها قلب ويهها احمر gymشفت اخت دانة الصغيرة بال"
I said.
"لحظة لحظة...طول هالسنين ما تعرفتي على اختها؟"
She asked me, surprised.
"لا، اختها حيل صغيرة يعني ١٦ جذي"
I said.
"فالمهم شفت دانة تشخلها بالتلفون ما سمعت شقالت بس واضح كانت معصبة"
I added.
"وفوق هذا قالولي نجلا وشيخة ان شافوها هي...وحمد ريّل شهد يعطون بعض نظرات ومادري شنو"
I said, leaving out the almost-physical part.
She remained quiet.
"...والمشكلة ماقدر اكلمها لأن احس دانة الصجيّة مو نفس اللي اعرفها...مادري شلون غطّت عني كل هذا"
I said.
"قاعدة تصدميني"
She said and I looked at my hands. Was I wrong for asking help?
"شوفي انتي صيري طبيعية معاها الحين ولا تبينينلها ان في شي غلط"
She said and I listened intently.
"سأليها مثلا ليش اختها فجأة استحت منج جنج ما تدرين يمكن تقولج السبب ليش ما تبيج تعرفينها"
She said.
"وحمد؟"
I asked her...that was even worse.
Fouz sighed.
"قوليلها انج سمعتي كيت وكيت وبس، على الأقل يمكن تحسب انج معاها"
She said.
"اي يمكن"
I said.
"بس ديري بالج منها فجور"
Fouz said as she stood up and I nodded.
That was the piece of advice that I was waiting for.
It was my first day at work and I did not expect it to be this hectic. I was swamped with tasks I needed to complete, but the good thing was the tasks really made time fly.
"Fajer, everything okay?" my boss, Mr. Michael said as he stopped by. He was a tall, large guy with gray hair and a thick english accent.
"Everything is perfect, I'll place the reports on your desk first thing in the morning," I said with an assertive smile.
"That's great, thank you," he said before he went on to check on my other coworkers. I was literally the only Kuwaiti there. The other co-president was Kuwaiti too, I'd met him at the interview but I'd yet to see him again here. I had to really represent my nationality well.
Everyone started packing up and I realized it was 5 already. That was it? It went way better than I'd thought.
Khalid: shloun ildawam?
I texted the girls first that I'd be arriving to the gym pretty early as it was just seven minutes away from me.
Me: I'll call you itha you're free
Khalid called me just as I was shutting down my computer.
"اهلا"
I said, grabbing my Celine bag.
"ها شلون الشغل؟"
He asked me.
"ناطرة الإجازة من الحين"
I confessed and he chuckled.
"انزين يالله عزمينا انا وياسمين على اول معاش"
He said.
"حبيبي انا خل اعوّض اللي صرفته اول بدّعت"
I replied.
"اخذي وقتج بس عزمينا ها"
He said, sounding busy with something else.
"ان شاء الله، وينك الحين؟"
I asked him.
"رايح اخذ قهوة قبل لا ارد البيت"
He said.
"احح وما تقولي؟"
I said with a smile, joining my coworkers by the elevator.
"شسوّي خلاص داومتي"
He teased.
"انا اعلمك ان ما رحت الحين ايبلي قهوة"
I teased back.
"خلاص الاحد انا عازمج"
He said.
"Can't wait," I said with a chuckle before we both hung up.
I got into the elevator and walked to my car. I decided to grab coffee later as I wanted to workout on a light stomach. I didn't know where to go anyway.
I drove to the building that contained my gym, parked, grabbed my gym bag and walked to the elevator leading to the gym.
Fouz: ba6leb mu3ajanat 7ag il3asha ta3alaay
Me: gym. ayeech at 7:30 ok?
Fouz: khoush
The elevator arrived at my floor and I walked out of it to enter the gym.
"Good afternoon Miss Fajer," the receptionist welcomed me as usual.
"Good afternoon Irma," I said with a smile as I walked to the changing area, where I got dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a fitted black shirt. I changed from my heeled sandals to trainers and pulled my hair up in a pony tail.
I locked my gym bag in the locker and went to the usual machines to warm up before the Thursday spinning class.
I slowed down as I saw Muneera, Danah's sister jogging on the treadmill. I couldn't imagine what Danah had told her. Why was Danah so pissed that we'd met?
I contemplated whether to talk to Muneera or not. I decided since Danah was not here I'd go for it.
I walked towards her now as she slowed her pace, still not realizing I was walking up to her.
"Hi," I said, stepping on the treadmill next to her.
"Hi," she said as she slowed down the treadmill to a walk. Beads of sweat were formed on her forehead and her face was red from jogging so much. She also tensed a bit before looking around.
Why did Danah scare her so much?
"Sorry ga6a3tech," I said with a chuckle and she shook her head.
"لا عادي"
She replied with a smile, I noticed she was trying hard not to pant.
"واسفة اني قلت حق دانة اني تعرفت عليج...ماتوقعتها بتنفعل جذي"
I said, hoping it wasn't too awkward.
"لا عادي"
She said with a smile, still walking. I smiled back.
"يالله عيّل اخليج"
I said before I stepped off the treadmill to go to the elliptical. I hated the elliptical, but I wanted to make it seem that I didn't want to, for her sake, keep my distance in case Danah would show up. I could defend myself, but god only knows what she had to endure from her.
I spent five minutes on the elliptical before I quit and headed to the lounge to meet up with the girls.
"Oh hi," I said to Lulu, who was also surprisingly there early. She looked pretty in her pink shirt and black yoga pants with her curly hair in a high top bun, revealing her feminine baby face.
"Hello belmuwathafa!" she said as she hugged me. "Akheeran?"
"شفتي شلون؟"
I told her as I sat down next to her.
I began to talk to her about work but paused for two seconds when I saw Muneera leave the gym. I held my breath, I really hoped Danah wouldn't be walking out of the elevator at the same time Muneera was about to get in.
Lulu looked like she didn't sense anything was fishy. How could she? I was Danah's best friend and it all happened under my nose.
The remaining three girls, Mariam, Danah, and Sarah finally arrived.
"مبروووك"
They said, each taking their turn to hug me. I hugged Danah back but this time it didn't feel so warm and I wondered if she felt the same way too.
"الله يبارك فيكم"
I said.
"امبيه جنه مال نكشت بالكلاس ونكملها سوالف؟"
Sarah said as she sat down next to me and I chuckled.
"يالله عاد انا وراي معجنات قومي قومي"
I teased, standing up. It was almost six.
Lulu extended her hand for me to pull, I definitely wanted to skip the class. I felt so lazy too.
I pulled her, almost bumping into Mariam behind me and got into the classroom.
"Worth the wait?" Danah asked me with a smile.
"Too soon, bas I think so," I said, smiling back.
We sat on our seats and the instructor walked in, greeting us "her usuals".
We began to spin now and I focused my thoughts to my breathing, plus the time left to the end of the class.
I almost gave out. How was I supposed to do this after work three times a week?
How did Danah even manage?
Yet besides our usual Wednesday coffee meet up, spinning classes were our guaranteed way of being together. All five of us. Danah didn't come to our coffee meet ups as she was busy with her own business. Spinning was her idea of fun.
If I left then I didn't know if I would ever belong to the group anymore. It shouldn't be this dramatic...but those little absences really added up in the end.
I wasn't willing to take that risk.
*
I arrived at my sister's house where she was sitting in the ground floor living room with at least three boxes of pastries as she'd promised.
"الحمدلله لعبت رياضة"
I said as I plopped down on the couch next to her.
"شخبار الدوام؟"
She asked me.
"اذا احد سألني هالسؤال مرة ثانية برجّع"
I said, grabbing half a labna pastry.
She still expected an answer so I gave her the copy/paste answer I'd given everyone else.
I didn't tell her Abdullah recommended it or had anything to do with me getting hired. No one had to know.
I chewed slowly as I contemplated whether or not to tell her everything about Danah. I needed her opinion.
"فوز...ابي رايج بشي بس تكفين بيني وبينج"
I said and she lowered her fa6ayer, ready to place all her attention on me.
"وتعرفت عليها، فقلت حق دانة اني تعرفت عليها وفجأة اشوف ويها قلب ويهها احمر gymشفت اخت دانة الصغيرة بال"
I said.
"لحظة لحظة...طول هالسنين ما تعرفتي على اختها؟"
She asked me, surprised.
"لا، اختها حيل صغيرة يعني ١٦ جذي"
I said.
"فالمهم شفت دانة تشخلها بالتلفون ما سمعت شقالت بس واضح كانت معصبة"
I added.
"وفوق هذا قالولي نجلا وشيخة ان شافوها هي...وحمد ريّل شهد يعطون بعض نظرات ومادري شنو"
I said, leaving out the almost-physical part.
She remained quiet.
"...والمشكلة ماقدر اكلمها لأن احس دانة الصجيّة مو نفس اللي اعرفها...مادري شلون غطّت عني كل هذا"
I said.
"قاعدة تصدميني"
She said and I looked at my hands. Was I wrong for asking help?
"شوفي انتي صيري طبيعية معاها الحين ولا تبينينلها ان في شي غلط"
She said and I listened intently.
"سأليها مثلا ليش اختها فجأة استحت منج جنج ما تدرين يمكن تقولج السبب ليش ما تبيج تعرفينها"
She said.
"وحمد؟"
I asked her...that was even worse.
Fouz sighed.
"قوليلها انج سمعتي كيت وكيت وبس، على الأقل يمكن تحسب انج معاها"
She said.
"اي يمكن"
I said.
"بس ديري بالج منها فجور"
Fouz said as she stood up and I nodded.
That was the piece of advice that I was waiting for.
yummaaa min dana waraha balwa a7is
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