Clueless Love

We are currently in Italy. Ismail and I are having dinner outside at this beautiful restaurant. The sky is so beautiful, with all the stars shining so bright. I am wearing a satin burgundy mermaid gown. This is our last week in Italy. We spent the first two weeks working and the last week is spent like a vacation.

“So, I have been meaning to ask you,” I say while eating my steak.

“What?” Ismail asks.

“How long have you known Udar was in love with Fatima, and you didn’t tell me?” I ask trying to sound indignant.

“Why?” Ismail says chuckling, “Am I supposed to tell you that?”

“Yes, you are supposed to tell me,” I reply, “Because… we’re friends,” I say realizing it is true. Having gotten to know Ismail better over the past weeks and especially during this trip, we have gotten close, and I enjoy his company more than I ever thought I would. When I think of how we were before and how we are now, I have to laugh. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be sitting down to dine with him and talk like friends. Things do change when you start living with someone, and I am happy it changed for the better. I wouldn’t trade the relationship Ismail and I have right now for anything.

“Since when?” Ismail says laughing.

“Since I decided,” I say smartly not knowing what more to come up with.

“Wow! I thought it takes two people to agree before they become friends,” Ismail replies amused.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“In our case, I make the decision for us.”

“You are not serious, and how did you find out about Udar?” Ismail says crossing his arms.

“One, I am not blind. I can clearly see it in the way he behaves around her. Two, he treats her like she is the most precious thing in the world. The whole world can tell he loves her,” I tell him.

“I didn’t know you were quite the observer,” Ismail says smirking.

“I only observe things that are important, like how your friend is scared to tell Fatima he loves her.”

“He is not scared,” Ismail defends Udar.

“He is scared. And I know how he feels because Fatima loves him, but she is scared to admit it. She feels he might not love her anymore after all this time.”

“That is the same way Udar feels. I told him she was head over heels for him, but he won’t believe me,” Ismail says admitting it.

“I feel we need to do something to help those two, or they will never tell each other how they really feel.”

“What do we do?”

“I was thinking, what if we bring both of them together in a romantic setting, and make sure they tell each other how they feel.”

“That is actually a good plan, and we could do it tomorrow night on the boat ride.”

“Yeah.”

“Umit, I was going to ask you if you could come with me tomorrow to help me pick a gift for my mom,” Ismail says.

“Sure, what time?”

“1 p. m. I will pick you up from your room.”

“Alright.”

The next day Ismail and I go to the jewellery store in Venice. I am wearing a gingham pencil skirt, a white V-neck t-shirt which I tucked into the skirt, brown sandals, a black hajib, and my brown purse. We prayed Dhuhr (afternoon prayer) before going to the store.

As soon as we step inside a lady who works in the store comes up to us. and greets us with a smile. “Good day, what can I help you with?”

“Oh Good, you speak English. We are looking for jewellery sets,” Ismail says.

“Right this way please,” she says leading us to another part of the store.

“This is one of our best collections,” she says showing us a few sets. One set is a Diamond leaf vine necklace with earrings, the second one is a cluster blue sapphire necklace with earrings, and the last one is a sterling silver round pear baguette necklace with earrings.

“Which do you like?” Ismail asks me.

“The diamond leaf vine set will look gorgeous on your mom.”

“I like that one too, we will go with that one,” Ismail tells the lady.

“Wow! This is a really beautiful ring,” I say looking at a black diamond rose gold ring. Black rose rings are the finest rings to me.

“That is one of our finest engagement rings. It would look lovely on you. Don’t you think so, sir?” the lady says thinking Ismail and I are a couple.

“No, we are not together,” Ismail says.

“We are not, but it really is a beautiful ring,” I declare.

“I apologize for assuming and yes, it is a beautiful ring,” the lady agrees.

“It’s fine, and yes, it is.” Ismail nods.

“This is so beautiful. Can I see that?” I ask, pointing at a very lovely ring. The ring has a golden band with a black rose carved on top with diamonds. It’s beautiful. I try it on, and it fits perfectly. I walk over to meet Ismail to show him. He is looking at some wristwatches on the other side.

“What do you think?” I say showing him my finger with the ring.

“It looks lovely on your finger, you should get it,” Ismail says.

“Thank you, I will,” I say and hand her the ring to box it up for me.

“Which of these necklaces do you like?” Ismail asks me, drawing my attention. One is a pearl rose-gold drop crystal necklace, another is a two-layer, white, pink halo round necklace, and the last is a vintage crystal flower necklace.

“I like the crystal flower one, but I thought we already got one for your mom,” I say wondering why he is asking.

“Yes, we did, but this one is not for her. It’s for someone else,” Ismail says smiling.

“Who?” I ask wondering who he is getting it for, and why thinking about her can cause him to smile like that.

“When the time is right, you will know.”

“Hmmm, I wonder who she is?” I question, having no clue to who he is getting it for.

“You will meet her soon,” Ismail says looking very happy. I am curious to know who this lady is, but I will not push him to talk about it now. If he wanted to tell me about her, he would have told me her name.

“If Fatima was here, she would have gotten this ring. It’s so beautiful.” I point at a ring Fatima would like. It is a pear cut diamond halo ring, it’s beautiful.

“Fatima would like a ring like that?” Ismail asks.

“Yes, she would. But I won’t get her that, she already bought a few rings yesterday. I will get her those earrings,” I say picking a pair of sapphire diamond earrings.

“Is there anything else you want?”

“No, they don’t have anything Emma or Abeela would like,” I say walking towards the cashier. I ask the lady at the cashier to pack up my things and the cost.

“Everything together is €20, 000” the lady at the cash register answers.

“Ismail what did you buy like that cost… Wait did you add my things to his?” I ask.

“Yes, I did.” the lady says.

“Oh no, I am paying for mine separately,” I tell her.

“No, you are not. I can’t allow you to pay,” Ismail says handing her his card.

“We are not having this argument right now. How much are mine?” I say giving her my card, but Ismail collets it before she does.

“€5000” the lady says looking from me to Ismail.

“Use my card, please,” he says firmly.

“Ismail, stop doing this. You always pay for me when we go out shopping. That’s why I don’t like going shopping with you. Every time I get something I like you don’t allow me to pay.” I say still trying to get my card, but it’s too late because she has already used his to pay and has bagged our stuff.

“I will just return them when I get back to my hotel room,” I threaten exasperated, walking out of the door.

“You wouldn’t dare.” Ismail says smugly following me out the store.

“Watch me and see,” I threaten walking to the car.

“Are you serious?” Ismail says worried that I would.

“I will think about it,” I say unable to suppress a smile.

“I know you won’t, but I will hang on to them for a while to be sure.”

“You are not serious,” I chuckle and turn to the driver, “William, per favore portaci dove possiamo mangiare una bella pizza. (William, please take us where we can eat some nice pizza)”

“Wow your Italian is getting better, Masha Allah,” Ismail says.

“Shukran Jazeelan. (Thanks a lot) I learnt Italian while I was at university, but it’s not that good. My Spanish is much better, I learnt that at university as well,” I tell Ismail.

“The only languages I can speak are English, Arabic, French, Spanish and a little Italian.”

“Wow that’s a lot of languages and how did you have time to learn all of them?” I ask amazed at how many languages he can speak.

“I learned most while growing up and few at university when I was bored.”

“You learnt languages to entertain yourself?” I ask giggling.

“It might sound funny, but I enjoy learning new things.”

“That is actually a beautiful hobby.”

“Thank you,” Ismail says with a smile.

We arrive at a nice restaurant. We grab a table outside to make the most of the balmy weather. I order chicken pizza while Ismail orders pasta. While eating, I notice a guy in the far corner who’s been looking at Ismail and me for quite a while now.

“Ismail there is a guy in the far corner who has been staring at us all afternoon, and I find it kind of creepy,” I observe.

“It’s probably a paparazzi.” Ismail says not even bothering to look.

“It’s not like you are famous or anything?” I wonder why the paparazzi would be following us.

“I would have you know that I have been on the cover of Forbes magazine before,” Ismail replies.

“Are you serious?” I am astonished. I didn’t know Ismail was so successful that Forbes magazine would put him on the cover.

“Yes, I am,” Ismail smirks.

I pick up my phone to search Ismail, and he is right. He was once featured on the cover of Forbes magazine. He and Udar together. I never knew. The article talks about how they started the company and how grateful they are to Allah for making it a success.

“Wow! Masha Allah, that’s good because it’s not every day you find 25-years-olds who are billionaires,” I grin, realising just how far Ismail and Udar have gone with their business for guys so young.

“Shukran Jazeelan, it’s all thanks to Allah.”