LOVE FROM AL KADHIMIYA

Chapter 5 (GUESS WHO's COMING TO DINNER)

-ASAD-

After the surprise visit from my parents, I was nervous about having dinner with them. They can be very analytical with situations, such as two strangers e-loping.

The interrogation at my house was nothing of would is to come at the dinner. Don't get me wrong, my parents are cool, but they can sometimes be extreme. Regardless, Zuleika and I needed to make preparations. My dad texted me that dinner was at 6 pm.

At ten in the morning, I took Zuleika shopping as she was in dire need of some clothes and other miscellaneous items. First, we went to a few clothing stores in Dearborn, Michigan, where most Islamic clothes can be bought. Next, she bought a few abayas, hijab with pins to hold them in place.

Our net stop was Fairlane Mall. Zuleika's eyes lit up when we entered the stores. We had time, so we did some window shopping.

Zuleika found a few clothes at JC Penny's, which was modest. Next, we stopped at Bath and Body Works for Zuleika to buy lotions and body spritz.

"Mashallah! These smell wonderful. Which one should I get? "Zuleika presented to me three fragrances of "Waikiki Beach Coconut, Black Cherry Merlot, and Champagne toast.

"They all smelled great," I replied.

"can't decide which one I should get?" She asked me as she continued to smell, trying to figure out which smelled the best.

"Get them all," I replied. Zuleika's eyes lit up.

"Are you sure?" Zuleika asked for reassurance.

"Yeah, why not," I replied with a smile.

"Shukran (Thank you.)" Zuleika replied.

"No problem. Get anything you want," I stated. I made sure Zuleika got the full set; each consisted of a body wash and body spritz for each. The last place we stopped was at Icing, where she bought a few trinkets such as bracelets, beaded necklaces, and earrings.

After a few hours of walking, we started to get hungry. It serves us right to skip eating breakfast. The only restaurant in the mall that served halal food was a place called Shwarrmas'. She ordered chicken shawarma and a fattoush salad. I decided to have the vegetarian delight platter that consisted of falafel, grape leaves, hummus, tabouli, pita bread, and baba ganoush. We both had lemonade. When we received our order and sat down to enjoy our meal. We talked for a few hours, mainly trying to get Zuleika financially established. We discussed options about her school and finding work if she chose to do so.

"Zuleika, what do you want to do now since you have an opportunity to pursue a better life," I asked.

"I thought about going to school, but I never was giving a chance," I replied.

"I think you should go to college."

"College right now may not be a good idea. I did not finish junior high school." Zuleika replied with embarrassment. I totally forgot she married at a very young age and had dropped out.

"You can start fresh. You can start by enrolling in basic English classes. We'll start there."

"What about a job? I do want to work?" Zuleika replied.

"You really are not going to find work that will hire with good pay without a high school diploma. What job skills do you have?"

"I really don't have any. But I like to do makeup. I am really good at doing henna!?"

"Okay, that's a start."

"You think I can really make any money? Cosmetics, of course. Especially with henna. Muslim women here in our community love henna artwork. So you can make a good profit of around Eed."