Assalamu alaikum, new week, new update.

Enjoy!

•••

"Hey Shukra, you have killed me." I place my hands on my head. Bushra bursts into laughter while the ode beside her just folds her arms in defiance.

"She was rude." She says, looking away.

"God save you that this is a video call, if not..." I raise my hand as though to slap her. She needs it.

"In summary, you have lost your first job." Bushra says, turning to her twin.

"Which kain, the woman didn't say that o."

"So the bad eye she gave you as you were leaving was what?" I glare at her. "Sha go back to Kauthar."

"No na," she scrunches her face, "That nonsense Salome will laugh at me."

"Hey God," I clap my hands in disbelief, "Is that even a reason? My friend, better get ready and go tomorrow. I will call her to give you back to sewing spot."

Shukra groans like the petulant child that she is, but says nothing afterwards. Better for her.

"Ehen, aunty Meena. How far your own job?" Bushra asks.

"Hmm, nothing yet o." I tell her, not that I have been actively searching. There's a new found laziness that even I can't explain. It's as if I have no energy to do anything other than sleep, wake up, cook, clean, watch TV, chat with Badr during his lunch break, and prepare myself for him before he returns. And then there's the tiny, wriggly thought about Nur, which only happens at night, when Badr is asleep.

"Maybe you're still trying to get used to the environment." Bushra says.

I smile and nod, "Maybe. But it won't be for long. I should be back in the zone soon, in sha Allah."

"Ameen." They chorus.

Some minutes after the call, I stand to stretch my sore limbs from lying for too long. The sitting room curtains are still closed due to the rain that fell last night, or maybe I was just too lazy to open them.

Shaking my head, I open the curtains and windows and rays of sunlight streamed in. As I prepare to sit back down again, I stop.

Why not go for a stroll today? The weather looks welcoming.

With a groan, I force myself into the room to look for a veil that matches my red gown. After settling for a white one and slippers to match, I call Badr to inform him. Unfortunately, he didn't pick. SO I send him a text, which he replies with thumbs up.

I step out into the warm morning. As usual, our estate is as quiet as a grave yard with a vehicle passing every few minutes. Clearly, a lot of people are at work, and even the few open shops and kiosks have just one or two persons inside.

It isn't until I reach the end of our street and cross over to the next that I begin to see more people walking about with bigger shops lining the street. But the one that catches my eye is a shop named House of Adorn. The building stands between a small mart and barber's shop, but its bright purple paint and neon lighted signboard makes it stand out well.

Without thinking, I go in. I gasp at the cold that greets me. Aren't they aware of the last night's rain? The main room is filled with racks and racks of clothes with people moving around, especially three girls in a purple and black polo shirt. I frown. So it's a boutique.

"Hello, welcome." One of the girls say to me, smiling.

"Yes, um, sorry, I thought this is a tailor's shop."

"Oh, it is. Our tailors are in the other room." She points to the hallway by the corner. "Here is just for setting up our finished works so our customers don't disturb them at work."

Oh wow. I nod, impressed. "I'm a tailor too, and I'm new here so..." I smile sheepishly. My job seeking skills are definitely rusty.

"Okay, but you'll have to speak to our madam." She says, directing me to the corner. We enter another purple painted room filled with sewing machines of various types and sizes. My mouth falls open as we pass them. Each female tailor is silently focused on her work. There are also few racks at the corner with attires hung on them: beautiful and intricately designed attires. I surely didn't come here by mistake.

At the end of the room is a refrigerator and a door beside that reads Madam's Office. As the girl knocks, the door opens and two ladies step out. One in a heavily embroidered butterfly gown and the other in a white abaya with a pair of dark shades covering her eyes.

"Ehen, I was about to call you." She says, then her eyes land on me. "Hello." She nods.

"Yes ma, this lady sa-"

"Woah, I know you." The shades girl interrupts, chewing a gum. She lifts off the shades and smiles, "we met yesterday at the mall." She turns to the madam, "the lady I told you I hit with my trolley."

"Oh."

I clear my throat, recalling my awkward action after she apologized, and of course, why. I'm tempted to just leave, end it all here and now. But I like this place. It has just what I need. And I can't afford to be rude to her again. I wasn't raised that way. "Sorry, I didn't get to introduce myself then."

She shrugs, "I figured you were in a hurry."

I nod, then introduce myself to her and the madam. "I've been making clothes since I was fifteen and way before my mother rented her own shop."

The madam nods, "But the thing is that we don't any need tailors now. Our hands are full."

I frown. So if I'm not fated to get a job here, why then am I here? "I understand. Thank you." I smile, then make my way out of the shop.

I release a sigh with my disappointment. What now? I look around.

"Hey," A female voice calls behind me. I turn and see Uyoon. "That was a bummer, sorry."

I smile. "It's okay."

"So I have some sort of offer for you." My eyes widen and I nod for her to continue. "I have a friend in Garki who also runs a massive fashion design house and he's currently training young people. Maybe you should join. You'd get make clothes and market them on his website. And if you get a customer, you'd get paid immediately."

"Wow, that's-"

"I know right?" She interrupts, smiling cheekily. "So, what do you say? I can send you the registration link right now."

"Sure, thank you." I quickly take out my phone in my purse. As I unlock it, my eyes fall on three missed calls from aunty Iftar. Ghen ghen.

"Okay, just give me your number and I'd send it to you on whatsAppp."

I nod, even though a part of me is screaming that this is a bad idea. What if I see Nur? But then, how will I see him? Is he a tailor? I shake my head at my silliness and recite my number for her. Besides, this is about me, not him. And I'm a married woman for God's sake.

"Okay. Saved." She says. "Sending you a message now." I check and see it, then I save it.

"Thank you so much." I tell her.

She shrugs. "No problem, nice meeting you again. And good luck." She waves, ambling toward the other side of the road where a Toyota Camry is parked. I watch as she drives away, wondering if she stays nearby, if Nu-

Nope. Nope, not going there. I dial aunty Iftar's number on my way back. She picks immediately but says nothing. I swallow nervously. "Assalamu alaykum, ma." Still no response. "Sorry, my phone was on silent." A lie.

She sighs, "Why didn't you tell me?"

I frown. "Tell you what?"

"That you're unemployed."

I'm not sure how to reply.

"Anyways, whatever job you may have found, leave it. You'll be working for me, starting tomorrow."

My eyes widen. Is she serious? "Emm..." I clear my throat, "What kind of job is it, ma?"

"Come home and find out." With that, she ends the call. I stare at my phone in disbelief. What is this woman up to? What exactly is her role in my life?