Interviewer: Laila
AuroraBorealis9

A nice young lady walked steadily into view, wearing a beautiful 'shalwar kameez’ and a green sash. “Hello. I'm Laila. It's my turn,” she announced.

“Well, hello, ambassador! It's great to see you here.” I greeted her warmly and helped her to the interviewer seat next to Mel And Akram.

“I don't have many questions, but I'm a moderate feminist so I'd like to ask Melody first.” Laila smiled brightly.

“Oh! Sure.” Melody fidgeted and nodded. Her lips curved into a tight smile.

“Great! Let's roll,” I said and immediately turned on the camera.

Laila fixed her dupatta and cut to the chase with the first question.

“Melody. Do you like traveling?”

“Well, I've never tried… I've been in New York all my life.” Mel shook her head.

“Cooking, cleaning, talking, crying, listening. In descending order, which are you good at?”

“Uh! I think it's... Crying, listening, cleaning, talking, cooking…”

“What do you think about Akram?”

“Er! Like, my opinion of him?” Mel picked at her thumb and her eyes wandered off to her left side, where Akram was seated.

“Yes!” Laila emphasized with a nod.

“He's… A perfect gentleman. Polite. Kind. Talented. Generous. An amazing friend. And so much more. I… uh! I really have no words to describe him. I'll be forever thankful that we've met. ” Mel clasped her fingers in front of her and half-smiled.

“It’s my absolute pleasure,” Akram murmured. He reached out his hand and passed his fingers gently across the back of Mel's hand.

Oh my God! Are my eyes fooling me, or is Akram really tearing up?!

“If you ever get an opportunity, would you like to study?”

“Oh, sure, I would.”

“Great! Hey, Akram can give you that opportunity.” Laila turned to wink at Akram.

Akram ran a hand through his hair. “I would give her anything she wants, but I…”

“No, thank you.” Melody cut him off abruptly. “I'd rather take care of my own education… Someday...”

Akram affirmed with a nod of his head, pressing his lips into a straight line.

Okay! That was awkward!

“Do you think Akram can lie?”

Uh-oh! That's even more awkward!

“Well, I think… anyone can lie.” Mel's eyes darted around, glancing anxiously at the reactions. “The question is; why would he lie?” She bit her bottom lip for a second. “People lie to... hide things they're ashamed of… I don't think Akram has any reason to.”

“Why are you so sure?” Akram smirked.

Mel shrugged. “Intuition, maybe?”

“It's called trust, my dear,” I chimed in, a wide grin on my face.

Yup! I'm so proud of my children!

“I have a few questions for Asha too. Okay?” Laila requested.

“Suuuuure , honey!” Asha barged in, hopping next to Mel and squeezing her petite form beside her on the seat.

Laila got startled for a second and then she chuckled in amusement. “Thanks for this awesome opportunity,” she said and began to shoot her creative questions.

“Do you like the life you're living now or would you like to exchange places with Melody?”

“No way! And who's gonna take care of Melo when I take her place? Huh?” Asha flipped her long hair, her eyes round.

“Good point.” Laila chuckled.

“Why do you work here with your aunt and not somewhere else?”

Asha twisted her lips. “Look, Lilo…”

“It's Laila.”

“But I like Lilo,” Asha whined and jutted her lower lip like a child. “It's like this cute little girl from Lilo and Stitch! Omygosh! I love this movie! I wanted a pet like Stitch and ended up with an overweight Persian cat!”

Laila laughed and and waved her hand. “OK. Whatever. Please, go on.”

“You see, Auntie was my ticket to come here in the first place. My mom wouldn't have let me study abroad if I were alone, so that was the deal; I must live with my aunt and work here to keep things under family supervision.” Asha rolled her eyes and continued on. “She Skypes with me twice a day just to make sure I don't have purple hair or weird tattoos or something… Mothers!” She clicked and pursed her lips.

“Aw! She's sweet and protective!” Laila said, an emotional expression on her face.

“I know, right? I'm so in love with this woman!”

“Describe Akram and Mel in three adjectives.”

“Only three?” Asha gaped in horror.

“Is that bad?” Laila asked, blinking anxiously.

“Ugh! Short descriptions are not my thing! But I'll try.” Asha tapped her lips with her fingers, apparently thinking. “Okay let's see. Mmm! Melo is… Innocent, hardworking and, Melo-dramatic.” she emphasized the last word and giggled.

“And Akram?” Laila nodded her head eagerly.

“Old-fashioned, shy, annnnd Cute!” Asha winked and poked her tongue to the corner of her mouth.

The audience cheered and blew a few whistles. I noticed that Akram was actually blushing.

Boy! This girl has no limits!

“How would your mom describe you?”

“Mom calls me Asha the motor-mouth,” Asha made an exaggerated, contorted face.

I snickered. “That makes sense.”

“Ha ha!” Asha stuck out her tongue.

Laila giggled and didn't comment on the proven universal fact, which meant that she agreed.

“Do you want to do something that's not in your hands? I mean, something impossible for you?”

“Yeah! I so desperately wanna cut my hair!” Asha grasped her thick strands in her fists, pulling them lightly. “My mom swore she'd kill me if I did and I kinda believe her so…”

“How would you handle the situation when you know that Melody is lying to you?”

“So what? I lie all the time.” Asha shrugged.

“Really?!”

“Not really. But since I just told you I lie all the time, does this mean I'm lying right now and I'm actually honest? And if this means I'm honest, how would I lie and tell you that I'm a liar?”

“Huh?!” Laila blinked.

“Mind-blowing, ain't it?” Asha chirped in excitement.

“Totally! I'll need time to process what you just said.” Laila shook her head, her expression stunned.

“Groovy! Now I gotta go clean up the counter and stuff. I want you to grill Superman too.” Asha bounced up and disappeared.

“OK!” Laila began to wring her hands eagerly. “Now, my questions for Akram.”

“Be my guest.” I motioned to her.

“Um, Akram. Do you like your name? “

“Yes... I like my name.” Akram cracked a surprised laugh.

“Duhh! that was a lame question, wasn't it?” Laila chewed her lips in embarrassment. “Hey, let me get ready... A little warm up...Okay!” She rubbed her hands.

“A wanderlust or a bookworm?”

“Bookworm, I guess. Since I'm too lazy to travel anywhere.”

“Melody or Mel?” Laila asked and did a facepalm. “ What is that question?!”

I stifled a laugh. “You should answer this one, son.”

Akram shot me an accusatory look and his glance shifted to Melody's direction.

“I love both,” he muttered.

“He loves both.” I winked.

Akram rubbed his neck and his ears flushed when he realized what he had said. Melody simpered, but she didn't seem to notice the significance of the words.

“Tell us about your family?”

“Ahh! I could take all day,” Akram said, a tender look in his eyes. “Okay… Let me start with my mother and best friend, Safiya Soliman. History teacher, amazing mother, and great cook!”

Akram dropped his gaze, looking at his hands. “My Father, Dr. Ahmed Sadiq. Distinguished Neurosurgeon... Great man.”

“And my baby sister, Jannah. She's ten.” A sweet smile spread all over his face. “She was the answer to my prayers.”

“Aw! Sweet! You're much older!” Laila cooed.

“Yeah! I literally prayed for years to have a brother or sister.” His eyes brightened and I could feel the thought made him really miss her.

“How would you describe yourself?”

Akram looked up, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“That's hard. I’m just… myself.” He chuckled. “I could say, maybe, that… I'm a good kind of a rebel.”

“How's that?” Laila asked, holding her hands together and leaning forward in anticipation.

He scratched his eyebrow briefly. “It's like, I feel different from both cultures - Arab and American. Being different makes you be seen as an oddity.”

“Is it bad?”

“Yes and no.” His forehead creased.

“How come?”

“It’s bad because I'm usually misunderstood. And good because I get to choose the best of both worlds and that makes me sort of... special, I guess.” Akram curved the corner of his mouth and his head drooped.

Poor boy! He doesn't know where he belongs. He's more similar to Melody than she thinks.

Laila stared in awe for a moment, then tried to lighten up the mood.

“Are you hungry? Cause I am. I'll make you eat biryani if you ever visit me at home!”

“That's very generous. Thank you. I would love to try it someday.” Akram looked up with his charming smile back in action.

“Tell us the basic formula of playing the piano.”

Akram relaxed back in his chair, his fingers involuntarily stroking the edge of the table in his famous finger 'workout’.

“My piano teacher used to say this: Learn your chords, keep practicing, and never skip a day for the rest of your life.”

Aha! That's why he never stops! Even when there isn't a piano around!

“Which other instruments you play?”

“Just the keyboard.”

“Have you ever fought with anyone? Duhh! I would love to hear your answer.”

“Actually… I have.” Akram made a wry face. “My father insisted that I'd learn martial arts when I was younger so, yeah.”

“Wow! I've never expected that!” Laila exclaimed, eyes wide.

Akram chuckled. “Me either.”

“Food. Piano. Melody. Which one?”

“Is this a serious question ?” Akram tilted his head in a hint of playfulness.

“Duh! Of course it is!” Laila giggled.

“I think you know the answer.” Akram repressed a smile as he looked sideways at Melody.

“Hahaha. Maybe,” Laila said playfully.

“Could you say it then?” Akram played along.

“I think it's Wolfie,” Mel interrupted and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“I think the answer is Melody.” Laila pointed her index finger, a smirk creeping up to her face.

Akram gave Laila the thumbs-up.

“You choose me over your baby?” Mel narrowed her eyes dubiously.

“You don't believe me?!” Akram curled his fingers and squeezed his fist to his chest dramatically.

“You said your piano was your most valuable possession.” Mel furrowed her brows.

“It's still replaceable… You're not.”

A confused expression appeared on Mel's face, then she looked down without a single word.

Wow! I wonder if she's really oblivious, or she just refuses to accept that he cares for her!

“Trust. Love. Respect. Which one is more important in a relationship?”

“Love,” Akram replied instantly.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because true love is All-inclusive… love is a home for terrific ideals. Respect, trust, loyalty, care, friendship; They're all parts of a whole.”

“That's an awesome explanation!” Laila raised an eyebrow in obvious admiration.

“Thank you, ma'am.” Akram bowed elegantly.

The audience giggled.

“Hey, guys! Easy on the gentleman,” I indicated and the giggles turned into applause.

“Pick two things which you'd buy for Melody on her birthday:
Clothes, make-up, bunny, food, purse, shoes, watch, perfume, decoration piece."

“Actually, uh…” Akram glanced intently at Mel. “I brought something close to a bunny. A stuffed animal.”

“His name's ‘Oh’ and he's a purple alien.” Mel smiled fondly. “He also got me this. I guess it's the closest to a decorative piece.” Mel lifted her hand to her neck and pulled out a silver necklace with a music note dangling from it.

Laila leaned closer to examine the piece of jewelry. “Aw! So beautiful! How much is it?”

Akram's eyebrows flew up.

“Hey, I'm joking!” Laila waved her hands. “You have a good taste.”

“He really does,” Mel agreed.

“When are you going to tell your mom about Mel?” Laila suddenly asked.

“Already have.” Akram smirked.

Mel's eyes widened and she hid her face.

“Great interview. I think I need to recharge my camcorder,” I announced. I was really tired of holding the camera all that time.

“Hey! Author… or can I say, cameraman? I hope questions for the author are allowed.”

“Sure!” I smiled while I massaged my tired arm. “But this one is off the record.”

“No problem.” Laila nodded.

“I just wanted to know. Which character is real or more specifically inspired from a real person?"

“All of them are real, of course!” I uttered confidently. “They’re not inspired from anyone. They are inspiring to other people.”

Looking around carefully, I leaned in and whispered to Laila.

“Please, don't say that in front of them. They believe they're real and I wanna go home in one piece. ”

******

Hello dear ones
Hello Laila

I hope you all liked the answers... Please share your views and most importantly YOUR QUESTIONS in chapter 3!!

Much Love

Most_Bay