"I already told you not to worry," Umaymah's fingers were wrapped firmly around the plastic cup that held a latte. "I will get home safely, no need to call a cab." She picked up her steps.

The more she walked, the farther the distance between her and the bus station became.

There was a millisecond of silence on the other end before his voice came again.

"Are you sure?" He asked for the tenth time.

"Yes Salman, I'm sure. Now get back to work and stop getting yourself all worked up unnecessarily, bye." She immediately ended the call before he could complete his statement.

The clouds fumed in the sky and absorped lot of moisture as if storing it to lash at someone anytime soon.

The roaring thunders warned passersby to walk a bit faster with the aid of the cool gust of breeze pushing them to increase their steps.

Umaymah gently kicked open the front door to Samar's.
She had her tote bag over her shoulder, one of her hands held tight to her laptop and phone while the other held the plastic Starbucks cup.

"Assalamualaikum." She entered the barely filled restaurant and snuggled into her regular spot.

As soon as she placed the items in her hands on the table, Samar approached her.

"Wa alaikumu Salam dear,"  he looked behind her as if waiting for someone to enter again. "How you been?" His signature grin appeared as he wiped his hands on his apron.

"Alhamdullilah, I just stopped by to get a few things done." She opened the screen of the laptop and returned his smile.

She stopped by at the restaurant to self edit her already completed first draft.

For the second time.

The competition prize came with an editing package. Much editing of the manuscript wasn't required but, 'a little bit of editing won't hurt' Umaymah would always tell herself.

Samar nodded slowly while still looking behind her.

"Salman has lot of work to be done at the office, that's why he's not here." Umaymah answered Samar's unasked question.

"oh-"his eyes returned to her face. "Go on, I will get your usual." He smiled and strolled for the metallic double doors.

After what seemed like the twinkle of an eye, Samar emerged from behind the doors with a lady who was holding a tray by his side.

"Here you go." Samar offered when the lady beside him placed the tray in front of Umaymah.

"Thank you." Umaymah appreciated before pulling out her debit card.

"No, don't pay, free..." Samar told her.

The slant droplets of water dropping from the crying sky gently hit the roof of the restaurant.

Since Salman suggested that they check out Samar's restaurant that first day, Samar had been extremely nice.

He gave them free ladoos and a couple of traditional Indian sweet immediately after they paid for their meal.

He was even the one who opted to voluntarily make extra naan breads for Umaymah when he noticed how much she loved and enjoyed it.

He was such a nice old man.

"Sana, my daughter." Samar placed his hand on Sana's shoulder.

She had a slightly plumpy stature which complemented her round and curvy hips.
Sana was dressed in a traditional attire of a knee length shirt that held side slits and colourful embroidery threads alongside a baggy trousers that swallowed the shape of her legs.

A light pink kashmir was wrapped into a hijab around her round face.

"Salam." Sana nodded towards Umaymah's direction.

"Wa alaikumu Salam Sana, I'm Umaymah and it's nice to meet you."

Samar glanced at his daughter with a smile before turning back to Umaymah and blurted out words Sana wasn't expecting him to utter.

"She's pregnant," The sense of proudness couldn't be missed on his wrinkled face. "I'm going to be a grandpa." He whispered.

Umaymah's mouth formed a 'Wow' with a wide smile that reached her eyes.

Umaymah's eyes shifted to Sana's stomach then to her face.

"Ma Sha Allah! Congratulations Sana!" The joy could be heard in her voice.

It wasn't up to an hour she had met Sana but this news sure did require this level of happiness.

"It's not even up to a month dad." Sana was eager to find someway to change the topic from her pregnancy.

When she suspected she was pregnant, she ran a proper hospital test and didn't inform her father not until three weeks into the pregnancy.

"Still counts as being pregnant." Samar shrugged before heading to tend to the kitchen where his help was needed.

"He really does talk a lot," Sana pulled the chair in front of Umaymah out then settled into it with a napkin swung over her shoulder. "Did he perhaps tell you any other thing about me?" Her facial features were a carbon copy of Samar.

Umaymah let out a small laugh and leaned forward.

"Don't worry, he hasn't told me anything else, yet."

Sana exhaled the breath she had been holding.

"Thank Goodness."

"Sana dear." Samar popped his head out of the kitchen with his hand calling her towards it.

"I have to go now, it was nice to meet you Umaymah." Sana pulled herself off the chair then headed for the kitchen after serving Umaymah a smile.

"Same here Sana." Umaymah returned the smile as she pulled a naan from the plate