Ammarah's POV

Here with me- Susie Suh

I watched as Rayyan's call ended and inwardly groaned. As much as I want to answer his calls, I also want to pay attention to this man's class so I ignored Rayyan's call even when all I want to do is walk out and answer it.

It's been two weeks since I last saw him. Things have been stressful for us. Rayyan has to take care of his shop and at the same time find my parent. I on the other hand is under the pressure of school and the hawk eyes of my mother.

She still hosts events, her friends still come and she still goes out, but now she comes home early. Immediately she steps into the house, she ask of me. It was almost as if she's scared, scared that she'll wake up one day and not find me or come home the other and hear I ran away.

But I wasn't going anywhere, not until Rayyan find them that is. And even if I'm leaving, i will inform her forehand and there is nothing she can do to stop me.

After the class, I walked out and called Rayyan.

"Sorry I was in the class" I said when he picked up the call

"Are you free today? Can we meet? He asked instead in a state of urgency

"Are you okay? I questioned back

He sighed "Yes I am. I just want to know if you're free today. We can go to our usual place"

I smiled "I missed going there"

"Me too" He said softly

I know of my mom's watchful eye now and know she'll definitely find out I left somewhere and ask questions. But this is worth her questions and interrogations.

"I'll see you in thirty minutes"

"Great. Meet me at the riverside"

"Alright then"

I ended the call and turned to see Aisha's amused face

"What? I laughed

She smiled grabbing my hands "Nothing. Come let's go eat"

I reluctantly removed my hands "Actually, I have to go"

She turned to me "I know you're meeting him but at least get you two something to eat"

I furrowed my brows "Were you eavesdropping Aisha?

She laughed "You weren't talking quiet"

"What will I even get us" I asked as she dragged me.

I rolled my eyes muttering "Typical Aisha"

Almost an hour later, I got us Philadelphia and on my way to meet him. I almost couldn't keep my excitement bottled in. I missed our art session so bad that having one today was worth everything that comes after it.

I called Rahma and told her where I'm going and if my mom is home and asking around for me, she should also be told where I left to. Better for her to know about Rayyan than assume things.

Even though I doubt she was going to accept that he's someone I mingle with given he's not up to the "statuses" she has set for herself and me. Unfortunately for her, I was already invested.

Minutes later, the taxi stopped and I paid the driver, alighted the car and walked into the market heading to the river side.

I spotted someone walking with a limp towards me amongst the crowd. Someone who looks familiar, Rayyan's friend whose face I can remember but not his name.

He approached me and stopped "Hello ma'am"

"Hello" I said stoping there awkwardly not knowing the name to say.

"Where is Rayyan? He questioned looking around

"I—"

"Never mind" He waved his hand away looking over my shoulder "I'm sure he's attending his other businesses"

I looked at him confused. Businesses? What businesses? This guy must have had it wrong. Rayyan only has the spice business, at least that's what he said to me. And if there's one thing Rayyan isn't, is a liar

"I'm not sure about that" I replied to his latter statement

He regarded me " You know Rayyan is a great guy. So humble, kind, generous and giving. You're lucky to have him"

My eyebrows shut up at that as I stared at him dumbfounded.

He smiled and shook his head "Such a great man" And then walked away.

I breathed in deeply and continued walking to the riverside with questions for Rayyan on my encounter with his friend whom I forgot his name.

Yet when I saw Rayyan setting up the canvas with his back to me and the breeze slowly making his shirt move, I forgot everything. He looked so at peace that everything about the environment became peaceful. I walked to him and when our eyes met, his calm orbs smiled. An action that mirrored his face.

"Hey princess"

"Hey you" I replied digging out the Philadelphia from my bag "Here, I got us something"

He took it from me and smiled "Thank you" before keeping it on the mat he spread

"So" I said placing my hands on my hip "What are we painting?

He turned to me "Us"

I raised a brow "Us?

"Yup" He replied popping the 'p' as he bent down to take out the brushes and paint

I looked at him while he brought them out "So you got the oil paints. why?

He looked up to me "Well let's just say I have some important artwork to do"

I laughed "How important?

He raised his head up, in a thinking position and said "A life and death importance"

"Ohh wow. Well that is important "

He stood up and laid them out on the table "Exactly"

I looked at the blank canvas before us "How do we paint us then?

He smiled "By light sketching then mixing the colours, taking the brush, dipping it into the paint and painting"

I rolled my eyes and glared at him" I know you know what I'm asking"

Rayyan laughed and nodded "I do. you just ask too many questions''

I grabbed the palette and starting mixing the colours "So how do we paint us? I asked with my back to him

"In the market. Where we met" He said softly behind me

Something about his tone was so intimate that my hand stilled on the palette. I hear his footsteps coming to stand next to me and he touched the edges of the canvas

"The background would be a blur of shops and people"

I turned to him "And where do we stand?

Our eyes met and he kept quiet then said "We can decide that later on"

I nodded and we started mixing the colors together. After that, he started the first swipe and minutes later a shop came into life. He motioned for me to start and when I couldn't, he grabbed the brush with his finger barely grazing mine and together we swiped the colours, dabbled on the palette, dab on the canvas and created art.

My heart accelerated beyond its normal heart rate, breathing turned to little metamorphosed butterflies before flying out. Time took a deep breath and halted, the world at that moment waited for us as we created art. Our art

Almost an hour later of me getting a hang of it and painting two shops, we stood back to examine our work so far. Three shops, a big gate as the market gate and people around it stopping and looking at the things displayed.

"That's very very beautiful" I whispered

"Wait until you see the masterpiece" Rayyan muttered with a smile

I turned to him knowingly "Us?

He nodded and tapped at the blue sky we did "Would it be better if it was day or night?

I looked at the painting "Well we did meet around Maghreb"

He nodded "We should make it a darker shade of blue and add light lamps"

"Yes" I replied stepping back "But before then, food"

We walked back to the mat and sat down bringing out our lunch. I stared at the painting we did and still couldn't believe I also did this.

" This is very nice" Rayyan said taking another bite of the Philadelphia

"It is" I agreed as I munched on mine

"Don't you think something is missing? He asked looking at the canvas

I tilted my head to one side and looked at it "The space before the gate?

Rayyan nodded "There should be something, something meaningful"

"Almajiri I said in a soft voice"

He turned to me "Almajiri?

"Yes. Maybe while he walks out of the market"

"Carrying loads on his head" Rayyan finished off

"That would be perfect" I whispered glancing at him briefly and then back to the unfinished painting

There was silence for some minutes and then he said "We are getting a lead on your parent"

I quickly turned to him "You're?

He nodded " I will tell you when we've confirmed our information. For now, just know we are getting a lead and you'll get to meet them very soon Insha Allah"

I looked at him, smiled and muttered "Insha Allah" under my breath. No word was said again yet he knows how thankful I am. How grateful my life is for his actions, his words, his art, his spice, his gentleness, kindness, softness.

How everyday I wake up and question the life that I had, of him not being a part of my actions and thoughts.

He smiled at me and I looked away realising I have been staring, blatantly.

"You always feel surreal" Rayyan said slowly

I looked at him questionably "Surreal?

He nodded "You're every good resurrected thought that once died and faded away. You're every ray of light that fight for dominance in my head. You're goodness Ammmarah"

"Funny you think I am surreal Rayyan" I turned my head to look at him in his eyes

"When you're my ray of hope"

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