3.

N'DJAMENA, CHAD.

"Lale, Hello!" Her best friend, Tasneem greeted as soon as she opened the door for her to come into their beautiful homey yet cold house painted in orange and cream. The weather is getting way too chilly for any of Suhayr's coats, she needs to get some new cheap ones.

Her best friend Tasneem Da'ood is really a beautiful lady standing five ft six, way taller than Suhayr would want but she manage to pull off that look. With her slender body shaped into rectangle upsidedown with lack of extra curves unlike Suhayr. Her curves are just the same way as her body, not much more that she would love which result to her exercising to get the body. She loves the way she is but accepted the challenge from Suhayr one blessed evening.

Right from her dark onyx long hair that is now tied in a messy ponytail, to her full brows you would swear she has it carved. Her nose isn't the perfect since the nostrils are a little more open, but it suits her. She has her father's nose some people might say, Suhayr never met the man before he died or she had without knowing. Her lips are pink, pinker than Suhayr's but really thin. All in all, her friend pulled off her looks pretty well.

All those features are packed in one circular face that refuse to get any fat.

"Lalê, Hello!" Suhayr answered with a sigh then ambled in to greet Tasneem's mother who is sitting on their cream leather couch in the living room while watching some soap opera. That reminds her of her foster mother, she loves watching those and she will be forced to sit through all the episodes, she can't stand the drama.

"Ah Susu, Inti afé, are you well?" She asked in their Arabic/French with a wide smile that always manage to comfort Suhayr even in her hardest times. It looks exactly like the ones her foster mother gives her when she complains about life being tough.

Tasneem's mother, Urshia was her foster mother's best friend so they are always together that is how her friendship with Tasneem tightened. So whenever Suhayr feels down and alone, she knows that home is where she will find her solace all the time so that is the first place that comes to her mind. Their time together in the house, be it luncheons, dinners and even picnic, girls night sleepover is there.

She could see the memories of her foster mother sitting next to her best friend on that cream couch as they talk about her wedding along with Tasneem's whenever they want to tease them. They told them that they are going to get married the same day and will live close to each other, if the groom's don't like it, then they should not get married. Tasneem and Suhayr will only laugh at their mothers' ways of thinking. They force them into the friendship because Suhayr has always been a rebel and didn't want friends. But Tasneem is no quitter like her, she forced herself in her life like a missing puzzle which Suhayr will never forget be grateful for.

Like her foster mother, Urshia didn't get married again after her husband died and decided to just take care of her two daughters, Tasneem and Thuraiya and that is what she has been doing for the past so many years. So many people will come with their marriage proposals but she turned them down like her foster mother did. She likes staying single and knows how beautiful she is and how men can't keep their thoughts to themselves that is why she prefers single hood. But she is doubting that she will stay single for much longer, she doesn't have her friend beside her anymore.

"Aná Afé, shukran! I am fine, thank you." Suhayr replied with a smile and went straight to Tasneem's room without waiting for permission. It's not like there is any crook in the house that she doesn't know of, everything is engraved in her head.

They wanted her to move in with them when her mother died but she hates been a burden and like it was said, she is wary of people even the ones closest to her. Losing her mother is enough to send her head going many miles away and losing another person will be too painful for her to endure. She's suffered being an orphan not anymore. She can't even say but the thought of losing more people isn't appealing so she hardly gets close to people.

"What happened?" Tasneem asked, plopping down on the bed next to her best friend. The flowery patterns making Suhayr mock disgust at her best friend who only narrowed her eyes daring her to taunt her bedsheets.

"I'll have to sell my company now. I hate those governments for doing that to me but on the contrary, I think it's for the best. We don't get much money from the clothes and paying the workers is now a struggle." She sighed in annoyance, she's never been helpless in her life and she hates helplessness.

She is not weak!

"Mâla, why? That is very good on the other hand you know right? You can now face your studies and have something good to do, or maybe get married." Tasneem said in Arabic/French and shrugged when Suhayr glower at her because of the thought and the idea of marriage.

It's not like she is against marriage but she don't want to get married till after she hits twenty five or a little more. She feels like there are a lot more to do in six years to come and marriage isn't one of them. She wants to enjoy her life and explore Chad a little more, she has some places in mind. She wants to go to Abéché and Moundou but she got no money for the explore so till she does those exploring and even outside Chad, she ain't getting married to no man. She is happy with her life.

"You know I won't further my education so leave that and stop talking about marriage too. We ain't ready for that." She rolled in her quick Arabic/French and snuggle deeper into the pillows on Tasneem's bed. They are so fluffy and comforting but she hates that flowers designing everywhere in the room.

The room consists of a twin sized bed, a wardrobe by the right end siding with a door that leads to her bathroom. By the left side of the room, there is a small desk where she has some books placed neatly. A rug is sprayed on the floor closing half the brown tiles underneath.

"I am ready to get married. I'm just waiting for the right man to come." Tasneem's reply has Suhayr sitting up from the comforting bed and stare wide eyed at her.

Wait, she is ready to get herself tied under a man just for the sake of love? Why do people give love so much importance to the extent of taking away their freedom right from underneath their fingertips? Nope, she won't be one of those women! Never. Like what the fuck are they thinking letting their lives get destroyed, what on earth?!

Is she for real?

"Are you serious right now?" She couldn't stop the question from leaving her mouth even if she wants to. It feels like her best friend has hit her head somewhere around the walls of her home. They promised to tour around Chad before she settles down but now that she is talking about love, Suhayr knew it won't happen.

"Of course. What should we wait for? We can do all the exploring with our husbands so I don't see any big deal." Tasneem replied like a lovesick person and Suhayr almost vomitted.

It looked nauseating seeing that lovestruck face her best friend is making. She never thought she would see that side of her friend, she's always being reserved and shy. Maybe love makes them crazy and stupid alongside shameless.

"You mean to say, you are in love?" Suhayr asked just to confirm where her thoughts are going to. For the life of her, she never thought her friend would agree to that question but she did.

"Yeah." It is back again, the lovestruck expression marring her face like a glove.

"Who is it?" She feels like a journalist at that moment but she can't help it. They are talking about her best friend being in love, so nothing she does sounds crazy to her ears. She is going to coax out answers whether her friend would like to answer her or not, she needs to hear her answer.

"Hakim." Then she heard a thud, Suhayr falling to the floor then she grunts and kick the stupid rug under her feet.

She just didn't expect her best friend to cliché-ly admit to falling in love with their male best friend. It sounds too cliché to her ears making her grunt in annoyance. She hates when things get so nauseating and too good, it felt wrong to her. She knew Hakim doesn't have feelings for her friend and she honestly don't want her to get hurt. She won't talk though, she will let her confront him so they can solve matters themselves.

Woah, she never saw that coming though. Well, it was obvious seeing her friend has always been smitten with their male best friend but she didn't know that it has reached the point where she will give up all her dreams to be tied down by him. She can't wrap herself around that fact though. It is so nauseating if they are to fall in love with each other. She won't ever hang out with them, she just can't picture them all over each other. That is not sight she wished to see when she's been with them for so long together sharing weirdest stories.

She has no say and whatever it is that they like, she will support. She is right about not hanging out with them though, she won't go around vomiting whilst staring at them being lovey dovey. Not getting her wrong but she hates when couples are all over each other all the time. She is even against the idea of love. She feels like love is not even an emotion that exist, maybe lust, infatuation, attraction and so on but not love. It is exaggerated in her dictionary making her ask whether hearts are capable of any emotions. Isn't it just an organ inside human to make sure you are alive and breathing well? Then why on earth do they push it with that emotion, aligning them when they are not even in the same area?!

"Well, I wish you luck, Ukhti." Suhayr sighed and lie her head back on the pillow she rose it from. She don't know what to say, and her friend knows that she is not good with emotions so she gives her that space.

"Now tell me what you are doing that you won't get married? You've never had any boyfriend in your life which makes me worried." Tasneem gaze at her friend with a tinge of sympathy. The girl has been lonely her whole life, she needs someone and that someone should be her husband. A husband is what she needs at that stage of her life, no one else.

"You know I don't have time for those boyfriends. I have a lot to do to think about them so no, I'm okay like this. I enjoy my freedom way too much to think about sharing it with any other person." She rolled her eyes heavenward feeling that her friend is far too gone in her love to think about how she doesn't go well with relationships.

Even with her foster mother, she is not one to be all mushy mushy with her. Their relationship is good with love and affection from one another but not to the extent where she can hug her all the time or even cuddle when they are sad. She is just there for her whenever she feels down, try cheering her up with her pranks and that was it. She's always been afraid of letting herself feel love from people, hers is enough to survive. That is what she thinks all the time, it helps her grow and move forward.

Remember, Anger and Love have no limit. Always remember that “Things are to be used and people are to be loved”. But the problem in today’s world is that “People are being used things are being loved"

Nothing happened to her past to make her detached but she just is. Her ways of showing love is different from any others. Her life is revolved around causing mischief in Chad, getting to the papers, having lined up detentions waiting for her. She is what you defined as wild lady! She is always after one trouble or the other, she loves the adrenaline that comes with her pranks.

"Are you sure you are even interested in men?" Tasneem inclined her head, widening her eyes to exaggerate her words. When Suhayr gave her a deadpan look etched with are you fucking serious she widen her eyes more.

"You know I am always there to support you only that it is against our religion. Is that why you always stare at me when I'm changing?!" Tasneem teased again eliciting a growl from Suhayr.

"You are insinuating that I am lesbian?" Suhayr's scowl is enough to send the message to Tasneem that she should not say a thing.

"Well, I dare you to get a boyfriend in less than a week if you are the one who don't want them or you swing the other way around." Tasneem chuckled when Suhayr shoot out from the bed and placed a dramatic hand to her chest. Her eyes pierced through Tasneem who shrugged innocently.

"You didn't just insult me like that you bitch. You know no one can reject a girl like me and I don't like women! I accept this challenge." She rolled her eyes after making her vow then sat back on the bed huffing and puffing in anger. How could her friend think men can reject her? Or that she even likes women? No, that is just something she can't stomach.

Another thing about her, she has ego like a size of mountain Everest if not more. No matter the situation, her ego is always there to make unnecessary decisions for her making her land in so many troubles. She tried praying to Allah to take it away from her but it's not happening, she never gives up. She is egoistic, prideful, full of herself and also arrogant. Someone might think her father owns the world if they never know about her background.

She never let's anyone match her, no matter who you are. Clearly she could remember when a girl from her school, a very rich one at that matched her white socks intentionally. She pushed her back and punched her nose then dare her to tell her father. And the girl never did because she thought Suhayr's father is way richer than hers and her excuse will make her family mad.

It's not like being poor makes her mad, she just likes taking the spotlight off the rich people. She likes living a luxurious life all the time but she also likes being poor sometimes. At least, she won't have to bother about robbers knocking on her door always to take some money she herself don't know how much.

And now, she needs to think about finding a boyfriend to prove her friend wrong like she always does. That won't be a problem for her, she can do that right then but she wants to take some more time. Just a fling to prove her best friend wrong, ofcourse, she can do that.

"Well then, I will be waiting to see your first boyfriend." Tasneem rolled her eyes. Even though she knows her friend is a daredevil, she knew she won't really go deep into that dare. Having a boyfriend means lack of freedom in Suhayr's dictionary so she doubt if the woman will give it much thought.

Well, you never know what goes around Suhayr Imraan Khalid's head.