Chapter 5: Driving Phobia

"We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation."

- Paulo Coelho

Arsala's POV

Fridays are the best, I love Fridays. It means the weekend is next after a tiring weekdays. But to me that's not the best part, the best part is that the day of resurrection would fall on a Friday.

Not that I'm ready to face Allah and be judged for my deeds. I'm not, I can never be. If there is one fun fact I have learnt about life is, you can never be ready because it ends up taking you by surprise. Life is filled with surprises.

Haider and I were on the couch, strolls through the channels and eating pizza. Unfortunately there isn't anything interesting to watch.

"This is so yum." I let out a moan. I don't fancy the idea of cooking. So I asked Haider to pick up some pizza on his way back after Juma'at prayer.

"Told you so, but all the time bazz lounge this, bazz lounge that." There is a hint of anger in his voice.

Haider has an undeniable hatred for bazz lounge, which is my favorite place to get shawarma or pizza.

"You sound so piss!!" As much as I want to laugh right now. My mouth is stuffed with pizza, making it impossible for me to laugh properly.

"What does it look like? See in fact as from today, I'm not driving you to bazz lounge ever again, not even by mistake." His face has a serious look on which look funny to me.

"Even on my birthday?" I ask grinning wickedly at him.

Birthdays are yes day, which means he says yes to whatever I ask of him without complains or questions and vice versa.

"That might be the only exception." He swing the little content of his smoothie in a circular motion.

"So for the rest of the year I can drive myself there whenever I want to."

The realization hit me.

I can feel Haider's eyes on me, he is going to ask the question I have been avoiding in a long time.

"You're finally ready to drive?" He asks.

"Not reall-y." I nervously play with my fingers.

"I know what you went through wasn't easy but your have to over come your fears."

"I know but I'm not ready to drive yet." My heart is throbbing so loud against my ribcage.

"I want you to move on. To do that you have to take baby steps."

I nod my head vigorously. I'm not driving.

"Let me get something." He excuse himself and walk up the stairs.

I'm now alone gathering my thoughts together. I did not only lost my parents in the car crash. I also lost a part of me, I can't....

"Here." Haider's voice startle me.

"What the.....!" I panic and almost jump up from the couch.

"Sorry." He apologize noticing how he startle me.

"You can't go around sneaking up on people like that."

"I'm not sneaking up on you and don't prolong this I already said sorry." He puts down a brown envelope in front of me.

I took the envelope, looking at him with questioning eyes. He nod at me to open it, which I did. I find a learners permit and a form from mbolo driving School.

"Haider.............."

"Listen to what I have to proposed. If you go to driving school, and overcome your fear of driving. You can have my blue corolla you love so much." His tone show he is dead serious.

"I can only try out, if it doesn't work out........"

"Then you try again, the little sis I know isn't one who gives up." He finishes with the exact opposite of what I intend on saying.

"Its not as easy as you are making it sound." If only he could put himself in my shoes maybe he might understand me more.

"No one said it was going to be easy...." The buzzing sound of his phone interrupts him.

He scramble out his phone, pick the call and listens to the person at the other end of the line.

"What!!!" He shriek out.

What's wrong now?

"Why did you book her an appointment?" He question sounding angry.

"Haider." I call out, his little conversation with whoever is on the phone is getting me worried.

He mouth give me a moment to me.

"I'm so going to kill you for this." He hangs up the phone.

"What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Its nothing." He force a smile.

"I hate is when you lie to my face. You don't want to tell me what the problem is, its okay." I climb down the couch, I took the cups off the table and head into the kitchen.

I put the glass cups into the sink, then head back to the living room for the pizza box.

While washing the cup, I wasn't doing so with care and it led to me breaking one of the cup.

"Can we talk?"

"I don't want to talk to you." I pick up the broken piece of glass, threw them into the trash can and swept the tiny piece off the floor.

"You are not always this mad at me, why do I have a feeling something is off here." His hands is cross against his chest, showing off his broad shoulders and biceps.

I ignored his remark, walk out of the kitchen and back to the living room to pick up my phone. Its almost time for Asr prayer.

I turn to make my way up my room only to bump into Haider's chest.

"Why........"

"Don't lie to my face again that's all I ask. You don't want to tell me what the problem is right now. Its okay, whenever you are ready, I'm here to listen." I got upset at him for lying to my face but I'm certain he has a reason for doing so.

"I will tell you everything when I get back, I promise." He smile at me, showing off his set of white teeth.

He pick up his car keys and rush out.

"Get back soon." I whisper in a low tone.

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"Why didn't you tell Haider you'd be out for a while? Wait you at least left him a note or a text? You're in deep problem my friend."

Maryam keeps on bombarding me with questions without giving me a chance to speak.

"He would be mad for sometime but he would eventually calm down. Besides this is partly your fault." My eyes was glued on the window, staring at the busy people and moving vehicle we pass by.

"My fault? I clearly gave your an excuse to tell........"

"The pizza lie, we had pizza for launch. So you tell me, how was I supposed that to use that as an excuse?" I unbuckle my seat belt and step out of the car, so did Maryam.

We were already in front of the gates. We need to show some identification and let the security guard go through the car trunk.

"Good evening Ms." The security guard greets me.

"Good evening." I show him my student ID.

"Over!" He yell out to the other officer after glancing at my ID card.

"Have a great day Ms." He smile warmly at me.

The bar is raised up. "Thank you." I smile back before getting into the car.

Maryam drove into the club.

"That guy likes you." Maryam blunt out while tapping her fingers against the steering wheel.

"Stop saying nonsense." I glare murderously at her.

"Just saying, its obvious you have heads turning. Beside you look gorgeous in that dress." She took her eyes of the road and glance my way.

I stared at my reflection when I tried the dress on earlier, Its the same old me. A girl who has so many insecurities about her appearance.

"Thank you." I'm still a bit surprise at her compliment. I mean all I have on is just a simple burgundy wrap dress.

"You welcome beautiful." She says driving into the only spot left in the parking lot.

I step down from the vehicle and we both walk into the building. We show our ID card to the receptionist before heading towards the pool area.

Upon reaching the pool, the air was filled with music. people walking around with either bikinis, shorts or a swimsuit. Looking around I question myself as to why I'm here. Everything about the surrounding is suffocating.

"I'm off to look for Hamza." Maryam shouts over the music and off she goes before I could say anything.

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