***

Saïda's POV:

We returned to the apartment later that evening. Asahd parked in front of our building.

"I'm glad you're making extra money." I told him.

"Thanks. It actually makes me feel pretty good." he replied.

"So, are you going to go to that party or not?"

He stared ahead for a while, thinking.

"Mmmm, probably. You advised me to adapt a little more right? I'll go." he looked at me, "Want to come with me? You'll have fun, I think."

"No thanks. You know I don't really like parties and stuff. Or going out at night."

"Saïda, you don't like many things and you don't like people." he mocked and I laughed a little.

"Asahd, I'm not comfortable with strangers and you know it. It's not like I don't like people. I easily get anxious and plus, I love staying in my own corner."

"Oh okay. I'll go prepare then. If your father asks about, tell him where I'm at."

I rolled my eyes.

"As

***

Asahd's POV:

The later it got, the crazier, things seemed to get. Everyone was drunk or making out. The partying was nonstop.

I'd ended up dancing with quite a number of girls and it did me good to stop thinking about my new and ugly life.

I was tipsy from the few drinks I had and I knew there was no way I was going to drive myself back home in such a state.

I took my phone out and texted Saïda, hoping she was still up to see it. I said I wasn't going to make it back that night and that they would only be seeing me the next morning.

I got no reply and guessed she was asleep.

′Man, I gotta pee.′

I looked around and made my way through the dancing and drunk crowd, going in search of toilets.

I finally found them and so I got in to take a pee. I halted, shocked to see a few mates, gathered around the sink and taking turns to sniff some powder that was probably cocaine or so.

"

***

Asahd's POV:

I pulled up in front of my building at past nine. It felt so good to return earlier than usual.

I grabbed my bag and phone and stepped out of the car. Once outside, I shut the door...maybe a little too hard because I heard an odd sound. I panicked immediately. The car worked good but it was still old after all.

I reached for the doorknob of the driver's seat and tried to open it. My heart skipped a beat when it didn't open. I tried all the other doors and they were stuck too!!! I tried unlocking with the keys but nothing!

"Oh no, no." I muttered, "How am I going to get in, now??"

I'd already spoiled the car! I almost felt like crying. I stared at the car hopelessly and then, I had an idea that gave me a little hope.

"The open window!" I exclaimed and ran to the other side of the car. I got in through the open window and then tried to open the doors from inside but to no avail. I couldn't believe the bad luck that continuously happened to me.

"This is too much." I groaned helplessly and made my way out of the car through the window, "Guess the only way I'll be able to get in and out of this car is through it's window. How pathetic."

I was so close to shedding more tears and was very tempted to kick the hell out of that car. But that was another risk I wasn't willing to take at all!

Trying hard not to spoil my mood, I entered the building. I got to the apartment and used my own keys to open the door. I stepped in and Saïda was seated on a couch, watching TV.

"Helloooo." she smiled and I smiled back.

"What's up?"

"I'm okay. How was your day?"

"It was okay." I dropped my bag and landed on a chair close by, "Where's your father?"

"Asleep. You know he retires to bed, early, most of the time."

"Right."

She stared at me while I stared at the TV.

"You look a little down. What's wrong with you this time?" she mused.

"You won't believe what happened to me." I chuckled a little, trying to laugh the pain off. A lot of horrible things were happening to me and if I kept laughing them off this often, I might explode or grow mad, literally, some day.

"What?"

I told her about the car and she laughed.

"Seriously? Oh my. You know my father won't help you fix it, right? And you need to keep at least a week's salary, to fix it." she mused.

"Fuck that. That money is already too little for me. I'm not gonna waste it on an old car. Lieeees. I'll get in and out of that car, through the window. I'll probably die of embarrassment but here, no one knows me, and so, I'll stick with it. End of topic." I ended, rolling my eyes and she laughed.

"You see? You complained about that window from day one, and now, it saves your life."

"And I hate that fact." I laughed.

We were silent for a while, watching TV. But then I took out thirty dollars from my pocket and gave it to her as my daily contribution to whatsoever.

"Give it to Djafar, tomorrow morning."

"Okay. You hungry?"

"That's a dumb question. Of course I am!" I mused, throwing a cushion at her.

"Hahaha, okay. I cooked curry chicken stew and rice."

My eyes grew wide and I stared at her.

"I hope you're not gonna tell me that it's a lie and that you actually cooked some lame sauce and noodles. Cuz I swear."

"I mean it." she cut me with a laugh, "I found a Moroccan store today, with all our spices and necessities to cook our traditional meals."

The joy. The joy! I wasn't used to foreign food. Matter of fact, I hated it.

"So you can be at peace, now. From today, and thanks to that store, I will be able to cook most of our meals so we feel comfortable."

"God bless you. You and your family!" I exclaimed happily and we stood. I followed her to the little kitchen and took a seat at the little round table in a corner.

My mouth watered as I watched her warm the food. I'd missed our meals so bad. All the spice and all the meat. The heavy meals I'd missed so bad.

Saïda served me as well as herself and joined me at the table.

"You haven't eaten yet?" I asked surprised, going to wash my hands and returning to the table.

"Nope. Wasn't hungry earlier."

"How can you not you not be hungry for curry chicken stew? I knew you were an alien or something." I teased and she poked me.

"Shut up."

She then forced me to make a short prayer with her before we finally started eating.

"I'm invited to a party by my colleagues, tomorrow night. At one's apartment." I told her, my mouth full of the delicious food, "Mmmm. Oh gawd, this is delicious. There's a party in my tummy right now."

"Thank you. Are you gonna go?"

"Huh?"

"To the party, idiot." she mused.

"I don't know. Like I already told you, they're all very cool and already consider me as a friend of theirs. Though I'm still a little skeptical."

"Why?? You're not ready to hang with them because they're too common?" she teased.

"Saïda stop. You know that's not it. I'm just not comfortable in this city, yet. I'm not used to it, yet."

"The only way you are gonna get used to it is by blending in with the others. By being friends with the simplest of people and learn to adapt to their way of life." she advised and I looked at her.

"I need a little more time. I'll think about the party issue." I replied.

"Alright."

-

I ate happily. I finished the first plate and begged for another which Saïda gave me. The meal was delicious! I needed to regain all that energy back. I was so happy I would be eating more of our traditional meals, now.

As I finished my second plate and discussed with Saïda, my phone rang. I looked at it. It was an unknown number. I picked.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Asahd?"  a female voice asked.

"Yes? This is?"

"A customer. If you're free tomorrow, I would like to get a lawn mowed. I'm actually a housing agent. I sell houses to people and I'll be needing you to mow the lawns of some unsold houses, before I present them to my clients. But for now, I need you to mow just one, which I will present to available clients on Monday."

I was gonna ask her if I fricken looked like a gardener, in the rudest manner ever, but then I remembered that I was the one who had given my number to some people to call, if ever they needed their lawn, mowed. I needed extra money!

"Oh. Um, okay. I'm free tomorrow. I can be there at one or two."

"Alright. I'll send the address."

"Alright." I hung up with a smile.

"Who was it?" Saïda asked. I told her about it all and how I'd given my number to complete strangers.

"I knew that none of them would call back. Like who the hell would let a stranger to their property, just to mow a lawn?" I mused, "But luckily, I fell on a real estate agent. I do hope she keeps me."

"Hopefully. Have you ever mowed a lawn?" Saïda laughed.

"Nope." I laughed, "But I'll find a way."

"I'll come with you tomorrow. But I'll wait in the car. I'm bored when I stay here."

"Alright."

***

The next afternoon, Saïda told Djafar our plans and we left the apartment. The real estate agent had texted me the address.

"I get in, first." I mused and got in through the window. Saïda burst out laughing.

"Ha-ha. You'll have to get in too." I laughed, once inside. Giggling like a kid, she got in through the window and I laughed, dodging when she almost kicked me in the face while struggling to sit straight.

"This is so embarrassing!" she mused.

"You see?!" I chuckled and started the car.

**

We pulled up in the quiet neighborhood.

"The house is probably around that corner. You sure you want to wait here?" I asked her.

"Yup."

"Okay. I'll be fast. Now excuse me." I straddled across a laughing Saïda and successfully made it out of the window.

"I have to film you, the next time you get in." she laughed.

"Yeah right." I mused and walked away.

I found the real estate agent and house. Of course I increased my price to 30 dollars because the grass was kind of overgrown. Like really. She had no problem. I grabbed the machine and only heaven knows how I succeeded in starting it. I started mowing and actually did a very good job. I was done after thirty minutes. She was satisfied, paid me and promised to call me back for another job.

'I'm the Man! I mowed that lawn better than the Royal gardener, back in Zagreh!'  I chuckled to myself at the funny and exaggerated thought.

---

Saïda's POV:

I'd gotten out of the car after being bored and tired. I was leaning against it and waiting for Asahd to return as soon as possible.

I was glad when I spotted him coming. From his smile, I knew he'd done a good job.

"Wait! Stop right there!" I laughed and he halted, amused.

"What?"

I took my phone out and started recording.

"I want to film you, entering this car." I mused.

"Are you serious?? You're unbelievable."

"You have no choice but to get in after all." I mocked.

He shook his head in amusement. Giving up, he started walking towards the car. I watched and filmed in amusement as he got in through the window. I laughed.

￼

"Let's go!" he laughed and motioned me over from the open window.

"I'll keep this video for life." I mocked and went to join him.


***

Saïda's POV:

We returned to the apartment later that evening. Asahd parked in front of our building.

"I'm glad you're making extra money." I told him.

"Thanks. It actually makes me feel pretty good." he replied.

"So, are you going to go to that party or not?"

He stared ahead for a while, thinking.

"Mmmm, probably. You advised me to adapt a little more right? I'll go." he looked at me, "Want to come with me? You'll have fun, I think."

"No thanks. You know I don't really like parties and stuff. Or going out at night."

"Saïda, you don't like many things and you don't like people." he mocked and I laughed a little.

"Asahd, I'm not comfortable with strangers and you know it. It's not like I don't like people. I easily get anxious and plus, I love staying in my own corner."

"Oh okay. I'll go prepare then. If your father asks about, tell him where I'm at."

I rolled my eyes.

"Asahd, when will you stop ignoring yourselves with dad? No. When will you stop ignoring him? Because h

Chapter 20