Shewa poked her tongue and laughed. I was in for another bout of stray conversation.
"You need to go out there and find your person", she maintained with feigned sympathy. I placed the final box of biscuits on the shelf and resumed my restless phone time. A familiar voice echoed almost immediately and I could hear a gasp escape Shewa's lips.
"Uncle Kabir", she called happily, courtesying sentimentally. Kabir nodded enthusiastically with a smile.
*How've you been Shewa? You're a big girl now", he squeezed some naira notes into her hands. Shewa smiled and soon excused herself on the pretext of Mum's voice calling her.
"Zarah.."
I smiled briefly at him.
"How are you doing Kabir? I heard you're getting ready for service."
Kabir winked and settled on a bench close to the counter. He was practically family since his parents stayed a few blocks from my house.
"Tell me you missed me abit", Kabir bared his pearly whites. His Tajar cap stood captivatingly on his head. From afar, he resemled a Northern Prince with his penciled nose and unibrows. I hated that I only saw the parts that everyone saw about him.
"I missed telling everyone how you saw a snake once and ran away."
"Oh, that never gets old', he laughed heartily and inquired about my plans after school.
"Still thinking of getting that farm?"
That was a first. I thought he had forgotten everything about me.
"It's impressive that you can remember our childhood banters. I thought your head would be filled with having seven wives", I chuckled spiritedly. It was unusual of Kabir to stay that long at my Mum's shop.
Kabir sighed heavily and smiled.
"Let's walk Zarah", he beckoned to me while waiting at the door. Shewa who had been eavesdropping from the house window sprinted into the shop to take over.
We sauntered along the sidewalks towards the park gardens across the road where tall grass blossomed sparingly.
"Zarah...what are we?"
Nothing. We were never anything. Being childhood sweethearts didn't count.
We grew apart and it's normal. I pushed him away with my silence and I was glad about that.
"I missed you Zarah. I missed everything about you."
I looked away. We could never work.
"Popular rich boy and plain girl don't mix, trust me', I cackled sinisterly.
Kabir crossed his legs and sat on a patch of grass. He pulled my hands and I settled beside him. This was taking longer than I expected.
"You grew up way too fast Kabir", I proclaimed thoughtfully. 'Once upon a time we were running around unaware and suddenly, you transformed before i could understand the word growth. I was trying to find myself in the valley of puberty but you just soared above it all. The Prince!', I laughed and lay on the grass.
It all seemed so funny to me. Love was never my strong suit and now I felt I was being prodded to awaken my deepest feelings. Kabir cupped my cheeks and smiled. His eyes looked on expectantly but I turned my face away.
"I love you Zarah...I always have. With the nitty gritty bits of you."
I stared at him differently now. All I had seen in Kabir was the surface but now, he was the man that always sought to find my hidden fears. I felt his lips against mine and suddenly, the sun, moon and stars seemed to collide. Our foreheads touched and his hands encircled my neck.
'Now I have a reason come back here after service.' , he smiled at me.
