Tuesday, 10 August 2021
‘How did you do, Ibi boy?’ asks Mo when he sees me.
‘An A*, two As and a B,’ I say.
‘Bro, you smashed it,’ he says, ‘So I guess you’re off to some far-flung corner of the country to escape then.’
‘Nah, decided to take a year out and live a little.’
‘Seriously? You?’
‘Yeah, serious,’ I laugh, ‘What about you?’
‘Two Cs and a D, so I guess I’m gonna jump on clearing and see what options I got. If not, then there’s always that job at Peri Peri.’
‘Big dreams,’ I laugh.
‘You were the big dreamer, Ibs. What happened to you?’
‘Me? I fell in love.’
‘You?’
‘Yeah, so I’m going to spend a year having all that fun you always said I should. And after that? Who knows?’
‘You’re crazy, man. You were always such a square, going on about your big escape plan. Can’t believe what I’m hearing.’
‘Believe it,’ I say, shrugging, ‘I have another adventure planned now.’
As we’re talking, my arch enemies wander over, giggling as usual, flapping their results about.
‘Yo, Mo,’ laughs Zahra, blanking me completely, ‘how did you do?’
‘Not bad,’ he says. ‘What about you?’
‘Two Bs and a C,’ she says.
‘Same,’ says Rimsha, smiling. ‘So off to uni… yay!’
‘What about you Shums?’ asks Mo.
‘Three Cs. Same as Neha.’
‘Off to uni then too?’ asks Mo.
‘Neha: yep. Me: dunno,’ she says, shrugging. ‘Missed my grade, so not sure what comes next.’
‘You jump on clearing like me,’ smiles Mo. ‘You’ll be okay.’
‘Maybe,’ she says, looking despondent.
‘What about the nerd queen?’ asks Mo.
‘You mean Ayşegül?’ laughs Zahra. ‘I haven’t seen her around actually. Neha, you must know.’
‘Why don’t you ask Mo’s mate,’ smiles Neha, pointing at me.
‘Oh forget about Ibi boy,’ says Mo, ‘He’s just got top grades but’s decided to throw it in and take a gap year. Lord Snooty, or what?’
The lot of them fall about in laughter at my expense. Nothing ever changes. Thank goodness this is the last time I’m ever going to set eyes on them.
‘What’s the joke?’ ask Ayşegül, sliding in at our side.
‘That prick,’ says Zahra, pointing at me.
‘Who? Mo?’
‘You know who,’ she says, ‘that idiot you spent two years fantasising about. Reckons he’s taking a year out.’
‘Oh yeah, I know,’ smiles Ayşegül, bumping into me and grasping for my hand, ‘I’m spending it with him.’
‘Way to go Ayşe,’ laughs Neha, rooting for us. She’s the only one; the rest are staring at us, their mouths agape.
‘Are you serious?’ asks Zahra.
‘Of course,’ she smiles, resting her head on my shoulder. ‘Actually it’s our first monthiversary today: exactly a month since we did our nikah.’
‘Tell me you’re joking,’ says Mo.
‘Not at all. Tenth of July. It was beautiful. Actually I should thank you for giving me the courage to speak to Ibby properly.’
‘But that was like just three months ago.’
‘Three of the best months of my life,’ she says.
‘Are you crazy?’ asks Zahra.
‘Crazy in love, yeah.’
‘I think it’s sweet,’ says Neha. ‘Congrats.’
‘Thanks Neha,’ smiles Ayşegül.
‘And how did you do?’
‘Three As. Not bad.’
‘Not bad? You’re due a double celebration.’
‘I have a feeling Ibby has a surprise awaiting me.’
‘Yeah, he’s a man of surprises is Ibi boy,’ jibes Mo.
‘Sure is,’ laughs Ayşegül.
‘And you,’ says Rimsha.
‘Well, I always said I’d have the last laugh, didn’t I? True to my word. I’m glad I killed those giggles of yours in the end.’
Zahra and Shumaila glance at one another, speechless.
‘Don’t take it seriously,’ says Rimsha, ‘we were only joking around.’
‘Tell that to Ibby,’ says Ayşegül, gazing at her seriously. ‘I’m glad he had the last laugh too.’
I’m laughing within, but I say nothing. I’ve said nothing to these idiots for the past two years and I don’t intend to change that now. I’ve got better things to do with my time.
‘I’m happy for you,’ says Rimsha.
‘Me too,’ says Neha. ‘I’m a bit jealous actually. I had a secret crush on Ibs myself.’
‘You what?’ laughs Ayşegül.
‘Don’t worry, I’m over that now.’
‘You better be.’
‘You have my brother to thank for that.’ She smiles. ‘So, the search goes on…’
‘Hey, Ibby, you have a Sikh friend…’
‘Aman?’
‘Yeah,’ she laughs. ‘Same age as us. Heading off to study medicine. Dad’s a big time consultant…’
‘Mum’s a legend,’ I add. ‘Yeah, that could work,’ I smile.
‘Thanks guys,’ says Neha, ‘Amusing, but… let’s park that one. I’m in no hurry. Not in as much as a hurry as you two, anyway.’
‘No one could be in as much of a hurry as them,’ says Rimsha.
Ayşegül looks into my eyes and smiles. Rimsha’s right. I’m completely bowled over by this girl. Did we rush it? Did we take it too fast? Maybe. Maybe not. One thing’s certain: I’m so in love with Ayşegül. She’s won my heart. I’m glad our two worlds have become one.
‘Yeah, right, well good luck then, Ibs,’ says Mo at last, slapping me on my shoulder. ‘I’ll catch you around.’
‘Inshallah,’ I say, but he only shuffles away taking Zahra and Shumaila with him, guiding them on under each arm, whispering in their ears. Still mocking me, I suppose.
‘Ignore them,’ says Rimsha, ‘you did a good thing. Credit where it’s due.’
‘Yeah,’ says Neha, looking at me. ‘Sorry for laughing at you all the time. Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’m happy for you. For both of you.’
‘I forgive you,’ I tell her, smiling back.
‘And that, right there, is why I love this guy,’ says Ayşegül, hugging me so tight. ‘Those are his three favourite words.’
‘No,’ I whisper secretly in her ear, ‘my favourite are, “I love you.”’
I glance at Ayşegül’s two companions. ‘Come,’ I say to them, ‘come and celebrate with us. The more the merrier.’
We head off into town to enjoy pizza and a fruit mocktail. My treat. I propose a toast, ‘Here’s to misfits and losers!’
‘You’re no loser, Ibby,’ says Ayşegül.
‘Not anymore,’ I laugh. ‘I think, maybe, I’m a winner.’
‘Now I’m jealous too,’ chuckles Rimsha in Neha’s ear.
‘Yeah,’ she says, ‘we screwed up that one.’
‘Shush you two,’ says Ayşegül, ‘he’s mine.’
So this is what happiness feels like. Turns out I just needed to be patient. I can’t remember who told me that.
