STRANGE

The trio walks in Ella's room holding their plate of food in their hands while Ella lies on the bed just staring into nothing wearing a lot of worry on her face.

"Good morning baby girl." Darifa greets with smiles and sits close to her on the bed.

"How are you doing?" Ella asks whispering. She had lost her voice some hours ago.

Even though Darifa could hardly hear her, she still managed to catch up. "I am doing good."

Abdullah sits close to his girlfriend on the bed too and touched her forehead to observe her body temperature. "Do you think you need to see a doctor?"

Ella shakes her head and whispers again. "I will be fine, I just believe I need rest."

"Can you eat?" Abdullah asks again.

"No." She shakes her head. "I am filled, I will eat later."

"You are missing a lot my dear." Darifa says chewing on her meal and trying to lure Ella to eat.

Miss Smith smiles and says. "I know right, mom's food is the best."

"Why are you just standing there Asma? Is there something wrong with you?" Abdullah asks Asma who is just standing and looking at them while they were conversing with Ella.

"Nothing." She replies reluctantly. "I was about to sit anyways." She sits on the chair close to the bed. "How are you feeling now?" She asks not sounding real.

"I am doing fine thank you." Ella replies with a dumb look.

"What's going in here?" Darifa asks looking at the girls consecutively.

"Did you guys fight or something happened?" Abdullah asks too."

"Nothing happened actually, you know I just don't feel well today." Ella yawns, not loudly.

"I think the sleep is coming now finally." Abdullah says with a tone of excitement.

"Maybe we should just leave her alone so she can sleep." Asma says and stands immediately prepared to leave the room. "Darifa let's go."

"Asma is everything okay with you?" Darifa asks again still surprised by her actions.

"Can't you see she needs sleep?" She asks too.

"Alright." Darifa stands accepting the offer. "I will see you later Ella, make sure you sleep and eat."

"I will, thanks a lot." She smiles broadly.

Asma and Darifa walk out of the room and Ella's eyes follow them until they disappeared.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Abdullah asks.

"I have million things I want to discuss with you but for now I prefer not to say anything."

"It's fine if you can't tell me now, but just let me know when you need my help."

"Thank you for all you do." Ella appreciates with her voice trembling.

Abdullah places the plates of food somewhere safe and hugs his lover tightly giving her millions of kisses on her forehead.

*********

"Sorry I kept you waiting," shamim says as he pulls out a chair for himself and sits opposite Cassandra.

"It's fine." She says with smiles. "But why do you look unhappy? Is everything okay with you?"

"Yes, I am fine." He pulls out his cell phone and wallet from his pockets and drops it in the table very close to him. "Have you placed any orders yet?"

"Yes, I just ordered for two plates of chicken and milkshake since that's what you love taking."

"That's good." Abdullah smiles. "So how are you doing?"

"It was difficult to be without you." Cassandra Says and exhales deeply.

"I still wonder why you had to leave me before realizing my worth."

"Come on shamim!" She grumbles and holds his hands. "I thought we have talked this over already."

"It's just so hard to forget Cassandra, I gave you my all in all and yet you felt like I wasn't still enough."

Cassandra releases his hands and frowns. "Why did you break up with me in the first place?"

"Because I felt you were just using me all along. You never loved me or wanted-" He stops immediately he sees the restaurant attendant bringing in their orders.

"Do enjoy your time here ma and sir." The the attendant says with smiles as she drops the orders.

"Thank you very much, I can't wait to have a taste of this lovely chicken." Cassandra says admiring the chicken with her eyes.

"Let me know if you need anything." The attendant says and walks away.

"Should we eat first and talk later?" Abdullah asks.

"I believe we can do both together." Cassandra suggests and both of them starts eating. "So how is everyone at home?"

"They are all doing fine." Abdullah replies and sips some of his milkshake.

"I will like to come and pay your family a visit someday."

He stops eating and stares at Cassandra. "I can see you really want to change for good." He chuckles. "You have always hated coming to my house but now you want to do it willingly. But unfortunately, you can't come."

"Why? Are you still mad at me?" Cassandra asks again feeling sober.

"No at all my dear, I am no longer mad at you, but now isn't the best moment to come to my house. It is crowded with my sister's friends."

"Your sister's friends?"

"Yes." Abdullah nods enjoying his chicken?"

"Why are they there?" Cassandra asks looking at him with suspicions.

Shamim, realizing he had already said something he shouldn't have even mentioned at all stops eating and raises his head locking eyes with Cassandra. "They are just there for a visit." He lies whispering.

"So for how long will the visit last?" She asks again.

"I don't know about that yet." He says bluntly and continues eating.

Cassandra nods and smiles. "Have you found out why your sister is using another surname different from yours?"

Shamim drops his fork and hits his palms on the table out of frustration. "Can you please leave my family out of this conversation? Especially Ella."

"Alright, no problem, I am sorry." She apologizes.