Chapter 22 XXII

After Ismail and I finish eating I go back to my room to shower and get ready to meet up with Fatima later in the day. I take a bath and wear a yellow floral full-length gown. I tie my hair with a brown hajib which matches the flowers on my dress. I am also wearing black sandals. A few hours later, I pray Dhuhr and meet up with Fatima downstairs for lunch in the hotel s restaurant. "As salamu Alaykum," I greet hugging Fatima. "Wa alaykumu salam," Fatima says standing up to hug me. "How are you doing?" I ask sitting down. "I am good and you?" Fatima replies sitting back down. "I am good too. You won t believe what I found out after all these years," I say. "What did you find out?" "You know how I thought Ismail was the reason I got fired for all those years?" I say taking a sip of Fatima s drink. "Yes, and don t touch my drink. Order your own," she says removing her drink from my