Chapter 3.. Debts

Fahad parked his jeep on the pavement and was walking across the street to his café when he noticed that the lights in Yara’s studio were still off. It’s been a week since he first met her and every time he passed by he found the place dark or closed. This time he saw a shadow moving inside so he walked in.

“Hello?” said Fahad trying to get the Indian guy’s attention. “Hello sir, I’m sorry we are closed” said Santosh. “Are you still having a problem with electricity?” asked Fahad interrupting. “Yes sir” said Santosh while wondering how Fahad knew about it. “What is the matter? Maybe I can help,” offered Fahad. “No, sir. We are working on it” said Santosh. “But it’s been a week. Let me get one of my guys to check it” said Fahad as he walked out. “No, sir. You can’t do anything. We already talked to the Ministry and we’ll get it back” said Santosh trying to cover up. “What do you mean you talked to the Ministry? It doesn’t take that long to fix whatever could be wrong!” said Fahad insisting to figure it out. “Sir, we haven’t paid the bill.” Said Santosh finally and after running out of excuses. “Oh.” Said Fahad in surprise.

Fahad felt stupid for not realizing that from the beginning. It was obvious that Yara was having financial trouble. That empty wall and the electricity said it all. He felt guilty for forcing Santosh indirectly to confess. He took a moment and said: “Hey, listen, what’s your name?”. “Santosh” he answered. “Listen Santosh, I need a favor from you” said Fahad.

**

Yara, Dalal and Nadia were having their usual coffee gathering at the café:

“I was really excited about Paris and now I’m just running out of things to look forward to!” said Dalal in a whiny tone.
“No one needed it as much as I did, trust me. But we have to think of something else.” Said Yara
“You wanna go to Durrat AlBahrain for the weekend?” asked Nadia.
“Please, no. I hate that place.” Said Dalal.
“Why not. We’ll get to be away and relax by the beach” said Yara as she tried convincing her.
“How boring! I want to go to a fun crowded place.” Said Dalal.
“OK we’ll both go and you stay here all alone” Nadia teased her.
“You know that I’ll end up coming anyway!” said Dalal annoyed. “Who’s that hottie?” she said with curiosity as she saw Fahad entering the café.

Yara turned her head to see Fahad approaching their table. “Hi Yara” he said as soon as he reached the table. “Hi, how are you?” she asked smilingly and calmly. “I’m good. Haven’t seen you for a while” he said while Dalal was looking at both of them with question marks all over her face.

“Those are my friends Dalal and Nadia” said Yara introducing them to him. “Nice to meet you” he said and turned back to Yara: “Is my picture ready yet?”. “Not yet, I’m really sorry didn’t get a chance to work on it” she said. “It’s ok, no rush. Just give me a call once it’s ready” he said and handed her his business card.

 “By the way girls, Fahad owns this café”, said Yara.
 “Oh really?” said Dalal confused and excited at the same time.
 “Any complaints you know who to go to” said Fahad as he excused himself and walked away.

“He’s something!!” said Nadia with amazement as soon as he left “and you had nothing to say about him except for the photo he wanted?”
“How do you know this guy?” wondered Dalal.
“He passed by the studio last week and introduced himself.” She said, “as a neighbor” she continued.
“Ne7na wel amar jeeran” Nadia started singing.
“I say work on it” said Dalal.
“Stop it girls. Seriously! You can’t do this every time I meet someone” said Yara irritated.
“He is not someone, he is SOMETHING!!” said Nadia.
“Look at that gray hair.” said Dalal while checking him out.
“Stop staring at the guy both of you!!” yelled Yara.
“And look who just joined him” said Dalal with her jaw dropped down.
“Osama from accounting? Such a small world.” Said Nadia in amazement.
“I can tell that they are good friends” said Dalal while observing them.
“And how did you figure that out Doctor Dalal?” teased Yara.
“He didn’t shake his hand and the way they are talking to each other is very casual” said Dalal.

Yara’s phone rang interrupting “It’s my mum. Something must be wrong!! Hello?”
“Come home immediately!” said her mother.

**

“Hey ladies, did Yara leave?” asked Fahad who approached the table where Dalal and Nadia were still hanging out. “Yeah, she had to leave. Need anything?” asked Nadia. “Yeah, I needed to talk to her. Never mind” he said and was about to leave. “Do you want her phone number?” asked Dalal as if she was waiting for such chances to present themselves. “That would be great. Thanks”, said Fahad.

**

Yara entered the house to find her mother sitting in the living room with a man that she had never seen before. He looked like a typical Bahraini man in his 50s, wearing a white Thoab and white Ghetra with a distinguishable white moustache.

Yara looked at him and back at her mother, waiting for an explanation. “Sit down.” Ordered her mother. Yara sat slowly next to her mum facing the man and waiting for him to speak.

“You look a lot like your father”, he said with a smile.
Yara smiled “You knew my father?”
“Your father was a friend of mine. Allah yer7ima, he was a great man” he said.
“And why are you here?” she asked with concern.
“I’m sorry that I’ll have to tell you this. I tried to delay it as much as possible, but unfortunately it can’t be delayed anymore” said the man.
“He owes you money?” she guessed
“Yes. And I assure you that I wouldn’t have asked for it if it wasn’t really needed. I understand your situation. But as you know, with the current market conditions we are all facing some problems”
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s your money and you have every right to ask for it.” Said Yara politely.

Her mother stared at her with anger “Ask him if he can prove it!”
“Wait” whispered Yara to her mother.

“Here are copies of some documents stating the amount I lent him with dates and signatures. Read it and contact me whenever you’re ready” he said as he got up.
“Thank you. I’ll surely get back to you” she said as she walked him out.

“This is ridiculous”, said her mother while shaking her head.
“Please don’t start! The man was very polite and understanding.” said Yara as she went through the documents.
“How much does he want?” asked the mother trying to avoid all the useless talk.
Yara’s face went pale, she lowered the papers on her lap and stared at her mother: “10,000 Dinars!”

Meanwhile, Yara’s phone was ringing on silent in her handbag. She never noticed. She felt as if the world was spinning around her, she couldn’t even hear her mother’s continuous cries and complaints. Hundreds of questions were roaming inside her head. She couldn’t manage to pay an electricity bill, how about BD10,000?

**

The room was dark and quiet. Yara opened her eyes wondering what time it was. She reached for her mobile to find 3 missed calls. One was from Santosh but the rest of the numbers were unfamiliar. It was 8:30 in the morning. What could he possibly want at this hour? She called him immediately.
“Good morning Madame” said Santosh
“Good morning Santosh. What’s going on?” asked Yara
“The electricity is back” he said happily.
“What? How is that? We didn’t pay the bill” asked Yara in confusion.
“But it’s back Madame” said Santosh trying to push all the questions away.
“It cannot be back unless the bill was paid somehow. I’m coming now anyway” she said and ended the call.

Yara went to her studio right away. It felt good to see it back to life, but she was wondering if someone paid the bill for her or if it was some kind of a mistake. “Santosh, do you know anything about this? Did any of my friends find out about it and paid you the money?” she asked him as soon as she walked in.

“I don’t know Madame. I came at 8 and it was back” said Santosh.
“There must be a mistake. If I find out that you are hiding something from me you will be punished. I can easily let you go and God knows how much I need to do that” Yara warned him.
“But he asked me not to tell you.” Said Santosh, starting to get scared by the threat.
“He? Who’s he?” asked Yara.
“His name is Mr. Fahad. He gave me the money and said that he owes you but he asked me not to tell you” confessed Santosh.
“WHAT? Why did you take the money Santosh? I can’t believe you. You don’t know the man!” she screamed.
 “I’m sorry madame. He insisted.” Said Santosh as he got more scared.
 “And why did you tell him about it at first place?” said Yara as she got more frustrated.

Santosh looked down and remained quiet while she got angrier and angrier. She left the studio in frustration and headed to the café next door. She looked around for Fahad but she couldn’t find him. She took a deep breath, realized that she has to calm down in order to fix this and took a seat on the nearest table. One of the waitresses came to her and asked her if she’d like to have her usual coffee. “Yes please. Do you have any idea when Mr. Fahad is coming?” asked Yara. “He doesn’t have a usual time” answered the waitress. “Can I have his mobile number? Oh wait, I have it. Thank you” she said as she remembered the business card that he gave her yesterday.

She dialed his number and it looked familiar, but she was too angry to realize that it was one of the numbers she had found a missed call from this morning. It was ringing but there was no answer. She disconnected and rested her head on her palm when she suddenly heard his voice: “You’re early today!” he said. She turned around to see him standing right behind her, she stood up and looked him straight in the eyes: “How dare you?” she said in frustration. His smile went down when he saw her angry face.

“Please let me explain” said Fahad calmly realizing that she found out about the payment.
“Explain what? The fact that you are interfering in my personal life?” she said in an even angrier tone.
“You are angry now. Give yourself few minutes to calm down and we will talk about it” said Fahad trying to calm her down.
“There is nothing to talk about. We barely know each other and you had no right to pry into my business. I don’t need your charity!”
“Yara, please listen to me. This is the price of the photo I’m buying from you” explained Fahad.
“Who are you kidding? This is just an excuse” she said in a very insulting tone.
“OK. Maybe you’re right. An excuse to help you. What’s wrong with that?” Fahad tried explaining.
“I don’t need your help! And you will get your money back.” She said as she picked up her handbag, turned around and walked away.

“Yara, please wait.” He called after her.

Yara stopped and turned around “Till I get you the money, do me a favor and don’t show me your face again!”