and kissed his forehead. ‘That’s from Amma.’
‘You should’ve told us what time your flight was getting in,’ said Dad. ‘Someone would’ve come to collect you.’
‘We would’ve sent Bubblee,’ said Mum. ‘This isn’t right – you’ve flown all this way, come straight here and didn’t tell us. You know Jahangeer is away, so you are now the man to come and look after us.’
I stole a glance at Bubblee who looked like she might throw something at someone.
‘He’s just so busy,’ continued Mum. ‘Working, working – sending us money.’
Mae snorted and looked up from her phone as everyone stared at her. ‘Sorry.’
‘If he were here you’d be able to speak with him, but you’ll have to settle for all these women,’ said Mum as Dad cleared his throat. ‘And your mama,’ she added, looking at Dad.
Malik stared at them both before he waved his hands around as if it were all too silly to talk about. Mum and Dad looked at each other, approvingly. I guess they were thinking he was perfect for Bubblee, and when Farah’s husband wakes up, there’ll be another family wedding and everyone will live happily ever after. I probably still won’t have passed my driving test. Oh, God! I remembered I’d forgotten to cancel my lesson the following day. I texted Ash and told him what had happened, if he hadn’t already read it in the paper.
From, Ashraf: I’m so sorry to hear that. Hope he recovers soon. Just let me know when you’re ready for your next lesson. Are you okay?
To, Ashraf: Yeah, fine. Just weird when something like this happens. Makes you realise how short life is. The sooner I pass my test the sooner I can start living mine.
I thought about it for a second before sending it, but Ash is always saying stuff like this to me – telling me what’s going on with him, so why not? I didn’t think he’d respond, but he did, saying something like I don’t need to pass my test to do that, but he doesn’t understand. Passing my test means being in control. Just once, I’d like to feel like I have some of that.
*
‘Ewww!’ exclaimed Mae. ‘Bubblee? Marry Malik? Gross.’
‘What do you mean?’ I replied. ‘He’s nice looking.’
‘Er, yeah,’ replied Mae, ‘but he’s like, from Bangladesh. That accent is vom.’
I’d laid out a blanket for her on the floor of my bedroom because Malik was staying with us and Bubblee and Farah were sharing.
‘Mae, you shouldn’t say stuff like that about people,’ I said, thinking about his trilby and how English he looked when he walked into the hospital room.
‘What? Be honest?’
I looked up at the ceiling as I lay down on my bed. ‘You need to learn that some things should be kept to yourself.’
The light from her phone shone on her face. ‘Yeah, well, I don’t expect people to read my mind.’
Wouldn’t that be great. If people could do that. My mouth never quite manages to say the words my brain thinks. It could save me a lot of trouble. While I was thinking this, someone knocked on the door before opening it.
‘Is she still on her damn phone?’ said Bubblee, walking into my room and plopping herself on my bed.
‘How’s Farah?’ I asked.
Mae put her phone down as Bubblee switched on my bedside lamp and looked around my room.
‘Every time I ask she just replies “Fine.” I think you need more colour in this room, Fatti. Maybe a painting or two? Something to add a little character.’
What did she mean? Doesn’t she think I have character?
‘Are you gonna marry that Malik guy?’ asked Mae.
My heart seemed to beat a little faster.
‘Over my dead body,’ replied Bubblee, observing my bookshelf. ‘There’s something very reflective in the orderly way you’ve piled your books, Fatti.’
Mae shot a look at me, suppressing a laugh. I had to hold mine back too.
‘I mean, we can really draw parallels from our surroundings about our personalities.’
‘Oh yeah,’ said Mae. ‘What’s your flat like then?’
‘You can come visit and see for yourself one day.’ Bubblee looked at her. ‘If you do well in your GCSEs, you can even come and stay with me for a while.’
Mae sat up. ‘Shut your face.’
I had a sudden bout of panic. If Mae leaves here, then I’ll be alone – with my parents.
‘We can go to exhibitions and sit in cafes. You can get a part-time job.’
‘A job?’ said Mae.
‘Yes. A job. That thing that funds the life we want to lead.’
Mae lay back down. ‘London would be something.’
‘Fatti, you can come too,’ said Bubblee, hitting me on the leg.
I said: ‘That’d be great.’ But a hundred questions came to me: What would I wear? How would I act with Bubblee’s artist friends? I need to lose at least twenty pounds before going to London. The whole idea made me want to reach into my drawer for cheese, except I couldn’t with Mae around. But she was right, London would be something.
‘You’d better not marry that Malik before I get a chance,’ said Mae.
Bubblee threw a pillow at her. ‘I’m not marrying him. He’s so uninspired.’
‘But you don’t even know him,’ I replied.
Why do people make such quick judgements about others? Why does no-one give anyone a chance? I think Bubblee said something, but I was too lost in these thoughts to hear. So lost that I ended up saying aloud: ‘I feel like I know him.’
Mae let out a snort of laughter. I felt my face flush, unable to look at Bubblee, who I could tell was staring at me.
‘Haha. Fatti fancies Mal-meister,’ said Mae, getting her phone out again.
‘Don’t even think about hitting the record button,’ I said, the heat in my face rising. ‘And I don’t fancy him. I’m just saying. He is family, anyway.’
‘Exactly,’ said Bubblee. ‘It’s unwholesome to even think about marrying him. I mean, Farah married her cousin and that’s bad enough.’ Bubblee looked at the ground. ‘Look what she’s got to show for it,’ she added.
It seemed so obvious to me. Was I being stupid? Did no-one else see what I saw?
‘Let it go, man,’ added Mae. ‘How much longer are you gonna hold that against her?’
‘I’m here, aren’t I?’ replied Bubblee. ‘Can you believe how Mum was going on and on about Jay? I was embarrassed for her.’
‘He does send money,’ I said.
‘Not nearly enough to make up for the fact that we never know where he is, or what he’s doing. He couldn’t give a crap about any of us.’
I wondered if Bubblee realised that a lot of the time we don’t know where she is or what she’s doing either. My bedroom door opened again and it was Farah. ‘This is where you’re all hiding.’
I folded my legs to make room for Farah on my bed.
‘Bubblee’s the one hiding,’ said Mae, still tapping on her phone. ‘From her husband.’ After which she made kissing noises.
‘She could do a lot worse than him. They’re a good family.