Part 43 – Mothers Know Best

Out of all the girls in my year, Ashley was the one I somehow clicked with the most. We became fast friends even though we were very different.

So when school stress started to weigh on me and I decided I needed to reboot my mind, she was the person I invited along. We didn’t make any major plans; we bought pizza and sat on the beach, soaking up the cool Dubai air. 

Whenever I had new friends in my life, my mother would ask a million questions and Ashley was no exception.

MUM: Who are you meeting?

ME: A girl from school, Ashley.

MUM: You’ve never mentioned her before?

ME: Have I not? Well, she’s really nice.

MUM: As long as she’s good company… I don’t want you falling in with the wrong crowd at school Yasmeen.

I smiled.

ME: Trust me Mummy, Ashley is the head of the charity committee. She’s really nice. 

MUM: Where is she from?

ME: Well, she’s half American and half Iranian.

MUM: Oh, interesting.

And that was the last question my mother asked before I headed out to meet my ‘very nice’ friend. I told Ashley about the interrogation and she laughed. 

ASHLEY: Dude, I can relate to that 100%. My mum does the same thing. She is so protective over my sister and me. 

ME: You have a sister? I didn’t know. 

ASHLEY: Mhmm, she’s a few years younger than me but she goes to a different school. Don’t you have a brother?

I nodded my head.

ASHLEY: I always see Zaheer talking to him and I never realised it was your brother. 

ME: Oh god. That worries me. Zaheer teaches him everything I don’t want him to learn. 

I went on to tell Ashley about the many times Zaheer passed on ‘wisdom’ to Armaan. 

ME: Ash, I have a question, a bit of an awkward one.

ASHLEY: I think I know what it is…

I smiled. I will admit, my transition from conversation to question was not smooth. 

ME: Were you and Zaheer… ever more than friends?

ASHLEY: I could understand why you’d think that. Zee is very friendly in his ways but no, we have never crossed that line. Why do you ask?

ME: Because when I first met you, I had the impression that something was going on and well… let’s just say, I judged you and Zaheer all wrong and I’m sorry for that. 

ASHLEY: Girl, it’s fine. If anything, I should be asking if there’s anything going on between you?

I nearly spat out my pizza.

ME: Me! 

ASHLEY: Yes, you!

ME: No! Goodness, no. Never. I don’t- I avoid getting involved with guys in any capacity. 

ASHLEY: Really?

ME: Yeah, I have no inclination towards it… There are also religious reasons so I find it better to try and stay away from all that drama. 

ASHLEY: I respect that. My mum has pretty strict rules about dating too, more because she doesn’t want us to be taken advantage of and she doesn’t want us to lose focus from our studies. 

ME: Your Mum is a smart woman. 

ASHLEY: Ain’t she? I never fully understand her logic behind the rules she has… but-

ME: Mothers know best? 

ASHLEY: Whether we like to admit it or not, they really do. 

Soon, our pizza was finished and our lungs were filled with salty beach air. And right on time, my mother appeared. 

ME: Do you want a ride home?

ASHLEY: No that’s fine, I’ll take a taxi.

ME: My mum won’t mind, seriously. Just hop in. Where do you live?

ASHLEY: JBR

ME: No way! You mean that place with all the restaurants by the beach? That’s so nice.

MUM: How long have you been in Dubai for Ashley?

ASHLEY: This is actually my second year, so I know what it feels like to be new.

MUM: Tell me about it. Driving on the other side of the road is so hard.

And then my mother and Ashley were talking about where Ashley used to live before Dubai, her studies and future career.

We neared JBR and soon, Ashley was getting out the car and bidding us farewell.

MUM: She’s nice.

ME: Two words. That’s it?

My mother looked at me with narrowed eyes.

MUM: Fine! She is very nice. Four words, keep the change.

I rolled my eyes, and laughed. My mother.