Part 58 – Yasmeen the Therapist

As if my day could get any more entertaining, somehow I was roped into being Uzair’s therapist.

It was the Bobats’ final night in Dubai and we all went out for one last supper and dessert outing. Fatimah and her family were there too so at least my parents felt comfortable enough to let me tag along. The adults sat inside the restaurant whilst the rest of us sat outside, enjoying the winter breeze.

UZAIR: You have a minute? 

He appeared from behind, giving me a shock. 

ME: Yeah, what’s up? 

He lowered his voice and pulled up a chair so that nobody else could hear him. 

UZAIR: I need- advice. 

I smiled and raised my eyebrows. 

ME: What did you do now?

UZAIR: I didn’t do anything! 

I laughed. 

ME: So what can I help you with?

He sighed. 

UZAIR: Well… I have a question. 

ME: Shoot

UZAIR: You know that guy Zaheer Mohamed?

I scrunched up my face, confused at where this conversation was heading. 

ME: Aha, yes.

UZAIR: Were you childhood friends?

I nodded my head. 

ME: Yep, we were. 

UZAIR: And how close would you say you two were?

I pulled a face.

ME: Uzair, why are you quizzing me about Zaheer? 

UZAIR: First answer the question… please. How close were you?

ME: I mean… we were close as children. He has a picture of us as kids framed in his room. 

Uzair: Wow, really!

That last sentence did not mean to slip out of my mouth. Why did I say that. 

ME: Yeah but it doesn’t matter. Why are you asking me this? 

UZAIR: Patience young grasshopper. 

I rolled my eyes. 

UZAIR: So, Zaheer is your childhood friend and you meet him after many many years. What was it like? 

Oh. I could see where this was going…

ME: It was… different. It’s like you’re meeting someone for the first time but you know all these things about them that you wouldn’t know about a stranger. It can go one of two ways.

UZAIR: How so?

ME: Because people change and sometimes you change so much that you just… don’t have anything in common or you don’t have similar values or lifestyles. Other times you change but that childhood bond remains.

UZAIR: So what happened with you and Zaheer?

ME: I mean… I think we both changed a lot. We don’t really have much in common.

UZAIR: Wouldn’t it have just been better to not meet him after all these years? Then the good memories would be preserved. 

I raised an eyebrow. He kept using Zaheer as an example but clearly he was thinking about his own scenario, his own childhood friend: Yasmin.

ME: Uzair, are you scared that you and Yasmin won’t have anything in common? 

He blushed.

UZAIR: I wasn’t talking about m-

ME: Yes, you are. You wanted my advice so be honest. 

He stuttered a bit before finally forming a sentence.

UZAIR: I really don’t know. I have these perfect memories of her and its just- its so unfair to compare someone to those memories because thats the past and this is the present.

I nodded my head but as I did, alarm bells went off.

ME: I have to be honest with you Uzair… I don’t know what you’re thinking. I don’t know anything about your history with Yasmin. But what I do know is… you were this close to introducing Yumna to your parents and that was only a month ago. Isn’t it a bit soon to-

UZAIR: I’m not saying I want to marry Yasmin. 

I narrowed my eyes and gave him a questioning look. 

ME: Really, Uzair? There’s no part of you that’s having this conversation with me because you want to know if you and Yasmin are compatible? 

He opened his mouth to speak but said nothing.

ME: I’m just saying… take some time. Take a step back. Think about what you really want in a woman and a partner. 

UZAIR: If this Yumna drama taught me anything, it taught me what I don’t want in a partner. 

I laughed. 

ME: You clearly see something deeper than a friendship with Yasmin if you’re questioning her values.

UZAIR: Shh… keep your voice down. 

ME: I’m right, aren’t I?

He sighed. 

UZAIR: Maybe… I don’t know if it’s the shock of seeing her after so many years or the fact that she’s become a… woman. Or if it’s just because she feels familiar. 

I bit my lip trying to hide the smile that wanted to appear so badly. 

ME: I get that… I respect that. 

UZAIR: Do you think I’m rushing into this?

ME: I think you should just make sure you have thought everything through. Don’t rush. Don’t jump. It’s easy to get caught up in the perfect memories of a person but… make sure they are compatible with your present and your future. 

Uzair nodded his head. 

UZAIR: And what about you? 

ME: What about me? 

UZAIR: Does Zaheer fit into your present and future?

I scoffed.

ME: Oh goodness, no. That is so not on my radar. 

UZAIR: Not even a little bit?

ME: No. I’m more focused on avoiding all that drama. Boys… men… dating… it’s just a recipe for disaster.

UZAIR: When the time is right-

ME: Yes yes, when the time is right it will all fall into place but that time is not now. I am eighteen. I have time… and so do you so please don’t rush into anything. Yasmin seems like a wonderful girl and maybe she is the girl for you or maybe she’s not. But don’t try and mould her into the old version you have stored in your memories because you both have grown up.

Uzair nodded his head, remaining silent for a moment before he thanked me for my input. I hoped I hadn’t overstepped in my words of advice.