Azam laughed out loud. ‘That’ll be Enzo she was talking about,I can guarantee it.’ Sonya nodded, and Azam continued. ‘He’s a tongue-witch like her, and he’s her father’s apprentice. Her father is the smartest person in the Outskirts, without a doubt.’
They continued chatting as they ate dinner, until the food was done and Dania was yawning. Sonya had hardly noticed the time moving; it felt as though mere moments had passed. At the same time, it somehow felt as if she had lived numerous days in one.
‘Come, little monkey, let’s get you ready for bed,’ Kiri said, helping Dania stand.
‘Okie, Gramma,’ Dania said. She went to give Azam a hug. ‘Goodnight, Bhai.’ It was a term of endearment for older brothers. Sonya’s brothers weren’t so much older than she was that she called them bhai, but it was sweet that Dania called Azam that.
‘Goodnight, my love.’ Azam kissed his sister’s cheek. Then she came and gave Sonya a hug. ‘Goodnight, Baji.’ Sonya’s heart squeezed at the term of endearment for older sisters.
‘Goodnight, munni,’ Sonya said. It was something her father used to call her when she was very small, meaning ‘little one’. Off Dania went with Kiri, leaving Azam and Sonya alone.
Sonya began picking up the plates to clear the table. She was sure Azam would want to get to bed soon, as well, since he was so tired, but she was surprised to find him standing up to help her.
‘I’ll do it,’ she said. ‘It is my job, after all.’
‘Just because it’s your job doesn’t mean you have to do it alone,’ he said, meeting her halfway to the kitchen as she made her way back to the table. ‘You must be exhausted.’
‘I am,’ she admitted, ‘but in a good way.’
He looked a bit puzzled by that, and she shrugged, laughing a little.
They continued working together, until all the dishes were in the kitchen. He wiped the table down while she washed, then hecame and took the clean dishes to dry them. He asked her how she liked the Outskirts, and she told him all the details she had collected throughout the day, and how she loved it already.
When they had finally finished, Sonya massaged her hands, the day catching up to her. Azam frowned, a crease appearing between his brows. He took one of her hands, laying her fingers flat to inspect her palm. A shiver ran down her spine as she looked down at their hands. Her hand was so small in his.
‘Your hands are perfectly smooth,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry to have put you to so much work.’
‘Don’t be,’ she said, closing her fingers over his. ‘I enjoyed it. It was nice to do something.’ She swallowed. ‘I’m so used to being idle.’
‘Well, I’m glad to hear you’re such a good sport about it, though it can’t be easy,’ he said.
‘It’s much easier than I expected, though I suspect much of that is due to you and your family’s kindness,’ she said, looking up at him. Their eyes met, and a jittery feeling spread through her, going down to her toes. She took a deep breath and noticed how good he smelled, like strong black tea.
Feeling a little nervous then, Sonya dropped her hand, breaking the contact. She went to smooth her hand on the front of her dress, but then stopped herself when she realized how dirty the dress was.
Azam looked down as well and seemed to notice the same thing.
Embarrassment flushed through her, making tears sting her eyes. She looked away.
‘I don’t have any other clothes,’ she said, voice quiet and miserable.
He smiled. ‘I can fix that.’
6
Azam had disappeared and returned a few moments later with a dress and a measuring tape hanging around his neck.
‘Kiri has a whole box of dresses that she doesn’t wear anymore,’ he said. ‘I can alter them for you.’
‘Oh! No, that’s alright,’ Sonya protested, even though she was dying to get out of the filthy uniform dress. ‘It’ll be too much work.’ She didn’t want to cause a fuss even more than she already had.
Azam gave her a funny look, lips tilted. ‘I’m a stitch-witch, remember?’
‘You must be tired of working on clothes, then,’ she said. ‘It’s what you do all day.’
‘No, not at all!’ he replied, running a hand through his wavyhair. ‘I love it.’ He paused. ‘Well, I don’t love my job at the moment because I’m only an apprentice. It’s a very lowly job—but I’m hoping to be promoted soon.’ He looked away, a wistful expression crossing his face. ‘What I’dreallylove to do is reopen my mother’s shop…’
‘That would be wonderful,’ she said.
