‘What about you?’ Sonya asked Azam. She realized something. ‘Wait, aren’t you meant to be at work?’
He shook his head. ‘I took a few days off,’ Azam explained. Hedidn’t really look at her as he said it, but she was pleased. She liked having him around.
‘So…your hair?’ he asked. ‘Then we can have breakfast?’
‘Okay,’ she said. Azam pulled out a chair from the dining table, and she sat down sideways. Taking off the shawl, she set it on the table as Azam went to collect a few things.
He returned and brushed her hair aside, lifting it. As he did, his fingers skimmed along the bare skin of her shoulders, and she shivered. He set a towel across her shoulders, then let her hair fall back. She felt a little nervous then; she nibbled on her lower lip, trying to hold herself very still.
Noticing, Dania crawled up onto Sonya’s lap. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘Bhai cuts good hair. See mine?’
Sonya smiled, holding Dania. ‘Yes, very pretty,’ she replied, kissing Dania’s cheek.
‘Alright, you two, don’t move,’ Azam said.
‘Okay,’ Sonya whispered, closing her eyes.
‘I’m going to brush your hair first,’ Azam said, and this time, his voice felt much closer than before. Another shiver ran down her spine.
Then, she felt his hands in her hair as he ran his fingers through. A drop of water rolled down the back of her neck as he wet it. She listened to the sound of the brush as he moved it through the strands, an ache spreading through her chest.
‘Dania, off you go,’ Azam said, and Dania hopped off Sonya’s lap.
Holding her hands together tightly, Sonya swallowed. She didn’t understand why she was so full of nerves. Perhaps it was because her hair was so close to her throat.
‘Don’t worry,’ Azam said, voice low in her ear. ‘I won’t hurt you.’
She squeaked out a response, unable to speak. Then, he beganto cut her hair. Heart pounding, she listened to the sound of the shears moving, the feathery feel of strands of hair falling.
Before she knew it, he was done. He removed the towel from her shoulders. She released a long breath and opened her eyes to find Kiri smiling.
Dania’s eyes were wide. ‘Wow!’
Sonya felt the ends of her hair, trying to look, but it was so short, she couldn’t quite see the ends. But she could tell that it was neat, brushing just above her shoulders now. Kiri brought over a handheld mirror, and Sonya held it up, looking at her reflection.
‘Oh,’ she said, awed. Her hair looked lovely, suiting her round face beautifully.
Azam came around to stand in front of her. ‘Do you like it?’ Azam asked. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at her hopefully.
She gave him a wide smile. ‘I love it!’
He let out a breath, smiling as well. ‘Come on, let’s have breakfast,’ he said.
Sonya followed him out to the garden, where they went to get eggs from the chicken coop.
‘The chickens are only for eggs, not slaughtering,’ Azam explained, dropping his voice to a whisper. ‘Dania is very attached.’
They both watched as Dania chased the chickens, who squawked in response, looking harassed. Sonya laughed. Then, they went in and prepared breakfast side by side. Azam fried the eggs and Sonya toasted the bread, finishing off the loaf.
‘I should head to the bakery later. Would you like to join me?’ Azam asked, noticing.
‘Sure!’ She was keen to go back to the market and perhaps stop in to say hello to Winnie, and that was exactly what they did after they finished their breakfast and washed the dishes.
They made their way to the market, and Azam showed her around as they walked, leading her along a different route than the one Kiri had taken them through yesterday.
‘There’s the main market, but then there are shops in other areas, as well,’ he explained. ‘Mostly business owners who’ve opened up in their homes, the way my mother did.’
She recalled what he had said about the portion of the cottage behind the mysterious door being his mother’s shop.
