Chapter 5
“Hakeem! Mazen! Nour! Yallah, breakfast is ready!” The strong voice of Bahera Al-Najim fills the house, loud yet sweet and motherly, not to be ignored.
The Al-Najim House is two stories tall, with four bedrooms and two and half baths; one being an ensuite in the master bedroom; and a small backyard.
It’s where Bahera and her husband Shadi have raised their twins Mazen and Nour, along with the son of Shadi’s departed sister, Hakeem.
It’s always been full of warmth and love as the Al-Najims worked hard to provide for their children.
Shadi enjoys a strong cup of Turkish coffee as his wife tries to coax the three young adults down from their rooms so early in the day.
Bahera returns to the kitchen in a huff, her hands on her hips.
“Wallah, ya Shadi, shuu? What are we going to do with these lazy kids? Just because it’s new years they think they can waste the whole day? ’’
Shadi takes a sip from his coffee, a drop falling off his dark mustache.
He furrows his bushy dark brown brows, creating deep lines in his sun tanned skin.
He turns his head and aims his brown eyes towards his wife, “Ya habibti, Bahera, what kids? Our twins are twenty and Hakeem will be twenty five in the summer. He is less than two years from getting his PhD in theoretical thaumaturgy, yallah let him sleep in one day of the year, hubiy. The twins…ok maybe they are a little hungover, I cannot defend them.”
Shadi returns to his coffee and opens the day’s paper, letting it float freely in front of him.
Bahera huffs and pours herself a cup of Ceylon tea.
The earthy smells fill her nose and calms her nerves.
She drags her fingers along the window sill, coaxing the flowers among it to bloom.
Her wavy brown hair falls down her back as she eases herself into her chair, allowing the tea to work its magic.
It lasts only a moment when an angry shout erupts from upstairs.
“Mazen, ya himar! Ladies first, ya hayawan! Go use the bathroom downstairs for your morning shit. I don’t want your stink ruining my routine!”
“It’s already ruined cause you came up with it, Nour. And you know the rules, first come first serve and wakunt al’awal. I. Was. First.”
Bahera turns to her husband who seems to be hiding behind his paper, eyebrow raised. “What did you say about them being adults, ya habibi, Shadi?”
Shadi doesn’t respond as he takes another sip of coffee from behind his newspaper.
As Nour and Mazen bicker over who gets to use the big bathroom, at the other end of the hall, under a blanket covered in research notes, scribbled magic circles and runes, Hakeem Al-Najim stirs awake.
He groans as his eyes adjust to light pouring in from the window of his room, and he rubs his hands up and down his face to try and wipe the tired away.
He reaches for the thin framed glasses at his bedside sending more papers flying across the floor.
“Shit, I gotta clean those up before I go. Ugh, wallah it’s too early for those two to be so loud.
” Hakeem runs a hand through the fluffy crown of loose brown curls that sits atop his head.
He scratches the slight stubble grown from days of neglecting to shave and stretches out his arms and back.
His light brown skin catches the light coming into his room, gaining an almost golden glow.
The night shirt he wore to bed is tight around his arms, years of helping out with his uncle’s construction company has kept them toned while years of his aunt’s home cooking has gifted him a slight belly.
He stares for a moment in the mirror in his room at the same sun kissed skin and curly brown hair he shared with his aunt, uncle and cousins; common traits of their Arabian heritage from the human world.
Then he settles on his eyes, silver, the only trait he inherited from his father.
Under the light, so he’s been told, they shine like the full moon.
Hakeem joins his family for breakfast, enjoying the spread his Khalto Bahera lovingly laid out.
Sliced Persian cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, and scrambled eggs sit beside Kashkaval cheese and labneh drizzled with olive oil, paired with Lebanese pita and fresh Ceylon tea.
Hakeem loves that food is such an important part of his heritage, he grew up believing sharing foods from someone’s background is one of the best ways to form new bonds and friendships.
Bahera finishes a piece of cheese and her cup of tea and turns to Hakeem.
“Hakeem, were you still looking to move out of Charlie’s place above that cafe you work at?
I found a flier in the mail that shows a room for rent.
Cheap, good area, close to bus and subway stops.
Yallah, I’ll get it for you after breakfast okay? ”
Hakeem looks up from his own plate of food, surprise on his face, and then swallows the mouthful he had shoveled into his mouth before replying. “Wallah? Thank you, Khalto Bahera. Yea, Charlie is a great roommate but living with your boss can be awkward after bad shifts.”
Nour gasps dramatically, “Mama! Shuu, Hakeem gets first dibs on a cheap gorgeous apartment in Solomon City? What if I want to spread my wings and fly? Finally move out and enjoy my college days?”
Mazen lets out a stark laugh that sends eggs flying in his sister’s direction from his mouth.
“The idea of you paying rent is hilarious, ya NooNoo. You don’t even know where in Solomon City it is.
Plus we both go to Merillian College thirty minutes away, what are you gonna do with an apartment in Solomon City four hours away? ”
Nour smacks her brother’s shoulder, causing him to choke a little on his food.
He hurriedly sips some coffee to clear his throat.
Nour rolls her eyes before regarding her twin, “Don’t call me NooNoo, ya kalb.
Plus a girl can dream can’t she? And I’m sure it is gorgeous because Hakeem deserves a nice place to host his favorite cousin if she wants to visit him.
” Nour bats her long lashes at Hakeem who is letting out a full body chuckle.
He wipes the tears from his eyes before regarding Nour, a full smile across his face, “For you? Anything, ya habibti NooNoo.” Both Bahera and Shadi stifle a giggle as their daughter rolls her eyes, the ghost of a smirk dancing across her lips, before plopping back down.
* * *
Hakeem helps Bahera clean up as his Khalo Shadi and cousins get a show going in the living room. One more day together before life starts again in a city hours away from the only home he has known. Bahera gives Hakeem a warm smile as he gathers the dishes from the table.
“Hakeem, go sit down habibi, wallah I’m fine.”
Hakeem shakes his head and gives his aunt a kind smile in return. “Khalto Bahera, you and Khalo Shadi gave me everything, I can help with cleaning up.” He pecks his aunt on the cheek as he places the dishes next to the sink.
Bahera gazes into the distance and sighs deeply, shoulders sagging in reminisces.
“We got this house thanks to your mother after she passed, you got a full scholarship to one of the best universities in the realm. Ya Hakeem, you worked so hard all your life, we didn’t give you anything but the basics, you did all this yourself. ”
Hakeem pulls his aunt in for a hug and gives her a big squeeze.
He rests his head on her shoulder and breathes in her scent.
Hakeem stands at five foot ten so he had to lean down slightly to fully embrace the woman who raised him.
“You and Khalo Shadi weren’t even twenty when you took me in.
I will never forget what you two did for me, I just hope I’ve done you both proud. ”
Bahera squeezes Hakeem tight, as if she would never get the chance again. “We are so proud our hearts could erupt, ya Hakeem. You are a genius and I know one day you will be on top of the world. Never think we are anything less than incredibly proud of all you’ve done, okay?”
Hakeem pulls away and takes a good look at his aunt, at the love on her face that she had spent his entire life giving him. He barely whispers his reply as he gives her one last kiss on the cheek before they join the family in the living room. “Okay.”
“Ya mama, do we have any popcorn left in the kitchen?” Mazen calls from the couch as Bahera and Hakeem turn the corner in the living room.
Bahera’s palm goes to her mouth in slight shock. “Yee la, no we ran out and the stores are closed today. I love popcorn with our shows. Shuu, what do we do? Should I get the fruit?”
Hakeem comes up behind his aunt with three empty bowls in his hands. “Khalto Bahera, you know I don’t mind. I can whip up enough for everyone in a snap.” He offers a knowing wink to his cousins who both chuckle at the hidden pun.
Bahera is about to refuse when Shadi chimes in from his spot on the loveseat opposite them. “Bahera, the boy wants to help, let him help.”
Bahera sighs, then takes two of the bowls, handing one to the twins to fight over and placing one between her and Shadi. Hakeem regards his family with a smirk on his face, causing the light to catch on his glasses. “Okay, who wants to do the honors?”
Before Nour could speak up Mazen throws himself forward, hand raised as shouts out the request. “I wish we had some fresh salt and butter popcorn to watch our shows with.” Nour pouts as she smacks her brother’s arm, earning a giggle from the rest of the room.
Hakeem holds out his free hand, a static of magic swirls around him tousling his brown curls. His eyes shine a soft silver as they fill with power. He says three words then snaps his fingers, magic filling the air around the room. “As you wish.”