Zaahir came home just as I was about to go search for him. I felt so sad and then I thought about Dario. I took my phone out and added him on Whatsapp. I stared at his Whatsapp profile photo. It was a photo of his cousin Sammi. She was a really beautiful Muslim woman. I then sent him a text.

Hey, Bish here .

I thought he wouldn’t reply but he did

Bish! Wud?

We were chatting whole night long

I’m just laying here, sad nd u Dario?

I’m taking a smoke break. Whats wrong?

what are you smoking? My sis Rushdiya is in a coma.

*embarrassed face* hood scratch sweetheart… ai, that’s hard…

really?

yes, but only you know now…

why only me?

you look like a trustworthy person Bish. I like you.

auw, that’s sweet Dario…

so its Saturday tomrw… plans?

noo and you?

we can block a lttle?

great idea…meet you at the same place?

yes angel.. see you tomrw..sleeptyt

cant wait 😀

XO

nyt Dario…*hugz*

What a wonderful chat I had with him. It felt as if Dario and I have known each other for a long time the way we chatted. After that long chat I went to my aunt and told her my mom said we must make Salaah together. I thought it’ll be a good idea since Rushdiya was in hospital. I felt really bad because I was now only running to Allah when I had worries.

Aunty Kiyah, Zaahir and myself did Salaah together. Afterwards we each took a bath. I just hope my sister will be okay, I prayed as I fell asleep.

The next day I woke up feeling excited.

Finally the ‘blocking’ day had come to my eyesight. I got up and went to the shower. I was so excited that as I showered, I was singing a Muslim song. My Islamic was really good. Zaahir taught me how to speak Islamic and how to pronounce the words correctly. As I sang an Islam song, my aunt Kiyah made a voice note of me and sent it to my mom in Durban. My mom loved when I sang; it brightens up her whole day.

I didn’t like singing that much, because I couldn’t sing all the English songs, only Islam songs. I went for the choir tryouts at school and I got in. I sang the South-African National Anthem: Nkosi Sikelela, and the choir teacher was very impressed. But I kind of sucked when I sang the Afrikaans part. I now sang league in the choir. I had a powerful, loud and soft voice. Maybe I’ll sing for Dario one day… Dario, I thought.

I got out of the shower and I got dressed. My phones LED light went off. It was a message from Dario.

Salaam Bishni! Cud u meet me in town at Mr. Price? I have to go and shop for my clothes… i’ll tell you more about me in town. Please reply back so that I can know. Thanx Bish 

Meet in town? I honestly didn’t have money. Aunt Kiyah would probably have money for me, I thought. I went to the kitchen where my aunt was sitting and drinking tea.

“Salaam aunty. Does aunty maybe have money for me? I must go to town to go meet a friend,”

My aunt doesn’t fall for such tricks, really. She knew when there was a guy involved.

“Salaam Bishni. Who is the guy?”

“I didn’t say it’s a guy aunty Kiyah… it’s just a friend,”

She started giggling.

“I know when there is a guy involved Bishni, you know you can’t hide guys from me. When is he coming home? What is his name? Talk kanallah,”

“Promise not to tell aunty Kiyah…? It’s Dario.”

“Promise. Is he Muslim my dear?”

“Yes he is. And very well-mannered also,”

“Kanallah, bring him home today after town. I want to meet this gentleman,”

“I will aunty… see aunty later,”

I was so stressed, I had totally forgot about the money.

“Bishni! Here is the money!” she called after me.

She gave me R200. My mom never gave me that kind of money. It was only a R5 or R20. That’s basically all I ever got from my mom. Oh and a free lecture also.

I walked down to the taxi stop. Waited for a taxi and I got in by this one taxi that played music loudly.

“Mr. Price please,” I said, before they forget again.

When I got to town, Dario was standing in front of Mr. Price, waiting for me. He looked really handsome; nothing like a gang member.

“Bishni! You made it,” he said walking towards me and hugging me. I hugged him back of course. We then went inside the shop and Dario went to the guy’s side. I thought I was going to look at the girls’ clothes but he called me and said I must pick out a t-shirt for him. It felt as if we were dating. This would be my first boyfriend.

“I’m going to the fitting room quickly. I’ll be right back to show you how I look,” he said.

I went to the girls’ side of the shop and looked for clothes for myself also. I saw a cute dress. It just took my attention away from everything in the shop. Dario sneaked up behind me, wearing the t-shirt.

“How do I look Bishni?”

I looked at him. This handsome young man, standing right in front of me, asking me how he looked, I wanted to say sexy!

“You look handsome Dario. Take it,” he thanked me and by surprise he took off the dress that I was looking at and he asked if it was my size. I said yes and he insisted I buy it. I told him I have no money and he bought the dress for me. Afterwards we went to go eat at Nando’s. I then told him, my aunt wants to meet him.

“Bishni, are you serious! Your aunt wants to meet me?”

“Yes, she wants to meet you. She thinks we’re…”

“Dating?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know how old I am?”

“Eighteen?”

“You guessed right,”

“But why are you a gang member when you don’t look anything like one?”

Dario sighed. And he told me the whole story about why he is a gang member:

“Bish, I was a street kid first. My mother was killed by my brother, Kalib, then my father killed my brother. With my mother and brother gone, I had nobody. My father was sent to jail for both my brother and mother’s death. He died after two years in jail.

“I had the home to myself and that’s when I got bored of just being at home alone and starving myself. Bishni, I had no food to eat. I had nothing! I was all alone. Until one of the gang members came by my house. He knew my dad so he came to give his condolences. At that time I was just 12. For six years I was part of the gang. I didn’t have to kill to join the gang. I was automatically accepted into the gang.

“Members of the gang have huge respect for me and they’re always there for me. Sammi, my cousin, came from Durban and she sold my parents’ house. She gave the money to me and I bought me a new house in the richer area. The money my mother, father and brother left behind also came to me. That’s why I dress so fancy all the time. Anyway, I live alone in the new house now. Sammi sometimes comes to visit me now and then. She’ll be going back to Durban again soon. Then it’s just me alone again,”

I shed a tear and Dario wiped it off.

“Such a touching story Dario… you are truly blessed,”

“I take it I’m gifted but thank you for your blessing,”

“Can I ask one last thing Dario?”

“Anything for you, Bishni,”

“Why do you smoke pot?”

“Ooh, that’s a good question. I started smoking when I was ten. I wanted to check into rehab but Bishni, I’m always at home alone and have nothing to do. That’s why I smoke.”

“I’ll come visit you soon.”

“Great idea… do you want to come now? I’m gonna go put these bags at home,”

“Let’s go,” I said.

And we left for his house.

***

Let’s chat: What do you think will happen next?