Chapter 1

Just to let you guys know.  Some of the characters in my story speak Hindi to each other, which is important to the story.  In case some of you don't speak Hindi or have trouble reading it the way I have written it, I have translated everything.  The translations are in green.

Chapter 1

As Samira awoke on the first day of 11^th grade, she saw gifts and flowers on her desk, dresser and side table.  On the wall above her desk was a banner saying "Happy 16^th Birthday Samira Apa."  Feeling lucky to have such wonderful younger siblings, she got out of bed and began to get ready.  Although Samira did not usually celebrate her birthday, this day felt special for some reason, so she wanted to look nice.  She put on her favorite long pink skirt with a white blouse and tied a pink ribbon in her waist-length black hair.  

When she went downstairs, she saw her younger sister Maryam eating breakfast in the kitchen.  In the family room, their three year old brother was reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  Samira was pleased to notice that although he had only started reading three days ago, he was already halfway done with the book.  Both of them stopped what they were doing to wish her a happy birthday.  Samira thanked them as she sat down at the breakfast table and began to pile pancakes onto her plate.

Maryam: Apa, aap ko pata hai, naye padosi kal raat aa gaye. Sis, do you know that the new neighbors moved in last night?

Samira: Achcha, tum unse mileen? Oh really, did you meet them?

Maryam: Nahin, lekin Mummy abhi abhi un ko welcome karne gayi hain. No, but mom just went to welcome them.

Samira: Jab school se wapis aayen, to humein bhi jaana chaahiye. When we return from school, we should go too.

Maryam: Haan, dekhen to sahi ke woh kaun hain. Achcha apa, main chalti hoon. Meri bus aati hogi.  Have a great day!  Yes, we should find out who they are.  Alright, I better leave. My bus will be here soon.  Have a great day!

Maryam grabbed her backpack from the family room and rushed off to catch her bus.  Samira finished eating breakfast and went to get her backpack.  She wanted to wait until her mom returned to hear about the new neighbors, but she had promised her best friend Carissa that she would meet her before class.

Unlike Maryam's middle school, which was across town, John F. Kennedy high school was only four blocks from their house.  But just as Samira started to walk, she noticed the public bus at the nearest stop and decided to take it.  As the bus arrived at her school, the familiar faces excited her at the prospect of another great school year.

As she entered the main quad, Samira immediately saw Carissa standing near the water fountain, holding a bunch of balloons.  When she noticed who she was standing with, Samira stopped in her tracks.  Talking to Carissa was one of the best looking guys she had ever seen in her life!  She watched as he ran his hand through the dark hair that was falling on his forehead, moving it away from his deep brown eyes.  His smile was radiant, and from the sound of his voice, he seemed genuine and soft-spoken.

Carissa: Hi Samira!

Carissa's voice took Samira out of her trance, and she began to wonder whether anyone had noticed her staring at the gorgeous stranger.  

Samira: Hey Carissa!

Carissa (handing her the balloons): Happy Birthday!

As she hugged Carissa, Samira stole a glance at the guy, who smiled at her.

Carissa: Samira, this is Rehan.  His family just moved here from L.A.  He's a senior and as you can probably tell, he's yet another one of your people.

Carissa was referring to the fact that almost a third of their school was comprised of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, or some other form of desi students.  This was not surprising considering Fremont had one of the largest desi populations in the United States.

Carissa: Rehan, this is my best friend, Samira, who I was just telling you about.

Rehan (shaking hands with Samira): It's a pleasure to meet you.

Wow, he was a gentleman too?  Samira could hardly believe that such a guy existed.

Carissa was just about to start up a conversation, when a loud voice saying her name echoed through the quad.  Seeing her boyfriend David smiling at her from the entrance, Carissa excused herself and went to greet him.  Samira decided to find out more about Rehan.

Samira: How do you like Fremont so far?

Rehan: It's a nice place.  Seems much more peaceful than L.A.

Samira: Is that why your family moved here?  You were looking for a more peaceful place?

Rehan: No actually, we just couldn't live in L.A. anymore…because of something that happened.  It's a long story.

Samira (sensing that he didn't want to talk about whatever happened): Well, I'm sure you'll like it here.  The kids at this school are pretty friendly.

Rehan smiled.

Samira: Where is your family originally from?

Rehan: Delhi.  We came to the US when I was four.  How about yours?

Samira: The same general area, Lucknow in UP.  But I was born–

The sound of the bell interrupted their conversation.  It was time to head to their first class of the day.

Samira: What's your first period?

Rehan (checking his schedule): Calculus BC, in room 313.

Samira could hardly contain her happiness.

Samira: That's my first class too!  I'll show you where the room is.

They walked up two flights of stairs and down the hall to room 313.  Samira noticed her brother Imraan in the back of the room and sat next to him, putting her balloons against the wall.  Rehan took the seat in front of hers.

Imraan: Hi Samira.  Happy Birthday! (he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek)

Samira: Thanks bhaiya., Aap aaj subah ghar pe nahin the to mujhe laga aap abhi New York se waapis nahin aaye.  Thanks bhaiya, when I didn't see you at home this morning, I thought you hadn't returned from New York yet.

Imraan had been visiting a friend, who was a first year student at New York University.

Imraan: Sorry yaar.  Mera plane delay ho gaya tha to main der se pahuncha.  Tum tab tak nikal chuki theen.  Sorry, my plane got delayed so I got home a little late.  You had left by then.

Samira:  Oh! Bhaiya, this is Rehan.  His family just moved here from L.A.  Rehan, this is my older brother Imraan.  He's a senior like you.

As they were shaking hands, a beautiful girl walked into the classroom.  Her dark curls, dimples, and perfect figure were so alluring that all the guys turned to look at her.  She looked around nervously for a second, then spotted Rehan and smiled.  Rehan waved at her.  Samira's heart skipped a beat as she wondered how they knew each other.   The girl walked over and sat down next to Rehan and in front of Imraan.

Rehan (realizing that all four of them could speak Hindi): Guys, yeh meri badi bahen Sabah hai.  Baaji, yeh hai Samira aur yeh uske bhai Imraan. Guys, this is my older sister Sabah, and this is Samira and her brother Imraan.

Relieved that Sabah was Rehan's sister and pleased that his Hindi was so good, Samira smiled and shook hands with Sabah.  As Sabah was shaking hands with Imraan, the teacher walked in and the class became silent.

After Calculus, the four of them parted ways and went to their respective classes.  The next three classes went by extra slowly for Samira because she was waiting for lunchtime when she would get to see Rehan again.  

During lunch, Imraan and Samira introduced Rehan and Sabah to their group of friends.  Everyone was eager to learn more about the new kids.  They found out that although Sabah was almost a year older than Rehan, they were in the same grade because Rehan had skipped a grade during elementary school.

Samira had the chance to see Rehan again in her 6^th period Spanish 4 class, the final class of the day.  She had never before felt so happy to be taking classes that were advanced for her year.

As they walked out of class, they saw Imraan putting a textbook in his locker and Sabah standing nearby talking to him.  When he saw them, Imraan signaled excitedly for them to come over.

Imraan: Samira, tumhen yaqin nahin aayega ke Sabah ne mujhe abhi kya bataaya. Guess karo ke yeh donon kahan rehte hain.  Samira, you won't believe what Sabah just told me.  Guess where these two live.

Samira: Kahan? Where?

Imraan: 1092 Coral Way

It took a couple seconds for this to register in Samira's mind.  Coral way?  That's where she lived.  Her house was 1090, so….1092 had to be the house next door!  So they were the new neighbors!  When Imraan explained this to Rehan and Sabah, they were also glad to hear that they all lived so close to each other.  

Imraan had brought his car to school that morning, so he gave everyone a ride back.  Samira introduced Rehan and Sabah to her parents and younger siblings, and then she, Imran and Maryam went over to their house.  They met Rehan and Sabah's parents and younger brother Amaan.  They also learned that the three of them had an older brother named Yusuf who was studying at UC Berkeley.  Imraan told them that their older sister Aisha was also at Berkeley, and they all wondered whether Yusuf and Aisha knew each other.

Later that evening, Samira called Aisha.

Aisha: Hello?

Samira: Hi Apa Jaan!  How's it going?

Aisha: Pretty good. Tum kaisi ho?  Pretty good.  How are you?

Samira noticed that Aisha had the same gloomy, disinterested tone in her voice that she had all summer.  This was not like her all!  Aisha was the most talkative person that Samira knew, and it was very strange for her to be acting like this.

Samira: Sab theek to hai?  Is everything okay?

Aisha: Haan, bas padhayi karte karte thak gayi hoon.  Yea, I'm just a little tired from studying.  

Samira:  Achcha, to phir main aap ko zyaada pareshaan nahin karoongi.  Bas yeh bataana chahti thi ke humaare naye padosi aa gaye hain aur unke bachchon mein se do humaare school mein padte hain.  Unke ek bade bhai hain Yusuf jo Berkeley mein hain.  Aap unko jaanti hain?  Yusuf Akhtar?  Okay, then I won't take too much of your time.  Just wanted to tell you that our new neighbors have arrived and two of them attend our school.  They have an older brother named Yusuf who studies at Berkeley.  Do you know him?  Yusuf Akhtar?

Aisha: Haan, ek do baar mili hoon.  Lekin zyaada jaan pehchaan nahin hai.  Yes, I have met him a few times, but I don't know him too well.

They talked for a few more minutes before Aisha had to return to her school work.

Samira got ready for bed and prayed before going to sleep.  Like every night, she remembered the guy who had saved her life six years ago and included him in her prayers.  She prayed that he would live a long, happy life and that someday she would meet him again.  She also prayed for Aisha, hoping that she would return to her old happy self.  

It wasn't until she was in bed that Samira thought about Rehan once again.  She knew that it was ridiculous for her to think she was in love since she barely knew him.  But she did know for sure that she was attracted to him and wanted to know more about him.  Planning what questions she would ask him the next morning, Samira slowly drifted off to sleep.

.:.Suhana.:.39305.0151736111