Part 4
Six months had passed. The last few weeks had been really hot with a long heatwave going on and as Syed walked up to the Unit, he could feel the sun on his face. He didn't look around him as he walked and to any stranger passing by, they would think he was deep in thought. He felt like he was on autopilot. Get up, get dressed, eat, go to work, have lunch, more work, come home, eat again and then watch telly with his parents and Amira and that was it. The full range of his life. He reached the Unit and headed in. He was going to be on his own this morning but he just had to clean up and get some food ready for the afternoon's job at the Community Centre. He changed into his work outfit and set to work automatically.
A short while later he heard footsteps on the stairs. He looked up expecting to see Amira but it was Christian.
"Hello Syed I just popped in as Phil wants to see if we can book Masala Queen for a couple of dates next month."
"Oh Mum isn't here now you will have to check with her later on."
"Can't you look at the diary for me and pencil them in?"
"Mum's taken over the bookings side of things now, you could always ring her at home. Now the baby's here she tends to do lots of paperwork there anyway."
"I thought you always tended to do that side of things."
"No not now" was Syed's answer. Christian was confused, why on earth wouldn't Syed be dealing with all that? So much for him building his empire he seemed to be going backwards and just doing the menial stuff again. Syed went back to chopping the vegetables and Christian walked out. He decided he would go straight to Zainab's house and try and book those dates. When Zainab answered the door she glared at him.
"Yes what do you want?"
"I need to book some dates for the Vic for a couple of functions but I gather you deal with that side of things now."
"Yes you'd better come in" she said grudgingly. Christian stepped into the house. He hadn't been in this house for months not since the evening that he had invited himself along with Jane and Syed hadn't known. His thoughts were distracted by what had happened later on that evening when Syed had confronted him in their alley. "Dirty alley" as they liked to call it. He looked around the lounge area, everything looked the same and yet to think that Syed spent so much time here with Amira his wife. There wer wedding pictures everywhere and he tried to turn so he couldn't' see them anymore Zainab walked back in with the diary
"what dates do they need?"
"5th and 28th September and both are birthday celebrations."
"That's fine they're both free." Christian informed her of the times and further details and then had to ask
"so why doesn't Syed do the paperwork anymore than?"
"Well he works so hard and with me being at home with the baby it just makes sense for me to do it."
"Did he actually get any say in that decision?"
Zainab glared at him coldly "I think you should go, you've done what you had to do."
Christian left the house deep in thought. So, as he thought, Zainab had decided to take some responsibility away from Syed but why. As if she was punishing him but for what? He was determined to find out more.
