Apologies for taking so long with this chapter. Have a brilliant Christmas and a happy new year. Leila Takiri will be a central character from now on.

Coming Between Us

Chapter 4

Old Friends

A letter landed on the doormat. Syed walked through and picked it up. It wasn't from Christian, he hadn't heard from him lately. Syed missed him so much. He loved having Yasmin around, playing with her and watching her grow. Children change so fast at that age. To think he had missed the first year of Yasmin's life. He ripped open the letter, Syed couldn't recognise the handwriting. He glossed over the contents.

Hello,

I have just moved into the square at number 14, and I would like to invite my new neighours around for a housewarming party. I think it would be an ideal way to meet and get to know the community here. There will be sandwiches and drinks waiting for anyone who would like to come along from 7pm onwards. I hope you can make it.

Leila Takiri

Syed's eyes stuck on the name. At first he couldn't quite believe it - surely it wasn't the Leila Takiri he used to know from secondary school? They had been best friends for years but as so often happens when people leave school, they lost contact after that. Amira and Zainab had gone shopping for the morning and taken Yasmin with them so Syed decided to go and find out whether this person was who he thought it was. He hoped it was the Leila he knew. She had been lively, intelligent and kind. Syed smiled to himself - no doubt if he told Leila about his predicament now, she'd roll her eyes and say, "Well you got yourself into this situation, get yourself out of it." Leila Takiri was never known for mincing her words, even if it came across as being abrupt at times. She would always give an honest but fair opinion. Syed missed such loyalty and friendship. Christian had that kind of relationship with Roxy, which Syed was somewhat envious of. Roxy was not his cup of tea, she was very loud, brash and sometimes engaged her mouth before her brain. A typical Mitchell really!

Syed walked over to number 14, and knocked on the door of his old friend and new neighbour. He hoped she wouldn't mind him turning up so early! The door suddenly opened. It took a moment for them to register what was happening.

"I don't believe it! Syed Masood. It's been ages since I've seen you."

"I'm thrilled it's you, I've just read your invitation for this evening, and when I saw the name I thought it must be you." Leila's face broke into a beaming smile. They hugged each other. "You really haven't changed." It was true she still had the same slender figure, her blue eyes shone with excitement and enthusiam. As Syed entered Leila's home he felt comfortable for the first time in weeks.

"I'm afraid the house is in a bit of a state, there's boxes everywhere and I haven't had a chance to unpack them all," Leila said apologetically.

"Oh don't worry about that. I know what it's like when you first move in."

Leila moved some boxes that were cluttering up the hallway as they went into the living room.

"I must be mad having a housewarming party, when I don't even know where everything is yet. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?"

"I'd love some tea, thanks."

"Right two teas coming up. Sugar or not?"

"No thanks."

"Back in a sec, at least I know where the kettle is!"

Syed grinned as Leila walked off with a slight bounce in her step. Leaving Syed to look at the photos on the mantelpiece. There was one of her parents. Her father was Pakistani, her mother was British. When Syed first came to meet them, he remembered how relaxed they seemed. Her father had not been a very strict muslim, but he was still very proud of his roots. However Leila's parents had brought her up to be proud of both cultures. He on the other hand had always felt pressure to marry a Muslim woman, from a 'respectable family' as his mother had told him on numerous occasions. Not only had he not married, he had fallen for Christian bringing the stigma that follows. How he wished Christian was with him now instead of being in Devon. Perhaps he'd found someone else, someone with less baggage and complications, someone who didn't have so much guilt about letting their family down. Not to mention someone who was still married...

Leila came back with tea, and saw Syed looking at the photographs somewhat forlornly.

"You look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders, what's wrong?"

"Where do I start? My life's just one big mess. I have a daughter, Yasmin and I'm married to Amira, but I'm gay." Leila stopped mid-sip and put the cup down. "Right, I didn't see that coming." Syed smiled thinly. "I married Amira, because I thought I loved her. And I did, but then along came Christian, and I knew that I loved him in a completely different way to Amira."

"That must have been tough for all of you. How did Zainab and Masood take it?"

"Badly at first, especially Mum. She refused to accept it. It took her ages for her to even speak to me."

"I can imagine Zainab reacting like that, I always remember how stubborn she could be!" Syed puffed his cheeks out and nodded.

"So are you still with Amira?" Leila asked, still trying to digest everything Syed had told her.

"It's complicated. We were going to get divorced, but then I found out about Yasmin. It put such a strain on my relationship with Christian that he felt he had no other choice but to leave."

"Syed, how have you coped? It sounds like you needed someone to talk to. So, d'you have any pictures of Yasmin and Christian?" Syed nodded with a warm smile, took out his mobile phone and showed Leila a picture of Yasmin he'd taken on the day he'd first met his daughter. Yasmin's big brown eyes looked back at them.

"She really is beautiful and she looks just like you." Syed smiled proudly. He opened up his wallet and took out a photo of Christian looking rather handsome wearing a white T-shirt and smiling, with a cheeky glint in his eyes.

"He's rather good-looking. I can see why you fell for him, you lucky man!"

Syed chuckled. "Hands off you he's mine!" They laughed. "I'm sorry Leila I've been talking about myself. How are you?"

"That's ok. Well, I'm currently single and I'm working for the policr force, well I'm an officer actually." Syed raised his eyebrows. "No kids as yet, though I'd love to have them. I also like to travel around, when I have the time of course."

"Speaking of having the time, don't you need to get sorted for tonight? I'd love to chat more this evening," Syed suggested, draining the remainder of his tea.

"Definitely - it's been great seeing you again, just like old times. See you later then, and I really hope I get to meet Christian soon." They walked to the door together.

"So do I, you'll like him. And thanks again for letting me bend your ear."

"Anytime Syed."

She smiled cheerfully as she closed the front door. She had a feeling she was going to like it in Walford but even she couldn't envisage what was about to happen. Syed Masood and Leila Takiri had been reunited, and things were about to get very complicated for them both...

I hope you enjoy this chapter, please let me know what you think.