On a typical cold December afternoon at St. Pancras station in London, the air buzzed with the hustle and bustle of life. People rushed about, some heading to trains bound for Brighton, Luton, Liverpool, and beyond. In the midst of this chaotic ballet of travelers, students burrowed into their essays over steaming cups of coffee at Starbucks.
Mimi, standing outside with her father, was a stark contrast to the busy scene. Her father, holding an umbrella, wore an expression of slight annoyance. “Seriously, of all the days you could’ve chosen, it had to be today?” he grumbled.
“It wasn’t my idea; it was his,” Mimi retorted, tucking her hijab into place as the wind blustered. “Let’s wait for him in one of the coffee shops,” she suggested.
Her father agreed, albeit grumpily, and they ventured into the station, heading to a coffee shop opposite platform 2. Mimi ordered a hot chocolate with whipped cream for herself and an espresso for her father, just as he preferred.
As they sat, Mimi devised a plan. “If we don’t like him, we can excuse ourselves, saying Mum is waiting at home.”
Her father, warming up to the idea, nodded in agreement. They sat sipping their drinks, the warmth a welcome respite from the cold.
“What was his name again?” her father asked.
“Bilal,” Mimi answered, tasting the sweet whipped cream of her hot chocolate.
Minutes ticked by until Mimi’s phone signaled a new message. ‘5 more mins :)’, it read. Her father sighed, “I want this over with.”
Soon, a figure emerged from platform 2. Dressed in a thin cardigan, old trainers, and a hoodie, he looked out of place in the winter chill. Mimi’s heart sank. “That’s him,” she whispered to her father, who couldn’t hide his shock.
As Bilal approached, he greeted them politely. The conversation that followed was strained and awkward. Mimi and her father quickly realized that Bilal was not the suitor they had hoped for.
Seeking an escape, Mimi texted her mother. “Mum, please call in 10 minutes and tell us to come home.”
Bilal, unaware of their plan, continued to talk about his life. His lack of ambition and simple outlook contrasted sharply with what Mimi and her father desired. Bilal showed more interest in Mimi’s career prospects than what he had to offer her. He boasted about his independent daughters and his five-bedroom council house, which raised eyebrows. It suddenly dawned on Mimi that all those red flags she had noticed from their previous conversations made sense now. She vowed to herself she’d never ignore another red flag again.
When her father enquired about his previous two relationships, he had said it ended due to the women being too much into the dunya and that they lacked patience. ‘They simply wanted too much’ Bilal said.
Mimi and her father exchanged further looks. Mimi politely smiled at him in an attempt to hide her disgust.
As the meeting dragged on, Mimi and her father exchanged knowing glances. They knew this was not a match. With a sense of relief, they awaited the call that would provide their escape from this cold December meeting, a stark reminder that the journey to find the right partner was far from over.