Novel Behind the Lights — Chapter One

In a restaurant, the manager was strict and the staff were taking orders. A worker came and said, "There’s a shortage in the orders." The manager said angrily, "Where’s Dima? All this and she still hasn’t come?" A girl was running down the street very fast. She bumped into several people; people shouted at her, but all she did was apologize and keep running until she reached the restaurant. She ran inside, and when she saw a girl she said, "Suhaila." Suhaila said, "Where have you been all this time? The manager asked about you, and there are a lot of orders." Dima said, "There was an argument at home that delayed me." Suhaila said, "You always have arguments." A girl named Samia arrived and said, "You’re here? Okay, come help clear the backlog of work on you." Dima said, "I would’ve done it without waiting for a comment from someone like you." Samia said, "Are you talking back to me? I’ve been here longer than you." Suhaila grabbed Dima’s hand to stop her from answering and said, "Come on, Dima, we don’t want anyone to be docked pay, we don’t need that." Dima put on the restaurant uniform and went to the tables to take orders. The manager said, "Is she here?" Dima was hiding from him; whenever he looked around he couldn’t find her. He came out into the dining area, saw her taking orders quickly, and glared at her with a suppressed anger. Dima feared him and tried to avoid his anger by pleasing customers and smiling at them. She went to deliver an order, and one of the customers said, "I didn’t order soy sauce." Dima said, "But you said..." The woman cut her off and said, "Are you going to mess up my order too?" Dima fell silent; she sees this a lot — customers treating them like they’re masters. Dima said with a cold calm, "I’ll change it for you, right away." She took the order and walked away. The manager saw her and said, "Always understand that the customer is right." Dima walked away upset and went into the kitchen. Suhaila said, "What’s wrong? You okay?" Dima said, "I’m fine, but this situation is suffocating. Why put up with these people and their filth?" A young man named Seif, their colleague, said, "Isn’t that the same customer, right?" Dima said, "Yes, last time I brought her an order and she came back saying it wasn’t what she asked for." Suhaila said, "Then let someone else take her order." Samia said, "Speak for yourself, Suhaila. No one’s taking someone else’s work. If you want to do your friend a favor, do it without gathering others." Suhaila, annoyed, said, "Nobody asked you." Samia said, "We’ll have the manager witness this and see the side comments in the kitchen — that you aren’t doing your work." Seif said, "Samia, your place is outside, not here in the kitchen. Why are you standing here?" Samia looked at them annoyed and left. Dima said, "It’s clear no one likes me, not even that customer." Suhaila said, "There are customers who like you and your manner, look on the bright side." Suhaila said, "This is work, Dima. We have our job and that’s it." Dima fell silent and said, "Unfortunately... I need this job." The manager came and looked at them and said, "What are you standing around doing?" Dima took out the trash angrily and carried it out, feeling suffocated. She tossed it into the bin behind the restaurant, then sat down sighing. She looked up and saw a picture on the wall of a handsome man in a suit wearing an expensive watch. She stood up and looked at him with a smile. He looked like a movie star; clearly a fan had stuck his picture up like they stick celebrity pictures everywhere out of admiration. She said with a smile, admiring him, "Jasser..." She kept looking at him and wouldn’t take her eyes off the photo. The phone rang; she picked it up and answered, "Yes, Mom?" Her mother said, "When will you come, Dima?" Dima said, "You know I finish work at 11 p.m., what’s up?" Her mother, Mona, said, "Come earlier." Dima said, "I can’t, the manager is upset and the restaurant is busy." Mona said, "What about the guests?" Dima said, "I didn’t say to schedule anything with me." Mona said, You’ll embarrass me in front of them. Dima sighed and said, "I’ll try to finish and come, okay." She hung up and went back into the restaurant, meeting Suhaila who asked, "What’s up?" Dima said, "Mom called saying I should come early, she said there are guests." Suhaila said, "Guests?" Dima said, "Her friend and her son." Suhaila laughed, "Oh, them — guests because of you? Finally someone’s proposing to you, girl! I thought you were scaring them off." Dima said, "They’re guests, they’re not proposing to me or anything like that, as you think." Suhaila said, "Why don’t you give the males a chance to get close to you?" Dima said, "Because I love someone." Suhaila stood up and said, "You love someone? Who?" Dima said, someone he doesn’t know. Suhaila said, So you’re hiding him from me. Dima said, You’re hiding your crush on Seif. Suhaila covered her mouth and said, but someone might hear you. Dima pulled her hand away and said, It’s true. Suhaila said, "Alright then, Dima... go, I’ll cover for you." Dima said, "Really, Suhaila?" Suhaila nodded with a smile. Dima hugged her and said, "Thank you." Suhaila said, "I hope you accept and like that young man." Dima said, "No, I... I’m being forced, nothing more, but thanks." ******************** In a simple apartment, Mona was sitting with an older woman and a young man. Mona said, "Welcome, Abeer." Abeer said, "You light up the place, my dear. Where’s Dima?" Mona said, "She’ll finish work and come straight away." Abeer said, "She still works late at night?" Mona said, "She was delayed because of customers." The young man, named Islam, asked, "Where does she work?" Mona said, "At a restaurant." They heard the door and Mona said, "Dima is here." Dima entered; Mona looked at her — she was wearing casual clothes — and Mona embarrassedly asked, "What are you wearing?" Dima said, "I told you I’m at work, and it’s good I came." Abeer looked her up and down as if assessing her. Dima greeted them. Abeer said, "You’ve grown, Dima, you’ve become beautiful." Dima said, "Thank you, auntie. How are you, Islam?" Islam said, "Good, how are you?" Abeer said, "Don’t stay at home, Dima, this work isn’t for you girls." Mona said, "Dima works as a side job." Dima said, "No, Mom, one has needs, that’s why they work." Abeer glanced at her after that reply. Islam said, "What’s wrong with that? It’s a good thing." Dima asked, "What do you mean?" Islam smiled and said, "I like a girl who has ambition like you, Dima." Dima looked at him, thinking he was more modern than his mother, and Mona smiled. Islam said, "Are you serious about this job or do you have something else in mind?" Dima said, "I am"