The first time Kip saw Fatema was in the gardens of the Women's College in Ras Al Khaimah, a small town an hour's drive north of Dubai in the Emirate of the same name. He was being shown around by his new colleague Del, a likable Australian who taught Business English and who'd been appointed his buddy teacher; that's someone who shows a new teacher the rope at the college and run them around town to sort out banking, phone cards and the like. Having transferred in from another college Kip had less stuff to sort out than the other new teachers, however time had been allotted for such activities and both teachers planned on taking full advantage to acquaint Kip with the various local pubs and coffee shops.
The new friends had decided to have lunch in the main cafeteria and due to the intense summer heat had opted to stroll the long way round to the college restaurant through the gardens. By pure coincidence this route took them passed the shaded outdoor coffee area which was quickly filling up with young Emirati female students taking lunch, eating cake and chatting on their mobiles. As they neared two girls sitting aside from the others Del turned to Kip and whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
"Now you're in for a treat, I'll introduced you to our 'special' student, Fatema."
On saying 'special' he raised his fingers and tweaked them mid-air.
"She's in my business class, in her final year. I'm not sure, but I think that's Ashia with her. I'd definitely like to root them both."
Del's bluntness surprised Kip, who just smiled shaking his head, but as they drew closer still he could see Del had a point. If both ladies were in their final year at the college that would, Kip estimated, make them both to be about twenty. Aisha was definitely the prettier of the pair, having a small almost doll like face and a petite figure. Fatema's appearance by contrast was striking. She was certainly no classic Arabian beauty. For starters she had a rather large forehead and like many young Emirati women, she sported thick dark eyebrows neatly trimmed level across both eyelids, almost as one. There was also a dark fuss shadow forming above her upper lip, giving her a soft mustache any young Italian boy would envy. All that was offset by her lovely large brown eyes, stunningly arresting, instantly Kip just wanted to fall into them. He also noticed that Fatema's shayla, her head covering, was wrapped loosely around her neck and not tightly around her hair like the other girls. Her two hands rested on her breasts and pulled the scarf down exposing her jet black hair.
As the two teachers drew near, the students greeted the them with wide smiles and genuine warmth.
"Hello! Good morning," they chorused.
"Hello ladies," replied Del. "I hope you're keeping out of trouble." He turned and winked at Kip.
They gave Del wider smiles and then turning to face Kip, Fatema did something that he would come to adore. Staring directly at him eye to eye, she first licked then bit on her bottom lip. A moment passed before Ashia broke the silence with a more formal welcome.
"So, Mr. Kip, welcome to our college. I hope you will be teaching our group. Will he be teaching Business Del?"
"I'm afraid not, no he won't. Sorry ladies. He's going to 'Semester One' with the newbies. No doubt he'll scare them to death."
