AATHAL WITH AAREFA

You might think food reviews are super fun, you go to a fancy new place, taste a few delicacies, laugh and chat with the others there, pretend like you’re part of a reality TV show, strike up a few godey poses for the gram and leave but with Aarefa, who loves doing things aathal ekata, trouble usually follows.

It was a normal Saturday afternoon, when I set out in fancy clothing for a food review with Amana. Despite the fact that we got lost a total of three times, we managed to make it to the place in one piece. We entered a super fancy building and automatically the both of us went “oHmYgOd”
We made our way up the stairs, passing a few casual smiles here and there and mentally cringing, looking at each other and thinking let’s just eat soon and leave because it was aWkwARdddddd!
We were handed a scoop of ice cream each, a flavour of our choice and we devoured it faster than you could say “we scream for ice cream” and soon after that looked at each other and went – now what?
After a little bit of awkward strolling, giggling, conversing, we decided it was time for us to leave.
We slowly made our way to the owner and thanked her for her oh-so-kind invite, exchanged a few unpleasant pleasantries and made our way downstairs.
It was all fine and dandy while we waited for our carriage to come to take us home before the clock struck 12 but nooooo, we did not lose a glass slipper and ended up finding a prince charming. What we found was… And underground home decor stash over which Amana went gaga and was entirely fascinated over a Mango plucking stick which cost a bomb. Guess why? Because you could expand it.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, this is what the fools of the generation spend money on these days, an expandable mango plucking stick made of stainless steel (it was necessary to mention the stainless steel okay!)
So after godaak aathal and no Ubers we decided to stop lingering around like awkward potatoes and went out. Quite possibly the best decision we made because that’s where we met our Lankan version of the Eiffel tower. We’ve heard about romantic Proposals under the arc, but tell me does anything ever beat a thuttu dekkeh version of something that you love in truly authentic Sri Lankan fashion? No right. Right?
So after I had my mini photo-shoot, we were still stranded, Uber-less and were nursing leg pains. And for someone like me who loves to believe I’m 80 stuck in 18, I could no longer stand and wait.
We went for our next best option a paare yana tuk, but that ended up in me almost getting run over by said paare yana tuk, might I add and a frantic Amana trying her level best to sort out transportation and save my life at the same time.
* A few moments later * if you read this in the SpongeBob time card voice, we can be best friends 🙂
Life update – we are still stranded, Uber-less and even those weirdos who comment “nic pic deer” on your IG posts wouldn’t have been rejected as many times as we did by the paare yana tuks.
So feeling totally dejected and hopeless and quite frankly, tired I decided to walk and so we set off, and because we aren’t characters of an Enid Blyton book who would find an elf with magical powers and wish granting abilities we kept walking until… Until we did find something which you can deem as miraculous considering the situation we were in.
It was…. None other than… A very fancy concrete block outside a bicycle shop!!
Trust me, for us at that time, it was the most precious thing we’d seen. We flopped down on it and quite magically, we finally and I repeat finally and I once again repeat FINALLYYYYY got an Uber who was willing to take us home! Our fancy carriage was on its way and we couldn’t be happier * wipes a fake tear *
We got on the Uber and were on our way home when we mutually decided that it would be best if I got dropped off at the top of my lane and walked in order to avoid a whole wataya, which is a very typical Sri Lankan thing to do. So after having a few deep conversations and hugging each other byeee, I got off and my phone pinged.
From Amana – lmk when you get home please
Now I thought to myself “aathal dennathuwa inna baha ne” so I conjured up a prank up my sleeve and texted back – omg, I got kidnapped, they’re trying to take my phone away.
And just as I was about to tell her it was a prank I got a call and happily gossiped with my friend completely forgetting Amana’s distress. Also also also, because we live in Sri Lanka and because my mobile service provider isn’t the fastest internet service provider, my data tends to disconnect when I’m on call, why you ask? I also don’t know. Lol.
So after I hung up the call, I switched off my data, went home and was happily gobbling up my dinner when I remembered….
“I’m such an idiot” is the only thought that clouded my very dumb brain as I switched on my data and saw
From Amana – Aarefa?
AREFAAAAAA?
* insert scared looking emojis *
Omg
* A billion missed calls *
It took a lot of courage boys and girls and ladies and gentlemen but I did surrender! I said so sorry it was a prank aathal ekata I did.
From Amana – * insert crying emoji *
And from how I know Amana, I was so sure she was ready to send out a search party for me which I genuinely do appreciate cus she’s a gem and cares so much for those around her.
But you know what’s cool? The next day when we were losing our minds laughing over the extreme aathal in our lives, she did admit that she was all prepared to step out and go Aarefa hunting haha.

So that’s the end of our food reviewing experience, thanks for listening to my ted talk/reading to my ted talk, I don’t know, you pick.

It’s all calm and peaceful in Aarefa’s life but not for long, remember, aathal usually follows, so stay tuned for more aathal with Aarefa!

Aarefa Shiraaz