Sabrina Stumbled Upon a Secret

Sabrina Stumbled Upon a Secret.

Chapter 1

Sabrina charged up the stairs, each step trembling beneath her fury. Her face was burning with frustration. She threw the door shut with such force that, for a moment, she swore the whole house shuddered. “Why can’t they just back off and let me breathe?!” she fumed, pacing her room like a runaway freight train, fists clenched, breath sharp and unsteady.

“I’m not done with you! I’ll be having words with you later” shouted Sabrina’s Dad from downstairs, before slamming the door and storming off in his car.

Sabrina stood at her bedroom window, watching her dad drive away as tears traced paths down her sculpted cheeks. She swept her chocolate-brown locks behind her dainty ears, she is one of those girls who wakes up looking effortlessly put together. With large almond-shaped eyes and a soft pout, she turned heads without trying. At school, she was admired, labeled exotic by her classmates. But growing up in Manchester, she never quite felt that way herself.

Sabrina’s dad, Dr. Khan, was well-known and well-liked in the community. He considered himself a fair man - progressive, forward-thinking, and modern. And he was a proud Brit! After all, he had moved to England back in the ’70s, and boy, did he remind her of his daily struggles every chance he got.

Sabrina was far from heartless, but she wished her father would understand and recognise that things have been tough. Living in Manchester, going to a predominantly white school and being the only hijabi in the year?! And not really having any female figure in her life.

“I don’t care, I will be going out on Saturday night with my friends - Dad can’t stop me, I can do whatever I want, whenever I want! I’m 18 for goodness sake and I’ll go on plenty of dates when I move out for uni!” She murmured.

Sabrina took a seat on her bedroom floor, arms wrapped around her knees, staring blankly at the ceiling as her breath began to steady. Just as she started to calm down, a sharp knock jolted her back to reality.

“WHAT NOW?!” she snapped.

The door creaked open, revealing her elderly aunt, Aunty Salma who is visiting from Pakistan. She stepped in with a knowing smile.

“Hi, beta. Are you okay?” she asked gently before settling onto the edge of the bed. “You know, if I had spoken to my dad the way you just did, he would’ve dragged me back to Pakistan and married me off to a goat!”

“I’d rather be married to a goat than live another second in this madhouse!” Sabrina exclaimed.

Aunty Salma chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, beta, your dad worries about you, that’s all,” she said, her voice warm with understanding. “Look at you, you’re beautiful, perfect in every way. He just doesn’t want to see you get hurt.” She gently tucked a stray strand of Sabrina’s hair behind her ear.

Sabrina sniffled, wiping her tears before pushing her hair back with a headband. Her gaze drifted to the mirror, locking onto her own reflection.

Ah, trouble, she thought bitterly. If only!

Chapter 2

The truth was, Sabrina had lived a remarkably uneventful life. She had never gotten detention, always finished her homework on time, never broke a bone as a child, and had never even been grounded.

Her dad had raised her alone. Sabrina’s mum had died in a tragic road accident when she was just four years old. From that moment on, Dr. Khan did everything in his power to give Sabrina the best life possible—all while juggling his responsibilities as a doctor and managing the pharmacy next door. Some might say he spoiled her with so much love that it became suffocating, shielding her from every possible harm, ensuring she never felt the gaping absence of her mother.

But in moments like these, Sabrina wished she had an older sister. A mum. Someone to talk to about girl stuff. Someone who understood.

“Dad just doesn’t get it, Aunty Salma,” Sabrina murmured, her voice softer now. As she focused on calming down, her breathing steadied, the rage from ten minutes ago fading into a dull frustration. She reached for a cotton pad and makeup remover, wiping away the streaks of mascara staining her cheeks.

Aunty Salma chuckled, shaking her head. “Tell me, beta,” she said, her tone warm yet firm. “You know, I made a promise to your mum that I’d always be there for you, no matter what life throws your way. But why are you always so angry at your dad? You know how hard he works—taking care of his patients, going to the mosque, listening to everyone’s troubles—only to come home and deal with your baqwaas (nonsense)!” She playfully smacked the back of Sabrina’s head, making her crack a reluctant smile.

Sabrina hesitated, then asked, “Did Mum really say all of that to you?”

“Of course she did. You know, you and your mum are very alike,” Aunty Salma replied with a knowing smile.

“Really? In what way? I’ve always wondered if I’m more like Mum or Dad,” Sabrina said, tucking her legs beneath her as she settled into the armchair, eager now to hear more.

Aunty Salma cradled her lukewarm cup of tea, her expression turning nostalgic. “When your mum first moved here, she was quite the catch. The local lads really liked her—they thought she was ‘exotic,’ she added, rolling her eyes.

“Wait, what?! Mum got attention from boys?” Sabrina shrieked, sitting up straight.

Aunty Salma smirked. “Beta, your mum had a life before you and your dad, you know! Shocking, I know,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Sabrina’s curiosity sparked to life. “I want to know more about Mum. What was she really like? You were her big sister—you must know things that no one else does!”

Aunty Salma’s expression softened. “That’s right, I knew her better than anyone. Even better than your dad,” she said, patting the bed beside her. “Come sit up here, it’s warmer. Now… where do I even start?”

Chapter 3

Your mum was definitely born in the wrong era,” Aunty Salma said with a chuckle. “She had a loud voice—just like you. She hated being told what to do, especially by her four brothers and her dad. She didn’t care much for their approval either.”

Sabrina’s eyes widened. A sense of relief washed over her—she was like her mum. Finally, something that makes sense.

“So… what did she care about?” she asked, leaning in with curiosity.

Aunty Salma smiled knowingly. “She cared deeply about her girlfriends—her ‘wolf pack,’ as she called them. And she cared about Andrew.”

The room went still.

Sabrina sat up straight. “Andrew?! Andrew who?!”

Aunty Salma took a slow sip of her now-cold tea before meeting Sabrina’s gaze. “When I tell you your mother had a life before you, I mean it in every sense. Andrew was the love of her life. Her first love. Her soulmate, perhaps.”

Sabrina shot up to her feet. “Oh my GOD. Mum was in love with a white guy?!” She was completely dumbfounded but couldn’t help the giddy excitement bubbling inside her. “Wait… so she didn’t love Dad?”

Aunty Salma let out a soft laugh. “Of course she loved your dad. But she also loved someone before him.”

Sabrina frowned, trying to process it.

“See, beta,” Aunty Salma continued gently, “women have their hearts broken. Sometimes, it shatters completely. But somehow, they rebuild it. And that can happen more than once in a woman’s lifetime.”

Sabrina let that sink in.

“Your mother didn’t want anyone to know about Andy,” Aunty Salma admitted. “She swore me to secrecy. But I feel like you should know. There was a man in her life before your dad. For whatever reason, it didn’t work out. Maybe for the best—because otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.” She smiled warmly.

Sabrina hesitated before asking, “So… why are you telling me all this now?”

“Because, beta, you’re young and free. You’ll fall in love someday too. Your heart will break, just like your mother’s. But your path is already written. What is meant for you will never pass you by. So lose this I hate the whole world attitude—it won’t even matter when you look back on it.”

For once, Aunty Salma was making a lot of sense.

Sabrina exhaled, a small, reluctant smile forming. “I suppose you’re right… Thanks, Aunty.”

They shared a brief, warm embrace before Aunty Salma stood up, stretching. “I need a fresh cuppa. You want one?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right down,” Sabrina replied. But just as her aunt reached the door, a thought struck her.

“Wait. What was his full name?”

Aunty Salma paused, glancing over her shoulder.

“Andrew Collins, he was a local lad, gosh wonder what happened to him” Aunty Salma said curiously and closed the door behind her.

Sabrina’s mind whirled. She knew exactly what she was going to do next.

But she wouldn’t be telling anyone.

Chapter 4

Open Google. Andrew Collins. Enter.

There they were. Endless possibilities—pages upon pages of Andrew Collins, each one a potential piece of her mother’s past.

Sabrina sifted through them, her heart racing. Nope, not him. Can’t be him. Too old, too young. Not Mum’s type. She muttered to herself as she scrolled, almost as if she already knew what she was looking for, as if she could feel who he was.

And then—she gasped.

“This has to be him.” she whispered, staring at the screen.

Her pulse quickened as she clicked on his profile. Facebook. Public posts. Years of history laid out before her.

She scrolled feverishly, stalking every photo, every announcement, every tagged memory since 2014. She was convinced it was him, it was something deeper, something instinctive. She knew it in her bones.

Without thinking, she opened a message window. Her fingers hovered over the keys. Was she really doing this?

Deep breath.

Then, she typed:

Hello, you don’t know me, but my name is Sabrina Khan. I believe you knew my mother, Nazneen Noor Ali. I was wondering if you’d like to meet me for a coffee.

Send.

Her breath hitched. The message box changed.

Read.

Her stomach flipped. She had this mysterious fire in her belly, an electric mix of nerves and excitement.

Then—

Typing…

She held her breath.

Wow… hi.

She watched as the dots appeared and disappeared, as if he was struggling to find the right words.

Typing… Deleted. Typing again.

Finally, his message came through:

It is so nice to e-meet you. How do you do?

Sabrina exhaled, forcing herself to stay calm. She typed quickly.

I’m well, but I’m a little stumped after just finding out about you. My mother’s sister told me about you today.

There was a pause.

Salma? How is she doing?

Sabrina’s eyes widened.

You know Aunty Salma?!

Another pause.

What else do you know about us?

Her heart pounded. Before she could even think of what to ask next, his next message came through.

Look, I’m sure you have some questions, and I’d be more than happy to meet and talk. Do you know Mocca in Manchester town center? I work around the corner from there. Can I buy you a coffee tomorrow at 10?

No hesitation.

Yep, see you then!

Send.

Chapter 5

Sabrina arrived at Mocca and picked a quiet corner by the plants and large cushions by the window. The café was busy but not chaotic. She sipped her mint tea, her fingers tapping lightly against the cup as she waited for 10 a.m. Every time the door swung open, her heart skipped a beat.

Why am I doing this? What will I gain from meeting him? She didn’t have the answers, but she was buzzing with anticipation.

Then the door flew open.

There he was. Taller than she had imagined, his ice-blue eyes filled with wisdom, framed by strong laugh lines. He was handsome and can see why her mother fancied him. He scanned the room, and when he spotted her, he nodded, miming her name as if confirming she was real.

Why am I blushing? For crying out loud, stop that! Be normal. For once!

Sabrina jolted up from her seat, eager to shake his hand and make a good first impression.

“You must be Andy—sorry, I mean Andrew! I mean, Mr. Collins. Gosh, sorry. Hi, I’m Sabrina.”

He chuckled. “Oh, please—call me Andy. That feels much nicer than Mr. Collins.” He sat across from her and smiled warmly.

For a moment, they just looked at each other, two people with a hundred questions hanging in the air.

“So…” Sabrina started.

“So…” Andy echoed, smiling. “First, can I just say how pleased I am that you reached out to me? I’ve often wondered about you, about whether you were anything like your mum.”

“And am I?” she asked, tilting her head.

He exhaled, studying her face. “That brings me to my second point—you’re just as beautiful as she was. I hope that’s okay for me to say. You look exactly like her.”

Out of nowhere, Sabrina felt a sting in her eyes. The fire. The tears came suddenly, unexpected. She sniffled. “Sorry, I just… I haven’t had anyone say that before.”

Andy reached into his pocket and pulled out a tissue, offering it to her. “It’s clean,” he said with a soft smile.

Sabrina took the tissue and met his gaze. “I want to know more about my mother. What was she like? What happened between you two?”

Now, Andy’s eyes glistened. He blinked, exhaling. “Ah, your mother was one of a kind. She honestly was. To this day, I’ve never met anyone like her. I was deeply saddened when I heard of her passing.”

Sabrina swallowed hard. “What happened between you?”

Andy hesitated before speaking. “Well, we met at school. She was in Year 11, and I was in sixth form. And we… fell in love. Madly in love.”

Sabrina leaned in. “Go on.”

“I first saw her in the cafeteria. I had never noticed her before—or maybe I just hadn’t really seen her. But that day, I remember telling myself, Andrew, look away. You’ve just fallen in love.” He gave a soft, wistful smile, his voice thick with emotion. “After that, the rest was history. We dated for several years.”

“How?” Sabrina asked, eyebrows furrowed. “I know Abu would never have allowed that.”

Abu—her grandfather. A strict, imposing man. The kind who made you tense up when he entered any room.

Andy nodded. “Ah, yes. Abu. It wasn’t easy. It was the ‘70s, and your mum was expected to be at home, certainly not out with an English guy, going to discos and daytime clubs. But she was strong-willed. I have a feeling you are too?”

Sabrina smirked slightly. “Maybe.”

Andy continued, “One day, Abu caught us—hand in hand in the town center. He was with his, well, Grandad crew. Your mum quickly let go of my hand, but it was too late. He had seen us. I still remember his eyes as she walked over to him. He didn’t say a word. Just took her with him to the car, and they drove away.

“That was the last time I ever held your mother’s hand.”

Sabrina felt a sharp pang in her chest.

Andy sighed. “After that, I heard from her friends that she left school and was getting married. To your father. Dr. Khan.”

Sabrina had never thought about her mother’s life before her father. What she had wanted. Who she had been before she became someone’s wife, someone’s mother.

For the first time, she wished she could hold her mother and console her. Tell her that it would all work out. That she would go on to have a family, to love and be loved. That the heartbreak she must have endured was not in vain.

Sabrina tried, but she couldn’t hold back the tears.

Andy reached across the table, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I can stop. I know this is a lot.”

She wiped her tears quickly. “No—it’s okay. I just…

Then, a loud ring cut through the moment.

Andy turned his phone over to see the caller ID.

Amber.

Chapter 6

Sabrina’s breath caught in her throat.

She stared at the image of the caller, Amber. A girl—about her age. Maybe younger. Dark eyes, delicate features. There was something so familiar about her.

Andy looked at the phone, then at Sabrina.

Sabrina’s heart pounded in her chest.

“She looks… like… my mother.”

Silence.

The phone continued ringing.

And neither of them moved.

Sabrina swallowed the lump in her throat. It was too much, too fast, too many emotions colliding at once, but she understood. She had spent her whole life searching for a connection, for someone who could help her understand the missing pieces of herself. And now, sitting across from her, was a man who had loved her mother before she was even a thought in this world. And somewhere out there, was a girl who might just be the closest thing she had to a sister.

Sabrina’s mind raced. “She kept this huge secret all these years!?”

She blinked up at him, feeling a strange, bittersweet warmth spreading in her chest. Maybe she hadn’t found all the answers she was looking for today. Maybe she never would.

But for the first time in her life, she felt like she was on the path to something.

She took a deep breath and wiped the last of her tears away.

“So,” she said, forcing a small smile, “how do you take your coffee?”

Andrew chuckled, the tension easing just a little. “Black. No sugar.”

Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Of course you do.”

And just like that, the energy shifted.

It was the beginning of something.

And that was enough.