Leyla rolled her eyes. Another diaspora kid playing Somali hero.
He grinned. “ Ishq vishk, habar tirac. ” ishq vishk af somali
Then the rumors started.
Zaahir grinned. “So what do you call the loud, stupid, ‘I’ll climb your balcony at midnight’ kind?” Leyla rolled her eyes
“ Ishq vishk, ” he declared one evening. “That’s our language. Half Urdu drama, half Somali audacity.” ishq vishk af somali
“ War anigu waan arkay! ” — “I saw them!” a neighbor auntie hissed. “White man’s love! Ishq vishk like Bollywood filth!”