“I’m so excited!” Ameerah sang.
I have always loved Ameerah. She is the funniest,
bubbliest, liveliest, and the most humorous friend I’ve ever had. At the same
time, Allah has gifted her with beautiful emerald green eyes and glowing
olive-color skin, mashAllah, which makes her beautiful inside and out. She
often tells me that her dad was a handsome folk, so she went after his good
looks. I found that Ameerah’s strength to live without a father, gave me
strength to live without mine when he was away on work. Although, of course for
her, it was much harder.
“Inayah, how are you doing binty?” Uncle Najm asked me
suddenly.
“I’m doing well, Alhamdulilah. How about yourself?” I shifted forward from where I
was sat.
“Alhamdulilah. I can’t I complain, I’m drowning
in the mercy of Allah.” He tucked his hands into his pockets. His white thoube
was swaying with the wind.
“Alhamdulilah.” I said as I glanced at him
through the car window.
“How is Ayesha doing, and the kids?” I added,
remembering I hadn’t asked about his wife.
He covered the beams of sunlight with his hands.
“They’re all good in the hood, Alhamdulilah.”
Uncle Najm jested.
“Alhamdulilah,” I replied.
“I spoke to your father just yesterday. He told
me he was going off on another medical venture.” Uncle Najm explained.
“Yeah, I spoke to Abi earlier on too, he told me
to pass his salaams on to you.”
“Oh, wasalaam to him.”
“Right… that’s enough chit-chat. Time to get off!
We have a long journey ahead.” Tamiyyah rubbed her hands together, smiling at
her brother, Najm.
“Let’s go!” Ameerah punched the air and turned to
me to give me a high five.
“Oh, and Salman! He’s finally decided to join
us?” Uncle Najm said before walking back to his vehicle.
“He had no choice!” I said to myself shrugging my
shoulders. “Mahram issues!” I laughed.
Ameerah laughed with me. “Thank God, Uncle Najm
classes as my Mahram.” She winked at me.
“Belts on?” Taymiyyah turned her head to see if I
had put on my belt.
Ameerah gave me a thumbs up whilst she simultaneously tried to find her seatbelt
which she was funnily sitting on.
Taymiyyah laughed and turned back around. She
stared out of the window and I heard her whisper under her breath, the Du’aa
for traveling.
“So, how’s college, Inayah?” Taymiyyah asked as
she stopped at a traffic light.
“It’s good, Alhamdulilah.” I replied locking my
mobile phone.
“I can’t believe you girls are leaving in a
couple of months!”
“I know, I’m still in denial.” Ameerah said with
a side-smile.
“Oh, I can’t wait!” I bellowed.
“Trust me, it ain’t all fun and games after you
finish college you know.” Taymiyyah reminded.
“Life goes on…” I said staring out the window
into open space.
“I told Ameerah that marriage is a huge
responsibility.”
“Who mentioned marriage?!” Ameerah snorted,
laughing at what her mum said.
“Oh, don’t think I don’t know what’s on your
girls minds. I was a teenager once upon a time!” Taymiyyah shot her daughter a
side look.
“You girls make me laugh. But on a serious note,
are you looking to get married after college?”
The car was inaudible for a few seconds before
Taymiyyah broke the silence.
“Inayah?”
“Yep, you!” Ameerah turned back to flash me a
cheeky smile.
“Well…if a good guy comes along, who’s on the
deen, then why not?” I mumbled quickly, a shy smile on my face.
Before I could speak further, both Taymiyyah and
Ameerah let out a loud, ‘awww’. Marriage was always a hot topic; it was every
girl’s favorite thing to talk about.
“Hmm… who could possibly be a potential spouse
for our Inayah?” Taymiyyah asked her daughter.
“Hmm…” Ameerah joined in with her mum.
“I think Abdullah is a good brother.”
I gulped. I felt my face go red and my heart
started racing. Why did she mention him? Out
of all people…him?
“Yeah!” Ameerah said breaking the silence.
“Definitely. You guys suit.”
Silence.
I just could not get words come out of my mouth.
Was this a sign?
Finally I decided to say something as to break
the awkwardness.
“Erm… he deserves someone better.”
Ouch. Did I just say that? I pinched myself on
the knee.
“Habibiti, you’re a smart girl MashaAllah. You
have a bright future ahead of you. Don’t underestimate yourself.”
“Oh yes.” Ameerah added.
“Anything is possible for Allah.”
“Hmm...” I said staring out of the window once
again.
I glanced at my watch. We had been travelling for
nearly an hour, and now, I had a desperate urge to go to the toilet. I hate to
tell you this, but I have problems holding it in. Once I feel the need, I just
have to go or else there will be disaster.
Taymiyyah rang Uncle Najm to ask if we could stop
for a five-minute break at the service station.
How
long. I was about to burst.
“Uncle Najm said we’ll stop at the next
station.” Taymiyyah leaned back to tell
me.
“Cool.” I said, although I was kinda dying out of
desperation.
“Oh, and your wise twenty year old brother
questioned why we were stopping at a ‘social service’ rather than a ‘service
station.’”
“Oh my!” I said laughing uncontrollably.
“You’re brother!” Ameerah said chuckling.
“What a wise brother I have.” I said in a posh
accent whilst shaking my head in disappoint.
I walked out of the service station and breathed
in the cool winter air when all of a sudden my gaze fell upon Abdullah who had
rolled out his prayer mat at the side of the brother’s car and was
praying. He was looking rather pious today. Before you all think I’m
judging, he’s never grown his hair so long and I’ve never ever in my ten years
of knowing him, seen him in a thoube! To make it more atypical, his thoube even
has cufflinks, which is refreshingly new. I quickly looked away wondering why
on earth he was praying at this time.
Abdullah and Salman met and chatted for a few
minutes before Uncle Najm gestured to Taymiyyah with his wristwatch that we
were running late.
“Erm… what is he praying?” I enquired to
Taymiyyah and Ameerah who were munching on a deliciously looking donut they
brought from Krispy Kremes.
“Duha prayer?” Ameerah questioned with her mouth
half-full.
“Ahh...” I replied nodding my head in agreement
whilst subsequently grabbing myself a fresh donut. “Bismillah” I said hastily
and dunked my teeth into the smooth, iced donut, which tasted heavenly.
Duha was the prayer which was prayed after sunset
and before the sun reached it’s zenith. It was not an obligatory prayer but
optional and the reward for it is immense. I couldn’t help but feel an ounce of
jealousy, I wish I had made my ablution before I came out as then I could have
prayed too.
“Play a bit of Hudhaifi for us.” I said slouching
back on the seat after swallowing the last piece of my scrumptious donut.
I decided to rest the remaining journey, and
leaned my head against the cold, smooth window, and took a deep breath. I
stared out at the early morning sky. The crisp white clouds were hiding the
pale yellow sun which was not as bright as it had been earlier. The sky was a
grayish blue and it looked as though it was going to rain. Closing my eyes and savoring
the beautiful, melodious voice of Hudhaifi, I began to recall the good memories
of my ‘Umrah trip.
I glanced one more time at my wristwatch.
8:47am.
We
will probably arrive at around 10ish…
I clasped my tired eyes shut. My thoughts took me
back to the moment I first walked into the courtyard of the haram and held my mother’s hand tightly. With each step I took I
remembered I praised Allah. The place felt magical. I remembered how my father
grabbed my hand and lead mum, Sara and me to the stairs, which led to the
Kaab’ah itself. I remembered at that moment, my body was shaking, I wasn’t
scared, I wasn’t worried; I was just in awe that my dream had finally come
true. As I made my way down the stairs, which lead to the Mat’af area, I
remembered hearing my mother’s humble sobs.
Slowly… I flickered open my eyelids and laid my
first glance on the Kaaba’h. At that moment, I remembered how my world froze.
The Kaab’ah was absolutely beautiful, more so in real life. People were
circulating the ancient house and at that moment, I felt like the luckiest girl
in the world.
Right now, tears had gathered in my already tired
eyes and my heart was aching to go back. I stared into the sky again whilst
deeply reflecting on the soothing voice of Hudhaifi who was ironically reciting
the ayah on the haram being a sacred
and protected sanctuary. I began to weep silently, as not to let Ameerah or
Taymiyyah hear. Soon later, I drifted off into a deep sleep.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 2
“Inaaayaahh!”
“Uh-huh-wha-aat…” I yanked open my sleepy eyes
and saw a fuzzy Ameerah looking over at me. I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus
them on Ameerah.
“We’re here. In Leicester. At the hotel. You’ve
been knocked out the whole journey!” Ameerah signaled with her hands.
I yawned noisily, and lifted up my head adjusting
my creased scarf in the process.
“Maan, you should have waked me up earlier, look
at the state I’m in!” I wined, and slumped back in my seat.
Ameerah sucked her teeth. “Girl, you were totally
knocked out, I didn’t wanna disturb you.”
I widened my eyes. “Oh my god, I didn’t snore did
I?!” I said panic-struck and whizzed up from my seat.
“Haha, you so did!” Ameerah faked a laugh.
“Ameeeeraaaaah!” I tensed up.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” Ameerah teased.
“Phew.” I felt my heart beating properly again.
I tossed my black denim jacket over my shoulders
and made my way out of the vehicle.
Uncle Najm, Abdullah and Salman had arrived
before us and had made their way into the hotel to sign in before they went to
sort out their packing.
I saw Taymiyyah walking towards us in the
distance. She had wrapped herself with her flowing Abayah and her chin was
quivering.
“SubhanAllah, it’s so cold here. Allahu Akbar. I
knew I should have packed some thicker, wooly winter clothes. Brrr.” She
exclaimed, her arms wrapped around her stomach.
“I knew you would Mum, so I brought several
jumpers with me in case.”
“Jazakillahu Khair, habibiti.” She said as the
wind blew more fiercely.
Taymiyyah began looking around, peering over the
van bonnet as though I was tall enough to spot from there.
“Urm, where’s your twin?” she asked Ameerah placing
her hand on her hip.
“I’m here!” I jumped out from the back of the
car.
“Na, not this time.” I giggled.
“Right, grab your bags then, off we go.”
“Want some help, love?” Taymiyyah questioned me.
“Oh no I’ll be fine. You guys can go, I’ll come
after you.” I dragged my bags closer to me and attempted to pick one up.
“Okay, sweetie. See you in a bit.” Taymiyyah
walked off in a hurry and Ameerah followed.
“Yikes! That’s heavy.” I gasped to myself after
Taymiyyah and Ameerah had turned the corner.
Okay, so where do I even start. I hadn’t brought
much luggage. One medium-sized suitcase, and one heavy bag-pack, but boy, were
they heavy. I tried to pick up the travel bag but failed at every attempt I’d
because of its weight.
“Erm...shall I get that for you?”
“No thanks.” I replied spontaneously overlooking
the ‘individuals’ polite gesture, and attempted to pick up the bag again.
“No, seriously, erm, let me help you.”
I groaned with frustration and turned around only
to find Abdullah standing there with a concerned expression.
“Oh, erm, I...I didn’t know it was you, I’m…erm,
sorry Abdullah.” I murmured, slightly embarrassed.
“No worries.” Abdullah replied and looked to the
ground.
If
this was three years ago he would have surely given me a mouthful.
“Actually, can you help me carry them please?” I
tried an attempt to break the awkwardness. I kicked the bag suddenly towards
him. It accidently hit his foot and he let out a discreet “Aaoow!”
I gulped. I didn’t mean to do that! I was dead
embarrassed.
“Right.” Abdullah replied taken aback by my attitude.
Damn!
I apologized again and heard his footsteps as he
walked away into the reception area carrying one of my bags.
I sighed and shook my head in guilt. I truly
hated myself right then.
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