[EXCLUSIVE] - Excerpt from my novel :)

“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.

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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.