Jannah. [SEQUEL TO DAWUD]

Chapter 42 - Open the Door

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

If the time of prayer has been called and you haven't prayed before reading this, please do so.

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Jannah's P.O.V

I rushed out of class and proceeded to the university's prayer room. I had a strict itinerary for the rest of my day. Organizing myself through a schedule was the only method helping me focus. Lately, things have been extremely difficult and I've had my mind on everything but school. As I steered my way through the sea of students all conversing and laughing mindlessly, I sighed. There was a time where I was in their place, joking happily with my friends between classes. But I've got much more to think about now.

Ever since Dawud had last seen his father, he's fell apart at the seams. I just wished I could bear the pain for him. I wish I could understand how he feels. And the part that hurts the most is that he's trying his best to communicate his pain. He was at a loss because it was so hard for him. I discovered this from his comment the other night, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks.' I hoped that it wasn't true.

There was a lot of pain that he felt. I couldn't imagine what it must be like, seeing the situation through his eyes. His Dad leaves to re-marry, disappears, and then comes back to take over the business when it's successful? Personally, I never got the chance to know his father on a deeper level but it doesn't sound like anything he would do. Dawud admired his father so much before all of this happened. I wonder what the truth behind the story was. ‏‏Thankfully, I wouldn't have to wonder for long. I left school and headed to my apartment. I had a plan.

Warsan's P.O.V

My brother clapped obnoxiously as I walked towards his car. 'Finally! She decides to bless us with her presence!' He cheered. The handful of students that populated the school's parking lot looked at the two of us in surprise. My brother was so embarrassing!

I hastened my pace, feeling my cheeks flush immediately. 'Stop it! What's wrong with you?' I groaned. Once I reached him, my hand didn't wait a moment. It made sharp contact with his arm. He whined in pain and I smiled. Payback felt good. After a few moments, his eyes fixated on something behind me. His face twisted into an evil smirk - an expression I knew all too well. I turned around and gasped.

Laith was jogging towards us. I blinked a few times, not quite sure if what I was seeing was real. My legs hauled my frozen core over to the passenger's side of the car. I pulled at the door. It was locked. 'Junaid!' I half-whispered, pulling at the door again. He looked over his shoulders at me and grinned cheerfully.

'Laith! Assalamu'alaykum Akhi!' He called out. I stared at the back of his head furiously as Laith approached my brother. I turned away from the two of them with my arms crossed, leaning my back against the car door. They spoke amicably and I rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to listen to their conversation. It had absolutely nothing to do with me. Nothing about Laith had any correlation to my life. I wanted to keep it that way.

I forced my mind to think of other matters. Like how Jannah always joked that she wished she had an older brother. It is far more demanding than it seems. Demanding of patience and over-looking faults. But I'm sure my brothers could say the same thing about me. In fact, I can clearly imagine the two of them rolling up their sleeves and sitting any stranger down to discuss how hard it is living with me. Sucks for them though, because I couldn't care less. My brother's tone lowered significantly, making me wonder what they were talking about.

Why was he whispering?

I dropped my phone a bit closer to the end of the car where they were and picked it up. Leaning against the car's rear side, I could hear a bit more of what they were saying.

'Really?' Laith asked, surprised. I winced, dying of curiosity. 'I don't want to go anywhere I'm not welcome.' He said a bit later. A slight wave of guilt washed over me before I shook my head. Why should I feel bad? I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just being true to what I wanted. I can't force myself to like him to make him feel better! 'You know how the saying goes... "Go where you're celebrated - not tolerated." I just don't think it's the best idea.' He replied.

'Bro, please accept the invitation! My dad said I'm not allowed going back home until you say yes.' My brother complained childishly. I frowned. I understood very clearly what was going on.

My father took a liking to Laith. And that meant that he was his guest now. My complaints would be soundless to his ears. I sighed, walking back to the passenger door. I kicked the side of the car, causing a loud bang. Both my brother and Laith looked up in surprise. Junaid's eyes watched me with clear irritation as they met my blank expression.

'Open the door.' I demanded, pulling at the car handle. Laith watched me with a smile that didn't waver when I glared at him. After Junaid unlocked the car doors, I slid right into my seat, feeling my eyebrows pull together. I didn't know what Laith saw in me but I could see very clearly that he liked me. A lot.

Jannah's P.O.V

The door knocked and it compared very closely to the harsh beating within my chest. Although the knocks weren't very loud, they rung in my ears incessantly. I dragged my body towards it, despite how scared I was. I was scared that things wouldn't end up like I hoped they would. I grabbed the door handle and exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding. 'Oh Allah, I hope for Your mercy, so do not leave me to myself for even for as little as the blink of an eye, and set right all my affairs. There is no god worthy of worship but You.' I whispered.

I opened the door and there he was, strikingly identical to the man he raised lovingly. The greys in his curls were fighting for space on his full head of hair. The green eyes that seemed to have wilted with pain and time lit up only slightly at the sight of me. I welcomed him with a hug and he patted my back awkwardly. This was going to be uncomfortable for not only him and me but also Dawud, who would be waltzing into the apartment in an hour or so. But healthy growth never waits until your ready and comfortable. Things needed to be taken care of at this moment. Dawud needed to speak to his father.