Something in the Truth (Islamic Love Story)

Chapter Five: Wedding Talk and Flashbacks

"Ummi?" I asked immediately after the door closed.

"Yes habibti?" She tried to sweeten her voice so the news would be "easier" for me.

She knows how I feel about marrige before college. I felt like it was too soon. Besides, we've discussed this before and I already agreed after I get out of college. I trusted her so that she could find me a suitable husband that would complete half my deen and I could life with for the rest of my life.

"Why am I getting married before college? I thought we already went over this?" I asked, tired of the twisted turn of events.

"Me and Sumaya were at the Masjid (house of Allah, the place of worship) and listening to the Kutbah (speech) when we heard the Imam say that it was best to marry early and to move by yourself to a place without a Mahram is forbidded. And since your...father left, you need a relative or husband." She replied smoothly.

I sighed inwardly.

___________________________

After we had our little "talk", I headed upstairs to my room and prayed Isha. I put on my pajamas and climbed into my bed.

My thoughts kept going back to me and Ummi's talk as I lay there in the dark. I already knew that getting married means completing half my deen, but I just don't see myself making these life long decisions at the moment. I can't disappoint Ummi, she's already been through enough. And the fact that Yusuf and I were childhood friends when we were younger still surprises me.

As I try to get some sleep, my phone went off. I reach for my phone on my nightstand and rubbed my eyes to see the text message.

Hayat: haaaaiii (;

Me: at this rate I'm not so surprised that you're still awake.

Hayat: awwww come on, lighten up a bit. I have some news for you.

I sat up on my bed. What exactly does this "news" have to be brought up at 1 am in the morning?

Me: and what exactly is this news?

Hayat: since tomorrow is a Saturday, I'm bringing you with me to a wedding. I'm not taking no for an answer.

Me: and what makes you think you can force me?

Hayat: pleaaaase? It's gonna be so fun! I'm picking you up @ 8 am.
Salam.

She doesn't even ASK me to go. Well, I guess that's what happens when you're best friends with someone for over seven years.

I close my phone and put it back on my night stand and stare at the ceiling.

The good thing about tomorrow is, that I can get my mind off of Yusuf for a WHOLE day.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I toss and turn and flip my pillow over to the cold side. Suddenly, I hear something knock over from one of my shelves and hits the floor with a loud thump. I sprang up from my bed.

"Bismillah," I muttered quickly and walked over to the other side of my room.

I examine the book, it looked like my old journal I had when I was seven. I smile at the memories. I look through the diary when I came across a page that read:

June 17th, 2005
Dear Journal,
Summer has been amazing so far! Today, Yusuf and I went to the park with our families and played soccer. It was not fair, he scored more points than I did and he was better than me. And then we went to go get ice cream and we challenged each other to see who could eat theirs the fastest! Of course, I won, but he kept complaining that it gave him brain freeze. To make it up for it, I told him that he could play videos games at my house any time he wanted.

Sincerely,
Haneen Abdullah Salih

My mouth was wide open. Like, THE WHOLE TIME.

I think this is the time where every single one of my memories with him came hitting me in the face. Like when we all went on vacation together to London. Or the time when I broke my arm and he took all my toys and played with them at the hospital. And especially, the day he told me he was moving away.

"What? What do you mean you're leaving? You just got here. " I said in a panicked tone following him to the living room. He sat down on the couch and pointed to the other couch for me to sit.
"No, I'm staying here. But that's not what I meant," he sighed, looking down at his hands and played with his fingers," I meant, that.. I'm moving away. To a different state. Forever." He said finally, his eyes watered up. He looked like he was ready to bawl.

"You can't move away, you're my only friend here! Who else am I supposed to play with?" Now I looked like I was ready to bawl.

"I'm sorry. My parents found another job. So I guess... this is goodbye then."

Sorry for the long wait! Here it is finally! It was hard to come up with this chapter but I think it's all good now. Good news guys!! I'll be able to update every 2-3 days before Ramadan! Please let me know what you think of this chapter in the comments and Please PLEASE vote for this chapter! I hope you all had a wonderful day!!!

Salam lovelys 💘