Sincere Heart

Forbidden Glances

Manaal

I sat there at my work desk staring at my laptop screen as the sun set. I didn't reply back to Jamal's email, didn't know whether I should! I mean how do you reply back to this;

.."me questioning you probably didn't go the way I wanted it to go, I mean, I totally appreciate your honesty and cooperative responses but I have seen my share of practising sisters in the UK and what can I say, aren't they full of surprises. You're a toughy, I can't crack 'who you are' (in terms of what kind of person you are) just yet. It's hard to tell! As of now you are of many people but not to worry, only time will tell..."

Am I even supposed to reply to this? He's so frustrating! What does he mean?

I could smell the delicious smell of the cookies sultana was making for the meeting. I followed the smell with my nose to the kitchen.

"Yumm this smells delicious!" I tried to reach one for one but SLAP

"Their hot and not yours dear"

"Aww come on, just one! Can't be depriving me of these scrumptious cookies! I'm depressed as it is girl"

As understanding as sultana was she allowed me to have one.

"So how is it going with US guy? Have you replied yet?

I stopped chewing for a second and then continued

"Sultana I seriously don't know if I should or not, the guy is literally talking in riddles! It's like American Shakespeare stuff..."

"There is no American Shakespeare love, only an English version of him"

Sultana just liked to correct me! I sighed!

"Come on, lets get ready for the meeting"

We got ready in a quicky, we keep it natural at all time, haha.

We got to the Rashid's residence for the meeting just in time. I rang the door bell, and brother haarith opened the door!

"Asalaam alaikom sisters, jazakallah khayr (may Allah reward you with good) for coming ontime!

"Wa alaykom Salaam" we replied.

"It was all thanks to manaal who drove like a maniac thinking we were late" I nudged her. How could she?

Brother haarith chuckled and gestured us to come in. We greeted the crew members one by one and announced our greetings to the brothers orally. Aunt hilwa, who was in the kitchen looked beautiful as ever, we went over to greet her too.

"Asalaam alaikom khala (auntie) hilwa" said sultana with a big smile as we walked towards her

"Oh my, Wa alaykom salaam my daughters, how have you been?

"Alhamdulilah " we replied together beaming at her "just been busy revising and that auntie what about you? What's new?

Auntie hilwa was telling us about everything that has been happening from the last meeting we attended to now, I noticed from her glass cupboards that haarith stood at the door, looking rather pleased that his mother was smiling. Such love between a mother and her son. I then smiled while looking at him through the glass praying for them in my mind when his eyes all of a sudden met mine. We quickly looked away and he made his presence known to his mother and sultana.

"Erm, mother the meeting is starting now so is it okay if you could catch up later?"

"Of course dear" she said and hugged us again, "I'll see you in a bit lovelies" she said kissing us both

"InshaAllah khala hilwa" we said and followed haarith to the meeting room

We discussed, debated and set tasks for all. This was the last meeting before the course itself begins.

I excused myself as my phone rang numerous times. It was a private number that was calling, both curiosity and fear came over me.

"Hello, asalaam alaikom"

There was a few secs of silence and the person on the other end replied

"Wa alaykom salaam"

I didn't recognise the phone number so I said "sorry i don't know who this is, would you mind telling me who you are?"

The person laughed, a rather sexy laugh I must say!

"Did I say something funny"

"No but your accent is pretty funny"

Then it hit me, he had an American accent. Oh my lord.

"Is this jamil?"

"The one and only" he replied confidently

Oh my god! My stomach lurched!

"Is it okay with you if you could call me in an hour, I'm at a qabeelah meeting at the moment?" I asked nervously

"Yeah yeah sure, no worries! I'll speak to you later"

"Okay ma'salama" (bye in Arabic/Somali)

I was about to return to the meeting room when someone rang the door bell, I went to open it. It was Hassan

"Look whose late?" I smiled, "asalaam alaikom"

"Wa alaykom salaam" he replied panting, he tried to keep it together but he couldn't! He was drenched in rain

"Where's your car?"

"It broke down yesterday"

"Should have called me I would have given you a lift"

He blushed and smiled at me looking at me directly with those soft round eyes. I was caught into it, until my phone beeped again. It was sultana asking me where I was.

"Look Hassan if you need a ride home tonight that's cool, sultana is staying over next door tonight, I have revision to do so erm I could drop you of no problem!"

He was still blushing

"Erm thanks manaal, really means alot"

"N'aww don't mention it" I said thinking inside oh my god this is crazy! Did I like this guy? What was this feeling?

I walked back to the meeting room while he dried himself in the hallway downstairs.

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