Jannah. [SEQUEL TO DAWUD]

Chapter 57: The End (Part 1)

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.

Jannah's P.O.V

It was now summer. Dawud and Akhlaaq graduated, Mariam and Abdallah gave birth to a healthy and breathtakingly beautiful baby, and Warsan and Laith were to be married. Today.

Just like my wedding, and just like Muna's, we were sat in the back of a limousine, crying. But we weren't silent. We were speaking and reflecting. It was beautiful and I almost didn't want to leave the car and have Warsan get married. I wanted to stop time. I wanted to stay here.

'I'm so proud of you.' I told my best friend. Warsan bit her lip, awaiting the tears to come. 'You took your time and you carefully picked someone good for you. You've been unapologetic about who you are and what you want in a marriage and it's so inspiring to see.' I said. Muna agreed with me.

'Over time, I can see how you've slowly dropped that wall put up against emotion. You've become so soft.' Muna said. Warsan cringed, causing us to laugh. 'It's true! Jannah and I have seen how much you've changed and let your guard down. For someone who has always had to be strong, it's so powerful to see you choose to be soft and strong. You've shown us that you don't have to compromise one to be the other. I'm so proud of you, Warsan.' Muna explained. I rubbed her arm and nodded. Her words were beautifully put.

Warsan struggled to get the next few words out. She didn't want to ruin her mascara. 'I know that for the last year or so, I've been a bit hard to deal with. There were times where I shut you guys out, I didn't want to communicate and I felt like I couldn't relate to either of you after you got married. And for that, I want to say sorry.' She blurted. I started to cry.

'You don't have to apologize! It's your wedding day!' I scolded.

Warsan shook her head. 'No, I do. Because for the longest time, I was living in comparison. I was compared to my brothers, compared to you guys, compared to other employees at the stupid Tea Shop that I finally quit.' She explained. We all laughed. 'I wasn't happy and I covered that with being brutally honest and tough... but unreality, I was just sad.' There was a moment of silence as we listened to her words carefully. 'And don't get me wrong, I haven't found all my happiness in life because of Laith. There is more to life than men. But in this journey of opening myself up to love, Allah has opened my heart to the pain I was hiding. And Allah filled that pain by introducing the idea of a new start. One away from my family, away from my job, away from the things that made me feel so terrible about myself. And in that, I was able to find myself and be kinder, softer and loving. And I'm just so grateful for that.'

Muna and I watched her in awe. She was so strong. And today was all about her. I loved it.

The party went on, as all parties do, and the couple were pronounced married, as all couples are. Dawud and I watched the both of them share a shy smile, just as we did, and they hugged. It was so special. Warsan's mother was hysterical and doted on her daughter's every need. She and Laith's mother laughed at themselves, as they wiped their tears repeatedly. I prayed that Allah kept it that way. It was beautiful to see.

At the Walimah, I spoke to Laith's mother, who was so happy she finally had a daughter-in-law. I met Mariam and my mother, who sat at one of the quieter tables. And I saw my beautiful niece, wearing the cutest little pink dress, laying in her mother's arms. She wasn't old enough to sit up yet, but she was old enough to watch me smile down at her. Mariam slipped her in my arms and I rocked her back and forth.

'Jannah is holding Jannah.' My mother said. Mariam and I laughed. 'You should've named her after me instead.' She told my sister.

I rolled my eyes and cradled my niece some more. I hoped that I would be a good role model for her. She was named after me, after all. Holding her made me excited to be a mom myself. I was excited about the special announcement I had planned for Dawud this evening.

The party had come to an end as we walked Warsan into the hallway. Muna and I locked arms with her before she left. Laith was waiting outside for her, looking nervous. Muna and I tried to appease all her worries as quietly and quickly as possible.

'Remember you don't have to do it if you're not comfortable. Just communicate. He will understand.'

'Don't be nervous, just take things slow. Make sure you've eaten. Take care of yourself.'

'If you have any questions just text one of us or both of us or none of us it doesn't matter as long as you know you have friends who can help!'

'Yes! And if it does happen tonight, make sure to tinkle right after. I can explain tomorrow-'

Warsan held her hands up, begging us to stop. We both shut our mouths immediately, trying not to laugh. 'Thank you. I have to go now.' She said, fighting back giggles.

'We love you!' We shouted, waving as she exited the door.

The hallway was quiet now and Muna and I held each other's arms, as we always did. 'Companionship. We find it in each other before we find it in men. Beautiful isn't it?' Muna asked me. I nodded, watching their car drive away.

'Indeed.'

*

Later that night, Dawud and I cuddled on the couch in blissful silence. The news was bubbling on my lips and it took all my self-restraint not to get up and scream excitedly. Instead, I took his hand and walked him over to the washroom. He repeatedly asked me what was going on. 'Would you quit asking me that?' I half-joked. Dawud laughed.

'If this is about my hair being in the drain... I'm sorry.'

We looked at each other in silence before bursting out laughing. 'Dawdie, you're not in trouble.' He sighed a breath of relief as I chuckled. His green eyes met mine, causing me to feel a wave of nervousness. I held both his hands and took a deep breath. 'I love you so much. And seeing our friends get married is always a special reminder of how far we've come. Thank you for changing my life.' I whispered. He beamed, pulling me closer and stroking my back. I pulled away and exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding in.

Dawud's beautiful face cocked to the side curiously.

'And now... I'm going to change our lives all over again.' I said, pulling out the pregnancy test I hid in the medicine cabinet. Dawud's eyes grew moist with tears as he watched me in awe.

'No...' He whispered in shock. 'No way.' He laughed in disbelief. I nodded, letting a cry escape my lips. The two of us grabbed the other and cried happily. He pulled me out of the washroom and into the living room where he performed a prostration of gratitude to Allah. When he was finished, he rushed back to me. 'Alhamdullilah. Alhamdullilah.' He repeated. I said it too. 'When did you take this?' He asked hastily, gesturing to the test. I smiled and told him I took it the night before. He stroked my temple lovingly, pulling me in for a deep kiss. It was always so beautiful, being so close in proximity to someone so loving. His love poured from his eyes, his lips, his very being. And I was the blessed person to spend the rest of my forever with him. And I wasn't alone. Our children, however many we were having, would have the world's best dad. And a pretty cool mom, too.

'I love you Jannah. You're going to be such an amazing mother.' He said, bending over and kissing my belly. 'You are the best blessing Allah has ever given me, after Islam. I love you, Jannah.'

I was drowning in tears and sniffles. We filled this small apartment with life, with feeling. All praise is due to Allah, who tests us with trials and tests us with blessings. He gives us the gift of family, love, and kindness. And he gifts us the blessing of bearing children, which would be Dawud and I's love joined together in the purest human form.

Alhamdullilah.