Restraint And Denial (An Arabic Love Story)

Chapter 4.

Chapter 4

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After the maghrib salaah, Zaid made his way to the back corner of the male musalla, there he sat making Dua (supplications) and Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from the Almighty). Just when he was about to round off his Dua he heard a very familiar voice.

"Here you are. I thought I'll find you here." Zaid lifted his head to meet the gaze of Khalid.

"Well, it's a good thing you found me first. You've saved me the stress of doing that as I was about to go looking for you myself." He sat upright, reaching for a handshake from his brother.

"Assalamualaikum ya akhi(peace be onto you brother)" Khalid greeted with a warm smile tugging at a corner of his lips. It looked like he was suppressing a huge grin which Zaid didn't fail to notice.

"Wa alaikum Salaam," Zaid replied and felt Khalid tightening his grip around his palm. "Go on, laugh if you want to. There's no need to pretend like you're not delighted to see me." He laughed warmly and Khalid pulled him up until they were standing toe to toe across from each other. They shared a warm embrace.

"It feels so good to see you brother," Khalid confessed, patting him lightly on the back.

"Yeah, me too." He uttered into his brother's ears. They broke free from the hug, taking in each other's view. Zaid was about to say something when someone interrupted them. Turning around he saw Al-bashir, an old friend of his who happened to be Khalid's cousin. All three men had been friends since childhood.

"Zaid! How have you been? it's been a while." A-Bashir welcomed him warmly, sharing a manly handshake with him. It was a pleasant reunion as the three men stood there, remembering their childhood days.

"I've been good." Zaid simply said, a light smile playing on his lips.

"I can see that for myself." Al-bashir was saying as they sat on the floor, all three of them resting their backs against the wall with Zaid in the middle, Khalid by his left, and Al-bashir by his right. Memories of that place played in their minds, that was their favorite spot in the masjid when they were much younger that was the reason It was easy for Khalid to locate Zaid there. He knew he would find him there.

"Hey, did you remember this place?" Khalid asked glancing over at the both of them, mostly at Zaid. His mind went back to the times when they would come there to pray, Zaid was always the one to save a spot for them at the back line.

"It's hard to forget places like this even though I've not been here for what seems like forever." His face held a gentle smile as he noticed how things had changed in the musalla, even the carpet that they were sitting on was a new one. Zaid ran a hand over the carpet, feeling its silkiness.

He threw his eyes forward, fixing them on a little child that was heading their way. He recognized the child. He had seen the child before but was unsure where he had seen him. "Daddy!" He heard the child calling, pacing towards Al-bashir.

"Daddy? I didn't know you had a son?" He looked at his friend, he saw a sad smile tugging at his lips.

"Come here, Habibi." He beckoned his son to come. "Come say hello to Ammu Zaid (uncle Zaid)" Al-bashir held the boy by the hand bringing him towards Zaid.

He lifted the child and placed him on his lap.

"Marhaban qalilan min wahid (Hello, little one, what are you called)?" The little one smiled looking away from Uncle Zaid, he looked like he was shy. "Awe! He's shy just like his father." he pointed out jokingly which was true because Al-bashir was the shy type.