Journey To The Half Of My Deen

Chapter Twenty-Seven

LAIBA P.O.V

After Halimah left, I decided to call Rania, just because I could not go there It did not mean that I could not call her.

I told her everything and she agreed with my sister, also apologizing for not realizing that she let me go alone with her brother-In-Law. I told her not to worry and just to focus on her wedding that is only few days away.

She was anxious about it but also happy Alhamdulillah. I made dua for her.

She video called me shortly after to show how decorated her house was, I saw some guests and greeted some of the family after being introduced to them. After some time, she insisted I come to visit, and I told her that tomorrow I will go to visit her.

I felt sick to my stomach, but I wanted to eat, I went down to the sitting room to find my family all of them sitting together playing a game known as Jenga. My mother saw me and motioned for me to sit in between her and my father. As I sat, I saw that my father put an arm around me, and he was laughing at my small brother who just lost the game. I looked at my mother and saw her smiling at the kids. I smiled because they were happy, at this moment I felt at peace and content.

I put my head on my dad's chest and I looked at my brother throwing a fit because he lost "okay! Let's start it again!" Zaid said to stop my two brothers from fighting. Sadaf was laughing her head off. As they were playing my older brother Irfan asked if I wanted to join and I refused.

They continued playing before we heard the bell ring. I wonder who it might be, My Brother-In-Law Muhammad went to open the door. And soon we heard laughter and loud commotion, we all looked up to see Uzair Bhai and his wife Nakia Bhabhi.

Aunty Rafia jumped up to rush to her oldest child and hugged him crying even though she was half his height he bent down to hug his mother. Then she hugged her Daughter-In-Law before ushering them to take a seat we all got up to greet them I hugged Nakia Bhabhi and greeted Uzair Bhai before returning to sit where I was. It was such a surprise to see them, they had moved far away from here and they visited occasionally due to their busy schedule. This Eid was feeling complete Alhamdulillah.

We all decided to have dinner from a restaurant and enjoy as a whole family out and honestly this Eid was something special all together.

***

Today I felt much better and healthier despite all the questions from everyone if I was feeling better. I hated answering I was okay, because if I was not okay, I would have to lie saying that I am okay,, even when I am not. Why? because if I say I am not okay, I would be asked why I was not okay and i found that annoying since most of the time if I am not okay, I do not have a reason.

I knew Sadaf's departure was in a few hours, so I decided to pay her a visit. I walked towards her room only to hear her conversing with someone angrily over the phone, her door was slightly ajar "why would you do this to me? I thought you wanted me!" furrowing my eyebrows I stepped back saying Astaghfirullah as listening in on someone or spying on someone was Haram. I shook my head before knocking.

I heard her bed make a sound that meant she was getting up before coming to the door and opening it halfway "how long have you been hearing in on me?" she questioned angrily I furrowed my eyes before responding "I just got here Sadaf" she rolled her eyes before sighing "what do you want Laiba" she questioned clearly detesting my presence. i wondered why she detested me.

"I wanted to spend some time with you before you leave Sadaf, you're my sister, my best friend and you're leaving" tears fogged my eyesight before that I though i saw her features soften for a second before she returned to her cold self. I wonder what changed, we never fought nor did anything bad happen between us that she completely changed.

She nodded hesitantly before completely opening her room door and moving aside before letting me in, I looked around her room. I felt like a stranger here even though this very room held many memories of us growing up together.

I sat on the bed, and she sat next to me, we had a small conversation before we decided to watch one last movie together before she left, we watched the movie The Fault In Our Stars, I have read the book and never watched the movie. By the end of the movie I cried, a lot which resulted in Sadaf laughing at me. How could she laugh and not cry?

After the movie we went down to the kitchen and made coffee while talking about her new friends and college. I was happy for her. I was going to continue my studies although the college I would choose would be closer to home and not far away.

Soon enough time passed so fast without us realizing, Sadaf went to get ready and do her last-minute packing. Uzair bhai and Nakia Bhabhi were returning today too, on their way they will drop Sadaf and make sure she was well settled before leaving.

I got ready after Sadaf left so that I may go to Rania's house to help out, my mothers concerns of my health made me overwhelmed, but I assured her that incase I was not feeling well I will call Irfan to come get me, and with that I left with my brother. Bismillah!