Accepting You

Chapter Fifteen

Yusuf reread the text and decided today would be a good day.

The message from Asiya's dad had dispersed the clouds covering Yusuf's blue skies. It had cooled down the temperature of his pillow last night and silenced the hive in his mind. It had been the beat to his morning routine that Yusuf had practically danced through.

Asiya had told her dad.

It didn't matter that there had been a delay. It didn't matter when she told him, or even what she had told him. She told him.

Asiya wasn't scared of him. She wanted him.

Yusuf wasn't sure to what level.

A small part of him murmured words of caution, telling him to remain reserved. The delay had probably been for a reason.

But the message and the call Yusuf was soon going to make was the start of something with Asiya.

Yusuf couldn't help but smile.

Beginnings were always sweet. It was written in scriptures, fairy tales and happily ever after's that the first bite was always the best one, even if it came without a promise of another one.

Yusuf glanced at the clock, pushed his chair back, and commenced his plan.

He could've worked from home, but that small, cautious part of him had won that debate. If the call with Asiya's dad went badly, Yusuf didn't want to be at home, where he would be forced to face that reality immediately.

Asiya's dad had told Yusuf to call him whenever it was best for him. Yusuf wanted to get the call over and done with so he and Asiya could move on.

With fast feet, Yusuf left the employment department's floor and slipped into a universal bathroom. 

It was a single stall protected by four brick walls and a disability-friendly lockable door.

It wasn't the most dignified place to have a first call with his potential father-in-law, but he needed privacy.

Yusuf lowered the toilet cover over the seat and sat down. His eyes counted the minutes passing on his watch. 

Once it was 9:15 am, Yusuf unlocked his phone, clicked on Abdul-Rahman's contact, and pressed call.

Yusuf's breath latched onto the walls of his throat each time the ringing paused.

"Hello?" A gruff voice echoed out of Yusuf's phone after the sixth ring.

Yusuf gripped his hand tighter around his phone. 

All the nerves hiding underneath his happiness suddenly surfaced, like someone had ripped off his Superman cape.

Yusuf's breath was taking up too much space in his throat, leaving barely enough for his words to come out. 

The best Yusuf could do was wheeze a salam into his phone's microphone.

"Wa alaykum salam." Asiya's dad responded normally, as though Yusuf didn't just sound like Voldemort. "Thanks for calling. How are you doing, Yusuf?"

It was a simple question that only needed a simple answer. Fine. One syllable. One word. 

But Yusuf was unable to easily find the word under all his nerves.

Sound bubbled out of Yusuf's lips as he stuttered a weak reply.

Great. He probably thinks I'm stupid, Yusuf inwardly sulked.

Yusuf had spoken in front of large audiences, interrogated people like they were criminals, and had his presentations assessed by individuals who possessed a ridiculous amount of wealth and power with ease. Yet with Asiya's dad, someone he couldn't even see, Yusuf was tongue-tied and butchering their conversation before it started.