Silver Lining...

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Ahmed Jameel relaxed in his room, blowing smoke circles in the air thinking about the night to come. Today, May 3rd, was his 18th birthday. His friends had organized a midnight birthday bash at Rocky Bay on the South Coast, not very far from his home in Umzinto.

Umzinto was stifling, especially attending the Islamic school where you were surrounded by "holier than thou teachers."
Umzinto's only plus was that it was easy to lose yourself in the surrounding beaches. Parents almost always naively believed that all the children got up to at the beach was good, clean, honest fun.
If only they knew!

"Hey man! Tonight's the night AJ!" said Faizal, winking at him.
"The night for what man?" Ahmed Jameel asked apprehensively, knowing Faizal and his antics.
Faizal was well known for his hectic stunts. One could never be sure what he'd come up with next. The last time he'd had a brainstorm, he had nearly gotten them all arrested.

Faizal had grabbed a couple of Cokes from the garage shop and attempted leaving without paying for the drinks. The security guard caught him, but Faizal was an unbelievable liar and manipulator. He managed to convince the owner of the store that he'd been too pre-occupied with his mom's ill health that he had clean forgotten to pay for the items before leaving the store. The manager had sympathized and Faizal had left another victim in his wake.

All the guys lounged about, smoking cigarettes and enjoying the freedom of being at the beach. Naturally the conversation turned towards chicks. Ahmed Jameel found it amusing to listen to the guys escapades, but some of them were so far fetched, he really believed they were just pure fantasy.

He was a virgin and he liked it that way. The other's didn't suspect, but Ahmed was a romantic at heart. He didn't think girls were just "sex on legs".
In a world where virgins were almost extinct, Ahmed was one of the select few still a member of that endangered species

"Hey Faizal man! Where's Aj's present?" Ridwaan, a well built boy asked.
"Yeah man, you made us dish up R100 bucks each and I don't see no present here," another from the gang shouted.
"Down boys!" smirked Faizal, "She's only a phone call away!"
Ridwaan hearing the word 'she' hooted lasciviously.
"And who is she?, Bring her on!!"

The others all jeered in agreement. Some of them began making kissing noises and passing other crude and rude remarks.
"Hey wait a minute guys!" Ahmed said hesitantly, "Who is she?... and man, I'm not sure I even wanna know!"
"C'mon man! You’re no fag I hope. Me don't like the homo's" Fazail chided mockingly.
"I've brought you a hot babe. She's gonna have your juices flowing in no time," he carried on

"Wow!! AJ my man! You can say goodbye to that damn virginity of yours forever!" quipped Ridwaan.
"Once you get a taste of a hot mama, you'll stop your wanking days and be a real man!" added Faizal to the chorus of randy teenage boys!
"Bring her on!!! Bring her on!!!"
Faizal had hired a professional escort who was prepared to go all the way with the right financial incentives. Xena had arrived. She was tall, drop dead gorgeous, with black hair curling to her wide, curvaceous hips. She had beautiful, black lined eyes, red painted lips and a black dress with killer heels that read pure seduction.
"So where's the birthday boy?" she asked in a husky tone.

Ahmed felt trapped. He did not want to accept this gift from his friends but he didn't want to appear ungrateful also. At the same time this vision of a woman really had the ability to boil the blood of a man to scorching levels and Ahmed really thought himself a man.

Xena seemed ready for any action Ahmed might have had in mind. Faizal and gang egged Ahmed on and he had no choice but to get up and acknowledge Xena's presence. Looking in her direction Ahmed greeted her, "Hey there!"
"C'mon lover man! You can do better then that." shouted Ridwaan.

Then and there Ahmed realised that some privacy was called for. He extended a hand towards Xena and speaking over his shoulder to his mates Ahmed left.
"I need to lose you guys if I want some action!"
They walked hand in hand towards the darkening parking lot. At this time, the place was fairly deserted with just a few fishermen scattered here and there. By the time they reached the car, Ahmed had broken out into a cold sweat. What was he going to say to this gorgeous woman. No doubt Faizal had chosen well. With her standing so close to him, the fragrance of her perfume wafting in the air, and ultimately the reason she was here, Ahmed could feel his good intentions dissolving. Wasn't a boys virginity over-rated anyway?…..

He opened the car door, and mistake number one they both climbed into the back seat. When she placed her hand on his thigh and leaned towards him, Ahmed knew there just was no escape...

Sometime later, rubbing his gritty eyes, Ahmed tried to shift into a more comfortable position. At that moment he noticed a few things, One: it was to bright and chilly. Two: he was not asleep in his own bed and
three: and it was this fact that jerked him awake. A woman's naked thigh was draped casually over his. It all came rushing back. His birthday last night, Fazail’s gift and worst of all his fall into this huge huge mistake.
Looking at Xena in the bright morning light which did nothing for her, infact it just brought to light exactly who and what she was, he realized he should have stayed far away!

In the days that followed, Ahmed was plagued with feelings of great remorse and guilt. The biggest concern of his though, was whether they had used protection or not. He could not for the life of him remember this important detail.

After a long week of agonizing, Ahmed decided to approach his father. His father, infact both his parents were rather approachable and non-judgmental, and it was for this very reason that Ahmed felt extra guilty about telling his father about the incident.
Ahmed Jameel's father owned a farm-shop on the outskirts of town. He left home each morning and returned quite late every night.
Sundays however were dedicated to his family. Ahmed waited till the end of a rather peaceful day. He managed to catch his father after supper while his mom was busy in the kitchen.
The silence after his confession brought tears to Ahmed's eyes. His father looked shocked and he was speechless. Ahmed always thanked Allah for what followed.
"Well son... You threw me for a loop with this one,” he began.
Ahmed hung his head in shame.
"Come here," his father embraced him, "it's not the end of the world my son. We'll work this one out together. The first thing you need to do is go make wudu, read 2 rakaat nafl namaaz and make alot of taubah. I can see you regret this action of yours and I know Allah will forgive you"
Tears flowed freely down Ahmed's face as he hugged his father in gratitude. Thanks and Shukar are for Allah alone for giving him such a wise and understanding father.
The next day Ahmed manged to obtain Xena's phone number from Fazail, who by the way, Ahmed had decided was not a true friend. Ahmed and his father made arrangements to meet her in Durban that Wednesday. After it had been established that they had indeed not used any precautionary measures, Ahmed's father wasted no time in getting the 2 of them to a laboratory to be tested for Aids.

Xena, it turned out was infact a Muslim girl. She had been thrown out of her home a while ago when her mother remarried a horrid man. Left on her own, with no money and no place to go, she had been easy prey for the pimps along the notorious Point Road area.

Witnessing this rather amazing bond between father and son had encouraged her to relate her story to them. She hated this life and desperately needed to get out of it, but she had nobody's support.

Ahmed, looking at Zahra aka Xena as she spoke, was taken in by her look of innocence, especially without the thick make-up and adult clothes. It turned out that she was merely 18 years old.

Then and there Ahmed Jameel made a spontaneous decision to ask for her hand in marriage. With tears in her eyes Zahra immediately accepted Ahmed's proposal. Ahmed's father, though apprehensive about the union, decided to allow this marriage.

It was the best decision for all of them. Ahmed helped Zahra to come to terms with her past and to seek Allah's forgiveness time and time again. Together they built a loving home. Zahra was a good obedient wife. She simply adored her in-laws and she thanked Allah everyday for bringing Ahmed into her life. Ahmed realized that there is definitely a reason behind everything. Something that could have been the worst nightmare of his life did indeed turn into something rather beautiful for which he would be eternally grateful.

Every cloud has a sliver lining...

The end!

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