When the sun and moon collide

Now I Know

OCTOBER 16th

Maha POV

Another tiring morning. The sun was barley over the horizon, its golden light filtering through the trees, as I stood outside my house waiting for Aarish to bring her car round. It was a daily routing, a shared ride to the university where the three of us studied. Technically, it only took twenty minutes to get there since the university was in the heart of the city. But as we drove through the bustling street, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping up on me. Today I had a test with Zafirah and Aarish at the dojo, the culmination of four years of hard training. Was I finally going to get my black belt? I hoped so, but only Allah knows. Insha' Allah, I thought to myself, my mind consumed with the nerves and excitement. As we pulled up to the university, the three of us made our way to class. The anticipation of the test lingered in my mind, making it hard to concentrate on any lectures. I was lost in my own thought.

But as the day went on, the clock seemed to tick slower and slower. Every minute felt like an eternity, and I could sense the pressure building in me.

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Asir's POV

The morning air was sharp. I could see my breath fogging in front of me as I walked down the street. The cold air making everything appear sharp and clear. The gym sweat still clung to my skin, mingling with the smell of the wind. As I walked around my neighbourhood, nothing had changed, the nostalgic remnants of the past came flooding in, amongst them was the steadfast corner shop 'Ilyas news'. I could smell the old newspaper and the dusty merchandise, the familiar sounds of my community. But as I entered the coffee shop, I was greeted by the unexpected presence of a thin, tall man in uniform, diligently cleaning the countertop.

"Asalaamu Alaykum," I greeted the man. He looked oddly familiar, his features etched with a sense of distant recognition.

"Wa alaykum salaam." He returned my greeting with a warm smile, his eyes studying me intently.

"Wait, no Asir Imran." Recognition suddenly dawned on his face. "It's been ages. You've gotten bigger." I chuckled. Our eyes met and for a brief moment, it was as if we were transported back to being teenagers. "Wow, five years. It's good to see you again."

I tilted my head in confusion as I looked at Farhad standing behind the counter. He wore a black apron over his usual button-down shirt and slacks. His hair was neatly combed back, a stark contrast to the wild curls he had in high school. "You work here?" I asked, surprised. Farhad was always top of our class, destined for great things. But here he was, working at a small coffee shop. "My dad's shop," he explained, shrugging. "He opened it a couple of years ago. Maha works here a lot of the time, but she's at university today." Memories of playing hide-and-seek in Farhad's backyard flooded my mind. We were inseparable growing up, until I left for MMA fighting when I was sixteen. "Well, it's good money," Farhad continued. "And I can use the extra cash."

We chatted for a bit before he then invited me and my family to his house for food and that we should catch up.