Until I Met You ✔️.

~٣~

AMAN.
Algiers, Algeria.

"Good evening, Nanu, how are you?" I say, walking further into the room to hug her. "I'm fine, habibty. How have you been?" She asks, "Alhamdulillah, I've been well." I say, giving my grandfather a hug. "I'll be right down; let me drop my bag.".

On my way up, I meet Aamir. "Come on, bro, you never told me Nana and Nanu would be here early this Ramadan," I whisper yell.

"I'm so sorry, I've been wanting to tell you. I know how y'all don't get along, but you know how busy I've been. Baba told Nanu about Nasreen, and when we'd be going over, he decided to come earlier to go with Baba," he explains. "I'm really sorry, but please do this for me." He pleads, and I nod.

"Thank you so much. May Allah reward you and grant you answers to all your duas," he prays, hugging me. "Ameen," I reply into his chest. Standing close to Aamir, I look really short, even though I'm taller than a lot of my other female cousins.

"I'll see you at taraweeh insha'Allah; I have to clear up something at the mosque and won't be home early," he informs me. "See you then," I say, dropping my bag on the bed and heading back downstairs with him.

He nods at me when we reach the bottom of the stairs, silently saying, "I've got this." I nod back, and he gives me a kiss on the forehead before leaving the house. I will surely miss Aamir when he moves out; eventually, the house won't be the same without him.

I sigh and make my way to the kitchen. Nanu is already in the kitchen helping Ommi, so I join in and start bringing out the ingredients to make the kebab Ommi asked me to make. Halfway through making Iftar, I finally think maybe Nanu has started changing; she proves me wrong.

"Khadijah, don't you think it's high time Aman brought home someone or you set her up with one?" Nanu asks, chopping up the broccoli for the sauce she's making. Ommi looks up from the stove and looks at me silently, telling me not to offend Nanu by saying anything.

"Well yes, but she has a few things she's doing right now, and when the time is right, insha'Allah, Allah will provide her with one," Ommi says, smiling as if proud of her answer.

"No Khadijah, look, even Aamir has someone in mind, and she, as a female, is still staying home doing nothing," Nanu says, turning to look at me with expectant eyes as I turn the kebabs over to grill them evenly. I continue to pretend as if I'm not there while the conversation takes place, and then, when I thought the discussion had come to an end, Nanu directed a question at me.

"Hafidati, don't you think your parents can find you a suitable match, or do you just enjoy still being at home when your other cousins have children already?" Sabr I chant in my head. I take a deep breath and look up after what seems like forever. "I'm getting there, Nanu," I sigh.

"So you said, Aman, it's been two years now," she exclaims. "Yes, I know Nanu, and in shaa Allah, when the time comes, I'll get married," I say, grabbing her hands to try and convince her.
"You have six months, Aman; that's all I'm giving you. If not, I'm finding you a husband, ok?" Ommi signs for me to nod in the positive, so I do to avoid more drama.

The rest of the time spent cooking goes by without any extra talk, and I've never been glad. I set up the table and headed up to my room to wash up before Magrib. Nana and Baba go to the mosque, while the three of us pray at home. After iftar, I clean up the table and get ready to leave the house for taraweeh.

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I meet Zara up at the women's section in the mosque, and we talk about a few things we could do to help the kids improve on their recitation for the next day. The adhan for I'sha is called, and we all get up to pray after I'sha and Taraweeh we say our goodbyes with promises to meet tomorrow. "See you tomorrow, in shaa Allah," Zara says, and I nod, hugging her.

"I'll call you later. I want to talk to you about something." I whisper into her ear, and she nods before running off to meet her father, Oncle Omar.
He has been Baba's friend for as long as I can remember.




After serving dessert, we sit down in the living room to talk a bit. "Aamir, I spoke with Nasreen's father, and they said we can come this Saturday, insha'Allah, to discuss things further." Baba says, "Ok, Baba, I'll keep that in mind." Aamir replies.

"Aamir, you better talk to this sister of yours. Tell her to get serious and decide on what she wants to do with her life. She can't live with her parents forever; she has to get married soon." Nanu starts again, and I sigh. Here we go again.

Aamir holds my hand and looks back at Nanu. "I'll talk to her insha'Allah," he says. After dessert, we all retire to our rooms.

Just as I pick up my phone to call Zara, there's a knock on my door. "Yes, come in," I yell. "Asalamu alaikum," Aamir says, taking a seat on my ottoman. "Waalaikumus salam akhi, why aren't you asleep yet?" I question him because he's usually out by this time.

"Well, I just wanted to see if you're fine, you know, after what Nanu said," he says, holding my hand. "Oh, you know how Nanu is; it's really nothing." I try to smile, but instead my lips start to tremble.

"Don't take what she says to heart, Aman; you know how she can be, and it's not your fault you're not married yet; such things are beyond our control; only Allah can determine when it is the right time for them," he coos, trying to comfort me. "Don't cry, ok?" I nodded, using the back of my hand to wipe away the stubborn tear that fell.

What would I do without a brother like Aamir? He stands up and sits on the bed with me and gives me a hug. "Everything will be alright, and who knows, you might even get married before me," he jokes, making me laugh. "Go to sleep, Aman; I'll see you tomorrow, in shaa Allah," he says as he exits my room.

Suddenly I don't need to disturb Zara, so I go to bed with the intention of calling her first thing tomorrow morning, insha'Allah.


This Ramadan is going to be a long one.

Salam lovelies🤍!
Another chapter is out, keep up the votes and don't forget to vote comment your thoughts and do share please. Jazakallahu khairan🫂.
I have a feeling I'm spoiling y'all too much with this updates😂 anyways enjoy❤️.