After finishing his class, Jabir decided to linger around the department, hoping for a chance encounter with Asiye. It didn't take long before a group of hijabi girls noticed him where he was standing, and they approached him together. They greeted him with "Assalamualaikum," and Jabir responded with "Wa alaykum" before he spotted Asiye emerging from the lecture hall in the distance with two of her friends.
As Jabir contemplated excusing himself from them, he saw an attractive young man come up behind Asiye and playfully cover her face. Witnessing this unexpected event, Jabir experienced a mixture of emotions. On one hand, he felt a surge of anger, but on the other, there was a strange satisfaction as Asiye reacted. She slapped the guy, clearly displeased with his actions.
Amidst the watchful crowd, the young man's response was unexpected. He knelt down, offering a sincere apology to Asiye. She, feeling somewhat guilty for her reaction, insisted that he stand up, and they began to converse amicably while walking away.
Jabir was left standing there, torn between his initial frustration and his curiosity about the situation. He observed the unfolding interaction but chose not to intervene.
Asiye and the young man continued their conversation and eventually walked away together. Jabir found himself perplexed by the turn of events, wondering how an observant hijabi sister could be so comfortable with a guy like this.
Jabir managed to compose himself and excused himself from the girls who had surrounded him. Deep down, he couldn't help but feel frustrated by the scene he had just witnessed. However, he reminded himself that Asiye was neither his girlfriend nor his sister, and he had no right to interfere in her choices.
He decided to head to the campus canteen to grab something to eat. When he arrived there, he was surprised to see Asiye and the unknown man seated together, engrossed in conversation and sharing a meal.
Jabir's thoughts raced as he approached the two of them. He had mixed feelings about the situation. "How can an observant hijabi sister be so at ease with a guy like this?" he mused to himself.
As he got closer, he felt a rush of confusion. He wasn't sure what to say in this awkward situation. "Mr... Jabir! It's quite unusual to see you in a place like this," Asiye remarked, catching sight of him. "What's up, brother?" the unknown man, Emmanuel, chimed in, extending a hand for a friendly handshake.
Jabir was momentarily flustered but managed a polite response. "Assalamualaikum, brother. Are you a Muslim?" he inquired.
Emmanuel grinned, "I'm not, I'm Emmanuel".
"May I join you two?" Jabir inquired. "Of course!" Emmanuel responded.
Jabir ordered a plate of roasted snail and a glass of milk, joining them at the table. The three of them engaged in an interesting conversation, with Emmanuel revealing more about himself. Jabir found it increasingly challenging to maintain his earlier disapproval as he got to know Emmanuel better. The fact that Emmanuel wasn't a Muslim began to matter less, as they shared stories and laughter, with Asiye playing a significant role in their interaction.
As the conversation flowed, Jabir momentarily forgot about any rivalry. He realized that this unexpected meeting might just be a turning point, not only for his connection with Asiye but also for his perspective on life and relationships. The campus canteen, it seemed, had become an unlikely meeting place for fate to intervene.
This unexpected encounter left Jabir reflecting on the complexity of human connections, and he wondered where it would lead in the days to come.
YOU ARE READING
SHE
Romance(Paused) Their story begins not with Asiye's heart captured instantly, but with Jabir, whose heartstrings are suddenly plucked by an invisible force. It's a tale that defies convention, where the roles of affection and attraction are reversed. Amids...
