Eyes Don't Lie

chapter 34

Jungkook was learning his lesson, he had gotten better in Arabic pronunciation, imam came and sat beside him with a warm smile "jungkook" he pauses and looked at him "if you want you can take the shahada now, you're ready and we can always improve with the time" jungkook couldn't contain his joy, he felt euphoric his heart was beating madly "r-really?" His eyes stung as his vision became blurry "yes my brother, so whenever you're ready we-" "I'm ready I want to take my Shahada can't wait anymore sheikh" the tears had started cascading down his cheeks, he couldn't believe that finally he'll be a Muslim the feeling was inexplicable. Imam asked another student of his to gather everyone in the prayer hall to be the witness of this colossal event "come on Jungkook-ah" he extends his hand and jungkook grabs it. In the hall all students were waiting for them, he bit his lip nervously. The  kids and teenagers had huge smiles on their face as they knew he was reverting to Islam, imam and jungkook stood beside the mimbar(pulpit) "Jeon jungkook you're here to take your Shahada, are you doing this on your own free will or is there anyone coercing you to do it" the imam ask "I'm doing it on my own will" imam nodded "is there any emotional, physical or financial pressure ?" He shakes his head "No there isn't" "are you under any influence or are you fully conscious of your decision and ready to face any consequences" "I'm completely aware and ready to face everything that comes with it" imam smiled encouragingly "so please repeat after me"

"    أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمد رسول الله  "
"I bear witness that there is no God but God (Allah – i.e. there is none worthy of worship but Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"
Imam said word by word and jungkook repeated after him "congratulations my brother welcome to Islam" imam hug him strong and tight, jungkook couldn't hold back he cried in his arms, he felt as if he had re-born just now "Hyung I'm so happy, welcome" one by one all students congratulated him some even gave him sweets, candies and chocolate as gifts which he gladly accepted "hyung we should give you a treat now" one of them says "you all are here and now I've said my Shahada, what's a better treat than that" "come on hyung-nim don't refuse it's our chance too" the little kid of around 7 chimes making everyone in room laugh "decide the place my boys treat is on me" imam announced and the room filled with cheers, the moment was so wholesome that jungkook couldn't ask for more, he felt complete, he felt blessed.
Jungkook waits as the phone rang, hoping the person he's calling will recieve it but to his disappointment they didn't, he didn't give up and tried again, after 2nd unsuccessful attempt he tried for the third time and this time the person picked up the phone "Hello, jungkook is everything alright?" Wafiyah asked worriedly "why weren't you picking up, it's been an hour now" she checks the call log and shakes her head at his exaggeration "I excused myself from the class you know, but you won't stop calling again and again so I thought it might be something serious" jungkook felt bad for her but not enough because he couldn't keep it to himself anymore "oh sorry but it's actually urgent" "Yeah go on, what is it?" "Can you meet me today I've to show you something " "jungkook please if this is some joke -" "I promise it's very serious and important" he cuts her "you're okay right?" She asked again worry evident in her voice, jungkook smiles at  her concern "you sound like a concerned wife " "Astagfirullah, I sound like a concerned human because you are talking in puzzles " he chuckles "just meet me I can't tell you on phone" wafiyah sighed giving up already "okay" "Good I'll pick you up from your dorm" "don't bother just tell me where, I'll come by myself " "I like to bother myself, I'll be there at sharp 5" he says and hung up. She went back in to attend her lecture, mingyu gestured her if everything was okay so she assured him so he wouldn't worry.
Jungkook was on time, she informed Selena and got in his car "asalamualikum" she halts looking at him surprised, he has never greeted her with Salam before so it took her off guard "w-walikum asalam" he started to drive and didn't talk until he reached the desired place, which was a hill famous for sightseeing. people come there to enjoy the sunsets and sunrise. He took her to a bench a bit farther from the crowd. She patiently waited for him to speak, taking in his expressions. He face was serious and eyes were hesitant which confused her to core. Jungkook cleared his throat and extended an envelope toward her, she grabbed it from him and very cautiously took the paper out, when she read what was on that paper her mind short circuited. She stopped breathing eyes fixated on the paper, it felt as if she turned into a stone, she couldn't belive, this can't be true she thought how is this possible, her mind was too numb to think logically. She looked at jungkook who was smiling wide his bunny teeth were on display "t-this what h-how" she couldn't make a proper sentence "i-is this t-true y-you're not joking r-right ?" "This is 100 percent real, I've taken my Shahada yesterday so rightnow you're talking to halal jungkook " he jokes but she didn't laugh "you never said anything about it a-and all of a sudden you're Muslim, how's that possible?" "I kept it from you wafiyah I wanted to surprise you, I've been learning under the guidance of imam sahib in itaewon, its been more than 2 to 3 months. He taught me in a practical way from very beginning I know alot of things I pray, read Quran I even fasted. So finally when I was ready I reverted" he explained his journey to her while she was too stunned to speak "MashaAllah I can't explain how I'm feeling rightnow, Allah you're a Muslim, Allah hu Akbar ya Allah this news is the best news I've ever heard in my life" she stuttered blabbering anything that came in her mouth, slowly her mind was functioning again "MashaAllah jungkook many many congratulations, you've no idea what a blessing you've been favored with, being born as Muslim is great but finding Islam on your own, with your efforts and hardwork is just another level of success, I'm so happy for you Ya Allah what a brilliant news, heartiest congratulations. May Allah make this journey easy for you and keep you steadfast through the thick and thins" jungkook listened to her rants with smile he knew she would be happy "thank you wafiyah it means a lot" she was smiling bright behind her veil because he could hardly see her brown orbs as they hid behind the lids "so-" he adds there's a glint of mischief in his eyes "so?" "I'm officially eligible to be your husband now right?" Her eyes widened, smile long gone "Astagfirullah jungkook" he raises his eyebrow "what? Be ready to become Mrs jungkook" she looked away from him, he never hesitate when saying things like that wafiyah thought "you can't run away from me now, I can make you mine what a blessing " she was glad that veil had covered her face otherwise he would have seen her blushing face "I can still imagine the redness of your cheeks wafiyah" her heart beat stopped "t-take me back" he chuckled "I already have" "y-you're so s-shameless jungkook Astagfirullah " "just for you" she glares at him "can't wait to marry you to show you how shameless I can be" she thought her eye ball might fall out of sockets if she spent another 5 minutes with this guy "don't open you mouth until you drop me off" she points finger at him, he raised his hands in mock surrender zipping his lips and stood up to walk toward his car. The drive was silent for some time but jungkook wasn't having it "wafiyah " "some serious question came in my mind I promise no jokes" he adds quickly "yes?" "As a revert I've to change my name right?" "Not necessarily, that's when your name has a bad meaning or goes against Islamic rules but if not than you can keep your name " "what do you suggest should I keep or change my name?" He looks at her through rear mirror, she thinks for a moment "I'd say do whatever you wish but if I were to have a say in it then I'll ask you to not change your name. Jungkook name suits you" "do you like it?" She squints her eyes "no just asking for general knowledge" "yes i like it" she looks out "the name or me?" "Jungkook i swear you said no jokes but-" "okay okay don't answer I won't ask more " he laughs uncontrollably, he loved to get these reactions out of her they were just so adorable, teasing her was his most favorite hobby. They were In front of her dorm "once again congratulations I'm really very happy for you, drive safely good night" she smiled as she stood there to see him off "good night to you too, dream about me okay my wife to be" before she could react he drove off "Allah Allah" she went inside and informed Selena about the news who was shocked atvthe revelation "don't tell me really he reverted?" Wafiyah nodded "yeah he showed me the certificate I was also surprised" Selena was having hard to time processing "the boy is head over heals for you girl... like genuinely I've never seen someone change their faith over a girl" "you shouldn't refuse his proposal now wafiyah, marry him at any cost" "why would I refuse" she says shyly "oh is our wafu baby shy shy" Selena teases "s-shut up don't start now" she went to restroom to avoid her persistent ribbing.
Some weeks after jungkook showed up at his parents house, he had already told them about that he's now Muslim but now he was facing them first time as a Muslim. His father treated him like usual but his mother didn't talk to him since he came "I want a favor from you both" he was in his parents bedroom as his mother decided to not show up downstairs "go ahead son" Jongho says "I've to send proposal to Wafiyah's home back in her country" his mother head snapped up "okay and how can we help you ?" His father said "according to their traditions, my parents has to ask for her hand on my behalf" "I'm not asking for her hand and never will I let you do that " "Mom please what has she done for you to hate her so much" "I will not take any part in this proposal jungkook" "don't worry son, we will talk to her parents just tell us how are we supposed to do that" "I will give you her elder brother's contact, her parents are deceased so you may talk to him" his father nodded, jungkook gave him all information needed to be known before he calls them. He was really scared and nervous about this whole matter, he hasn't informed wafiyah which was also stressful. He prayed that everything will go well because he can't afford to lose wafiyah.
Nazia called her when she just finished her Isha prayer, Selena was in the kitchen making them dinner she picked it up with her usual energy "Asalamualikum nazi, how are you" "Walaikum asalam I'm good and you?" "Alhamdulliah fine how's everyone at home and how are my babies doing" "all good" "it's been forever since we last talked you never call me Nazia if it's not Me who call" "wafiyah you didn't tell me before?" She frowns "told you what" "come on don't act innocent, you should've told me before asking him to call Abdul Rehman" she was getting confused nothing made sense to her "nazia what are you talking about, Wallahi I don't know" "someone's asking for your hand in marriage" her heart skipped a beat "who you know I'm studying rightnow nazia this isn't possible" "won't you ask who was it?" Nazia's bad habit of adding suspense to everything was giving her headache "nazia please tell me clearly you're scaring me now" there's a moment of silence and wafiyah wanted nothing more than throwing her phone away "guess who" she barely contained her scream "Allah, nazia for God sake you'll give me a heart attack" "I almost got one myself when Abdul Rehman told me" "if you didn't tell me in next second I'm hanging up the phone " "a man named Jongho I guess called " "who is Jongho nazia what-" wafiyah cuts her mid sentence, she hasn't heard that name who could it be "jungkook's father stupid girl you don't even know the name of your father in law" she gasped "exactly he told Abdul Rehman everything" "w-what did he tell him?" She inquired already scared of what was coming " that he has a son named jungkook who is a CEO of firm his sister was working in" she slaps her head "Allah what did Abdul Rehman say then?" "He said that we can't marry into non-Muslims but his father was quick to add that jungkook has reverted a few weeks ago which was shocking for me and him " wafiyah silently listened to her "Abdul Rehman had quite long conversation with him, he asked for some time and then asked me to tell you he is coming to Korea" wafiyah screamed "Don't tell me was he angry oh my God how will I face him ya Allah" she was hysterically ranting on the phone "he just want to meet them so instead of them coming her he said it'll be great to see for himself " "nazia I'm so dead, what will he think of me" "calm down wafiyah you know you're his favorite sibling, he didn't react in any bad way, he looked kinda proud if you ask me. I don't know what Mr jeon told him" nothing was helping her anxiety, Selena came in the room with a pot and halted in her way seeing her face "nazia I am scared" Selena mouths her 'everything's okay' to which she nodded "don't worry trust Allah inshaAllah everything will be fine" they talk some more with wafiyah stressing over and nazia consoling her then hung up "Selena jungkook sent proposal straight to Abdul Rehman and he's coming here" Selena make an 'o' face "woah and  the drama begins" she chortles "shut up I've to talk to him he can't do things behind my back" "first eat the dinner I spent my precious time over it then you can call your husband""Astaghfirullah" she says and both eat their food, wafiyah could hardly digest it.
Jungkook was drowning in the darkness when his phone buzzed ruining his efforts to get some sleep, he had been really busy with his work as the new project had started. He tapped on the nightstand blindly until his hand found the phone "jungkook what have you done, are you planning to kill me or something don't you think you should tell me before taking any step. Your surprises will be the cause of my death I'm telling you, you're so nonchalant like how, anxiety must be scared of you, you took away my sleep, I am unable to close my eyes because every time I do so Nazia's words repeat in my mind and my brain start imagining all the worst scenarios. Do you have any answer for that" jungkook mind went through the series of processing, first he recognized the voice which immediately brought a smile on his face, then the processed the stress in her words, the smile faded lastly he heard the words and the smile came back "so you've been told, I'm glad that you know now. I had told you long ago that I won't be wasting time remember, I asked my father to contact your brother. Dad was pleasantly content with the conversation they had. So don't worry okay, just leave it on me" wafiyah scoffed "leave it on you? My brother is coming here do you realize what this means, I can't face him now because of you, at lease you should've given me a heads-up" "wafiyah trust me yeah, just relax nothing's gonna happen. Your brother is a cool guy you don't have to be scared" "I'm scared jungkook " this time she whispered softly "I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you in any way even if its your brother" there's silence on both side "just pray that he'll like me" jungkook chuckles "do you think I'm the type he'll like" he asks her "if you're the last man on earth then he might choose you for his sister" she jokes but jungkook gapes at her "what is wrong with me, every girl pray for me to just acknowledge them" she scoffed again "then you might as well acknowledge them and send proposal to them because I don't deserve to be honored by your highness grace and chivalry" jungkook let out a hearty laugh, the sound of it so sweet that she could hear forever "are you jealous?" He teased "jealous of who exactly Mr jungkook, shouldn't they be jealous of me?" She didn't knew where all the confidence was coming from but sometimes whenever she was with him, she would get daring and unperturbed. Jungkook bites his lips to stop himself from smiling, his cheeks were already hurting from the unhealthy amount of laughing and smiling, another favorite thing of him about wafiyah was whenever she got feisty "you know when you talk like that it makes me want you even more, make me want to marry you right in this moment" "Astaghfirullah, shameless man I'm hanging up" "Let's talk all night" "No thanks Allah hafiz" she hung up without waiting for the response.