To Our Doom (Paused)

Chapter 7: Uncertainty of the Future

The winter breeze chills the land and coats nature in its frost. In the Middle East, the winter is short but cold enough for us to don a sweater. That is what Sarah was doing. She pulled a navy wooly jacket over her abaya. Under, she was wearing a thick shirt and a thick pair of pants. Her abaya was contrastingly thin. But it was covering, nonetheless.

All Raffi National College usually hosts an annual event before the year ends where their students put on the show. This year, they chose a Career event and opened the doors of their college to everyone interested in attending. Ibrahim and Hasan invited Ishaaq and Ayyub to join them at this beneficial event. Of course, Ishaaq couldn't stop yapping about how excited he was to attend.

Because of their little brothers, Sarah and Sana were dragged to the event as well. There was the main event open to all, and another event for sisters only. Sarah and Sana were initially planning to attend the latter.

Sarah and Ishaaq were there already with their mother. They both looked around the college building, awestruck. This is where Sarah would be next year, In Sha Allah. The thought of it made her heartbeat rapidly. A new place. With new faces. New responsibilities. That was going to be quite a lot to get used to.

Ishaaq had a few years to get into college, so he was finding everything about the place exciting. You could see the stars in his eyes as he glanced around. Umm Ishaaq was taking her son to the main Career event where Ibrahim promised Ishaaq a surprise. Sarah then said her mother and brother farewell as she turned to walk to the place she decided to wait for Sana in – the sisters-only event.

There were a lot of people in the halls – it would be difficult to stay on track and know where you're going. Especially for someone like Sarah. She couldn't follow directions for the life of her. So, of course, she ended up in the campus area where students have their classes in. Whoops. Nope, she doesn't intend to be here.

She turned around to walk again and called Sana. There was only one place whose directions she was sure of – the main event hall.

"Hmm, sloth?" Sana asked from the other end.

Sarah smiled at the nickname, "I'm going to the main event, you'll find me there," she said.

"I'm guessing you got lost?" Sana held back a scoff.

Sarah downturned her lips (behind her Niqab), "Of course I did... let's just meet at the main hall entrance,"

"I'm already here with Maryam. Don't get lost on the way here, Sarah," Sana cautioned. Sarah nodded and cut the call.

Wow. A sea of people in front of her. Families, friend groups, students. She was alone, with no one, and... lost. Turns out, she has no idea where she is, and there's no question she has no idea where the main hall entrance is from where she stands. She grasps her green purse feeling lost and helpless.

(اللهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلا مَا جَعَلتَهُ سَهْلا وَ أنتَ تَجْعَلُ الحزْنَ إذا شِئْتَ سَهْلا)

O Allah! There is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will.

"This is closer to the lecture halls," Ibrahim started, "the main hall entrance is farther right."

Sarah looks behind her and at him, startled. He's quite tall. Oh right, that shouldn't matter. Lower your gaze, Sarah.

"Jazakallahu Khairan for the directions," she said simply.

"I'm headed that way too," he replied, walking in front of her without hearing her reply. Sarah followed behind him, keeping her distance. She recognized him immediately for the moment her gaze met his. She wondered if he recognized her. But that doesn't matter, at least he's helping her.