To Our Doom (Paused)

Chapter 11: The Surprise at Lunch

The town had been somewhat submerged in rainwater for a few days, trapping the residents inside with whatever they had at home. Sana told Sarah over the phone how her father's car was stuck midway through the main road to the city. He was fed up with waiting, so he half ran, and half swam back home. Sarah couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

This was the first gathering after the rainstorm had locked everyone inside.

Umm Ayyub has been preparing lunch since last night, with Abu Ayyub and Ayyub's help. Sana prefers to help in other ways. Sana, with the help of Ismail and Ayyub when he wasn't in the kitchen, they cleaned up the house and readied it for welcoming guests.

Sana carried a pile of clothes and handed it to her little brother, "Ayyub, fold your clothes,"

"I was going to – but Jazakillahu Khairan for bringing them to me, I guess." He held the pile of clothes and placed them down on his bed. "I'm done vacuuming and mopping my room by the way," he informed. Sana nodded in approval and left to perform a final inspection before deciding the house was ready for welcoming guests.

"Is everything alright, Sana?" Umm Ayyub asked. She was free finally, and the food was ready.

"Yeah, Alhamdulillah, the house is clean and organized," Sana reported. "When is everyone coming?"

"They should be here soon, go get ready!" Umm Ayyub instructed. Sana then went upstairs to get ready.

Ismail ran downstairs when he heard the doorbell. "I'll get it! I'll get it!" he repeated as his tiny figure descended the stairs. Ayyub followed his little brother to the main door and watched as he opened the door.

"Hania!" Ismail exclaimed, with the brightest smile. Hania returned the bright smile.

"Let them come inside first, Ismail," Ayyub smiled at his excited little brother.

Hasan and his family were the first to arrive.

"Where is everyone else?" Umm Hasan asked Umm Ayyub after going upstairs to join the ladies.

"Sarah is probably making everyone in her family late, again," Sana speculated. The mothers laughed. Their hearty laughter was interrupted by the doorbell. Abu Ayyub opened the door to Sarah and her family.

When Sarah and her mother joined the ladies upstairs, they were already expecting them. "Finally," Sana sighed, relieved her best friend was early for once.

"I couldn't find my niqab at the last minute, and you know where it was?" Sarah explained as she sat down next to Sana on the floor.

"Don't tell me it was already around your head," Sana rolled her eyes.

"It was already around my head..." Sarah admitted, nonetheless. Her best friend just sighed. Umm Ishaaq joined the sigh while the other mothers just laughed.

Soon after, the doorbell rings one last time. Hasan went out to open the door, with Ishaaq, Ayyub, Hussein, and even Ismail following him.

"Where are you guys going?" he asked, noticing the crowd behind him.

Ishaaq looked at the door eagerly, "Brother Ibrahim is here, right?" he exclaimed, holding back the urge to jump around.

"Are you all a part of his fan club?" Hasan asked, jokingly.

"Yes," they all replied without hesitation. Hasan just laughed. Once Ibrahim entered the house for the first time, the boys settled down in the living room. Maryam joined the girls upstairs with her mother.

Sarah and Sana were engrossed in conversation when Maryam walked over to them. They were sitting on the floor carpet of Sana's room while the mothers discussed life lessons in the master bedroom.