The Perfect Storm (A Muslim Story)

Chapter One: Nightmares

I squint my eyes in hope of making something out in the darkness. I walk forward, my hands extended in front of me trying not to bump in to anything.

All that went in vain though, it wasn't long before I bumped in to a hard rigid thing. I looked up to see two eyes looking at me. They were emerald. I jumped back at the realisation that it was a man.. It wasn't any man though.. It was the man that I had vowed to never meet again.

Even in the darkness I could make out who he was with the arrogant aura and emerald eyes of his. He started to pick me up bridal style and yet all I could do was stare at him. I tried to scream but i could not. I tried struggling but I couldn't move. It felt as if I was paralysed. I didn't want to be touched by the man responsible for my sorrows.

Before I could try anything else I felt my self being thrown, as if I was an object. I felt my self falling and falling.. All I could see was the satisfied grim smirk on his face. The world around me started shaking.

All of a sudden I woke up. I felt a hand shaking me. I looked up to see mom before the tears blurred my vision. She kept on saying soothing words.

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There was still an hour before fajr*. I didn't want to fall asleep incase I saw him again. I had convinced my mum with great difficulty to go back to her room so that she could get some rest before the day started.

No one knew about him and In Sha Allah*, no one ever will. I planned on keeping him a secret. Whenever asked about my frequent nightmares I would always say that it was a horrible one I wished not to talk about. Lucky for me no one seemed that interested either.

After my biological mum had died my dad had married Safreen since I needed a mother figure in my life and he had needed a wife to take care of him too. At first I was hostile toward her but after about four or five months our relationship had taken my dad by surprise. With Safreen's continued efforts on making our relationship work with her lovely dishes, sweets, toys and play dates with me I had gotten rid of my hostility and started to accept her.

After almost a few weeks we had been as close as a mother and daughter would be. She had made me call her mom and wouldn't answer when I called her Safreen aunty. That was almost 17 years ago.

I sighed as I remembered that childhood could never compare to adulthood. I pulled the covers of my body with a heavy hand and swung my legs from the bed to the ground. As I felt the carpet on the floor I realised how cold it was.

Instead of searching for the remote I walked towards the bathroom. After brushing my teeth and doing wudu* I came out of the toilet. I felt my shiver from the coldness. As my teeth clattered I searched for the AC remote to find it on the floor. I quickly switched it off and got ready to pray thahjjud*. As I start my prayer by saying Ah Salaam Alaikum warah mathuhllahi wa barakaathuh*, I find my self letting go of the worldly worries and submitting my self to Allah*, The best planner..

If you have trouble with meanings just comment the world and I will let you know..