Islamically in Love

Chapter 16 - The Truth

Innayah's POV

Zachy's been acting different lately. He's been grumpy, when I talk to him he avoids me and gives short answers. I thought we were back to being normal. I mean, if I can't get him as a husband, I at least want him as a friend.

"Zachy is everything ok?" I ask him. It's 7am and he just came back from a jog luckily I was downstairs so I could talk to him.
"Yeah" he says keeping his eyes on the phone.
"Sure?"
He nods.
I snatch his phone away.
"Innayah, what the hell?" He says
"You're acting different. Are you avoiding me?"
"If I was would I be sat here with you" he snaps. I frown.
"No need to be snappy" I say
"Give my phone"
"Zachy, tell me what's wrong?"
"You have my phone that's what's wrong"
"Seriously Zachy, you've not been acting like yourself"
"Innayah, you don't need to care ok. You're not my wife, or anyone special so leave me alone"
I look at him with a hurt expression. I don't need to care? Of course I do, I freking lo- like the guy. No one special...
"Innayah" he says softly but I storm away to my room.

He comes after me but I don't answer. I'm in my room doodling when Farhan Bhiya comes in.
"Inni"
I turn and face him then look back at my drawings.
"Cool drawing"
I smile proudly, I've always had a thing for drawing but I never did anything to pursue it. I look at my picture of the tiger as I shade in the outline of it. I think it's pretty good knowing I did it all from my mind.

"Inni what's wrong?"
I sigh and face him.
"Zachy. There's something wrong with him that's he's not telling me and when I tried to ask him he, he got angry and snapped at me"
"What did he say?"
"He said, I don't need to care, I'm not his wife or anyone special and to leave him alone"
"Oh, that's harsh"
I nod
"I know right, like I've been friends with the guy nearly all my life, I know when something is bothering him and he's not telling me. The worst thing is that he said I'm not special to him, that just proves that he doesn't like-" I clear my throat
"I-It proves that he doesn't want to be friends with me"
"Innayah. Tell me the truth, do you like Zakariya you know in that way"
I nod ashamedly.
"Don't look so ashamed. It's not anything bad"
"It is when he doesn't like me back. He told me himself I'm no one special so why would he"
"Innayah, trust Allah. He will guide you. He is after all the greatest planner"
I nod.
"Thanks Fari" I smile.
He smiles back and walks out of the room.

Oh Allah, please guide me, give me strength and protection. Please help me with whatever problem me and Zachy are facing.

I read Zuhr prayer then head downstairs to hang with everyone except Zachy. He looks at me when I come downstairs and I can see the regret on his face in the glimpse I saw if him, but I ignore him and talk with Aunty and Saj.

Aunty and mum are talking about the baby while me and Saj are talking about how sweet Amir is. He got the baby a gold chain and Saj and gold bracelet. I mean it is a Bengali tradition but I didn't think he would know of it. Amir walks in the room and sits next to Saj. I feel like such a third wheel when I'm with them so I walk to the kitchen.
I start making some tea.
"Need help" I turn around and see Borobhiya. I haven't talked to him properly in a while. I smile.
"Well, it's just tea. I don't think I do. You want one"
He nods
"So" he starts.
I look at him questioningly.
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell me you like Zak. I would've done something"
"I hate Farhan Bhiya right now" I mutter. He looks at me expectingly. "Fine. If I did then you would've confronted him and he would've felt forced to do something. I know he doesn't like me back so I thought I'd just leave it"
"Innu" he says softly.
"Don't!" I warn. I hate sympathy but from him the most. He sighs and hugs me.
"You know I had half the mind to think that you would tell him yourself"
"I was going to you know, but then he said I'm nothing to him so"
"He said that?"
"More or less, he said I'm not anyone special" I shrug.
He kisses my head.
"You are"