It's Destined

Tarik

I sit at home waiting for Khalil to call me back to tell me what happened. I throw the ball at the wall and catch it as it bounces back. My phone rings and I drop the ball and answer it. "As salaamu alaykum... what's up?" I ask trying to act unexcited. "Wa alaikum as salaam... I was right," he says. "What happened?" I question sitting up straight on my bed.

"His family is so judgy... they want their daughter-in-law a certain way... they kept saying bad things about Yasmin," he says. My heart felt like it dropped. "Honestly I'm relieved she's not going to marry into that family... the boy seems nice but his folks are just something else," he says. I felt relieved too. "I'm hoping she'll like you," he says. "I hope so too," I say. " But only God knows," I add.

I head to the kitchen where Sister Laura was cooking. "Need help?" I question. She looks at me and smiles. I take that as yes. I start cutting up the vegetables. I know I should get my own house at age 23 and not still living in a house with my guidance. They didn't complain but Brother Joe was helping me find a place of my own that wasn't that far from them. We make dinner and when Brother Joe comes we all sit down together.

"So what did you do all day," Sister Laura asks me. I shrug and she knew I've been lying around the house all day. "Tarik, you need to get out," she smiles. I know she was right but I had nothing to do. I go to the mosque I few times a day and that was pretty much it. Tomorrow I was planning to go to Friday prayer but that was all.

"Is there any great or exciting news?" she questions. I didn't know if I should tell them about Yasmin until I knew it was official. I didn't want to rush into anything and get my hopes up. I just didn't respond not knowing if I said nothing, it would be a lie. "Tomorrow maybe you can come with us to the orphanage," Brother Joe insist. "Yeah insha'allah (if God wills) after Juma (Friday) prayer," I tell him. He nods with a smile.

We clean up after dinner and Sister Laura insist we play CandyLand. We set up the game. Brother Joe was way too competitive no matter what we play. Sister Laura ends up winning and she jumps up doing her happy dance which makes us break out laughing.

"Let's watch Shrek," Brother Joe insists. We watched that movie like a hundred times and Brother Joe finds it hilarious and I still don't get what's so funny after the second time watching it. I go Maghrib before we start watching.

I sit there glancing at Brother Joe who kept laughing every second. I think his laugh was the funniest thing about the movie. After the movie was done Sister Laura was sleeping with her head rested on Brother Joe's shoulder. One day it'll be me with my wife's head on my shoulder on my head. All of a sudden a picture of Yasmin pops up in my head. Astagfurallah (forgiveness from Allah). I should get Yasmin out of my head. "I should go to bed," I say getting up.

"Goodnight," they say. "salaamu Alaykum," I say heading to my room. I pull out the Quran and start reciting it. This really helped clear my mind. I finish reading and put it back on the shelf. I pray Isha before going to bed.

The next day I woke up late. It was around 11:30. I quickly get ready for Juma prayer and head out before I missed the prayer. I got there right on time. I walk in right when the imam was about to start. I stand for prayer with a sigh.

After prayer I hang around for a bit then get ready to leave. "Tarik, you're just going to leave without saying good bye," I hear as I was about to leave the mosque. I turn around to see Khalil. We salaam each other. "I didn't know you were here," I tell him. We head outside together. I think I saw Yasmin but was unsure. "Yaz!" He calls. She turns and bring her little sister Alia along. "We were waiting for you," Yasmin walks up to us.

She salaams me and I respond. Kahlil was grinning hard which made me feel uncomfortable. "Are we going to go, I have to take Alia to the park," she states annoyed by him. "Yeah... I should get go salaamu alaykum," I say. "Wa alaikum as salaam," she response. Honestly I haven't heard her voice in years it was nice.

I meet up with Brother Joe and Sister Laura before they left. "I thought you ditched us for minuter," Sister Laura says. "Sorry," I say hoping into the back of their car. My phone beeps. I told Yasmin you wanted to get to know her Khalil texts. I swear my heart start beating out of control. What did she say I manage to write back.

He didn't reply which made me feel nervous. We got to the orphanage. "Hi Tha," little Sarah says as I walk in. She couldn't say my name I tried to teach her but Tha was the best I could get. I smile lift her up and giving her a hug. "How's it going?" I question. "Great," she says with a smile. Everytime I come to the orphanage it reminds me about what happened to my parents. But I just loved coming here and seeing the kids smiling again. Sarah and Gavin were my favorites.

"Where's Gavin?" I ask Sarah. "He left," she says. I knew what that meant, he got adopted. Alhamdulillah that was great. I was hoping adopting Sarah and Gavin once I get married. I hope his new family is great like the one I was blessed with. I kiss Sarah on the check and put her down. "You want to play a game?" I ask her. She nods her head.