The Perfect Storm (A Muslim Story)

Chapter Six: A True Gem

Rawah Bint Abdullah

I let my gaze wander around the table; mum had a cheerful face while my brother looked like he was scrutinizing me for any signs. I kicked his feet under the table to which he gave a sickly sweet smile. I shook my head and listened to mum who was talking rather animatedly to Ahsan.

After about what felt as hours of listening to nonstop talking she decided it was time to introduce me. I sighed and thought of how nice it would have been to just read a story or something. Even getting married sounds better than this. No, no... Actually this is fine.

Mum said, "This is Ahsan Farooq, Nuh's math teacher and a son of your father's best friend."

Ahsan looked at me with his mesmerizing eyes as he said," Ah Salaam Alaikum."

My gaze flickered from Nuh to mum before deciding to reply," Wa Salaam."

Mum looked at Nuh and said, "Show him to the guestroom. "

Wait! Is he living here? Seriously! Why??

It's fine as long as I don't see him right? Argh!

When they left Mum said," It's hard to find true gems like him these days. Don't you think so?"

True gem, my foot!

I flipped the front of my niqab to the back and said," How long is he staying here mum?"

Probably a day or two, Yay!

She smiled and said," As long as I can make him stay. "

My mouth hung agape as I said, "What!"

Seeing my mum surprised I covered up and said," What do you mean by as long as I make him stay, Mum? "

Mum replied humorously," He lives alone and probably eats unhealthy food. His mother told me that he cannot cook to save his life! "

I looked at her still unable to see the reason that he has to live with us. I said," So? Why can't he live with his mum? "

My mum shook her head and said," She doesn't live here. Now tell me, Why is my little girl so curious? You like him? "

I blushed as I replied with a No and tried to get her off my back. Well 'Tried' being the keyword it didn't work. Mum was going to play matchmaker now, I was so sure of it. Last time let's just say she tried it the poor guy ended up trying to stay as far away from mum and me as much as possible.

Mum later asked me if I was alright with him staying here, I couldn't lie to save my life so I ended up just nodding.

I helped mum clean the table and scurried to the prayer room to pray Maghreb. As soon as I finished Maghreb I went, more like ran up the stairs to my room.

I finished reciting the Quran and placed it on the bookshelf when someone knocked on my door.

I shouted," Who is it?"

I didn't get a reply, all I got were more and more knocks in return. Angrily I wore my niqab and opened the door with much unneeded force, what I saw quickly changed my mood from anger to happiness. More like over the moon.

Aaliyah hugged me so hard that I could barely breathe. I pulled her into the room and closed the door locking it.

"Ah salaam Alaikum Honey Bunch", She said.

I replied with my salaams and extorted all the details of her honeymoon. Well, Almost all.

Aaliyah and I had been friends since we met. We just clicked and after that nobody had been able to separate us from then on. Two months ago she had married and gone on a honeymoon to Turkey.

She seemed happy, and I was content with that. After making sure she was fine a thousand times we finally wrapped our talk and went to pray Esha. After Praying it was time for dinner.

I was taken back to reality when I saw his face again. Dinner was a pain trying to eat with the niqab, but finally mum noticed and sent me and Aaliyah to the Eating area upstairs. Nuh helped us carry our plates and went back downstairs.

Aaliyah had been surprised when she had seen Ahsan but I covered up telling her the stuff mum had told me. She seemed to buy it and it wasn't a lie so I was fine with it. I had never told anyone about Ahsan so In sha Allah everything will go well and he will decide to leave soon.

Not long after dinner mum joined me and Aaliyah in my room. I wont go in to detail, lets just say that by the time Mum decided to leave Aaliyah also believed I had a crush on him and promised mum to help play matchmaker. As if I would get married soon specially to him, No way!

Fast Forward A Few Hours Later

The tension in the car was so great a knife could cut through it. After dropping Aaliyah in her flat we were on our way back home. By we I mean Ahsan and I. How this happened? Well this is all thanks to Aaliyah, My mum and my lazy brother Nuh. Aaliyah wanted to go home and her husband had been busy and couldn't get her till after 10 PM. Aaliyah was tired so me being me wanted to help her and was going to drop her home when Mum interfered and asked Ahsan to accompany me. Nuh had apparently been too 'tired' after eating too much dessert. This meant he was busy playing with his PS3. Dad had been busy working, so he was the last option and Mum could be stubborn when she wanted to.

I searched for my phone in my bag but after non-stop searching I realized that I had left it in the shotgun. Aaliyah wanted to drive so I didn't want to be in the back seat with him so I had sat front. And when Aaliyah got out I had got out too, giving her a hug and saying my salaam and mostly because he had without my permission decided to take the driver's seat. Aaaah! When he decided to take the driver's seat I had decided to sit in the back.

My ring tone blasted through the car and I didn't know what to do. Well Alhamdulillah the egoistic jerk decided to take it from the seat and handed it over to me. It was an unknown number. I answered and was surprised when I heard a Male voice. It turned out to be one my male cousins, Raihaan. We had a good relationship but not in the romantic way just friends. He wanted to talk about a girl he was interested in that's why he had called asking to meet up. I had told him to make reservations at our favourite hangout and to finalize the time and date.

I had been so lost in the phone call that I hadn't notice the car come to a halt. I looked out the window and said," This isn't home?"

He replied, "I know, come."

I was utterly confused and really scared right now. He wouldn't kill me right?

I replied with all the courage I could muster but it came out as a question, "No?"