Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

Rahman Sir to the rescue

Salim's POV

The moment I regained my consciousness in the ambulance, I was worried. But I saw John and Harneet next to me and somehow felt better. The paramedic stopped giving me CPR after a while and checked my heart beat. It has returned to normal. I slowly closed my eyes thinking about what happened yesterday. The first time I saw Kayal's face, I was so happy. She was really beautiful without any make up. Her eyes were looking directly into mine, no not into my eyes but through it into my soul. Her nose, lips and everything looked so perfect as if a sculptor had sculpted it. I felt like she was mine. I have never got that feeling with any other girl in my life. I wanted to marry her and love her like crazy. 

But, my bubble busted within few seconds when I realized that I can't marry her because she isn't a Muslim. It was only after she started speaking, I realized that she was waiting for me to start speaking. I always used to think that my future wife should fall in love with me from the very first sight. I was floored by this girl and was stuttering. But, she hardly gave me any such reaction. When I conveyed my thanks to her, she politely told me that her concern was for Muslims and not Islam. Still, I thanked her. I was a little happy when she showed some concern for me asking whether I was okay. Other than my family, she is the first girl who said 'Take care' to me. After that the whole day I felt a piercing pain in my heart. As if I am losing my loved one. In a way, it is true. I lost her. I can never have her as my wife. It killed me. John was supporting me to an extent.

After that, in the night I made supplications to my Creator for my peace of mind. He is the best of planners. I took this phase of my life as a test. From what I heard about Kayal's anti religious beliefs, I don't think that there is any way I could ask her to revert to Islam. It just gave me more pain. To relax my mind I read the holy Quran for some time. After that, I went to my bed but sleep evaded me and A.R.Rahman Sir rescued me. In many parts of the world, it is considered that music is against Islam. But we Tamil Muslims are greatly influenced by Qadiriyah flavor of Sufism. And we see music as a means to reach Allah(SWT). A.R.Rahman Sir, the Oscar Award winning composer is a boon to Tamil Film Industry. His songs took me to another world.

The next day on Friday I avoided looking towards Kayal. After the classes, I saw her going inside the library. Few days back, I saw her returning from library after dark and I felt it was unsafe. So today I had decided to wait for her so that I can be sure that she is safe. I don't know why I was concerned about her safety when I knew that she wasn't mine. John joined me after some time. While we were chatting I had felt my heart ache. I was first thinking that it was due to my emotional trauma. But suddenly I blacked out.

And now, the paramedics are shifting me to a hospital bed. The paramedic was briefing the Doctor. But, the only thing which caught my attention was the paramedic telling him that a girl had given me CPR before the ambulance had reached. All through my life I thought I should keep myself pure for my future wife. On the one hand thoughts about Kayal are killing me from inside and on the other hand a girl has given me rescue breaths. Ya Allah, you are testing me too much. I knew that the girl must have touched me because it was an emergency and I might have been dead if not for her. But, it still pained me. How much pure I am now?

The Doctor prescribed few tests and when everything was done and we returned to our hospital room, Harneet left to buy food. John was sitting in a chair placed near the bed. "Thank you so much John. I really owe you."

"Hey, no need to say thanks man. That's what friends are for. You better take rest now. "

"Okay. Can you please tell me who gave me CPR?"

"Ali, that girl asked me not to tell you. She felt that since you are a Muslim you wouldn't like it if women touched you. And it will be embarrassing for her as well. I also think it is better if you don't know the truth."