My Best Friend's Brother (A Muslim Love Story)

Sabir Saves the Day

So maybe Amir wasn't that nice after all

Those two brothers weren't that different. They looked alike and acted alike.

Speak of the idiots. Amir and Sabir were entering through the hall.

I recalled the events of this morning, Amir helping me and then walking our like a total.....teacher.

I sighed. I need to pass this class.

"Good morning class." So voice projected across the classroom. He continued with the introduction. Blah blah Amir nobody cares.

"I'll be collecting the projects as soon as........Miss Amadi!" He intervened my thoughts.

I stood up and my so called classmates burst with laughter as I act foolishly.

"Take a seat." He says sternly. My stomach churned. Seeing a disappointed look plastered onto his face, hidden behind his kind, soft features made me feel like a villain who stole a child's happiness.

Something felt wrong. Why did I feel like something was really wrong with everything in this moment?

Sabir passes aside me, collecting the portfolios and snaps me back into reality.

I stare at him, dazed. I scavenge my backpack, in search of the project completed by my teacher himself and find.....nothing.

My heart pace quickened and Sabir notes my frustration.

"Anyone who fails to submit their portfolio will automatically receive a fail for this subject." The rules in our school handbook runs across my mind.

Failing, something entirely new to me.

"Where is it?" Sabir whispers. I look at him in the eye, with tears threatening to fall. "Is it in the apartment?" I nod and he dashes out of the room, everyone's eyes following him.

-------
Hafsa calls.
"Assalaamu alaikum. Are you okay? You haven't been replying my texts and I haven't seen you at the masjid." She says in one breath and I can literally hear the movement of her hands when she speaks.

"I'm just feeling a bit off so I'll pray dhuhr at home. Where are you?" Before she answers, she hangs up and I spot her heading toward me.

After praying, Hafsa set up a makeshift tent out of drapes and blankets like we used to make when we were younger and share our secrets.

The memory made me smile and I suddenly get a flashback of the playground.

Hafsa is playing with other children. There is laughter and suddenly a girl cries. A boy spilled his juice on her gown and teased her. I recognize Sabir as the bully, obviously. And the girl, me. She runs towards a boy around three years older than her crying and he hugs her and scolds Sabir.

"Hafsa? Why don't I remember Amir?"

"I don't know. He never really played with us. Why?" She responded.

"I don't know either. So guess what happened?" I smirk suggestively and relay to her the events of her brothers' doings.

After a tonne of facial expressions and gasps she finally says "OK I know my brothers are weird and you like that kind of stuff. But they're my brothers! You can't possibly like them! TWO of them!" She squeals with a tinge of happiness in her tone.

"But whatever you know. We'll be related and your brother will finally know his little Sani will be all grown up and married." She pats my head and there's something I miss.

I smile at the thought. My brother, Habeel, will be at rest.

Oh crud! I only have 11 months again!
"Hafsa! I don't like your brothers. I admit, they're not bad to look at but it's not appropriate. He's my teacher! " I blurt.

"Oh. So you favour Amir!?" She winks.

"Actually, Sabir.....I don't know." I groan into my pillow and tell her what he did for me that day.

"So what's up with you?" I ask her and she turns pale.

"What do you mean. You know me. Chill about life. " she mutters with a smile that says LIES.

"Oh please I know you too well. Spill." I say, munching on chips.

"When it's time you'll know. Here's what. When you bag one of my brothers and finalize the wedding day I might just tell you." She snickers like the evil witch she is.

Her phone beeps and I instantly grab it before she does. It's a message from Sabir.

"Hafs. We need to talk."

"Who is it?" She snatches the phone and her eyes widen.

"Well let's give him a call, shall we?" She smirks and dials his number before I can oblige.

He answers immediately.

"Hafs! I'm in trouble."
" OK slow down. What's up?" I listen in.
"I may have failed one of my courses. "
"What! How?" Her opal eyes widen and she mutters incoherent words.

"I didn't hand up my project. But the funny thing is, I failed Amir's subject." He laughs.

Hafsa's mouth falls to the ground and she bursts in fits of laughter. My eyes extend their capacity with pure shock.

I mouth to her "ask how! "

"And why didn't you do your project?" She presses.

"Um....a friend needed my help and I forgot to get mine from the car. But I can't tell Amir I left mine in the car because he'll ask why and I can't tell him who I did the favour for because he'll surely get mad at me." He rambled. He's so confusing.

"Uhuh okay. So it's your fault. But you know, Amir isn't the type to get angry easily. That friend of yours he must really have a problem with." She says teasingly.

"Ha! I think he has a problem with that friend being near me. Anyway gotta run. Bye! Love you! Salaam!" He hangs up in a rather jolly tone after softly saying "say hi to Sani for me."

I scream into my pillow. Sani!? Freaking Sani!? He can't call me that!

Hafsa eyes me suspiciously.

"So? Amir or Sabir? " she cackles.