Ascia

Four

"Maru,"

"Yeah, Seya"

I turned my head to look at her. It was the night before her engagement and she was sleeping in my room since dado took hers. Maru's profile could be outlined with the light coming from the window. Her eyes were open, and she was look at my ceiling, her curly dark hair in a bun at the top of her head, and her chest rising and falling like a melody. She looked enchanting, so peaceful and so alive. My sister was absolutely one in a million, and anyone who got to know her was lucky.

"Do you think it's unfair that I don't wear a hijab and you do?" I asked, my voice hesitant for what her response would be.

She was quiet for a few seconds before her head turned to look at me, her hazel eyes still bright in the dim room. "Who told you that it's not fair, Ascia?" she asked softly.

I shrugged and turned to lie on my side so I was facing her. "Uh, no one."

"Don't lie. I know when you're lying." she said.

"Ayan. He mentioned how since we look exactly the same, me wearing one wasn't exactly the same. You would look like me without a hijab." I muttered.

"Ayan is really honest. He will say stuff even though its something thats not meant to be said. His program has made him into this honest and critical person. He probably didn't mean it in a negative way, Seya." Asmara reasoned. "His face makes up for his blunt honesty." I could her the grin and teasing in her voice.

"You didn't answer my question." I said, trying to ignore the teasing. Even she noticed me checking him out, fantastic!

"No, it's not unfair. I don't wear a hijab to just hide my hair. I wear it to protect me, to protect my modesty. I wear it because it makes me feel confident, liberated even. I wear it because my God told me to wear it, my prophet told me to wear it. What happens after I wear it is between Allah (SWT) and myself. It was my choice to wear it when it wasn't your choice. Inshallah you will wear one, I know it. But it was my time four years ago and it will be yours."

I thought about it. Girls were meant to wear a hijab when they became a women, usually when they turned 13. My mum didn't wear one until later, when she started going to Islamic classes and events. Until she learnt the importance of it. Asmara learnt from here since mum and Asmara were really close.

"How do you know I will wear one?" I asked but deep inside I knew I would. When, I did not know.

"Because I make dua you will. That you will see the faith and realize how importance it is. I make dua you will pray five times a day, that you will be on the right path." Asmara confessed and I was left speechless.

A practicing sister praying for her twin sister to be on the right path.

"You are amazing, Maru." I muttered, "Hadi bhai is lucky to have someone like you."

"Just like the guy that dado will choose for you to marry. He will be lucky to have you." she said seriously, but the joking tone evident in her voice.

I groaned, "Shut up. Dado has gone crazy, mama and papa will never agree."

"They already have. They've talked to me about it." she said.

I immediately sat up. "You knew?"

"Of course." Asmara said as she sat up also. "Why do you think I've been dropping mad hints. Don't worry, they will never do something you don't want. But hey, it'll be like having a boyfriend!"

"I don't think I'm ready." I leaned back against the headboard. "How am I supposed to do all those wife duties if I can't cook or take care of kids or even make him happy?"