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

Chapter 8

Hafsa wants me to choose? And I'm not even sure I like any of them.

As it she easy reading my mind, "Spend more time with them and get to know them. In the end, you'll know which one. Just don't do anything haram! " she said and ruffled my hair.

Soon enough it was time for Fajr and the doorbell rang. Oh joy, another visit.

Who could it be this time? Hafsa groaned and stomped to the varnished door with my confused eyes on her, muttering words and I was almost certain I heard "Sabir" somewhere in that mix.

She opened the door and left it at an angle where I couldn't see the visitor.

"Go to the room next door." She said calmly.

"No. Of course you can't stay here. "

"Yes you'll be like two seconds away. Congrats. Go pray." She finally said and slammed the door.

"Care to explain?" I said, opening my arms wide as if inviting the explanation.

"Sabir is moving in next door." She said nonchalantly and I wondered if Amir was moving in too.

She shot me a knowing look and nodded. Great.

I don't even know these guys anymore and so many things are happening so quickly.

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It was much easier to carpool using Amir's car yet Sabir insisted he used his own since he was too good to sit with us.

Note the sarcasm.

"Bro, can you just drop Sani on the other side of campus, she has first class all the way there. Thanks. Salaam" Hafsa said and hopped out, joyfully. Too joyfully.

Amir's shoulders tensed and I copied him.

"You don't have to. I'm fine here and my class starts at 9:30 so I can walk." I assured him.

"I know. You have microbiology first." He said half amused and then returns to his stressed face.

I felt like slapping myself. How could I forget?

"Sorry." I muttered in all honesty.

"I'm the one who should be sorry." I almost heard him clearly and he earned a smile. His ears turned a shade of bright pink.

"What was that I heard?" I feigned.

"I said I'm sorry. Look, there's just been....a really stressful period in my life and I was taking it out on you. It's not your fault. It's my brother's. " his eyes shot up as if he couldn't believe what he'd just said.

"Sabir? What did he do?" I pressed thinking that if I'd got him to speak this much then I shouldn't waste this opportunity. "Is it about the project?"

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Well whatever he did, I'm sure he didn't mean it and at the end of the day, you're brothers. I hope things turn out well....for you" I said. My words were in full honesty. Whatever was upsetting Amir made my stomach turn and stretch in the wrong places.

"Let's get some coffee." He blurted, his eyes focused on parking.

My jaw dropped and my cheeks flushed. No way! Hafsa would not approve! Who am I kidding? Of course she would! What's with this guy? He's such a bipolar jerk!!!

"I am not! So that's a yes, then?" He smiled. And I'd realized I said some of those things out loud and he'd realize that I spoke about him to Hafsa.

"So tell me about yourself." He initiated the conversation, for which I was partially grateful. The other part of me wanted to throw him in the car, lock him in and run away.

"Uhh well, I have an older brother. I like bunnies and food. I'm okay with sports and I like to read." He choked as I spoke.

"I know all those things already, Saniyah. I remember when we were younger. And you're still the boring litter girl" He sipped on his coffee, gazing into my eyes, considering it was the only part of my face he could see.

"So tell me something about you, then, Mr. Knowitall." I was shocked I even said those words yet I kept a cool facade.

"I don't really have anything to talk about. But I for one, do not like rabbits. Cats are more my thing."

Touché. For the record, now I wanted tho lock him in the car with a whole lot of rabbits and then run away.

And then I remembered. "How did you recognize me?" I finally asked the long overdue question.

He was shocked. "I could never forget those eyes. You don't remember me, don't you?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I usually have a good memory but when it comes to you. ..." STOP WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SANI IT SOUNDS WRONG AND YOU'LL SCARE AWAY YOUR ONLY CHANCE OF FINDING A HUSBAND. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

"Shut up, you." I told my inner self.

"No need to be rude." He laughed.

"Well I guess it's because we never spoke after I left. And your brother practically forbade our friendship."

"My brother what?" Habeel had something to do with this?

"Yeah. He was really over protective. You know this. And he took over Saniyah as his sister too. He was always competing with me."

"But--" I was cut off.

"Oh look it's 9:30" he rose and gestured for me to follow "I hope we can have more conversations like this. " he said as he started to walk.

I was about to throw away my cup when one of my colleagues knocked it over along with his laptop, and his drink.

"I'm sorry." I said quickly.

"Sorry? For what!? Look what you did! You know it would really help if you'd stop being so worthless and get out of the way!" He said in a fit of anger.

I grabbed some napkins and tried to dry the laptop.

"What are you doing? It won't fix it. Stop! You're no help at all."

Amir noticed the commotion and looked over his shoulder, waiting for me.

"Don't let what he said get to you." He said, clearly unsure as what he would do in a situation like this.

"It's true. I'm not a help at all." I said, remembering the trouble I gave my brother when I was young.

"I don't think that, if it helps. You just need to have some confidence and you'd see what an amazing girl you are. If only you knew your worth." He sighed, deep in thought.

If only I knew my worth.

That one sentence he said without considering the effects by the natural over reaction of human, inflicted a tiny spec of hope that maybe Amir could develop a relationship with me.

Not as a husband, but maybe a friend? It's only as far as any of us would allow. All four of us.