Life Under the Hijab | ✔

{2} The Jerk

Zaynub Khalid

I woke up the next day with a killer headache. I groaned as the thoughts of last night flooded my mind again. Why? Why must he show up now? Why must my parents recommend him of all people? Oh, Allah please help me.

Zakir was going to be staying with us for a while since his parents were buying a house and it was not complete yet. Plus they were sticking around for a meeting on the problems Bangladesh was currently having. The marriage ideal was just an extra in that set of problems.

I forced myself out of bed to pray Fajr (morning prayer). Then I took a nice hot shower to relax my body from all the pent up tension I was feeling. Zakir was back in my life. I had spent years hating his very existence, and now he was living in my house. It irked me, pissed me off beyond belief. 

 He didn't change at all. He was still his annoying handsome self that I just wanted to punch to get in order to get rid of him. After my shower I went straight to my phone to call one of my closest friends, Aaliya. After the third ring she answered.

"Assalaamualaikum," greeted Aaliya.

"Waalaikumusalaam," I responded.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Major problems going on here. My parents want me to marry Zakir, and I can't exactly say no to them because then I would ruin both families relationship and everything will be awkward. Plus, Zakir's family is staying here for like a month. He is an arrogant jerk, whom I don't want to marry. I mean I know my parents said that I should get married to him but I just can't. Not after everything he did," I rushed in one breath, flopping down to my bed.

"Hold up. Your parents want you to marry Zakir. As in Zakir Khan. The jerk who bullied you?" she qustioned.

"Yes," I sighed.

"Maybe your parents are right. You know you should trust your parent's judgment. They know what's best and I bet Zakir changed. I mean you aren't the same as you once were so I bet he isn't either. Give it a chance before you judge. Come on, if I were in that position you would have told that to me," said Aaliya.

"I guess you're right but I'll just see how it goes," I breathed.

"Good, now listen I have to go. Assalaamualaikum," said Aaliya.

"Waalaikumusalaam," I responded.

With that, she hung up. Aaliya and I had been friends since we were three. She knew about what happened between Zakir and I. She witnessed it. 

I sighed. Everyone was telling me Zakir had changed, but I didn't feel like he did from our last interaction. By the way he reacted yesterday, I had good reason to believe that he didn't want me as his bride. Of course he didn't, he was the great Zakir Khan. Little ol' me could never be in his kind regards.

After a while, I put my hijab on and went downstairs for breakfast. It was Saturday, so I had no classes. As I was walking downstairs I heard sobbing. I stopped. It was Hajar's muffled voice behind the door. Curiosity got the better of me. I leaned my ear against her door and heard the heavy sobs that rocked through her. What in the world?

"Why me, Allah? Why?" she cried.

I was about to open the door when a deep voice startled me.

"Spying now are we?" Zakir raised an eyebrow.

I jumped.

"Oh my gosh, don't you ever do that again!" I breathed.

"Aw, did I scare the princess?" Zakir asked, a teasing grin on his lips.