That was never It!!

chapter 4

Two months had passed since Aaliyah was introduced to her fiancée. They had seen each other once every week. She found him nice and caring. He hardly talked about himself though. Aaliyah found him a little mysterious.

Jaffar on the hand found this whole engagement thing annoying. He wanted to spend time with Marla and not feel like he is cheating on Aaliyah.

"It's magrib. There is a local mosque down on that street we can pray there." Aaliyah told him once. Jaffar looked taken aback. He hadn't prayed for almost three years. He doubted he remembered how to. He remembered the last time he prayed to Allah. He was asking Allah not take his mother away. She still died and he stopped praying.

"Nah, you just go on without me."

Aaliyah was shocked when he said that.

"Why? Don't you wanna pray to your Lord?"

"You go and pray for both of us. After all we are getting married. You will be doing that for rest of your life." He said angrily and left her shocked. He didn't even bother to take her home.

Aaliyah was disappointed. She immediately called Abu but Ahsad picked up her call.

"Where is father?"

"Bathroom." Ahsad replied boringly.

"Tell him to call me after he is done. It's argent." Aaliyah said and hanged up. She wanted to talk to her father about Jaffar. How could Abu get her engaged to a man that doesn't pray to Allah. She kept trying to talk to Abu that day but her calls were not going through.

†****************"*"*†**********

Haytham was on the phone video chatting with Jamal (Jem's Islamic name). Jamal was telling him about his new business and how much it was progressing.

"Still looking for her, mate?" Jem asked worriedly. Haytham sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Three years, five different nations and still no sign of her." He ran his fingers through his hair. "It's frustrating walahi."

"You should start looking for her here in US and maybe even UK." Jem said trying to give his friend hope. "Maybe you have just been looking for her at the wrong places. Maybe she got lucky and found her way here."

Haytham smiled. It was true he was always looking for her in Arab countries and had never tried the western countries.

"You are right Jamal. Maybe I should start with New Jersey then New York and then Minnesota. And.."

"Shut it mate. Start with New York. Maybe Manhattan first?" Jem smiled widely. Haytham immediately knew what his best friend was up to.

"You just want me to babysit Hanan again, right?"

"Please, Amal has a lot going on with her  show and I have to be there when they renovate my hotel. Besides -"

"Dude, relax." Haytham laughed a little. "I will gladly babysit that adorable monster."

"Thanks mate. She is lucky to have you as an uncle."

"Yea whatever!"

"Gotta tell Amal that you said yes."

"I still can't believe you guys chose Amal and Jamal as your names after converting to Islam." Haytham teased him. "What are going to call your son In Sha Allah? Bilal?"

"Yea yea start with the teasing again. I will let it pass this once coz you are babysitting."

"Well night bruh" Haytham said with a smile trying to sound like a typical New Yorker.

"Good luck faking it." Jamal/Jem said and hanged up.

Haytham loved little Hanan and was excited to babysit. Maybe this would help him forget Aaliyah for a while.