That was never It!!

chapter 16

Aliyah woke up and took a shower. She prayed fajr and read a few chapters of the Quran as she waited for the sun to rise. She knew no one in LA; expect her boss. She planned to just walk around and if she gets lucky she can find a Muslim who will show her the Masjid.

She made herself coffee and sat down on the comfortable sofa. Tuning on her favourite show ; the deen show. To her surprise, her Haytham was being interviewed. She felt her heart beat faster and her head spin.

Why does he have to be everywhere? She wondered in pain. How could she get over someone who is constantly appearing in her mind and torments her. Feeling overwhelmed by sadness she turned off the TV and walked into her classy bedroom. Just as she was getting ready to tour the city, someone knocked at the door.

Weird! She thought. She quickly wrapped her hijab on. Not sure what was waiting for her at the door.

She opened the door and a small girl of about eight blast her with a water gun.

"Welcome -" she stopped immediately after realising she had made a mistake. The look on her face changed from a goofy grin to a sorry one then a confused one. Aliyah couldn't help but smile. "Who are you? Where is Uncle Hanif?" The little girl asked with her hand on her waist.

Aliyah tried hard to stop herself from laughing.

"Who is Uncle Hanif?" She said pretending to be confused. "And why did you do this to me?"

The little girl sized Aliyah up and smirked. She then ran fast in the hallway. "Uncle Hanif has found his queen!" She sang at the top of her lungs.

Aliyah laughed as the girl ran around singing the same words over and over again. Just then a young woman of about her age walked out of one of  the other apartments.

"Sumayah! shut  up!" She shouted and the little girl stuck her tongue out at her. Aliyah found it amusing. She finally let out the laughter she was holding in forcing the other woman to look at her.

"Ooh sorry about the noise. She gets really hyper sometimes." The woman explained.

"It's okay. I was already up so she didn't quite disturb me." Aliyah said with a smile. The woman looked at her and was suddenly curious.

"OMG! You live with Hanif?" She shouted with her girly girly voice. Aliyah looked at her confused. She was just about to say no when the little girl started chanting.

"Uncle Hanif has found his queen!" She sang again and Aliyah understood. They thought she is married to him.

"No no no." Aliyah almost shouted. "Hanif is not my -"

"Asalam Alaykum ladies." Hanif suddenly walked out of the apartment next to hers and Aliyah was startled.

"Waalaykum salaam." The two women responded in a unison while the little girl ran to Hanif, who lifted her up and tickled her. She kept on laughing. Every time she tried to catch her breath and say something, he would tickle her again to make her shut up. After all she had done enough of singing that morning.

"Ooh I am Amina, your neighbor and that little monster is my baby sister." The lady introduced herself above the giggling noise of the little girl.

"Aliyah Amin." Aliyah said with a smile. "And no I don't live with Hanif since we are  not related and am not his 'queen'. "
Aliyah said and did an air quotation on the last word. Amina laughed.

"Welcome to the neighborhood." After that they parted ways as Aliyah walked in to her apartment and Amina literally dragged Sumayah into there's. Hanif asked Amina to show Aliyah around and she agreed with a smile.

She was happy she met them. At least she doesn't have to struggle with a map yo find her way.

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Later on that day a smiling Amina and a jumping Sumayah knocked at her door. Amina talked about some daawah group and how much she wanted Aliyah to join it. Aliyah agreed and  Amina immediately hugged her.

"Alhamdullilah." She said. "Today after the jum'a prayer we will go, In Sha Allah."

Aliyah liked her energy.

Asalam Alaykum lovelies. I was literally trying to stay up as I updated this part. I could barely keep my eyes open. So If I  have done anything confusing to the story don't hesitate to tell me ..
Maasalam and thanks for reading!!

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