That was never It!!

chapter 17

The masjid was beautiful. Bigger than the one she used to go to. The imam asked someone to recite the Quran before he  started. "I am sure we have all missed listening to you reciting." He had said.

Aliyah was moved by the way he was reciting. His Tajwid was perfect and Aliyah didn't want him to stop reciting.

She wiped the  tears from her eyes  when he finished reciting and whispered a Masha'Allah. Amina who was sitting next to her whispered in her ears.

"That is your Hanif reciting so well." Aliyah smiled then wanted to shout that Hanif was just her boss.

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The Sisters Daawah Group (SDG) had there meetings at one of the sister's house. Aliyah was excited to see them. They were all pretty and had their hijabs on.

"Asalam Alaykum!" Amina shouted and all the girls  answered her salaam with a smile. Then they all stared at Aliyah who felt a little uncomfortable. One of the girls who had a brown complexion walked up to Aliyah with a plate of cookies.

"Welcome Habibty." He showed her a place to sit and gave her a glass of juice. Amina complained and was given one too. The ever hyper Sumayah ran around and the girls laughed.

"I am Ifrah, the leader of SDG group C." The brown girl said with a smile. "That is Rehan," she said pointing to a white girl with big grey eyes who waved at Aliyah. "That is Jade." Jade nodded her head. "That is Iman," Iman winked at Aliyah forcing her to smile. "You have already met Amina. The last member is Rukhayah. She is always late."

Aliyah smiled and gave them salaam. They all seemed happy to welcome her.

"Let me introduce you please." Amina said excitedly. "She is Aliyah Amin. My next door neighbor. Arrived from New York just last night. She -"

"She is Uncle Hanif's Hayati!" The annoying Sumayah shouted and ran past them to the balcony to play with Ifrah's siblings.

The whole room went silent and everyone stared at Aliyah. Jade's heart broke. After all the prayers she had made. After waking up at night, crying in her Sijdah for him he married her.

Aliyah shifted in her position. This was awkward. Then all the girls transferred their gaze to Jade. She immediately smiled weakly at them and they turned back at Aliyah.

Aliyah wanted to speak but she waited for Amina to say something.

"Relax people! She is not his wife. She just lives in his apartment." Jade smiled again and whispered Alhamdullilah.  The whole room was filled with laughter and Aliyah understood. Jade likes Hanif.

"He is my boss. And we don't live together, I just live in his apartment  while he has a new one." Aliyah helped clear the water.

"Rukhayah is not hear yet but we will start without her." Ifrah said and the session began.

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Isabelle walked around the central park. She had two jobs. She worked at the Stakeouts in the morning and at Flip's during the late hours. She could afford a place to stay but didn't want to spend money. She was saving. She would sleep at the park or stay awake most nights.

Where could my real parents be? Was I abandoned or am I an orphan? She thought.

Just then Aliyah called her. She laughed as Aliyah told her about the SDG. They talked about everything and anything until Aliyah decided to sleep.

That night Aliyah had no idea her best friend cried her eyes out. That she couldn't sleep. That she was going through an Identity crisis. That she was trying to figure out If out there anyone cares for her. She was alone. She felt alone.

At the same time a young man of about 26 rolled on his bed. He couldn't fall asleep. It happens every time he thinks about her.
Where could she be? Is she safe? Did she die?

It was all his fault. He should have held her hand tighter. She was just three years old. He was her elder brother. He should have protected her.