That was never It!!

chapter 24

Asalam Alaykum Haytham Ali. I love your story and the fact that it is based on real life story breaks my heart. I pray that you find your girl. In Sha Allah. Or she finds you.

PS. "Love in a war torn land" was an amazing title. I love it.

Haytham smiled as he read some comments on his fan Page. Apparently everyone liked his story. Every single penny he got out of it went direct to charity. He donated it to help the children of Syria and Aliyah's homeland. Syria was in more trouble compared to Aliyah's homeland so most of the money went to Syria.

Jamal (Jem) gave him a hot cup of coffee and sat down next to him. Haytham was still scrolling down his phone and smiling.

"Dude, come back!" Jamal said.

"So now it's dude and not mate?"

"I kinda got used to being a New Yorker."

"That's why you are losing your heavy British accent."

"I have not." He declared with his signature accent. Haytham laughed. Jamal's phone beeped he checked the message and smiled. He quickly typed a reply as Haytham watched him.

"Ariana?" Haytham was just about to start teasing his friend.

"Nope it's Hanif."

"Ginger?"

"Mate?" Jamal raised his eyebrows.

"Sorry dude, what made you smile?"

"He is in love with his PA and he is afraid it's a sin. Can you believe that guy?"

"I can relate." Haytham said.

"According to him Aliyah is amazing. He is afraid he is not good enough for her."

Haytham smiled. "Aliyah?"

"Yea that's her name."

"Interesting." Haytham said not knowing it was his Aliyah that Hanif was in love with.

****†******†******†*****

Aliyah walked into her apartment and found Amina running around and wailing. She was such a drama queen.

"What is it?" She asked her without even giving her salaam.

"Look at this!" She pointed at her face. There was a big "FATSO" written on her face. Aliyah laughed so hard her stomach hurt.

"You can just wash it out." Isabelle said as she got out of the shower. She had a towel over her head.

"It is a permanent maker pen. It will take me ages." Amina whined. Isabelle laughed at her and  teased her. Calling Amina a fatso makes her so mad.

"Seriously your siblings are amazing. It's not everyone who has baby siblings who write stuff on there faces when they sleep." Isabelle said matter-of-factly.

"Ooh they wouldn't be so amazing if you were the one with FATSO written on your face. " Amina said angrily. Isabelle waved her off and stated drying her hair.

"They can't be that bad." Isabelle said and Amina and Aliyah looked at her, then at each other. A confused Isabelle looked at them suspiciously.

"Are you sure they are not BAD?" Amina said as Aliyah struggled not to laugh out loud. They were both glaring at her and she felt suddenly scared.

"What's on my face?" She said confused.

"Look at your hair Darling!" Amina laughed and rolled down with laughter. Isabelle almost screamed when she saw what had happened to her precious hair. It was green. The twins must have put dye in the shampoo.

"Never mess with two  of my things. My hair and food." She said though a clenched jaw.

"Ooh it's on! Evil twin against Isabelle Martinez." She said angrily. The girls just laughed at her even more.

****†******†************†*****

Rukhayah helped Mrs. Khalid eat. She didn't want to come but the lady had refused to eat and told her son to bring her back.

Mrs. Khalid had a psychological problem. She had a short-term memory. She could barely remember a thing that happened a day ago. But for some reason she had never forgotten Rukhayah. Weirdly, she calls her Najma.

Rukhayah has always wanted to know what made her that way but she couldn't tell her and no way would she ask that man.

After putting her to sleep, Rukhayah locked herself in her old room. Right next to Mrs Khalid's.  It was just the way she had left it. She jumped on the bed and slept almost immediately.

Later on the man walked in the house from the Masjid. He checked on his mother. She was asleep but there was a frown on her face. Even in her sleep she was sad. He sat next to his mother and just stared at her. She looked older and tired. Only Allah knows the things they had gone through. It's been 19 years of total sadness and hopelessness for both of them. With their Hayati gone, what is there to smile about. The man felt  tears streaming down his cheeks. He couldn't remember smiling. He was afraid that he might not know how to anymore. He spent the night right next to her, drowning in his own tears. 

Alhamdullilah another chapter done.

I wanna thank you guys for your support. Especially fatmatty30 ,

Love you Jaanu