Shirk in Disguise

Chapter 12

Days passed by and so did weeks and months as Yusuf tried to restrain himself from pondering on the past and 'what might have been'. He tried his best to move on and was determined to forget the past and focus more on his new-found companion – reading. He now never lost a chance to learn something beneficial. Little wonder that he always had a pen and a mini-notebook pocketed.

At first, he only read newspapers and articles by different publishers as he searched for available jobs but then he got interested in widening his horizons. He began reading religious articles by different Ulama' (Scholars) and then subsequently began to read pamphlets and books too. Thus began his slow but steady march to salvation.

'Ustadh', people now called him. The first time he was addressed by that title, he stopped in his tracks and looked around to see who was being referred to by such a reverent title. When he realized that he was the one, his heart almost melted in his chest as his eyes filled up with tears. He was so overwhelmed and therefore felt grateful to God and 'That Mysterious Lady'. Yusuf Adam now strove to emulate the Noble Prophet in morals, manners and activities.

Even though it had been a long time since his assignment to Maiduguri, he still constantly thought of her, that pure angel... He could still picture her modest dressing and her calm voice still resonated in his ears, calming his nerves whenever he felt agitated.

One sunny afternoon, he was coming back from his new humble but satisfactory job as a teacher in his former workplace where he was welcomed back gleefully when his mind became so clouded with thoughts of her. He imagined that he could see her...right there across the street. However, as soon as he crossed over, trying to reach out to her, he realized that she was gone – it was just a mirage. Though he tried to regulate his thoughts regarding her, her presence still lingered in his mind.

His seeming perplexity notwithstanding, he still prayed to the Almighty to make them meet again. Earlier on, he had even contemplated traveling to Maiduguri to try finding her but he remembered that he didn't even know her name or where she lived... How on earth could he find her???

As he reached his parents' house, he salaamed loudly at the door and upon receiving an answer and a go-ahead from his mother, proceeded to enter the courtyard, only to meet her with guests. Without much interest, he greeted them and went to his room.

Later in the evening, his mother went to see him after her guests had left. He'd just finished praying and was still sitting on the prayer-mat, thinking about life and its endless vicissitudes, perfectly engineered by the Lord of Creation. Without being told, he knew that something was definitely up.

"My beloved son," she began, "I'm sure you've met my bosom friend and her daughter from Kaduna."

"Um...Mama, which friend do you mean?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

"The one with whom we were discussing when you came in," she snorted, stating the obvious.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, remembering. He hadn't taken much notice of his mother's guests and didn't notice a young girl with the elder woman.

"Well, she's my very good friend..." his mother began.

"Okay..." he mouthed, wondering where all this was leading to.

"Her daughter, Mariya, is also a really nice girl..."

"Ma Sha Allah, that's good for her." To his mother's utter dismay, He still wasn't showing the desired interest.

"Okay I'm tired of circumambulating!" she exclaimed, exasperated. Her son just looked up sharply at her exclamation, his lips sealed.

"You really have to settle down!" she continued, as if she was giving him an order.

"Mamaaaaa, you know I'm not ready..."

"Nonsense! How many of your age-mates are still unmarried?" she asked rhetorically, referring to all his married mates.

"Mama, it's not a race..."

"Then haven't you gotten over Sarah?"

"Ah, Mama you know that's not the case at all." He almost flared up at the mere mention of her name. Sarah was actually the one who hadn't gotten over him. She'd pestered and begged him to have her back but he had refused. On realizing he wasn't moved, she even threatened him but he was unperturbed.

"...have to move on with your life," his mother was still speaking, "I've already given Mariya's mother my word."

"But mother..."

"Don't complain; it's for your own good."

"Mama, I'm not even too financially stable!"

"We'll see about that...did your wealth just vanish into thin air??"

"Actually, I..." he began to stammer.

"Spit it out then, is it that you don't want even your family to enjoy the wealth you gathered from your acquaintance with the Habibs?"

"Mama, it's all gone!"

"Right...you expect me to believe you?" she asked him drily as she got up to leave. "Just prepare to meet her parents."

Yusuf just bowed his head in grief as his mother confidently walked out of the room. He knew his mother didn't believe that he wasn't wealthy but in the real sense, that was the ultimate truth. He'd ceased to be a rich man since that day in Maiduguri...

Plus, even the little that had remained wasn't just sitting in his bank account; he'd actually taken it upon himself to feed the poor and needy whenever he came across them. Only his car remained; and he didn't regret any of his deeds.

"Let's see how all this unfolds," he mouthed as he folded the prayer-mat. Even though he really hadn't gotten to know her and didn't even award her as much as a glance, he somehow believed that Mariya wasn't the one for him. He however prayed to God for divine guidance.

A/N
There are quite a number of Islamic keywords which I used in this chapter and some others too. Some of you might not be too familiar with them so feel free to make inquiries in the comment section!

Don't hesitate to share your thoughts. Your votes and shares will also gladden my heart...💖