RUNNING

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Surah Ar-Room, Verse 21:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

"And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect."

AHMAD P.O.V
I mustered all my courage to tell Mom about my feelings for Maraya, at first I do not want to admit it but I realise that it is not mere attraction that I have for her, I conducted my istikhara and Alhamdulillah I got positive result, my feeling grow stronger for her and I know it is time to take a step forward.
When I told my mom, she was happy about it but told me to give it more time and take it slow. It took me five months of waiting and today finally I am going to have a meeting with Maraya, on her request I must add.
When Afnan told me three days ago that her friend request to meet me and have conversation before she give her final answer I was anxious but my sister told me to relax and just be true to her about my feelings,  told me how much she had talk to her when they were in school and how Maraya can't take her eyes off me during their wedding which took place some weeks ago. She assured me of positive response but in return she had me make her a promise, she and her husband will accompany us to our site of meeting and I agreed since I want her to also witness my proposal for her friend.
Yes! I planned to propose to Maraya in  a befitting way, I don't want to rob her of those beautiful moments since I know I can afford the luxury. I involved my parent in the planning and even invited her family but because I want it to be a top secret I decide to leave my sister out of the plan.
I already bought her a beautiful ring and paid for the restaurant to make a reservation for us in their VIP suite, I was there yesterday with Ibrahim and Abubakar to oversee everything, I told them to use purple and pink for the decoration and write the proposal on a cake which will be brought out immediately she gave me her answer. I hope she will be please with my surprise party.
I dress in a polo and jeans, brush me hair and use my favourite perfume, I don't want to appear too formal but I need to make effort to look good for her, I can't stop smiling at the thought of seeing her again, proposing to her and in sha Allah, getting married to her soon. I don't know how i am happy just for the thoughts of making her happy.
I check my watch as I packed my car in the packing space, I still have like twenty minutes to put everything in place.
I was sitting alone drinking Soda when I saw Maraya walks in with my sister and her husband, Subhanallah, she is more beautiful than I could recall. She dressed in a simple gown and had a small veil wrap on her head, she looked simple yet elegant as she walk down to my seat, that moment she took my breath away and I could not take my eyes of her until I heard someone clear her throat. I tried to compose myself and look at Afnan grinning mischievously like a little girl.
"Maraya is saying Salam big brother." She said still smiling.
"Wa alaekum salaam waramatullah." I answered and stood up from my chair to pull out a seat for her, "please have a seat." I offered and she gently took her seat and said "Thank you."
"What a gentle man you are brother." My sister claps and I begin to regret her coming, I realise she is there to torture me. I exchange greetings with Abubakar and we all sat together for some moment and talk about random issue, when I realise they had no plan to leave us alone I looked at my brother in-law sending a message through my eyes, after some secinds he hold his wife and offer to have their lunch in a seat away but not too far from us.
I know my sister must have begged him to bring her as she want to witness our first meeting probably she plans to use it against me forever but I am so glad within myself because I know I am going to beat her expectations and give her something to talk about.
After being left to ourselves I asked Maraya to make order but she told Mr she will take a fruit drink. She was observing me quietly as she sips her drink and after a long silence she decides to start her conversation.
"Can you tell me about yourself?" She looked up to me.
"My name is Ahmad Badejoko, I studied civil engineering in Harvard university, I had my Masters in same course, I am a striving Muslim, I had a degree in Islamic studies and still studying more about my religion, I have a sister that you know, am twenty eight and still leaving with my parents." I paused and expected her to say something but she remain silent. "Is there any other thing you want to ask?"
"Tell me more about your likes and your interest." She said.
"I like white color, I like eating, I like nice car, I enjoy reading, teaching and learning about Islam, being around my family and I have great interest in you." I said the last holding her gaze and I notice her smile shyly.
"What are your expectations in a wife?"
"I just want a woman who will assist me in building a peaceful home and helping me in becoming a better Muslim". I said truthfully.
"How much did you know me and what exactly do you find interesting in me?" She asked frowning slightly.
"If I say I know so much about you I will be lying and if I tell you what interest me particularly in you I may not be right," I say slowly picking my words, "but it is true that you love Allah and you are willing and working hard in order to please Him and I love you for that, I love the fact that you are a Muslimah that strives to get better with passing of days and I love your calmness and simplicity. I know you are not perfect and I am not expecting perfection from you, I just want you to be my friend, my companion and help me complete half of my deen. If we work and walk together I believe we will cross all hurdles and patiently win the world and the hereafter." I don't where the words are coming from but I am being genuinely faithful with my answers.  She was silent again and I begin to feel tense, maybe I did not meet her expectation.
"I accept your marriage proposal." She finally said and it took me some seconds to get what she said. Happiness is an understatement, I was overjoyed.
"I hope you will not mind this." I quickly said.
"What?" She asked and I flip my finger giving the staff signal and immediately the suit was redecorated and our little guest join us; her whole family, my parents, and my cousins.
She was dumbfounded, she stood up and look around her and I can clearly see the happiness on her face, Afnan has already join us and the expression on her face was priceless, I smile contently and signal for them to bring in the proposal cake, when the cake arrived, I went on one knee and took out my ring.
"I know I just met you about six months ago and we have not been together to know more of each other, I have been living before I met you but after meeting you I know I am incomplete, I want to spend the remaining on my life with you in it, waking up beside you each day. I am not going to promise you heaven and earth but I promised to love you with all my heart and be patient with all your flaws. I pray you will find me worthy of owning your heart and make me the happiest man by being my wife."  I saw tears in her eyes and I was confused but before I could say another word she put her hand forward and I sipped in the ring, she kissed the ring and hugged Afnan with tears in her eyes and hugs in return.
"I am so happy for you sister-in-law." She was smiling so much and I know she's impress, she gave me a thumb up and I gave a sweet smile, she later moves away from her friend and came to hug me. My mum hug Maraya and welcome her to the family and my father does the same, her mother also hug her and her Dad and brothers took turn to congratulate me, I know they are please but they still managed to mumbles some warning about taking care of their girl. I smiles and I pray that Allah will make it easy for me to take care of my wife more than they expected.