Haajar:
I woke up to different voices from all around the house. I groaned rubbing my eyes, before checking the clock on the wall. 9 am. Why are we like this? I stared at my bedroom door blinking slowly until my eyes started to close again, I jumped back up groaning once again staring at the ceiling. Can't wait till this is over. I threw the duvet over to my right side throwing my legs over the bed forcing myself to stand up. I grabbed a plain black scarf hanging at the end of my bed throwing around my neck loosely then taking some to cover the back of my hair. I opened up the curtains exposing the daylight into my room, I looked down at the garden to see my mother with a few of my aunties and cousins. I smiled widely, running out of bedroom and down the stairs. I stopped by the kitchen and resumed to casually walk towards the living room.
"Haajar?" A girl probably my age or younger asked. She had a fair complexion and light skin, but those eyes reminded me of who it was.
"Jannah!" She laughed excitedly jumping up to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her torso embracing her
"I've missed you." I whispered giggling after
"I've missed you too Haaj." She hugged my tighter which made my eyes watery. It's been a while since I've seen Jannah, I've always thought she'd have forgotten me. But after all the fun we had as kids and all the memories we made how could we forget one another?
"You look so different Jannah,"
"Says you! Look how beautiful you've gotten Masha'Allah," She took a hold of my arm pulling me into the garden where my mother and her sisters were.
"Mum, look," Jannah called over her mother who came smiling the widest I've ever seen her smile
"Masha'Allah, Haajar you've grown so much." She pulled me into a tight hug crying into my scarf. I chuckled rubbing her back lightly looking over at my own mother who was on the verge of tears herself.
"It's okay, you should see Ibrahim though," I laughed causing everyone else to laugh. This felt nice, the family being together again. I wonder how it would feel if our cousins from other parts of the world were here.
"We need to catch up, it's been way too long," Jannah smiled putting a hand on my shoulder turning me towards her. I nodded enthusiastically, it would be nice to catch up.
"Remember when we were younger, and we just used to dance to stupid songs putting on shows for everyone," we both laughed reminding each other of the memories we've created
"I miss those days, but I'm sure we can make new memories now." She hugged me once more but this time on the side pulling my head into the crook of her neck
"Mama, Auntie Maryam is here," Ismaeel walked into the garden greeting our aunties
"Long time no see Jan," he smiled towards her putting his hand out for her to shake
"What are we strangers? We're family Ismaeel." She took a hold of his hand pulling him into a tight hand. He gave in loosely wrapping his arms around her rubbing her back
"This is nice isn't it? The family being together again." He said letting out a deep breath
"Sometimes I wonder where it all went wrong." I blurted out looking at both my cousin and Brother. They shrugged their shoulders in unison chuckling afterwards
"Ismaeel?" I asked looking up at him due to the height difference. He tilted his head up waiting for my question
"Have you met the groom? Has anyone met him?"
"Yeah of course, he goes to our local mosque for Magrib prayers." He chewed his bottom lip nodding his head at both of us walking back into the house.
