His Gorgeous Muslimah (completed) √

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

She hugged her phone tightly and kept smiling with her eyes closed. She was actually having a bad day because her late father's siblings came and didn't fail to come along with their problems. For goodness sake she just reunited with her family but that they fail to understand.

     "Now that Allah has brought you back to us, we should start making arrangements for your marriage" Anty Bara said. Anty Bara is her father's eldest sister . She never like Minal and her mother ever since and things became worse after her father's death. Minal could clearly see how hurt her mother looked.
  

   "Minal is too young. At least not now" she said calmly.

    "What rubbish! " Anty Bara exclaimed standing up. This is how you end up spoiling your daughter. For goodness sake how old were you when you married my brother. Even if you were older, I insist she must get married before the end of this year and I've already gotten a husband for her." she blurted out angrily.
   

    She bent and picked her phone which dropped on the floor and after grabbing her bag, she turned and looked at Minal who was crying so hard.

 
     "And you, don't think I'll spare you because you've got your mother's back. I'll give Ahmad your number and if you like, don't cooperate and you'll regret being born into this family." she said letting out a hiss. Minal continued to pour out her heart while her mum sat and watched in silence with tears streaming down her cheeks.
  

    "Minal" she heard her mum's shaky voice. She stood up and ran to where her mother sat burying her face in her arms.

     "Ummu please help me. Don't let this happen." she pleaded. Ummu Amina said in silence as she listened to her daughter's plea. She just has to do something about this. She surely won't let them force either she or her only treasure into doing what they don't want.
   

     "Minal"she whispered into her daughter's ear. Minal stopped crying and sat up to face her mother.

    "Khalas Minal. Don't cry OK. I'm here for you and I'll make sure I do all I can." she said softly as she continued to rub her daughter's back.
  

    "Ummu why don't we leave this country and go back to Sudan?" she asked wiping her tears.

   "No baby. We won't do that. Learn not to run away from your problems. Face and tackle them with all might." she said as she used the hem of her Lappaya to wipe her tears.
   *      *     *       *

   With her eyes still closed ,she continued to shower her phone with kisses. Ever since she came back to her home, she received no call or messages from Umar. Her Umar. She slowly opened her eyes and reread the messages for the hundredth time.
 
I've missed you so much Amina Sagir Alkali. My regards to our mum. Mea tumse pyaar karti hu.
   
   "Mea tumse pyaar karti hu?" What does that mean? I she asked herself looking so confused. Is that French, Spanish or what. "It's definitely not Arabic" she said trying to figure out the meaning. She finally gave up after many unsuccessful attempts. She thought of replying to his message but what would she say? She thought biting her nails.

 
    She called Nana her best friend and narrated all that happened today to her.

  "And who's the Ahmad? " Nana asked sounding annoyed.
 

   "I don't really know Nana. I really have no idea " she replied.

   "I think I have a way out." Nana said excitedly.

  
  "Don't you think it's high time you let then know you have someone. At least they won't force you to marry someone you don't know."
  

   "You know I have no one Nana" Minal said softly.

  "Are you kidding me? " Nana asked annoyed.

   "What of Nasir?" She added.
  

   "You know better than anyone else that I don't like Nasir" Minal said almost bursting into tears.

   "And you know better than anyone that Nasir loves you and can do anything for your sake. Where are your senses Minal. Nasir is far much better than the Ahmad you don't even know of. Just take your time and think over this OK? We'll talk later. Take care " she said and ended the call.

    Minal stood and and went to the bathroom to perform wudhu. After observing Salatul Asr, she remained in the prayer mat and kept on making azkar. She pondered over what Nana said and realized it was the only best way for her so she had no choice than to agree.

   "Thank you ALLAH'S for making Nana and I friends " .
 

    One thing Minal never kept were friends. There was no particular person she could call her best friend or group she could call her clique. But everything changed after she met Nana. She reached out for her phone and dialed Nana's number,where she told her she has given in and they began to make plans.

   "Inform Ummu first then from then we'll know what to do." Nana said excitedly.

   "Sure I will. Thank you so much Nana. You are the best." she said drawing circles on the bed.

 
    "Like seriously?! I hate you more" Nana replied and then ended the call.

   Minal went to her wardrobe and brought out her diary. The diary she has kept for years which contains different kinds of handwriting.

   "May 26th 2016" she read and began to wipe the tears that were gushing out of her eyes. This day is the worst day of her life. The day she lost her Father. On that day, she lost everything. She lost a father, a best friend, a brother, her happiness and basically everything that makes her happy excluding her mother.

   Clearly could she remember when she was younger and complained of not having siblings.

    "It's ALLAH'S will Honey. He surely has a reason for this. But don't worry, I'll play the role of a brother to you and Ummu will play the role of a sister Ok" he said rubbing her cheeks.

   "Ya Allah! Forgive my father and grant him Aljannatu Firdaus. Ya Allah have mercy on him" she said in between sobs.

   Later that night, Minal made up her mind to call Umar. She knew deep inside her that she couldn't wait any longer. After clearing her voice for over three minutes, she finally dialled the number but instead of the voice she has been craving to hear. The annoying voice she heard made her burst into tears.
    " The Airtel number you've dialled is... "
   She quickly ended the call not wanting to hear the rest. What a fantastic way to end a bad day, she thought

   Meanwhile, Umar Faruk hasn't been himself ever since Minal regained her memory. And things grew worse when she left. He always found himself thinking about her or spending hours looking at her pictures. He has been craving to see her, to speak to her and her her laugh softly, blush, roll her eyes at him, smile, pout and basically everything she does including her crying.

   He has been wanting to call her so they could spend hours on the phone and then she'll narrate to him what has been going on in her life but whenever he decides to call her, something stops him. He has composed zillions of messages for her but sent none. And lastly, he has been expecting her call. She should at least call to check on him or probably say hi. Has she forgotten him so soon? He wondered as the driver started the car.

    In less than thirty minutes, he was in Al-Amin's room and has narrated everything to him.

   "You should have called" Al-Amin said softly.

   "I wanted to AL-Amin but I always procrastinate thinking maybe she's busy trying to catch up old times with her mum or friends." He said scratching his head.

    "How about a text? Al-Amin asked and he said nothing. "Do that right away" he added and picked the remote.

     Later that day, Umar lay on his bed with his phone on his chest patiently waiting for Minal's call or reply. He has been waiting for over 5hours but there was no response from her. Annoyed, he switched off his phone and shoved it under his bed.