Unlikely To Happen

~B O N U S S C E N E~

B O N U S  S C E N E 1

A Father's Schemes

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CONTEXT: This occurs weeks after Maleeha's family learned about the truth of Yahya's sexuality, but before Zaakir and his family come to her home. 

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"...But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of Planners."

~ Surah Anfal, ayah 30.

The carpeted floor scraped against Binyameen's socked feet as he dragged them along its path. Binyameen was tired, drained and worried. His tensions were rising. A sick wife suffering with constant muscle weakness, fatigue and lack of sleep. His eldest daughter, Alhamdulillah, was married and she was blessed with wonderful in-laws who treated her like a daughter, but she too was having difficulties in her life. His Qandeel, his eldest princess and her patient husband were struggling to conceive a child.

As time went by, he could see the hope waning in his daughter and his son-in-law's eyes with each year that passed without a child. Binyameen's heart ached whenever his daughter visited and he saw the look of utter despair in her dark brown eyes, the way she would hunch forward and fold her hands over her flat stomach.

Then, his baby, his littlest princess, Maleeha had her wedding called off just weeks before. Her almost-husband was gay. Gay! He couldn't begin to express his anger, his shock and shame at the situation. How could he truly express what he felt at home when his daughter was distraught? Maleeha had thought she fooled her parents into thinking that everything was well with her, but neither Binyameen nor her mother were convinced. They had seen the proof of her tears on her pillows and the tear marks on her face in the morning. She was more withdrawn, quieter and agreeable – which was weird for Maleeha.

She was generally the more talkative one, the lively one, the one who would easily make friends and keep everyone in her family happy and feeling loved. Maleeha was not one to have things bother her and mope around, but her situation with Yahya had her utterly down and sad. She was hardly who she was before the disaster. Maleeha forgot what it was to smile, to laugh and that broke his heart.

As Binyameen walked out of the Masjid doors, he spotted a familiar figure. He rushed towards the quickly disappearing figure. "Hussain!" he called out excitedly when he lost sight of his best friend.

Hussain Ahmed stopped. He had heard a voice that he could only associate with the best of people in his life, a voice that was as familiar to him as his own. Hussain turned in circles until his eyes rested on a mountain of a man, his very best friend.

With a broad grin, Binyameen reached his oldest and his best friend.

"Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatu!" Hussain greeted with an excitement that could rival a child. Immediately he wrapped his arms around Binyameen and hugged as if they were separated for lifetimes.

Binyameen returned the greeting and stepped back as he stared at Hussain.

"Ya Allah! Biny, how long has it been since we've last seen each other?" Hussain's rough voice carried a hint of sadness, as if he blamed himself for the distance. He knew that in part, he was to blame for their distance.

Hussain had been too busy planning for his trip to Turkey, then he was consumed by his responsibilities at home to have kept in contact with his friend. He was a terrible friend, and he prayed that Allah forgive him for being so selfish and self-absorbed.