Only You

nine

It was the end of Tuesday and I was packing up in my office getting ready to leave for home. I put on my coat and handbag heading out the door. As I was locking my office I heard someone call my name.

"Dr. Siddiqui?"

I turned to the voice to see Dr.Khan standing there, my heart began to pace as usual.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I was wondering, do you want to head to the school together- after we arrive at the hospital or go on our own?" He asked kindly.

"I'm fine with both, it's up to you," I said.

" It'll be more convenient if we go together. It's a little distant." He said looking at me then looking down.

Together? In the same car?- I gulped.

"Alright then, we'll arrive at the hospital and go from there in whose car?" I asked.

"I'll drive." He said.

"Okay, well I'll see you tomorrow then," I said smiling at him.

He nodded at me, and I walked past him to the elevator. As I passed him the fragrance of his cologne hit my nostrils pleasantly, I smiled to myself thinking of him in the elevator.

I came out and walked to my car- when I saw Ruth standing by it. That's when I remembered she was going to confess to Jacob. We all had been so busy, we didn't even have the chance for a proper conversation.

"Ruth!, what's up?" I asked enthusiastically hoping for some good news- until I saw the tears well up in her eyes.

"Jacob only sees me as a friend." She stammered, as her lips quivered.

"Oh, sweetheart it'll be okay. Why don't we sit in my car and talk? It's a little chilly." I said as I hugged her.

We sat in the car, and I turned the heater on.

"Okay, so what happened?"

"I asked Jacob out for dinner, and he said sure. So we went to this fancy restaurant where we conversed for a while until I brought the topic of wanting to tell him something."

I nodded, as she held my hand.

"So I confessed, I told him that I've liked him for years and the feeling just seems to be growing."

She wiped her tears as she continued.

"He looked astonished and didn't say anything for a minute. And then he held my hand and told me that he's only looked at me as his best friend. He told me that he was sorry and he wouldn't let this change our friendship. He didn't leave, but I felt so broken I left the restaurant a while after."

"Ruth It's okay, you know in the Quran there's a verse that reads "Perhaps you dislike something good for you and like something bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know." I said.

Ruth wasn't a Muslim, but Zahra and I often talked about Islam amongst each other.

She listened to me intently.

"So, Jacob might be bad for you, though you desire him so much," I continued.

She nodded.

"If you two are meant for each other, I strongly believe that nothing can come in between you two. But for now, you have to cheer up." I patted her shoulder.

"Okay." She took a deep breath.

"I'm going to go home and rest." She said as she got ready to leave the car.

"I love your religion sometimes." She added before she closed my door.

I smiled, silently praying that Hidayat could bless my friends.