Chapter 1:
Sitting in my desk, I tried not to fall asleep while mrs Abraham my biology teacher was explaining cell walls and cell respiration, I felt like I was back in grade 7. I tried to keep my eyes open even though my eyelids were drooping.
Just before the period ended I found myself writing about the future.
O allah! Please grant me the one
Who will be the garment for my soul
Who will satisfy my deen
And in doing so make me a whole
Make him righteous and on the path
That I can go Jannah with him
Inshallah.
Just then, I was startled by a very loud and sudden cough, that came behind me, as I slightly turned around to see who it was my heart sank, he seemed so familiar yet unknown, I guess a new student.
Later towards the afternoon I was relieved that my first day of year 11 was over, still have 199 days ahead.
As I reached home, I saw Abida in front of the door with a phone in the air. Oh no what a selfie freak. Abida is 2 years older than me, but most of the times I feel older. I hate to admit it but my sister is a big heart breaker and dilly dally.
I walked into the kitchen which was always so delightful and with a delicious odor of baking cakes. As I took a bottle of water from the fridge mum appeared giving me a quick heart attack, I went to give mum a kiss on the cheek and told her that I will go for a shower, mum never put an effort to respond back, I knew mum never cared about me or my older brother Fraydoon. Farydoon was what a girl wants, expect he doesn't want them.
After I took a quick shower, I put on my loose Hurley sweatshirt and truckies before putting on my hijab. I ran to Fraydoon's room for his laptop. "Come in" Fraydoon almost shouted, I guess he's having a rough day. I tip toed into his room which was slightly messier than normal. "May I please borrow your laptop?" I asked, he was still scowling and i knew it was my duty as a sister to comfort him. "Are you okay" I managed to ask, he finally looked up slightly lifting his head up before speaking " do you want to know what happened" he asked, I couldn't help but I was keen to know, I just gave a nod. "well where should I start, firstly my experiment turned out a huge fail, it meant a lot to me if I got it right at the first try, then I went to pick up Abida from work who took nearly 45 minutes getting out. As we reached the highway there was an accident and the road was busy. My awesome day was ruined thanks to that slut." He shouted. " please Fraydoon don't mess around with Abida, you know how she is. let's got out for a run to get a fresh air" I told my moody brother, though he was always so clam, I'm assuming he had a great plan for the day until the incident with Abida being late happened, they never ever get along, I don't blame anyone for not getting along with Abida or mum they were so careless and wanted.
After running for 4 Ks around the block, I was panting hard. "Can we go to Coles to buy PowerAde and ice cream?" I asked breathlessly. "you are very abnormal" Fraydoon chuckled before sprinting to Coles. I reached him within 5 seconds and headed inside.
Beep beep beep!
Stupid alarm, I smashed my hand on top off the alarm clock before slipping out of bed. It was fajr time, I took wudu and returned back to my room to perform my salah (obligation), fajr prayer was my favourite prayer it felt so good waking up to thank your lord for everything he has given you, alhamdulillah.
As I walk into the year 11 corridor there I see him, I quickly dropped my gaze when I realised he was staring back. Mid way to my locker, BANG! There it goes my books fall down on the ground when I look up to see what happened, I then just realised what actually really happened, yep I bumped into him. " I'm sorry" I quickly said before picking up my lose papers off the ground. "no don't be sorry, it was my fault" he slowly whispered. I just gave a small unwillingly smile. He got up and lifted his hand to me for a pull up, OH NO! what should I do, Ya Allah help me. Certainly allah had rescued me from this disaster, he just gave a nod understandingly after seeing my reaction. "It's okay, I'm sorry about that, I almost forgot you were a Muslim" he calmly said. Forgot? Can't you see me wearing headscarf, are you blind I started mumbling to myself. "sorry?" he asked questioningly, oh shit, did I say that out loud? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say anything to you, I was lost in my own thoughts, forgive me" I replied before heading to my home group class.
At last it was lunch time, I was sitting down under a tree at the oval with my friends, Mariam, Nargis, Anna and Joseph who was Anna's boyfriend, let me just admit it that I had a huge crush on him in year 9 but I'm really happy for them now, however he's like the leader of the school, he gets a lot of respect. As Nargis broke in the silence "is there a new kid in year 11?" she asked with a big grin on her face. " yeah Sajjad, he's in my home group" Mariam responded while glaring at me. "What's with that stare" I asked confusingly. "Nothing! Nothing at all, thought you might be interested in him, you know how you always say you look into guys that are fit, handsome, a bit out going and he's taller than you. He seems like the one." She finished off. "Shut up. I hate you. Now show me who he is" I almost screamed from excitement. "where's your patients ghee" Mariam said with a laughter, she knew me more than I knew myself, after all we have been best friends over 9 years.
As we had reached where 'Sajjad' was hanging out, joseph said with curiosity "are you talking about that dude?" directing to the one that I accidently bumped into this morning and the one who gave me a fright yesterday in biology class. "shush Jossie, what do you think of him Amina?" Nargis
questioned me. "errr.. which one is he exactly?" I chuckled. "the one who is holding onto the rugby ball and now running to Daniel" Anna implied. So it was really him, oh no this can't be happening, oh Allah help me escape. "well, he seems bubbling, I DON'T KNOW"I managed to speak over them, they sounded like twelvies when it came to guys and love. Thank goodness the bell saved me from this uncomfortable situation. "oii! Sajjad, come over here" joseph yelled over the music bell. Yep this was real, I don't know why I was fusing over it every time this Sajjad dude was mentioned between us but it was really uncomfortable, it wasn't like I had a crush on him or liked him was it? Sajjad started to jog over to where we were, "HEY, what's up mate" he spoke breathlessly to joseph, the next thing he said really annoyed me "Getting all the girls aye? Hand one over to me bro" he smirked. " nah ghee the others are taken, amina is all yours" joseph said cheekily looking at me, I was about to explode but I remained cool. "oh so your name is Amina? Don't we have biology together" he asked looking at me. "erhm, yeah I think so , I have bio now. Can't be late, bye" before leaving them I gave a quick hug to the girls and I tried to run away from them but Sajjad caught up with me. "Amina" he shouted over. I slowed down for him to catch up. " wooah! You walk really fast damn" Sajjad said still panting, "we are late for bio, hurry up" I snapped. As we both walked into class 5 minutes late everyone had their eyes on us which was very spooky "sorry for being late Miss" Sajjad said politely, " sorry Mrs Abraham that we are late" I said in a pleading voice. "See me after class both of you" Mrs Abraham said in a sharp tone. After I settled down to begin my lesson, I felt something hit me on the back of my head, I turned around to see it, there was a note on the ground and I was assuming it was for me, I picked it up and opened to read it. "You are beautiful, can we catch up after class?" it was written in a very fancy joint writing, I wasn't sure from who it was, but I had suspicious on someone, however I kept my thoughts to myself. Just as the home time bell rang off again, the same exact scenario as first day of year 11 occurred, I was astonished.
