The Head Cover

The head cover-7

Chapter 7. Introducing the new boy

 

I was nervous, of course. I had never brought a boy to my house in my 17 years. Heck, what was I thinking? I knew what I was thinking. I was being nice. But this was awkward. My hand was posed next to the door, waiting for a perfect moment to drop.

I knew mom wouldn’t question, she wouldn’t make the moment more awkward for me, but she’d look at me with ‘Who’s this?’ I knew her so much and I knew what would be her reaction. My mom Humaira Malik was a strict lady, but she was loving too. She loved me and she knew my intentions would always be pure whatever I did. But this, I wasn’t even sure of it.

“Can I go back, you look so nervous?” Jake Greene, huh, was it Brown, whatever, questioned hesitantly. His eyes reached my raised fisted palms and I nervously smiled and then took my all strength and knocked the door.

“Honey, it’s open.” My mom called, obviously from the kitchen. I could smell that soft smell of chicken boiling in the pan and also I could smell the sweet roasting smell of Cashew nut. Now my stomach was getting the best of me as I walked inside purposefully inside the kitchen, leaving a very startled and confused Jake on the sitting room. He played with the Islamic magazine my dad ordered and some other sports magazine. He was too nervous even to look at them. He looked like a boy just getting caught smoking, when he shouldn’t do it really. I chuckled at myself.

“Assalamu Alaikkum mama, I have a guest in our living room and will you come and great?” I purposely avoided mentioning the gender. She nodded with a bright smile. I knew she thought it would be one of my three friends. Surprise, surprise!

I keenly watched my mom as she stepped inside the room; her eyes widened as she stared at the boy in my room. He looked at my mom nervously before he sat straight and smiled “Hello mam,”

But no, my mom was still rooted in the place. Her eyes were shocked, but I didn’t see the judgmental stare. She was really curious why I would bring a boy to my home.  

He still sat there nervously, his fingers playing with the small of his shirt. Then mom smiled. It was the most beautiful smile filled with kindness, which only she could pull.

“Hello boy, nice to meet you.”

This was what I was thinking. My mom wouldn’t doubt me for a moment, she would accept that whatever I did, I did it for a reason. She was the most caring mom one would ever get and I was again thankful Allah blessed me with her.

“Mom, this is Jake Greene,” I was cut by a throat clearing and I looked up to see Jake scratching the back of his head and my mom smiled at his nervousness.

“If you don’t mind, it’s Brown,” he added and I bit my lips. Oh dang, I was so forgetful.

“Uh sorry, mom, Jake; Jake is new to our school and he want to have a translation of Qur’an, so I brought him home to introduce him to Yusuf, so that he can get to know more about Islam.” I said to my mom and she smiled at him, thoroughly pleased.

“You did good job, Zara.” Mom appraised me with a small pat.

“Zara, your name’s Zara?” He asked and mom smiled proudly at me. She then nodded her head at him.

“Jake, you’re welcomed to stay for the dinner.” Mom smiled at him.

“No mam, I don’t want to be trouble.”

“Well, it’s not trouble. Taking care of guests, regarding the guests with respect is charity, a good deed, in Islam. No man will be a better man if he sends away his guests with empty stomach. So, please stay.”

There was a flare of admiration in his eyes as he stared at my mom. His face was lot softer, brighter and I knew he felt like he belonged here. He not only belonged here, he belonged to truth and I knew one day he would find the truth.

“Whoever conceals knowledge, Allah will put a bridle of fire on him (on the day of reckoning) is a Hadith by Prophet. So I welcomed you to my home to learn the truth and I won’t conceal the knowledge I have on Islam from you.”  My mom said as she walked away.

Who is not gifted with kindness is not gifted with any goodness (Muslim)

I remembered the Hadith as I looked at my mom with a small kind smile, before I walked inside the room.

And who are observant of their prayers (at their proper time). Honored, they shall (dwell) in Gardens. (AL-Qur’an 70:34, 35)

 

“….And establish prayers, verily prayer forbids indecency and evil….” (29:45)

I smiled as I read the verses of Qur’an written in a crawl with colorful sketches, in my wall poster. It was what Yusuf and I had created when we were young and it was still there in my room, hanging, urging me to pray. I entered inside the bathroom for ablution.

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