MY RESOLVE

EPISODE TWO

MY RESOLVE EPISODE TWO

Ajmal held on to his left cheek and contemplated on what to do: go drag her and beat her up like she deserves or be calm and get answers to why she appeared like a monster grabbed her!
Rey looked at him and "dude that chica just woose you like that! Oh boy! And you just coole like that! Wetin make we do?"
Qudrah quickly came to her friend's aid since she knows what these guys are capable of
"Ehm.... A.J, Rihannah isn't a brutal kinda girl,you know? She's one of those people that I know can absolve anything without an iota of give away. Please spare her and I promise to talk to her"
"Quds,just tell her never to try that with me again,else...."
Qudrah heaved a heavy sigh " thank you so much AJ. I really appreciate it. Please let me be on my way". She left them standing while Rey tried going with her but she told him off "You want to come with me after insinuating AJ deals with Rihannah! Come on babe,you know what he's capable of. So,just please stay off!" With that said,she stormed off and in deep thought "whatever made Rihannah act that way must be serious! Fine,I know she detests attention especially from the opposite sex but then..... Hmmm! This doesn't smell good"

Ajmal requested to be left alone. He strolled into the library to try to catch up on the classes he'd earlier. He flipped through his notes,textbooks,phones but the expression on Rihannah's face just wouldn't go away. It isn't like he's into her! For starters,she isn't his type-all dressy and so timid,no social life and to think he's thinking she might be disabled in communication! But sincerely she's got an aura around her he likes. She's the kiind of girl who'll stand her ground no matter the force. For starters,the way she stood her ground wit Fatty Jones is a plus plus! Every student knows better. Then she dared raise her hand to slap him! That girl already have scored so much for a day. He held onto his cheek and still felt the tingling.

He read for few more minutes,then the adhan(call to prayer) was given. Ordinarily he wouldn't have bothered but the knack to know why that girl reacted that way pushed him off his feet towards the mosque because only that way could he get to ask the amir the question that has been gnawing at him.

"As salaamu'alaykum Ajmal. You're here today! Welcome akhi" Ustadh Ya'qub greeted him with a beautiful smile and a warm hug which left him wondering to what he owes the warmth.
"Wa'alaykumusalam Bro.Ya'qub. Yes..I..ac..tua...lly came for a question..."
"Hmm. This is nice already brother but please let's talk after solat, Shall we?" He asked leading the way to the ablution center.
Ya'qub studied him unknowingly and was amazed at how well he took his time to perform his ablution plus he did it so well. Amazingly too,he didn't raise his finger to the tip of his tongue for the shahadah(declaration of faith). Wow! Impressive! They went into the mosque for the solat.

"Now brother Ajmal,what's your question?"
"Ermm.. I just want to ask if it's sinful to touch a girl.... Like you know,someone who isn't related to you. An incident happened today and the way the lady reacted just made me scared,like I'd rabies"
"Hmmm! Brother Ajmal,I'm so proud of you for wanting to know because the Prophet,Mohammad(upon whom be Allah's peace) told us that seeking knowledge is compulsory. As regards your question,let me answer it the best way you'd understand. The Prophet has made us know that it is better a nail is bored through our hands than to touch a woman who's not permissible to us...."
" You are joking,right?" Ajmal asked so surprised and scared at the same time.
"No brother. I am not. Now let me tell you more...."
Ya'qub went on to lecture him about zina,what can lead to it and Qur'an verses and the hadith(sayings and doings of the Prophet) regarding it.
Ajmal raised his head with his eyes as red as a well lit charcoal. "I really don't know what to say. I have not only touched but slept with every girl who's up to it on this campus Ya'qub! I wasn't like this but....... Thanks buddy. Let me be on my way now"
"You're most welcomed dude. Remember I'm all ears whenever you need me and the mosque is so open to you. It's a pleasure having you here. I've always wished a day would come that you'd come in here to pray with us. Whatever made you come here is a good cause akhi. Baarakallahu feek"
"Thanks once again. I do hear the response when people are greeted with the baa...ra...la...." He trailed off when he couldn't get the words out.
Ya'qub smiled " Just keep making effort akhi. It's Baa...ra..ka...llahu...feek and the response can be 'wa hiyyakun or wa feek baarakallahu "
Ajmal smiled and gave him the bro hug and walked back into the library to get his stuffs.
"AJ,where have you been? I've been here for some time now" AdurRaheem a.k.a Rey asked.
"The mosque"
"The what!? Tell me you're joking! You to the mosque! What for?"
"Rey,we're supposed to be Muslims! Gosh! Muslims worship in the mosque, so I went to worship!"
"You won't be fun anymore dude! You want to go all beards and Michael Jackson style,ba?"
"That I went to the mosque doesn't mean I'm gonna be all those!"
Rey looked at him inquisitively and a knowing smile on his lips. Ajmal looked at him and shook his head giving him a poke " what's with the look,dude?! I haven't grown two heads or have I?"
"It's Rihannah,right?"
"What's she?"
"See,I'm your personal person! Come on dude,talk to me! Before today,I've always seen how you look at her,initially with a scorn but when you heard about her being just behind you academically,it turned to admiration. Then today,you stood up for her with Fatty Jones,who does that? Are you smitten  fella!" He asked teasingly
"Me! AJ,smitteed by that over covered ninja! Hell no! See I'm just curious to know why my touch on her was repulsive enough to earn me a smack on the face,that's all!"
"Fine, if you say so but I don't believe you though"
"Believe what you want AbdurRaheem! Let's go already"

A knock on the door jolted me out of my ray of thinking. I straightened up my jelbab and walked to the door. "Who's there,please?"
"Hey honey, it's me Quds".
I opened the door to let in my room mate who just stood boring holes all over me with her hard stare.
" fine! I give in Quds. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you,okay?"
"Embarrass me,girl you can never embarrass me"
"Then what's with the look?" I asked tiredly. I walked to my bed to sit,
"You slapped AJ that's what" "one thing I'm so sure of is that you don't want to go messing with AJ"
"He deserves better than a slap! How dare he touch me! What makes him think it is right? Isn't he a Muslim like everyone of you!"
" He just touched you girl, not rape you!"
"Don't you dare use the word rape! He touched me and you call that just! It's a great deal for me because I'm not you who....." I'd to shut my mouth knowing what was to come.
"Spill it miss untouched! You're not me who sleeps around with men,boys! Go ahead! Cal me names! Judge me but remember I wear this shoeg and I so know very well where it hurts!"
With that she stormed out. I ran after her shouting at the top of my voice "Qudrah I'm so sorry,please come back" but she just walked on. I made to go to her but Rey beat me to it in company of Ajmal
"I got slapped earlier,so now what have you done to your bff?" Ajmal asked sarcastically
"Nothing that concerns you! Now just leave before you get better than a slap!"
"You're so rude Rodiah,Rah....or what's that your name?"
"It's Rihannah!"
"Who cares to know! You've got your problems like everyone of us,so quit hurting people just because you feel like it! You obviously don't deserve the good people around you!don't you think!" Ajmal seethed
I held a hand to my chest,the other on my temple and stared wide eyed at him. Could it be true that I deserve nothing good? Isn't that what that monster has been telling him? Don't I deserve love? I couldn't hold it anymore and just burst out wailing and ran back into the hostel like my life depended on those few strides.
Ajmal looked at her retreating back and wanted to go to her but knowing her made him keep his cool.
"Quds,what's with your friend? Are you sure she's mentally okay?
" beats me too" Qudrah replied looking towards where Rihannah headed to and wondered "what's with Rihannah? First the nightmare,the attack on AJ and now this! Something is wrong but to think she's been the composed type!

Is something truly wrong with Rihannah? Will Ajmal hold on to his deen? What's Qud's secret?

Next episode right at the corner
Rizqahwrites😘