Jannah. [SEQUEL TO DAWUD]

Chapter 34 - Damage Control

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

If the time of prayer has been called and you haven't prayed before reading this, please do so.

***

Dawud's P.O.V

I didn't know what to do. But looking at Laith's expression gave me the encouragement I needed to take charge. 'So that is how you play Categories!' I said to the audience of boys. 'Now, for your sake, we're going to take it easy. Since you guys want to be babies about it.' I taunted them. They roared with rebuttals and comebacks, causing us mentors to break into fits of snickers. I blew my whistle, invoking silence. 'Save that energy for the game! Now, our category is... vegetables! Junaid, take it away!' I gave him a nod and reached for Laith. We ducked out of the gym and into the community center's foyer.

Looking at him now, I had to blink twice. He was unrecognizable! Laith, the cool, collected, confident, and slightly arrogant chap now stood with an air of defeat around him. His face was red. 'That was the most... embarrassing thing... to ever happen to me.' He confessed, staring at the tiles below his feet.

'Akhi,' I grabbed his shoulder and gave him a little shake. He refused to look me in the eye. 'It wasn't that bad. It could've been worse.' I comforted him. I was pretty good at damage-control.

He looked up now, surprised. 'Really?'

Before I could muster a retort, the gym doors split open and Akhlaaq ran through, howling hysterically. 'That was the most awkward event I have witnessed in my life!' He shouted, running around us. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. What a way to make things worse.

'Stop it, bro. You're not making the situation better.' I criticized. Akhlaaq held a finger up, ushering me to wait as he caught his breath.

'Laith,' He declared, 'You're going to be okay. Some girls like silly guys.' Akhlaaq patted him on the shoulder. 'That's how I got my wife.'

'How reassuring.' Laith replied sarcastically, shrugging Akhlaaq's meaty hand from his body.

The gym doors opened again and our heads turned instinctively. Uthman walked briskly towards the exit doors wearing his jacket, pausing for only a moment once he passed us. He looked like he wanted to say something. I couldn't see his expression, though. He continued to walk away. Laith and I locked eyes, silently asking the same question. What was up with him?

Laith followed him into the blizzard while Akhlaaq grabbed my arm. 'Let's go back to practice. Junaid is going to kill us. He's not as experienced as the rest of us, you know.' He told me. I peeled my eyes from the exit doors and nodded absentmindedly. What could they possibly speak about?

Jannah's P.O.V

I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. We watched the mentors follow after one another, assembling outside the gym doors. Muna and I were speechless, frozen with shock. When Uthman looked up in our direction and followed the others outside I couldn't help but gulp with nervousness.

'This isn't very fun anymore is it?' Warsan spoke softly. I turned towards her. Her face was expressionless. It was hard to know how she was feeling in general, let alone in a moment like this. She was always private about her emotions.

'Warsan, how are you feeling right now?' I questioned her, clutching her hands. She smiled at my touch. I wanted to make her feel at ease. I was pretty good at damage-control, you know.

Dawud and Akhlaaq marched back into the gymnasium and took over the practice, giving Junaid time to grab his water bottle from the assemblage of bleachers below us.

'I think I want to go home.' She said. 'I don't like being the center of attention. All of this is giving me anxiety .'

Muna reached over and put her hand over ours. 'But how will you get home? Junaid is your ride! Plus, the weather is really bad...'

Warsan was already on her two feet, marching down the bleachers with her jacket in hand. My heart broke at the sight of her confused expression. Oh, how I would kill to know what was running through her complex brain! She differed from Muna and me in many ways. We understood that. But it's that very fact that made her so special to us. Junaid jogged towards her and took ahold of her arm. She spoke to him as she slipped on her jacket. They conversed for a bit more before he frowned and patted his pockets. Warsan said one last thing to him before he raised his hands in defeat. I guess she was taking an Uber? Her olive green parka disappeared from sight. Muna and I sat in shock. What on earth just happened?

Warsan's P.O.V

Annoyed was not the right word. I was embarrassed! I never expected something like this to happen to me. If Laith liked me like everyone said he does, I can accept that. But going the extra mile and blurting my name out, forcing a basketball practice through a huge storm, and risking everyone's safety... That is not okay! And, for anyone who even cares, it is such a turn-off. I genuinely have never been in this position before, so, as an amateur to this whole love-thing, it is not going as well as I had imagined. I stood at the entrance door and put my phone in my pocket. My Uber ride was only two minutes away. Knowing that Laith was probably somewhere around these halls, I stepped outside the building. I would rather freeze than run into him. I recognized two figures, speaking back and forth in a somewhat aggressive tone. They were a distance away from me, standing out in the parking lot. I took a step back, shielding myself using a nearby wall. I was starting to get scared. Until I heard my name.

'Uthman, I just don't understand how it's your business. Why do you care?' The first voice spoke. The man sounded a lot like Laith.

'Because... I...I think the two of you are just incompatible. You're not her type.' Uthman responded. I gasped in shock. What was going on?

'How do you know that? Am I missing a storyline here? Or intruding on a love story in the making? Let me know right now and I'll back off.'

I awaited Uthman's response. I couldn't even breathe out of fear that I'd miss his reply.

'Are you interested in Warsan? Are you looking to marry her?' Laith pressed.

I closed my eyes and bit my lip. The cold wind grew still and in this very moment, it felt like every second was extended tenfold. Time seemed to stop. Uthman, what will you say?

Just then, a black Honda civic drove towards me. My phone buzzed, letting me know that it was my Uber ride. I leaned against the brick wall once more, cloaking me from their sight. The car's wheels crunched the snow below them, muffling Uthman's answer. I could hear Laith sigh and then snicker shortly after. I stepped into sight, reaching for the car door. The boys faced me, watching me thoughtfully. I looked at the two of them, only now remarking that they were the same height and build. I couldn't read their expressions. They both looked at me blankly. I slid into the car and buckled myself in.

What did Uthman say? And why did they both look unhappy?

I looked at my hands as we drove past them. Will I ever find out the truth?