...

The scene at the Ahmad living room laid out just like a regular weekend at the household.

Clinking of metals were emerging from the open kitchen as Dahlia's mother worked in there. The twins cried and ran around the room as one of the Ahmad sisters tried to coax them to eat their lunch. Their father Murshid Ahmad, and the twins' mother and the eldest sister, Zinnia, was sitting on one of their dining chairs with a file sprawled open in front of them.

Dahlia Ahmad sat on one of the sofas facing their television. Poppy was snoring as she curled up besides her. Masterchef Australia was playing on TV. She could see Matt Preston's mouth moving but not hear a word leaving his mouth as the device was muted. Rose was reading Surah Al-Kahf in a loud melodious voice.

Dahlia's heart was filled with warmth and joy. She had started her morning with Fajr prayer and then followed by Quran recitation. She planned to repeat it after Asr prayer as well. She looked around the room, her family lost in their own mundane tasks.

It had been a while time since Dahlia followed her regular, simple everyday routine - and since the Angels found her in a state of worship while they changed shifts morning and night.

As much as she loved having her extended family over, Dahlia couldn't help but feel relieved at their chaotic departure. She needed to be reminded from time to time how much she depended on these small things to be content. Like having her family close, having time to read the Quran morning and evening, being able to leave the Fayyad residence and sleep in the comfort of her own bed... technically.

Her grandmother was still staying in her room and Dahlia occassionally had to camp in one of the living room sofas. But as long as she didn't have to awkwardly bump into Kaveh Fayyad at any corner of her house, Dahlia was happy.

She never appreciated her personal space more and was happy to be back to her regular life.

Lily plopped down on the seat besides her let out a sigh.

"Did you just wake up?" Dahlia asked, turning to look at her sister.

"Of course not," Lily responded. "I was stuck sending work-related emails all morning, By the way, I've been meaning to ask." Her eyes suddenly turned playful. "How do you know Faizan Iqbal?"

The question asked out of the blue took Dahlia aback. "Just from here and there." she replied, hoping to sound casual. "Why?"

"You know, because we all saw him looking at you during the Fayyad's iftaar party." she circled her hand exaggeratedly.

Dahlia let out a sigh. She should have expected this. Her sister wasn't anything if not observant, and every single person in her family was nosy and self-proclaimed detectives.

Dahlia thought she caught a glimpse of Faizan at the party sometime, but couldn't be sure as he had disappeared. She found him soon after, and then caught glances of him a couple times more throughout the evening, even though it didn't seem like the guy recognized her.

She rolled her eyes. "He's in charge of the construction site neighbouring Grandma's and I ran into him there. That's where I know him from. I think he was just looking at me because he recognised me," she added adamantly. "It doesn't have to be a thing, Lily." Dahlia looked at her pointedly.

"I didn't say it was," her sister replied with a grin.

"But you were implying it. Besides, I barely know the guy. This is the second time I ran into him and I don't even recall hearing the his name until recently. Any of you know more about him?" she darted her eyes between her sisters, a supressed curiousity in her eyes.

"I have heard of him, I don't know him," Rose replied, lifting her face from finally finishing her recitation.

"I heard he was in Australia for his studies and came back recently, about the same time Poppy did," Lily said.

"He also runs in a different circle," Rose added. "Went to Easton High, not York."

"You think Poppy ran into him when they were both in Australia?" Lily mused.

"How would I know?" Rose shrugged. "Ask her."

"Hey, Pops." Lily vigorously shook Poppy's legs. "Do you know anything about Faizan Iqbal? I think our Della has a new crush."

Poppy moaned in protest in her sleep, still deeply unconscious.

"Lily!" Dahlia chided. "I told you not to turn it into a thing."

"What are you girls talking about?" Zinnia asked, getting up from the dining table and stretching.

"Della is curious about that new boy Faizan," Lily replied, raising her brows mischievously.

"Ugh!" Dahlia let out a cry.

Zinnia rolled her eyes at the sisters' silliness and crossed the space to get to her children. She picked up Asiya, who was still fussing about not eating, and reached her hand out for her son.

But Mohammed ran away at the sight of his mother and swaddled with his little feet towards their sofa.

Dahlia quickly propped up her feet over the entire length of the seat and blocked Mohammed from getting up.

"Stinky little boys are not allowed here," she said.

The kid folded his bottom lip and turned on his feet. "Mom!" he whined and ran back to Zinnia.

She started giggling at his retreating figure. The older sister gave her a tired look. "Dahlia, why do you do this?"

"He looks so funny when he gets angry," she snickered, shrugging her shoulders innocently.

Mohammed huffed and pulled his mother's clothes still complaining about Dahlia. Zinnia bent down and picked up the unhappy child, propping him on her free hip. She held both her children on each arm and gave her a deadpanned look.

Dahlia tried to reel back her laughter. "I'm sorry, I'll take Asiya." She offered, getting up from her seat.

Dahlia took Asiya in her arms and bounced from feet to feet to calm her down.

Ibrahim and his father came in through the back door. Asiya wiggled from her lap and ran straight into his.

He picked her up and spun her into a circle. As Ibrahim cooed in gibberish to her, Asiya got hold of the thing that attracted her to him everytime - his beard. She grasped it like it was the most precious thing in the world.

"Hurry up!" Ibrahim's father cried, moving his hands upwards in swiping motion. "We'll be late for Jumu'ah."

"We still have an hour, Baba," Poppy replied.

"Knowing you ladies, it will take more than that to get dressed."

There was an unanimous cry of outrage from the girls. Mustafa raised his hands up in surrender.

"For God's sake, just get dressed."

The crowd started to disperse from the living room. Most of the family left the house in about an hour. There were arguements and chatter being exchanged among the group as they decided who will get into which car.

Ibrahim was constantly honking the horn of their car as he sat on one of the driving seats, waiting for the remaining of his sisters to get down.

"Ya Allah!" Rose cried at him. "Make the whole neighbourhood deaf, will you?"

Lily and Dahlia were the last to ran down their driveways with their abayas flying behind them. The two families squeezed into two of their cars with Ibrahim driving one and Dahlia's father the other.

Only Zinnia stayed behind, volutarily, to take care of the kids and their grandmother.

Kaveh Fayyad got down from his car, with his family in toe.

His father looked up at the mosque with a good-natured smile. They seperated ways as his mother and sister went to the women's side.

The room was unbearably crowded. There was barely any space to stand. Kaveh found his friends and exchanged hugs. He darted his eyes around the faces to realize his best friend was missing.

"Where's Salman?" he asked.

"Front row," Fardin snorted and gestured over his shoulder with his head.

Kaveh weaved through the crowd to approach his friend. He placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

Salman looked up. His lips broadened into a smile when he saw him.

"I have been waiting for you, when did you guys get in?" Salman asked.

"Just now."

Salman quirked his brows. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kaveh let out a chuckle. "It still bewilders me to see you getting to places in time."

"Ya Allah, Kaveh. I can't be late for khutbah," Salman exclaimed with disbelief "Besides, standing in front row for prayer means extra points."

Kaveh remained quiet, silently recalling all the times Salman tip-toed into the mosque half awake in the middle of second rakat.

The khutbah started and they all took their places. After prayer, they bee-lined out towards the parking lot.

Ibrahim and his father were still discussing the contents of their day's lecture. Salman was listening to them intently.

A few of their friends seperated from the crowd and started towards the nearest local vendor.

"Hey, Big Boy," Fardin looked at Salman. "Care to join us for a smoke?"

"You know I'm quitting," he repeated for the umpteeth time.

"The Sasquatch did quite a number on you with his lectures about death and what not, huh?" Fardin clapped Ibrahim's back and said to Salman. He darted his eyes towards Kaveh. "And there's no point in asking you," Fardin mumbled under his breath as he walked away from them.

"Wish my death threats would work a little better and keep him away," Ibrahim muttered, staring at his retreating figure.

Kaveh removed his gaze from the guys and his eyes landed on the Ahmad sisters. He found Layla among them, without a surprise.

Dahlia's posture immediately stiffened. He could tell by now she was always as aware of his presence as he was of her, but she adamantly refused to acknowledge it.

Even now she made it a point to not look his way. She sneaked a glance at her brother - who was just right beside Kaveh, even waved hello at Salman, but she wouldn't look at him.

"Your friends are some of the dumbest people I have ever met."

"You're one to talk," Salman snorted.

Snippets of conversation between him and Ibrahim hit Kaveh's ears, distracting him from his chain of thoughts.

Kaveh met his gaze. "I've been called a lot of thing in the past, dumb is a new one. I'm usually regarded as a smart guy."

It took Ibrahim a moment to realize Kaveh was pulling his leg. Salman started laughing.

The big guy rolled his eyes. "You're surprisingly alright. I don't understand how you choose to be friends with him." He tilted his head at Salman.

"It's a question I ask myself daily."

"He's lying, being my friend is the greatest privilege he has," Salman quipped. "Anyway, I should be heading home," he said. "See you idiots later."

"Same," Ibrahim said.

Kaveh nodded at him and then looked at his sister. "Layla, we're leaving," he called out.

He gave Dahlia one last glance and the three men parted ways.

A/N: Follow me on Instagram, friends! I'll start posting pictures and other stuff related to this series soon.
My handle is makekatmatter.

Btw, give me your thoughts on the book so far!