Badr's POV

I placed the phone in the cupholder, keeping true to my promise. I didn't end the call and just drove with soft music playing in the background. My favorite song, "Peace Be Upon You" by Maher Zain resounded in the car, but it wasn't loud enough to wake Salah.

Only a couple hours later, I heard Salah's bus driver announce that they were ten minutes from the bus station. I heard the phone rustle around before Salah actually spoke. "Badr?" Her voice was a little groggy. "You stayed on the phone." I could tell she was smiling.

"Of course I did. I told you I would." I replied, biting my lip gently.

"You're the sweetest." She commented. "Well, I'm almost at the station, then papa or bhaya will come pick me up."

"Alright, I'm like twenty minutes from the house." I glanced at the GPS.

"Bring the girls to our house after." Salah ordered, leaving no room for argument.

I laughed softly. "Of course. I'll come with them, if that's okay." I teased.

She laughed, "Yeah, that'd be nice."

Only a couple minutes later, I heard Salah's phone rustle around once more. "Sal? Is your baba or bhai there?"

"Uhm, yeah, I think it's bhaya. He's pulling up now." I could hear her throw her stuff into the car and sit down. "Asalam Walaikum." She greeted her brother. "Uhm, I have to go, Badr."

I didn't even realize I was frowning until I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. "Okay, stay safe. Give Bhai my salams."

"Okay!" She replied cheerily. "See you soon. Tell Aleena and Ilma to bring their other scarves!"

"Okay, Sal." I chuckled softly, "Khuda Hafiz."

"Khuda Hafiz." She ended the call and I drove with soft music for the next ten minutes.

I pulled up in the driveway and parked the car. I got out of the car, quickly running a hand through my hair. I walked up to the house and rang the doorbell.

Aleena opened the door. As soon as she saw me, a huge smile took the place of the frown on her face. "You're here!" She squealed, hugging me.

"Bhai's here?" I heard Ilma shout from inside as footsteps pummeled the floor. The two girls almost tipped me over with the force of their hugs.

"Asalam walaikum, girls." I laughed softly. "Didn't know you two loved me that much."

"Well, now that you're getting married we have to show you all the love in the world, so Sally doesn't steal you from us!" Ilma joked.

"So, I'm going to guess mom and dad aren't home?" I rose an eyebrow. "Since you two are being very open."

"Yep, they've gone out." Aleena finally pulled away.

I smiled. "Okay, well, you girls go grab as many scarves as you want to fix and get ready. We're going to Sal's house."

The two ran into the house as I walked inside, closing the door behind me. I pulled out my phone, calling Salah's dad. "Asalam Walaikum, uhm,"

"Walaikum asalam. Just call me papa or baba." He chuckled. "How many times have I told you this, Badr?" He joked.

"Too many, baba." I laughed sheepishly. "We'll be coming over early. Ami and abu aren't home, so I'm bringing the girls now."

"Alright. I'll tell mama know." He hummed in response. "Anything you lot would like to eat?"

"Girls," I called out, "What do you want to have for lunch?"

"Anything is good!" Aleena called out.

"Yep!" Ilma agreed.

"Whatever is easiest for mama and Salah." I answered.

"Do you want pizza?" Mama called out from the background. "I don't feel like cooking."

I laughed quietly. "Sure, pizza is fine."

"Okay, come soon." Baba ended the call and I tucked the phone into my pocket, waiting for the two girls.

After they were ready, I led them to the car. "Bhai," Aleena said in an overly sweet voice. "Can I drive the car?"

I rose an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

"Please! I got my license a year ago and I'm barely allowed to drive." She begged.

Ilma snickered in the background. "Told you so."

Aleena shot a glare at the smaller girl. "Please, bhai!"

I thought about it. "Fi- Fine." I reluctantly agreed. "Did you bring your license?" She pulled it out, eagerly showing it to me. "Okay, okay. Come on, hurry up."

I got in the passenger seat, grabbing the parking break as if it were an emergency break. Aleena glared at me. "Just read your du'a's. I'm not gonna kill you... in sha Allah."

I grumbled and read my du'a's. "Okay, let's go."

She started driving. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack the entire time, but she was pretty okay. When we reached Salah's house, I got out of the car with a hand over my heart. She had sped into the driveway, basically shocking me into almost pulling the parking break. "Never do that again." I walked to the door as if I was exhausted.

Aleena rang the door bell and Ilma knocked on the door like madwoman. If it hadn't been so apparent, our families had gotten very close, excluding my parents. These two girls came over a lot, from what I knew.

Baba opened the door, "Asalam walaikum! Come on in!" He let us in and closed the door behind us in.

The sun seeped into their home. It was like their house was lit up with happiness. I wanted to say mashallah right after entering their home. It was the complete opposite of our house.

Salah ran down the steps. "Salam!" She hugged the girls, keeping her gaze lowered when it came to me.

"Walaikum asalam." The girls replied, hugging her back.

"We missed you!" Ilma whined.

"I missed you too." Sal took her hand and dragged her to the table in the kitchen, where mama was sitting.

"Asalam Walaikum, mama." I greeted.

"Walaikum asalam." Mama beamed. "When do you guys want to eat?"

I looked towards the two girls that were now sitting at the table. "Uhm, whenever is fine, anti. It's 12 now, so an hour?"

"Okay." She smiled and walked back to do her own work.

I felt someone clap my back and I stood up straight, letting out a slight laugh. "Salam, bhai."

"Walaikum asalam, Badr." He basically leaned all of his weight on me.

"You're going to kill him!" Salah screeched, getting up and trying to push her brother off, "You fat-butt!"

I burst out laughing. "Dang, Sal. How weak do you think I am?"

"That's what you think is the most offending part of her sentence?" Bhai gave me a look as if I was crazy, joking around.

"Yes." I said seriously. Then I laughed.

"Also, you're not weak." Salah pointed at her brother. "He's just fat." She poked his stomach.

I stifled a laugh. "What're you laughing at, Badr?" Bhai jokingly threatened.

"Nothing!" I put my hands up in surrender.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He narrowed his eyes as he backed away. He walked away, joining baba in the family room.

"Well, you girls have fun." I gave a smile and kissed my sisters heads, before walking to the family room. I sat down beside baba.

"Do you like football, Badr?" He asked, eying the game.

"Yep." I answered.

"Which team?"

"The Eagles! Of course!" I responded.

"Oh my god, mama, I think I love him!" I heard Salah shout from the kitchen, happy at my answer.

"You better. We're not marrying you to him because we feel like it." Mama laughed.

"Good boy." Baba patted my back.

I just laughed a little, watching the game with him. A couple minutes later, I felt my phone start to vibrate. I pulled it out and glanced at the name, but that was enough to drain the color from my face. "It's my parents." I informed everyone. Baba muted the TV and everyone basically gathered around. Aleena and Ilma hugged me from behind. "Dad, hello." I answered the call.

"Where the fuck are you?" I cringed at his language. "Where are our daughters?"

"Calm down, dad. I just took them out to celebrate." I sucked in a breath.

"Celebrate?" His voice boomed. "Celebrate what?"

"I'm getting married soon." I broke the news. "This week."

"What?" He screamed through. "To who?" He demanded.

"I can't tell you that." I refused to tell him. I knew if he found out, he might try to do something to their family.

"When I get my hands on you-" He growled. "You fucking asshole. You think you're all that."

"Dad-"

"Shut up! Did I give you permission to speak?" He shouted. Instinctively, I dropped my head. "Wait till your mother finds out about this!" The call ended.

I got up, not sure exactly which emotions I felt. I walked to the bathroom and locked the door. I washed my face, staring up at myself in the mirror. "Allah... help me." I muttered quietly.

I took a deep breath and exited the bathroom. Immediately, my sisters hugged me tightly. "Don't go home... please." Aleena begged. "Please."

"Hey, calm down, it's okay." I kissed their heads, "Everything will be okay. Sal and you two go fix your scarves. I'll deal with this, okay?"

Ilma sniffled and nodded. "Okay."

Salah led the two girls up to her room. As soon as they were gone, baba hugged me. "That man... doesn't deserve a son." I didn't know what to say, so I just hugged him back.

Mama spoke up. "Those two girls aren't going home. They can move into the apartment straight from here."

"But their things?"

"I'll go get them." Baba spoke up.

"No." I spoke strictly. "I'm sorry but I can't let you do that. I'll go get their things. If they find out who I'm marrying, they could hurt Salah."

"...fine." They agreed reluctantly.

"Thank you, jazakallah khair. For everything." I hugged Baba again.

"You are our family now. We'll do anything for you." Baba hugged back.

"Thank you..."

Words:
-Bhaya: Brother, usually older
-Ami: Mom
-Abu: Dad
-Baba: Dad
-Bhai: Brother