Edited:

Published: Saturday, November 21st 2015 10:17 am

Jafar:

As soon as I walked inside, the first sight I am met with is Ayah's sleeping form on the couch, her phone clutched in her hand. Even though her eyes are closed, she looks exhausted. This is how it usually is when I get back from the school, and I can't help but feel guilty for not spending time with her. All of my attention has been on my father and the team that I haven't given the fact that I leave her here for hours everyday much thought.

I walked up to the closet and took out a blanket, and walked back over to her to place it on her. And for a minute, I sat down on the armrest and watched her sleep. There are so many things that I need to figure out. One being the baby. We haven't even began to buy the necessary supplies for an infant, but to do that you need somewhere to put the
Items. I know she doesn't want to admit it, but we can't live here. There just isn't enough space, especially when her mother returns.

I stayed there for another moment with her just sitting until I finally stood up to go get ready for bed. After showering and throwing some shorts and a t-shirt on, I came back out front to find Ayah sat up on her phone.

"Hey," I smiled and sat down besides her. She pressed one final button before turning to me with a sleepy grin on her face.

"Hey. When did you get in?"

"About twenty minutes ago," I sat down next to her and narrowed my eyes. "You look tired. You should go back to sleep."

"Maghrib will be in soon. Besides, we need to talk about tomorrow. Where do you want to go?"

I groaned. "No where," I said and she scoffed at me.

"Tomorrow is your birthday. You don't have to have a celebration, but we could do something for you. It's your day."

"I'm just not in the mood to celebrate."

Ayah looked at me sadly and started to say something, when I shook my head.

"It's not him. I'm at the point of just seeing him just to keep him out of my head."

"How about tomorrow?" She asked, and I looked up with wide eyes. "It doesn't sound like the best present at first, but you never know. It could change into something you always wanted."

"I don't know how you're managing to change my mind so quickly, but...it's working. Slightly."

With a smile, she looked out of the window before turning back to me. "Just a spur of the moment advice," She told me, and I nodded. "Come here," She ushered me forward. I raised an eyebrow before complying to her request and sat beside her. "I need you to do two things for me: close your eyes and breathe. Close them," She emphasized when I made no move to do it. Without an argument, I closed my eyes and relaxed on the couch.

"Are you relaxed?"

"Yeah," I whispered, my eyes still closed. "Can I open them now?"

"Not just yet," Next thing I know, I feel her lean down to give me a kiss. I sat there frozen for a second, wondering what in the world just happened. "Happy birthday," She whispered in my ear. Once I finally was able to open my eyes, she was gone.

-*-
October 3rd

"Happy birthday!" We were met with once Ayah and I entered my parents house, everybody standing there with giant grind on their faces. Zahrah was the first to come up to me, squealing.

"My baby brother is all grown up! Twenty-seven!"

"Zahrah," I whined, and everyone laughed. Then she had the nerve to pinch my cheeks. I tried pushing her hands away, but she slapped mine away in return. "Can you not pinch my cheeks?"

"Why not? They're so pinchable."

"Alright, Zahrah, that's enough," Ummi said with a smile. "Let them come and sit down."

"Thank you," I smiled and pulled pulled Ayah alongside me to the kitchen. Ever since yeaturday, she's been different. Not as shy or reserved as when I first came back, more of how we used to be before I left. And I owe all of it to that kiss.

"Okay, you already know the tradition, Jafar," Ummi said pointedly. "So, where to?"

"I don't want to go anywhere," I announced, and everyone in the room except Ayah looked at me in confusion.

"But it's a tradition," Tehreem came forward. "Not just a tradition, but the tradition."

"Tehreem, you know I haven't done this since then."

"I know," She said softly. "But, come on. We didn't come all this way for you just to have you moping around. If I wanted that, I would've stayed home with my kids."

"Well," I looked over to Ayah who offered me a small smile. "I'm grateful for your company, but doing nothing sounds perfect."

"Alright, everybody out," Ummi said and pointed to the door. "I would like to talk to my son alone."

Once everyone was out of the room, I looked up to see Ummi smiling at me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked in amusement, and she smiled.

"You're happy. You haven't been in a while."

"I'm the same as I've always been," I tried to convince her, but she wasn't buying it. Heck, I'm not buying it.

"A mother knows her child, I know you. I also know that you haven't made an attempt to see your father. Why is that?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Every time I think about thinking about it, I go back to all those bad times we had in the past."

"That was almost twenty years ago," She told me softly. "You need to let this go for your own good. I am not trying to defend him, but if you were in this position with your child, how would it feel."

"Not so good, I guess."

"So please think about this the next time you feel as though you don't know which way to go."

-*-

Ayah:

"He doesn't know anything, right?" Zahrah asked me from where I sat holding her baby.

"Not a clue," I assured them and continued to rock him back and fourth. "He's gotten so big, Zahrah. Time flies so fast."

"I don't want him to grow up," She whined and took a sip of her drink. "The girls weren't supposed to grow up so fast either, but now they're asking for phones and other electronics," She said, and we all laughed.

"I can't even imagine...yet," I said in between laughs.

"Your time will come soon enough," Tehreem spoke up. At that moment, Jamila decided to come downstairs as happy as can be.

"Salaam everyone," She chirped, and we all looked up at her, taken aback. I swear sometimes I think she's sufferings from some type of personality disorder. Because one minute she's all happy and getting along with everyone, and then when something happens or she doesn't get her way, she just shuts down. On another hand, it may be possible that she's bi-polar. When I say that I don't take it lightly. Seeing as though my mother is suffering from it and I've seen the signs, I have a really strong feeling about this. But I really hope she's just being a teenager. Hopefully.

"Wa Alaikum Salaam, sis," Zahrah said warily, looking around at Tehreem and I for a reaction. We were both as clusless to why she's happy. "How are you today?"

Jamila took a seat beside me, her smile wide. "Never better. As soon as I woke up, I was in love with the morning sun. That and I got noticed."

"By whom?" I asked, and she turned to me, her smile widening if even possible.

"A big time writer saw my covers for one of my Wattpad clients and wants me to make one for her upcoming novel. She wants to pay me for it."

"Wow," I breathed and smiled softly. "That's great news."

And it really is. From what I've been told about wattpad, there are a lot of people who get noticed for numerous things on the site.

"She wants to meet with me soon so that we can talk business."

"Uh, this sounds very serious, MashaAllah. Um, is someone going with you?" Tehreem chimed in.

"No."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why not?"

"I just got the offer today. Plus the person lives in Cali. Amazing right. I've always wanted to go there."

"Well, you're not going there. Especially by yourself."

Jamila frowned at the newcomer, but he was right. She's a young Muslim woman trying to travel across the country by herself to meet with someone she met online.

"Abi, it's a perfect opportunity. I've wanted to take this career for a while now. It's my big break."

"Habibti, yes it is a great opportunity, but not right now. Maybe when you go to school for this and learn more about the business."

"He's right, Jamila," Tehreem told her, but by now she was upset again.

"Hey," Abu Jamila suddenly smiled, a proud gleam in her eyes. "I have great news for you. Come on, let's talk in private."

"I wonder what it is," I wondered out loud after they left.

"I know," Zahrah smiled, sipping his drink slowly. "Someone asked for our dear sister."

"Who?" I asked, but she shrugged.

"I don't know," She said, and I frowned. "But Tehreem does."

"Zahrah, you weren't supposed to give up the source!" Tehreem exclaimed, and Zahrah laughed.

"Ayah asked. Just tell us. We're all going to find out anyways..."

With an eye roll, Tehreem sat up with a smile. "His name is Adam and he's from my neighborhood. He's my husband Noor's nephew."

"How did he know about Jamila?"

"Oh?" she groaned. "That part. Amna has a picture of her on Instagram and Adam saw it. He is completely taken with her, and Amna being herself told him everything about her. Since his background isn't exactly flawless, he didn't care and talked to his parents, Noor and I about her, and now they asked for her, but that's only part of the plan."

I tilted my head at her, getting even more interested in the story with Zahrah. "What's the other part."

Just then we saw Jamila storm up to her room, her face red with anger. Looks like that didn't go too well.

"Abi?" Tehreem called as her step-father walked into the front room and sat down, an aggravated look on his face. "She didn't take it too well?"

"That's an understatement," He grumbled. "I don't like forcing the idea of marriage down her throat, but she cannot be like some of those girls who completely lose it and end up pregnant or unfit to marry anyone because they weren't using their common sense. She already crossed a major line with those emails."

"Are any of the boys she was talking to an option?" I asked. If I told them about Mu'adh, I know for a fact they would stop it right there. And Jamila would never speak to me again.

"No, Ayah," He told me. "But if she keeps this up, she will end up with someone like them: almost completely astray because of the lusting."

"You know what," Tehreem stood up, her lips pursed. "I'm going to go talk to her. Maybe I'll get somewhere."

"Yeah," I whispered after she left. "I hope so too."

-*-
IzzyAndy: Hey! Yes, it has been a while since we talked. Better late than never, right? But, anyways, I'm doing well. Bryan and I are getting ready to leave in a few weeks to Paris. I can't wait. Then next stop is the wedding hall. Please tell me you're coming!

AyahIbrahim: I really want to come. When's the date? Hopefully I'm not a million months pregnant, lol.

"Hey, Ayah?"

"Yeah," I answered, my eyes still on my phone screen. We just left
My in laws house a few minutes ago, and now I don't know where we're going. I decided to check out Wattpad, then Isabella messaged me. I never knew you could do so many things and read so many books on here. Whoever created this App should get an award. No wonder Jamila likes it so much.

"I'm going to go see him," I looked up from my phone, my gaze going to Jafar. "I've been thinking about it, and I want to try to make some effort, even if he isn't. Are you fine with going right now?"

"Of course I am. I'm glad you decided to do this."

He turned to smile at me before keeping his eyes on the road. "Me too. By the way, who are you texting? Your eyes lit up when you saw the message."

"Isabella from the Academy. She was a true friend."

"Isabella..." He thought for a moment. "Did I meet her?"

"I don't think so. I think you just met Lee and her cousin. But you will meet her soon enough, InshaAllah."

"How?"

"She's getting married in a few months, and she invited us."

"In New York?"

"I believe so," I nodded, then frowned. "Don't you want to go?"

"Yeah, I do. She's a friend of yours, and I'll be with you to support her."

I smiled up at him and leaned on the window. Not long after, I fell asleep.

-*-

Jafar:

If I woke up today and somebody told me I would be visiting my father, I would have called them crazy. I would deny ever agreeing to visit him, but it just happened. From the talk with Ayah and my Ummi, something in my brain clicked to where I decided to do it, but to not think too much of it. Because if I overthink it, I would immediately turn the car around and never turn back.

But as I turn into the hospital parking lot and park in front of the cancer ward, I let out a deep breath. This it it.

"Where are we?" Ayah asked groggily and sat up from where she was lying on the window. "The hospital?" She questioned, looking at me. "Why are we here?"

"He was admitted a few days ago," I announced, and she frowned. "Why don't you get some sleep? I know you're tired."

"No way am I letting you do this by yourself," She told me firmly and clicked her seat belt off. I couldn't help smiling at her. "Well," She laughed at me. "Let's go."

-*-

"Hello, how can I help you?" An elderly woman at the receptions desk smiled at us as we walked in.

"I'm here to see Sadiq Ibrahim."

"Are you a close relative? Only kin allowed, sweetie."

"Yes," I nodded and swallowed hard. Ayah gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "He's my father."

"Okay. He's in room...376."

"Thank you."

"You okay?" Ayah asked as we rode the elevator up to the third floor. I just nodded, not knowing how to feel.

370...372...374...376.

"Bismillah," I whispered and walked into the room. There he lay--my father--lying in the bed asleep. He still looks the same from the last time I se him, which was over a year ago. Just a lot weaker and paler.

"Jafar?" A voice behind us asked, and I turned to see Aunt Fatima stood there with a frown on her face. "You came."

I turned back to him. "I figured it was time. Why is he so pale?"

She came forward to place some food on the table, then turned to usher us out of the room.

"He has had a lot of test--blood tests--the last few days and it's made him very weak. The doctor said he should wake up in about a few hours. If you want to come back..."

But I shook my head. No way am I going to get enough strength to return if I leave right now. "I'll stay. If you want to go home and get some rest before he comes back, I'll be here."

"I was going to grab something to eat from the cafeteria and didn't want to leave him alone. Are you sure it's fine?"

"Of course," Ayah spoke up, a smile on her face. "If you would like some company, I would be happy to join you."

"Of course," She turned to me. "Shukran, Jafar."

"Afwan."

After they left, I sat down on the chair and began to wait.

-*-
Random question: If I were to make a sequel, who would you want it to be about???

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