Anas
The past month has been nothing short of amazing. Abu dropped in as always but I didn't let that get to me. And dare I forget how Fauzeeyah checked up on me once a while.
Her messages have a way of making me feel something I've never felt before.
The thoughts of Fauzeeyah made me check my WhatsApp for the nth time this morning. My messages were still hanging and she still hasn't come in for work.
With a dejected sigh, I put my phone back on the desk and turned my attention to my laptop.
Replying emails would hopefully get this worry off my chest for a while.
Around 9:30am, I decided to go get coffee because I kept zoning out. It still baffles me how the thoughts of Fauzeeyah tortured me. God, we weren't even that close.
A knock echoed in my office while I was putting on my suit jacket.
"Ibrahim, I...." I turned around and the sight of her made my heart race. Unconsciously, I put my right palm on my chest to calm myself down.
"Good morning sir!" she said with a big, blinding smile. Someone else followed after her, the resemblance between them was uncanny.
I settled my gaze back on her face. She looked different.
I had so many things to say,
Where have you been?
Are you alright?
You lost some weight, have you been sick?
Did you see my messages?
"Morning Fauzeeyah, You're late." I said instead. Her smile slowly shrank. I bet she was expecting anything but that.
I swear I'm so happy to see you Fauzeeyah. I don't know why my words are relaying something different.
"Assalamu alaykum!" The lady beside her whispered, breaking the tension that was building.
"Waalaykumus salam. You two are together?" I enquired with a small smile.
Fauzeeyah cleared up her throat and went on, " Yes, we are. Can we sit?"
Without waiting for my approval, she dragged the lady with her to one of the couches.
"Sure." I whispered to myself instead.
Immediately I sit, I notice Fauzeeyah nudging the stranger.
"Okay, I'm going to make this quick..." the lady began.
"Make what quick?"
"My name is Ilham and I'm Fauziyyah's cousin."
Where is this going?
And can someone tell her to talk faster?
"Actually, I'm the one who has been sending you those messages."
Dum!
My heart went.
If my heart was racing then, I have no idea what it's doing at the moment.
Did I just get duped?
What is this feeling of shame and embarrassment or do these words even hold thesame meaning?
I wish I could disappear right now. This is an insult to my honor.
You did nothing wrong, you were modest.
The voice in my heard soothed. Too bad it ain't helping.
"Why?" I hope my expression wasn't giving away what I was actually feeling.
"Well the other day, I saw you drop her off and she told me about you. I wanted to ignite the feeling of love between you two,"
Why is she so confident? And she doesn't look apologetic, not one bit. I don't like this girl wallah. She went on,
" You see, you're so rich and my cousin here could make good use of that. Her parents passed away since she was..."
"Ilham!?" Fauzeeyah sharply turned to glare at her. Her gaze was cold, something I've never seen before.
"I'm so sorry Fauzeeyah, that was a slip of tongue." She didn't look sorry to me though.
Fauzeeyah was an orphan? That's news!
Just the absence of a caring father is a different kind of pain. I can't even imagine what she was going through.
"Can you excuse us?" I found myself becoming angry on behalf of Fauzeeyah.
A look of embarrassment marred her face, Ilham or whatever her name was, She slowly nodded and literally ran out of the room. I would've laughed if we were in a different situation.
"How old is she?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Ilham? Nineteen." she giggled. I thought she was angry just now?
"Same age as you. I don't like her already." I confessed.
"What? She's amazing. She just can't keep her mouth shut to save her life." She let out a full blown laughter.
Well, glad to be the one behind that.
"I can see that already." I affirmed.
"I'm sorry she said that." I expressed after a long minute.
"It's okay. I can't stay mad at her anyway."
"Hmm..."
"I'm sorry for my absence too. I was down with a fever."
"I hope you're better now?"
"Yes, Alhamdulillah."
"That was why I couldn't reply your messages."
"Can you not remind me of that?" I whined.
"Okay. I'm really sorry for what Ilham did. She doesn't think sometimes."
I would say she doesn't think at all if you ask me.
"You look like you're enjoying it." I said referring to the smile on her face.
"I swear I'm not." she laughed.
She stood up to her feet and I did thesame " I'll go back to work now?"
"Sure, Fauzeeyah. It's good to have you back."
~|~
I left the office around 12 since it was a Friday. I went back home, took a shower then headed to the mosque.
After prayer, I drove down to Abdul's house.
Ilham's confession did nothing to remove Fauzeeyah from my mind. I hope Abdul can provide a solution since he's a pro when it comes to stuff like this.
The door was unlocked so I made my way in with a salam. Sometimes I forget that this isn't my actual home because of the five years we spent in it while Ummi was in Egypt.
"Waalaykumus salam. Anas, kaine?"
Abdul's father was at the corridor, about to go out I guess.
"Ehh Ina wuni Kawu? "We shook hands.
"Lafy kalau. Ya kwana biyu?"
"Alhamdulillahi. Na sameka lafiya?"
"Lafy wallahi. Abdul yana kitchen daman yanxu zai taho gidanku( Abdul is in the kitchen and he was actually planning to go your house)
"Ohh, I first him kenan. Are you going out?" I looked down at his right hand which held his key.
"Yes, my oga won't let me rest. You're lucky to be the CEO in your company." I laughed in response and we shook hands again before parting ways.
"Aikin ka kenan" I mocked when I sighted Abdul holding a plate of white rice and stew.
"A'a bro, what brings you?"
I ignored him and grabbed a plate to get food for myself too.
"Kaa ga yanda na sha wanka( See how I dressed up), I was planning to visit you " I looked at him from head to toe. He still had his Babban riga on.
"Visit one of your girlfriends, you mean?"
I took a spoonful and followed him to the dinning table.
"What? Don't say that again. I'm getting married next month" I practically choked on my food when he said that.
Abdul poured me a glass of water and handed it to me.
"I'm serious wallahi. That's why I've been MIA. Baban ta ya bani wahala wallahi."
I took several gulps before responding
"Serious? Did he find out about you being a ladies' guy"
"He did. I told him that was in the past and I was a changed person now. Come and see interrogation. He now asked me to wait until he has done his investigations on me. Eventually, he allowed me to send my people. Right now, Hajiya and the girls are out for kayan lefe shopping." My jaw was on the floor as he went on. Who would've thought Abdul would ever get married in his life?
"I'm speechless, guy! Look how a lady made you all serious."
"I swear, my guy. Yarinyan ta hadu. Ga addini, ga ilimi, ga kunya. She's a pretty one too. All in one kai Kam. I prayed istikhara and went ahead to shoot my shot kawaii"
Fauzeeyah went through my mind in a split second.
"This is really good news. Allah ya tabbatar da alkhairi." I prayed and patted him on the shoulder.
"So, what's up?"
"Well, there's a girl."
"A what? You know you've never talked about a girl ko?" I waited until he was done laughing before I carried on.
"I know. I don't know if I'm in love but I keep thinking about her. You can say I'm drawn to her."
"Of course, you are in love. Judging by the fact that you've never shown interest in anyone"
"However, she doesn't feel thesame way." that thought always made me feel more sad than I already am.
"For real? A whole CEO? " his mouth was agape in surprise.
"I'm telling you."
"Maybe she... isn't the one for you?" he hesitated.
"You yourself said this is my first time I'm showing interest. I won't back down just like that. You know me, Abdul."
"Toh good luck, bro. Kaima Allah ya tabbatar da alkhairi."
We were done eating so we washed the used plates and went to relax in his room. We played fifa on his ps till 3pm. We recited suratul Kahf together which lasted for about 20 minutes.
Abdul went in to take a quick shower and after that,we left the house. Today, like most Fridays, we have a football game by 4pm. Thankfully, Abdul didn't make us late this time around.
Normally, I skip Fridays and play on Saturdays and Sundays.
Today though, I'm looking for anything that would make me forget Fauzeeyah for a while.
~â¢â¢â¢~
Next chapter, we learn how to get the girl according to Anasð
Mind you, the guy has never suffered a heartbreak so he's willing to go all the wayð
Salatul Istikhara is a prayer consisting of two raka'ats. Its purpose is to ask Allah to choose the best for you when you're about to make a decision. Like marriage, your college of choice, your career choice, etcetera
The Dua you're to say after tasleem(saying both salam to signify ending of prayer) is up there