Zaheer was in a good mood. Not one of those good moods you have when you happen to just wake up on the right side of the bed. No, rather one of those moods that make you feel as if you love the whole world, and the whole world loves you in return.
Earlier that morning Zaheer’s boss, Peter, had called the entire team into his office.
“Well guys” Peter had said, choosing his words carefully. “I have some news”.
Everybody was silent.
Peter continued: “As you all very well know, We’ve conducted comprehensive interviews with the whole team in order to determine who will be forced to go. Well, after all the work, and all the stress (Peter smiled slightly) I have to tell you all that we have come to a final decision.
Zaheer had tried his best to remain as calm as possible, reassuring himself that Allah most certainly, always has a better plan for all. He looked around at all the nervous faces of his colleagues and made a silent dua for them all.
“So now” Peter said. “Upper level management has decided that all of the employees on this team are extremely efficient and well, simply put, needed.” Then he was quiet for a moment.
“What on earth does that mean?” a confused Zaheer asked.
“Well” Peter replied “It means that nobody from this team will be leaving!”
Everybody was silent for a moment before they all burst into excited laughter and screams.
“Seriously”, Sam the new guy said: “They’re not even firing me?
“Well yes, Peter replied. “They think that this group, in fact this whole department, is generating such good results and they’re afraid to well, spoil a good thing.”
Zaheer made a silent dua, thanking Allah for easing his burdens, before joining the guys excited chatter.
“I was so worried” said Lionel. “Ive been looking around for a job but I couldn’t find anything. I couldn’t even manage to tell my wife. She’s eight months pregnant and I’ve been told not to stress her out. So I didn’t tell her anything. Good thing too because she would have worried for nothing.”
Zaheer’s other colleague Safwaan, the only other muslim guy in the team, was elated at this news. He had just gotten married and was really not willing to lose his source of income, nor his sanity. He explained to Zaheer how his new bride had stressed him out even more than the prospect of unemployment since she had been nagging him non stop ever since he told her.
“Really man” he told Zaheer. “I should have done what Lionel did and kept it a secret. She’s been on my case all the time. It’s not like I didn’t know all the consequences of losing my job, no instead she had to make it a point of nagging me about it every single day. I’m telling you, if I didn’t love her so much I’d seriously contemplate leaving until she promised to stop nagging. Aay, the things we do for love!”
Zaheer couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of joy. He felt as though he had achieved something, even though in reality he had done nothing at all. He got that feeling, the feeling one gets when they’ve completed a really tough exam and they know that it turned out better than expected. He was the unofficial team leader and so, in a way, he felt responsible for all of the guys. Seeing them so relieved made him relieved and knowing that his latest worry was over, gave him a true sense of joy.
That night he prayed his Esha salaah for a little longer than usual, thanking Allah for all of Allah’s favours and for giving him so much to be happy about.
There was just one thing, in his mind, that was always undone. He never truly imagined that he was over Zahraa. He hadn’t even questioned it. Ever since things with them had came to such an abrupt halt, there hadn’t been anybody else that he was interested in. Instead he had just focused on his career. The other day, when Sameer had spoken about Zahraa, Zaheer had felt such intense frustration that he knew for sure that his feelings for her did not manage to miraculously disappear. He had always assumed that his feelings fro Zahraa was linked to the nostalgic memory of high school and to the ‘high school’ emotions that he had once had. But now as he sat here, feeling at peace with everything in the world, he really wished that she was right here by his side, sharing the moment with him.
He knew then, though he had no solutions, that something needed to be done.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Chapter 6: Hopeful meetings
Here she was again. Sitting in her bedroom making dua while waiting for her possible future husband to arrive. As much as she had told Hafsah that she was done with it all, Zahraa just couldn’t bring herself to give up.’ Maybe this time’, she thought to herself, ‘maybe this time everything will just click’.
It was approximately a year since she and Zaheer had any contact and Zahraa was glad to say that she had managed to get back into the groove of things. At first it had been hard. After coming to the realisation that she had wanted to marry Zaheer, she couldn’t bring herself to accept the possibility of marrying someone else. Each time she had a proposal, she automatically turned it down. After a short while Zahraa began to come around. Though deep down she was still sad over everything that had happened, she kept on telling herself that Allah knew what was best for her; and that there was inconceivable wisdom in all of Allah’s plans. Slowly she started accepting the idea of someone else. Slowly she became hopeful that someone better was out there and that Allah would soon make their paths meet.
In the past year Zahraa had gone through a series of proposals, one more hilarious than the next. She was glad that, sometimes, despite the awkwardness of the whole situation she managed to get some great humour. At times, however, Zahraa would feel hopeless and despondent fearing that there was nobody out there for her. It was at these times that her faith would most seriously be tested and she would constantly make dua for strength.
Today Zahraa was in a particularly good mood. The latest proposal was due to arrive any time soon and she had just spent the past hour reading Qur'aan. She was filled with such a sense of hopefulness and pleasure that it was impossible not to be glad.
The proposals itself had gotten much easier. Maybe it was that she was used to it, maybe it was that she knew that time was moving on and that this was now inevitable for her or maybe she had just gotten more mature; but Zahraa calmly dealt with the situation every time. No longer nervous, unsure and emotional; Zahraa now managed to approach each new proposal calm and rationally.
She heard a car approach and waited for the guests to come into the house. After her parents had greeted his family, Zahraa entered into the foyer and calmly greeted and welcomed the guests. Then they all made their way into the lounge.
Zahraa believed very much in first impressions, and Haarith made a good first impression. Not only was he polite and poised, but he also behaved with respect and consideration to all. And though it definitely wasn’t her main criteria, his good looks worked in his favour.
Haarith worked as an architect at a construction company and was the oldest of three brothers. He was accompanied by his mother, her two siblings (his aunty and uncle) and one of his brothers. His father, as Zahraa had been told had passed away when Haarith was only ten years old, plunging Haarith into sudden maturity.
After chatting for a while, Zahraa and Haarith moved to an adjoining room where they could get to know each other just a little better. Haarith asked her about her job and about her feelings towards life, marriage and children. Zahraa asked him about his own life and about some of his practises and beliefs. Now that she was more experienced she understood that it was better to get everything out in the open now. So she ensured that she was honest and open with him and tried to ask the most important questions so that she could easily understand him.
Zahraa felt comfortable with the family and was even slightly attracted to Haarith. For a change, she actually believed that more could come out of this meeting. After a while the family left and Zahraa and her parents sat in the lounge.
“So well, I know its too early to tell,” said Yusuf to his daughter. “But what do you think; do you think you like him?”
“Well”, Zahraa casually replied. “He’s not that bad, they all seem pretty nice to me. I don’t know though, you know how it goes. I’ll sit and make dua, read my Istikhaara, and ask Allah for help. Right now, im pretty sure that I’m willing to at least take it a step further and give it a try, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see right?”
Yusuf and Farida smiled. “All went well” Farida said. “They do seem like really nice people Zahraa and I think you two might make a good match. But you’re absolutely right. Think about it carefully and then let us know.
“I will” Zahraa said before departing to her bedroom.
Before falling asleep that night Zahraa’s mind wandered to Zaheer and she wandered whether she was not making a big mistake by moving on. Then her reason set in and firmly and said to her that she could not wait around pining forever. And when her emotions said that she might still harbour feelings for him, her reason informed her that moving on was the only sure way to get rid of those old feelings. When her emotions retaliated by claiming that it wanted to hold onto those feelings for as long as possible, her reason reminded her that it would be better for her to move on and find someone else, before he did. Finally, fed up of the irritating thoughts going on, Zahraa grabbed her ipod filled with all her favourite Qur'aan recitations, stuffed a pillow over her head and let her favourite Qaris help her fall off to sleep.
It was approximately a year since she and Zaheer had any contact and Zahraa was glad to say that she had managed to get back into the groove of things. At first it had been hard. After coming to the realisation that she had wanted to marry Zaheer, she couldn’t bring herself to accept the possibility of marrying someone else. Each time she had a proposal, she automatically turned it down. After a short while Zahraa began to come around. Though deep down she was still sad over everything that had happened, she kept on telling herself that Allah knew what was best for her; and that there was inconceivable wisdom in all of Allah’s plans. Slowly she started accepting the idea of someone else. Slowly she became hopeful that someone better was out there and that Allah would soon make their paths meet.
In the past year Zahraa had gone through a series of proposals, one more hilarious than the next. She was glad that, sometimes, despite the awkwardness of the whole situation she managed to get some great humour. At times, however, Zahraa would feel hopeless and despondent fearing that there was nobody out there for her. It was at these times that her faith would most seriously be tested and she would constantly make dua for strength.
Today Zahraa was in a particularly good mood. The latest proposal was due to arrive any time soon and she had just spent the past hour reading Qur'aan. She was filled with such a sense of hopefulness and pleasure that it was impossible not to be glad.
The proposals itself had gotten much easier. Maybe it was that she was used to it, maybe it was that she knew that time was moving on and that this was now inevitable for her or maybe she had just gotten more mature; but Zahraa calmly dealt with the situation every time. No longer nervous, unsure and emotional; Zahraa now managed to approach each new proposal calm and rationally.
She heard a car approach and waited for the guests to come into the house. After her parents had greeted his family, Zahraa entered into the foyer and calmly greeted and welcomed the guests. Then they all made their way into the lounge.
Zahraa believed very much in first impressions, and Haarith made a good first impression. Not only was he polite and poised, but he also behaved with respect and consideration to all. And though it definitely wasn’t her main criteria, his good looks worked in his favour.
Haarith worked as an architect at a construction company and was the oldest of three brothers. He was accompanied by his mother, her two siblings (his aunty and uncle) and one of his brothers. His father, as Zahraa had been told had passed away when Haarith was only ten years old, plunging Haarith into sudden maturity.
After chatting for a while, Zahraa and Haarith moved to an adjoining room where they could get to know each other just a little better. Haarith asked her about her job and about her feelings towards life, marriage and children. Zahraa asked him about his own life and about some of his practises and beliefs. Now that she was more experienced she understood that it was better to get everything out in the open now. So she ensured that she was honest and open with him and tried to ask the most important questions so that she could easily understand him.
Zahraa felt comfortable with the family and was even slightly attracted to Haarith. For a change, she actually believed that more could come out of this meeting. After a while the family left and Zahraa and her parents sat in the lounge.
“So well, I know its too early to tell,” said Yusuf to his daughter. “But what do you think; do you think you like him?”
“Well”, Zahraa casually replied. “He’s not that bad, they all seem pretty nice to me. I don’t know though, you know how it goes. I’ll sit and make dua, read my Istikhaara, and ask Allah for help. Right now, im pretty sure that I’m willing to at least take it a step further and give it a try, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see right?”
Yusuf and Farida smiled. “All went well” Farida said. “They do seem like really nice people Zahraa and I think you two might make a good match. But you’re absolutely right. Think about it carefully and then let us know.
“I will” Zahraa said before departing to her bedroom.
Before falling asleep that night Zahraa’s mind wandered to Zaheer and she wandered whether she was not making a big mistake by moving on. Then her reason set in and firmly and said to her that she could not wait around pining forever. And when her emotions said that she might still harbour feelings for him, her reason informed her that moving on was the only sure way to get rid of those old feelings. When her emotions retaliated by claiming that it wanted to hold onto those feelings for as long as possible, her reason reminded her that it would be better for her to move on and find someone else, before he did. Finally, fed up of the irritating thoughts going on, Zahraa grabbed her ipod filled with all her favourite Qur'aan recitations, stuffed a pillow over her head and let her favourite Qaris help her fall off to sleep.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Chapter 5: A Guy Thing
It was a Sunday afternoon and Zaheer was chilling out with the guys. On Wednesday his old school friends had arranged to meet on Sunday. It was, according to them, a while since they had last gotten together and they needed to keep in touch and catch up. Thus, with that in mind, they had all arranged to meet at the nearby park for a braai.
Sameer, previously known as the class’s biggest playboy, was seriously looking to get married and the guys couldn’t help but tease him.
“Haai man!” teased Faheem, the old class clown; “I still can’t believe that you’re actually willingly want to get married. What did you get tired of all the hustling or what?”
Sameer just laughed: “I am tired man! I need to get me a good girl who I can settle down with. I’m getting old man!”
To that, they all laughed hysterically.
“I think he’s lying” said another friend, Ishaaq. “Maybe his mother is just on his case and is forcing him to get married. Now he’s just embarrassed so he’s acting like it’s his idea. Come on Sameer man, be brave. We all have to deal with that all the time!
The guys all laughed mercilessly at Sameer.
“Anyway,” asked Aarif: “what you going around asking everybody for all the chick’s numbers. You dated like half of the neighbourhood, you got all their numbers. Just marry one of them.”
“I cant marry chicks like that!” Sameer replied. “You know what kind of things they get up to? You really think I want wild chicks like that to be the mother of my kids. Naa man, I need to find me a good girl!”
“Wait a minute” Zaheer cut in: “So what you’re saying is that even though you the one who corrupted all the neighbourhood girls, you don’t wanna marry them because they’re... corrupted...?”
Sameer thought about it for a moment and then nonchalantly replied: “Ja, that’s right! chicks like that are fine for jolling, for fooling around with, but when you want to settle down you need to get the real goods.”
Suddenly Zaheer was transported back into time to the night when he chatted about this very thing to Zahraa. He remembered how angry she had gotten and how he had laughed at her. Even afterwards, he thought that she was simply overreacting. Now, however, as he sat here and saw the reality of it with his own two eyes, he finally understood why the situation had angered her so. The worst thing, he thought to himself, is that guys like Sameer do actually end up getting married to those innocent girls who know nothing of their past. Not only is the whole situation unfair to the new bride, but also to the ‘corrupted girls’ whose reputation would forever be tarnished.
Sameer continued to go on about his search for a bride and kept on asking the guys to give them the numbers for their sisters. Everybody laughed at him as if he was simply crazy.
After a while the meat was ready and everybody sat down to eat. Everybody was relieved when Sameer changed the subject and began talking about the latest sport news.
A short while after the guys had eaten they all decided to play a game of soccer for, as they called it, old time’s sake. They quickly made up two teams and started up the match. After years of studying, employment, marriage, worries, troubles and grief; all the ‘old guys’- playing like this, really brought back the glory days of high school. Zaheer felt as if he was transported back in time to a land of no worries and responsibilities; a land of ditching school and playing pranks. Up until now, he never realized how easy they had had it in high school. All the guys must have felt the same way because they played their hearts out and laughed joyfully every step of the way. Unfortunately for Zaheer, Sameer had to come along and ruin it.
“Hey guys, I was thinking!” he said in the midst of their match; “Remember that hot chick, what was her name again, Zahraa I think. Don’t you guys have her number or something? Now there’s a woman I wouldn’t mind marrying.”
Aarif turned around to look at Zaheer, clearly interested in his reaction.
Everybody ignored him, clearly tired of his constant desperate questioning, but he continued to go on.
“No really, come on guys, who will help me out here?” That Zahraa chick will be good for me. She’ll fix me up properly. She’s what I need.”
“And what on earth,” Zaheer blurted out, unable to restrain himself: “makes you think that she would want to marry you?”
“Well look at me man, who wouldn’t want to marry me?” Sameer said proudly." I’m good looking, rich and all the mothers love me.”
“That’s because they don’t know you” snickered someone in the background.
“Hey man,” said Anees “I heard that Zahraa’s gotten holy. Probably wouldn’t want to marry the likes of you.”
“Ja” agreed Ishaaq. “I bumped into her the other day. “She wears hijaab. She’s changed.”
Sameer persisted: “Its fine, all that really matters is that she’s hot underneath it all. You know what I mean, right? Come on guys, who’s got her number?”
Zaheer couldn’t stand it any longer. He had the soccer ball in his possession and, without fully thinking, he kicked the ball so hard at Sameer that it landed hard and fast on his face. Sameer fell to the ground instantly. Everybody rushed to see if he was alright but he proudly insisted that it was just a minor bruise. His face, however, had a different story. His eyes were red and puffy and his face was already swelling. He looked as if he had just been punched in the face.
To say that anybody felt pity for him would be a lie. On the contrary they all silently praised Zaheer, glad that Sameer could finally shut it (since he left the match and went to sit near the braai stands) and they could finally get on with their game.
Zaheer, though he pretended to care, couldn’t bring himself to apologise. It was only after Sameer left that his anger began subsiding. Once again he thought about Zahraa and lamented over all that was, and all that never would be.
Sameer, previously known as the class’s biggest playboy, was seriously looking to get married and the guys couldn’t help but tease him.
“Haai man!” teased Faheem, the old class clown; “I still can’t believe that you’re actually willingly want to get married. What did you get tired of all the hustling or what?”
Sameer just laughed: “I am tired man! I need to get me a good girl who I can settle down with. I’m getting old man!”
To that, they all laughed hysterically.
“I think he’s lying” said another friend, Ishaaq. “Maybe his mother is just on his case and is forcing him to get married. Now he’s just embarrassed so he’s acting like it’s his idea. Come on Sameer man, be brave. We all have to deal with that all the time!
The guys all laughed mercilessly at Sameer.
“Anyway,” asked Aarif: “what you going around asking everybody for all the chick’s numbers. You dated like half of the neighbourhood, you got all their numbers. Just marry one of them.”
“I cant marry chicks like that!” Sameer replied. “You know what kind of things they get up to? You really think I want wild chicks like that to be the mother of my kids. Naa man, I need to find me a good girl!”
“Wait a minute” Zaheer cut in: “So what you’re saying is that even though you the one who corrupted all the neighbourhood girls, you don’t wanna marry them because they’re... corrupted...?”
Sameer thought about it for a moment and then nonchalantly replied: “Ja, that’s right! chicks like that are fine for jolling, for fooling around with, but when you want to settle down you need to get the real goods.”
Suddenly Zaheer was transported back into time to the night when he chatted about this very thing to Zahraa. He remembered how angry she had gotten and how he had laughed at her. Even afterwards, he thought that she was simply overreacting. Now, however, as he sat here and saw the reality of it with his own two eyes, he finally understood why the situation had angered her so. The worst thing, he thought to himself, is that guys like Sameer do actually end up getting married to those innocent girls who know nothing of their past. Not only is the whole situation unfair to the new bride, but also to the ‘corrupted girls’ whose reputation would forever be tarnished.
Sameer continued to go on about his search for a bride and kept on asking the guys to give them the numbers for their sisters. Everybody laughed at him as if he was simply crazy.
After a while the meat was ready and everybody sat down to eat. Everybody was relieved when Sameer changed the subject and began talking about the latest sport news.
A short while after the guys had eaten they all decided to play a game of soccer for, as they called it, old time’s sake. They quickly made up two teams and started up the match. After years of studying, employment, marriage, worries, troubles and grief; all the ‘old guys’- playing like this, really brought back the glory days of high school. Zaheer felt as if he was transported back in time to a land of no worries and responsibilities; a land of ditching school and playing pranks. Up until now, he never realized how easy they had had it in high school. All the guys must have felt the same way because they played their hearts out and laughed joyfully every step of the way. Unfortunately for Zaheer, Sameer had to come along and ruin it.
“Hey guys, I was thinking!” he said in the midst of their match; “Remember that hot chick, what was her name again, Zahraa I think. Don’t you guys have her number or something? Now there’s a woman I wouldn’t mind marrying.”
Aarif turned around to look at Zaheer, clearly interested in his reaction.
Everybody ignored him, clearly tired of his constant desperate questioning, but he continued to go on.
“No really, come on guys, who will help me out here?” That Zahraa chick will be good for me. She’ll fix me up properly. She’s what I need.”
“And what on earth,” Zaheer blurted out, unable to restrain himself: “makes you think that she would want to marry you?”
“Well look at me man, who wouldn’t want to marry me?” Sameer said proudly." I’m good looking, rich and all the mothers love me.”
“That’s because they don’t know you” snickered someone in the background.
“Hey man,” said Anees “I heard that Zahraa’s gotten holy. Probably wouldn’t want to marry the likes of you.”
“Ja” agreed Ishaaq. “I bumped into her the other day. “She wears hijaab. She’s changed.”
Sameer persisted: “Its fine, all that really matters is that she’s hot underneath it all. You know what I mean, right? Come on guys, who’s got her number?”
Zaheer couldn’t stand it any longer. He had the soccer ball in his possession and, without fully thinking, he kicked the ball so hard at Sameer that it landed hard and fast on his face. Sameer fell to the ground instantly. Everybody rushed to see if he was alright but he proudly insisted that it was just a minor bruise. His face, however, had a different story. His eyes were red and puffy and his face was already swelling. He looked as if he had just been punched in the face.
To say that anybody felt pity for him would be a lie. On the contrary they all silently praised Zaheer, glad that Sameer could finally shut it (since he left the match and went to sit near the braai stands) and they could finally get on with their game.
Zaheer, though he pretended to care, couldn’t bring himself to apologise. It was only after Sameer left that his anger began subsiding. Once again he thought about Zahraa and lamented over all that was, and all that never would be.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Chapter 4: Tears and Fears
Zahraa was sprawled across Miriam’s bedroom floor, utterly exhausted. She had spent the day working and running errands and had come over, before the afternoon ended, to visit Miriam. Miriam, who worked as a journalist for an online newspaper, had taken the week off and had been begging her friends to come and spend time with her. Today Zahraa and Hafsah had finally obeyed.
“I’m telling you guys” Miriam complained. “I have absolutely nothing to wear to this stupid thing.” Miriam was searching through her cupboard for something appropriate to wear for her brother’s wedding.
“Ugh!” she screamed in frustration “I give up. I’m just not going!”
“Oh thats great!” replied Zahraa sarcastically. “You can just skip your brother’s wedding. And if they ask you why you didn’t come then you can just tell them ‘well, because I had nothing to wear!’ We’ll see how well Ahmed deals with that.”
In a little less than a month, Miriam’s brother Ahmed would be getting married. Both the bride and groom had insisted on a small and low key function.
The problem with Miriam was that she was trying her very best to find an outfit that she could wear, in order to save her from shopping, which she absolutely dreaded.
Miriam grabbed one of her dresses and flung it at Zahraa and Hafsah. “Why don’t you two get off your lazy backsides and come help me find something nice to wear. You know I’m terrible at this!”
“Oh come on Miriam.” Zahraa said. “There must be something nice you can wear in there.” With that Zahraa jumped up from the floor and made her way to Miriam’s cupboard.
“Okay” she said to her. “What do you have in mind?”
Miriam replied gratefully: “Well, anything simple will be good.” I mean its going to be a simple thing right, with just close family and friends. It’s not even in a hall! My clothes kind of need to match the setting, right?
“Okay” Zahraa said. She ruffled through the clothes for a while until her eyes fell across a beautiful dress nestled between a big fluffy jacket, and another fancier skirt. “Well looky here” she said. “This looks good, where did this come from Miriam?”
Miriam had to search her mind before she could place it. “Oh ja! I forgot about that! I think it was a gift from my aunty! That’s perfect. It’s not too fancy but not too plain.”
"And" Zahraa continued, "You can match it up with this bag and these shoes."
"I agree" said Hafsah. "That outfit will be perfect Miriam."
“So what are you guys wearing?” Miriam asked the two of them. “Oh, I’m sure I’ve got something nice at home” Zahraa replied. And I actually love shopping you know? Anyway, I don’t have to stress. It’s your family thing right, now that you finally know what you’re wearing, I’m glad too. I don’t even know why you’re invited Hafsah and I anyway. We’re not even close to Ahmed.”
“Well you close to me” Miriam snapped. “And I had to have someone there that I actually like!”
To that Hafsah and Zahraa both giggled.
Miriam was toying with something in her mind and so she was quiet for while. After a few minutes she said to Zahraa: “Hey Zahraa, I need to tell you something and I don’t know how you going to react.”
“Well then” Zahraa said jokingly, “Tell me and then we’ll see my reaction.”
“Okay fine” Miriam said. “Well, you know that Ahmed is friends with Zaheer right. And well, since its Ahmed’s wedding, you know that Zaheer will be there right?”
Zahraa remained silent.
“Well, I mean , I don’t know if he will be there,” Miriam continued. “But he is invited, and he’ll probably come. I just thought I’d warn you beforehand”
Zahraa didn’t say anything for a while. Eventually she said:
“Well, what I must do about that right? He’s free to do whatever he wants. I’ll just steer clear and make sure I don’t have to see him. Besides, it won’t be a problem since he clearly wants nothing to do with me.”
“Really Zahraa” Hafsah said to her: “I’ve told you before that I don’t think it’s even like that. Its not like he dumped you, he clearly liked you. It’s not like he said he wants nothing to do with you. Actually, that’s what you said to him.”
“No, its not!” argued Zahraa. “I told him my reasons for staying away from him and I gave him an option. He didn’t care enough about me to take the option and he let me go. After all his promises and all his words he ended up being just as full of it as everybody else. Clearly he didn’t mean all that he said.”
“Zahraa” Miriam said to her: “You gave him only one option and that option was marriage. Which person would jump at that?”
“A person who cared enough about the next person” replied Zahraa angrily.
“Believe me” Miriam replied: “Zaheer cared about you!”
Now Zahraa was struggling to hold back her tears as she continued to argue. “How can you say that he cared about me?” she asked Miriam and Hafsah. “You guys were there when I was crying. You were there when I was waiting for him to call or sms, to send some sort of message to show that he cared. I got nothing. After that night, after I told him my feelings, he just simply ignored me. Who does that? The truth is that I gave him an easy way out. I provided the perfect solution for him to end it all. And that’s fine, really, I get now that it wasn’t meant to be and that he’s not the one I’m meant to marry.”
Zahraa stopped talking, trying to catch her breath. Miriam looked at her apologetically, regretting that she had to bring up this obviously painful subject.
“Anyway.” Zahraa said, trying her best to bounce back from her sudden outburst. “That’s all in the past anyway! Zaheer and I are done and when I see him at Ahmed’s wedding, well, I plan on ignoring him. I won’t waste my time crying over some guy.
Afraid that she might actually end up crying, Zahraa quickly changed the subject.
“I’m telling you guys” Miriam complained. “I have absolutely nothing to wear to this stupid thing.” Miriam was searching through her cupboard for something appropriate to wear for her brother’s wedding.
“Ugh!” she screamed in frustration “I give up. I’m just not going!”
“Oh thats great!” replied Zahraa sarcastically. “You can just skip your brother’s wedding. And if they ask you why you didn’t come then you can just tell them ‘well, because I had nothing to wear!’ We’ll see how well Ahmed deals with that.”
In a little less than a month, Miriam’s brother Ahmed would be getting married. Both the bride and groom had insisted on a small and low key function.
The problem with Miriam was that she was trying her very best to find an outfit that she could wear, in order to save her from shopping, which she absolutely dreaded.
Miriam grabbed one of her dresses and flung it at Zahraa and Hafsah. “Why don’t you two get off your lazy backsides and come help me find something nice to wear. You know I’m terrible at this!”
“Oh come on Miriam.” Zahraa said. “There must be something nice you can wear in there.” With that Zahraa jumped up from the floor and made her way to Miriam’s cupboard.
“Okay” she said to her. “What do you have in mind?”
Miriam replied gratefully: “Well, anything simple will be good.” I mean its going to be a simple thing right, with just close family and friends. It’s not even in a hall! My clothes kind of need to match the setting, right?
“Okay” Zahraa said. She ruffled through the clothes for a while until her eyes fell across a beautiful dress nestled between a big fluffy jacket, and another fancier skirt. “Well looky here” she said. “This looks good, where did this come from Miriam?”
Miriam had to search her mind before she could place it. “Oh ja! I forgot about that! I think it was a gift from my aunty! That’s perfect. It’s not too fancy but not too plain.”
"And" Zahraa continued, "You can match it up with this bag and these shoes."
"I agree" said Hafsah. "That outfit will be perfect Miriam."
“So what are you guys wearing?” Miriam asked the two of them. “Oh, I’m sure I’ve got something nice at home” Zahraa replied. And I actually love shopping you know? Anyway, I don’t have to stress. It’s your family thing right, now that you finally know what you’re wearing, I’m glad too. I don’t even know why you’re invited Hafsah and I anyway. We’re not even close to Ahmed.”
“Well you close to me” Miriam snapped. “And I had to have someone there that I actually like!”
To that Hafsah and Zahraa both giggled.
Miriam was toying with something in her mind and so she was quiet for while. After a few minutes she said to Zahraa: “Hey Zahraa, I need to tell you something and I don’t know how you going to react.”
“Well then” Zahraa said jokingly, “Tell me and then we’ll see my reaction.”
“Okay fine” Miriam said. “Well, you know that Ahmed is friends with Zaheer right. And well, since its Ahmed’s wedding, you know that Zaheer will be there right?”
Zahraa remained silent.
“Well, I mean , I don’t know if he will be there,” Miriam continued. “But he is invited, and he’ll probably come. I just thought I’d warn you beforehand”
Zahraa didn’t say anything for a while. Eventually she said:
“Well, what I must do about that right? He’s free to do whatever he wants. I’ll just steer clear and make sure I don’t have to see him. Besides, it won’t be a problem since he clearly wants nothing to do with me.”
“Really Zahraa” Hafsah said to her: “I’ve told you before that I don’t think it’s even like that. Its not like he dumped you, he clearly liked you. It’s not like he said he wants nothing to do with you. Actually, that’s what you said to him.”
“No, its not!” argued Zahraa. “I told him my reasons for staying away from him and I gave him an option. He didn’t care enough about me to take the option and he let me go. After all his promises and all his words he ended up being just as full of it as everybody else. Clearly he didn’t mean all that he said.”
“Zahraa” Miriam said to her: “You gave him only one option and that option was marriage. Which person would jump at that?”
“A person who cared enough about the next person” replied Zahraa angrily.
“Believe me” Miriam replied: “Zaheer cared about you!”
Now Zahraa was struggling to hold back her tears as she continued to argue. “How can you say that he cared about me?” she asked Miriam and Hafsah. “You guys were there when I was crying. You were there when I was waiting for him to call or sms, to send some sort of message to show that he cared. I got nothing. After that night, after I told him my feelings, he just simply ignored me. Who does that? The truth is that I gave him an easy way out. I provided the perfect solution for him to end it all. And that’s fine, really, I get now that it wasn’t meant to be and that he’s not the one I’m meant to marry.”
Zahraa stopped talking, trying to catch her breath. Miriam looked at her apologetically, regretting that she had to bring up this obviously painful subject.
“Anyway.” Zahraa said, trying her best to bounce back from her sudden outburst. “That’s all in the past anyway! Zaheer and I are done and when I see him at Ahmed’s wedding, well, I plan on ignoring him. I won’t waste my time crying over some guy.
Afraid that she might actually end up crying, Zahraa quickly changed the subject.
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