"words have never been able to describe anything. nothing can describe the feelings a human has been blessed with. only God can approximate their meanings - inaya"
"Inaya! Inaya. Innnaaayyyaaa."
Afra yelled from where she was sitting on her bed cross legged. Her best friend - Inaya bint Al Haadi - as was her name was a woman of extreme innocence leveled with a tad bit of exquisiteness. She lived down the block but even then living at each others' place was a task unavoidable.
"God! I'm going to die."
She muttered with frustration when Inaya didn't make it even after a whole minute.
Basically, Afra wasn't the most dramatic of all. Especially when they had Mahreen Bint Al Haadi - Inaya's youngest sibling - who bragged the role of the most dramatic girl when she had almost dragged Mariam - her mother - to the police station when her favourite doll had been lost. Turned out, Inaya had pretty much kidnapped the doll, dodged the several obstacles and finally threw it in the washing machine to get it cleaned.
Even though, Inaya and her other sister Hafsa bint Al Haadi weren't the biggest fans of dolls and clowns, Mahreen had developed an obsession like any other child with her Barbie. In general, if there was something both of Mahreen's sisters hated with a passion - regardless of how insignificant - failing at solving a Rubic cube, fixing a broken Minnie mouse nightlight, or remembering where the school photographs were kept - she'd go after it and would not give up until she'd figured it out.
In case anyone was wondering, she had barely turned seven.
"Inaya !"
She shouted once again, impatiently slapping her legs against the soft mattress.
For Afra, Inaya was one of the only friends she was blessed with excluding Mahreen, Hafsa and Mariam who were excessively patient and exceedingly understanding. Being an only child wasn't the only part of her life that surrounded her with loneliness or seclusion. It was more so of the fact that she was constantly targeted as a perfect victim of bullying at her school, where she was one of three students who were not Arabs.
Inaya's perception of life was divine and harboured doses of positiveness and enigma. She was one of those rare people who smiled during the toughest paths and laughed with joy once they had reached their destination.
After a couple of seconds, Inaya rushed into the room, shutting the bathroom door behind her. Her body was wrapped in a towel that fell till her thighs, exposing her lean legs. Her auburn hair was stuck to the sides of her face and her black eyes clouded with worry.
"Afra! What's wrong? Don't tell me you started a fire."
Afra's thoughts were disturbed as her eyes cascaded down the lean body standing against the bathroom door, a towel elegantly wrapped around her body. The Auburn of her hair stood out like a rainbow's shine.
Before Afra could mask up the courage to make a snarky remark, she had walked ahead and settled herself on the bed.
"Ooooh, sexy!"
Afra smirked with a meaningful glance and watched with a light laughter as Inaya's eyes widened with shock before she reached forward and slapped Afra's arms repeatedly.
"Is that why you've been shouting for ten minutes continous, almost making Aunt Elsa and Uncle Alexander barge into the room?" She frowned, her thick brows bending in. "Besides it's not my fault that you aren't sexy. That's why I keep telling you to excercise, even just get off of your bed, to lose some of that tummy fat of yours."
"Well, that could wait for another time." Afra chuckled, watching Inaya narrow her eyes. "Fine fine, yes a lot happened. At first I thought I was just imagining things but then I started to feel the unmistakable symptoms."
Inaya's face twisted in concern.
"Ya Allah, what happened?"
"I have a dry throat, my heart hurts when I breathe and there's a slight pain in my chest."
Afra spoke while Inaya scooted closer, drops of water dripping down from her hair onto Afra's lap.
"Hey, just tell me what's wrong?"
Inaya held her breath, her eyes building up with dread.
"I - ", She paused for a dramatic effect, " - I think I am thirsty."
Inaya regarded her for a mere second seriously before she pushed Afra and took to her feet.
"You scared me!"
Afra threw herself face down on the bed, rolling about on her stomach and mumbling in the covers.
"What? It's a life threatening disease! And I could have died! You should blame your over sexiness."
Afra complained, her hands flaying about in the air while Inaya rolled her eyes.
"Inaya! You don't understand. I wasn't able to feel my throat and I felt like my breath was stuck. All your fault though. Your sexiness is destructive."
Inaya shook her head, a hand at her forehead.
"The jug is right by your bedside, Afra. Just know that my sexiness cannot kill by the way. Atleast not more than your stupid yelling."
"Now stop wasting my time, drink up your water and get ready for Zuhr."
"Uh, that's too far away. Now that you're here anyway, get me a glass of water please."
Afra shot her an awkward smile and batted her lashes.
Inaya walked up to the beside drawer, filled a glass of water and slapped it in Afra's direction. Under Inaya's death glares, Afra cautiously took ahold of the glass with both her hands and pushed the sides of her lips up.
"Next time, do the back breaking task of getting your water. Sometimes people are stuck in way more complicated jobs."
Inaya stomped into the washroom, banging the door shut behind her.
"Don't forget to recite your prayers before drinking."
She yelled from the washroom before turning the faucets open, the voice of the pattering water filling the room with a subtle ringing.
"I'm going to tell Faaris how sexy you look with just a towel on." She yelled, only to be silenced by Inaya turning the shower on and drowning Afra's voice.
A smile quirked around the corners of her mouth, as she stared at the glass of water in her hands.
Two days had passed and after both of them had tried to have fun at Afra's place, they gave up exhaustedly. Inaya suggested her to stay back at their apartment for a few days since summer vacation had officially been announced and life began to become blurry with the onset of the steamy July afternoons.
"Mama."
Inaya's lips pulled into a side smile as she heard Afra bouncing down the stairs while yelling for Mariam. Once a few neighbours had come over for a gathering in their apartment whist Afra's weekend stay. Inaya couldn't help but remember the looks of shock and disbelief on all their faces when Afra referred to Mariam as her own mother.
It was quite a seeming shock to Mariam too as she had discussed about it in the quiet of the night with Inaya. But upon analysing the reasons and adhering to Afra's comfortableness with them, Mariam had openly invited the respect.
Only now, she was finally entertained as a real daughter.
"Mama! Guess what?"
Ianya turned around from where she was sitting on the couch in the living room, her lips pulled up in an amusing smile as she watched the beginning of a live show right in her house.
Mariam - who was standing against the stove - turned around from her position, a spatula in her hand. Afra's eyes had a silly excitement like the one she usually had when about to say anything rather uncanny to normal people.
Life was never unfair and so was the case for Inaya too. At the age of fourty seven, Mariam was a woman of weird existence. Her eyes twinkled with happiness, her face as clear as the moon in the dark night and her hair as black as possible only with a slight hint of dusk in it with the repeated application of henna as hair mask.
Inaya's smile grew as she recalled the first ever time she had welcomed Afra to their apartment. Her expressions often still roamed in front of Inaya's eyes when she gladly immersed herself in some old and gold memories.
"Yes, my dear?"
She smiled warmly at Afra who hopped on her feet excitedly.
"You know mama, something just struck me."
After Mariam encouraged her to continue on, she took a seat at the counter with her back erect on the stool she sat at.
Mariam raised her brows in question.
"Wouldn't it be more better if shark had normal human teeth?"
Inaya stifled a laugh and turned the other way cautiously without getting caught in their drama. True that Afra had a weird sense of reasoning but that never posed as a major problem to Inaya so she never spoke against it.
Afra suggested, her mouth widely pulled up into a goofy grin. On the other hand, Mariam hesitated a moment, before turning back around and flipping the pancakes that were just beginning to stick to the pan.
"Mama, what do you think? Won't they look more prettier and friendlier? People wouldn't be as scared of them."
Mariam rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. Inaya began fiddling with her fingers to avoid being involved in the situation as much as she possibly could.
"I haven't ever seen a shark properly. Besides, they are meant to be scary."
Mariam debated, her attention still focused on the skillet as she poured in another ladleful of batter into it.
"But mama, I think it would be nice if scientists could get them special braces that could convert their ugly, yellowish canine teeth to gorgeous, perfectly arranged human teeth."
"Please discuss this with Mahreen, will you? That girl gets more logic out of your suggestions. But speaking of it, you can always share your splendid idea with the scientists."
Mariam placed the plate of steaming hot pancakes down in the centre of the marbled counter, walking back and forth in assembling the breakfast table.
"As you say. But it's so exciting nonetheless."
Afra shrugged an indifferent shoulder. As she squealed at the sight of whipped cream and freshly cut strawberries, Inaya took the opportunity to slide off of her seat and get herself seated at the breakfast table.
"Now listen to me girls. An extremely important advice from your mother. Time will never notify us before it swiftly brings a calamity upon us. I do say this several times a day since we as Muslims need to be aware and on our feet always in preparation of our Aakhirah. I may die anytime and in that scenario, only my teachings will remain behind with you all."
"Mama, why would you talk about that early in the morning?"
Afra slouched in her seat.
"No my dearest. Don't think about this negatively. Death is bound to come. We should accept it wholeheartedly."
"Yeah, we know mama. But let's not talk about it the first thing in the morning."
Mariam gave a short laugh, walking in between where both of them sat and pulling them closer to her chest.
"Now now, let's not get emotional. It's best to start your day with a clear reminder that it could be your last so that maximum utilisation could be made."
Inaya and Afra smiled and followed her actions as she began explaining to them in a soft tone.
"We all aware that one day you girls will be handling the kitchen work as the prime chef of your homes. Perhaps even now you may be taking over the tasks with the means of helping your elderly parents. In that case, there are a few objectives that you should be aware of."
She paused to assemble each one their plate of pancakes.
"Number one. Make sure you are with wudhu. Being in wudhu protects what we're doing from Shaitaan's entrapment. It does not only serve as a form of external purification but also as a means of cleaning one's thoughts and intentions."
"That's interesting."
Afra commented while Mariam nodded with a warm smile.
"Second, recite Surah Fatihah and splittle over the food. While many would cringe at the gross action that I'm encouraging, you have to realize that this is a commandment of the beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihi wa sallam. He sure was aware of what was right and wrong. The Reason he prescribed this is an act is because this Surah is known as "Ruqya" or remedy. It cures sickness and wards off evil."
"Ma shaa Allah. That's amazing. I never knew that."
Afra exclaimed, reciting her prayers and taking a bite of the delicious fluffy goodness.
"Of course you girls wouldn't have known. Isn't that why I'm explaining it all? Let's move on to the third point now. Cook with the intention of pleasing Allah subhana wa Taa'la and not for praises and compliments. Doing so will make your cooking count as an ibaadah and bless you with rewards. If at all your cooking turns out to be bad - which it wouldn't with Allah's mercy - you would not feel bad about it since it was Allah who you intended to please."
"Fourth, keep your hands clean and head covered. Now I am sorry I forgot to cover my head today as I was running quite late but make sure to not forget this very often. It's not just to save yourself from the embarrassment of someone pulling out a hair from your food but also so that the angels of mercy can be present too."
"Oooh, why is all this so new and interesting? Thanks for sharing this with us mama."
Afra smiled with a mouthful of pancakes and cream smothered over her lips.
Mariam chuckled lightly.
"You're very welcome sweetheart. Let's move on then. Fifth would be to begin with bismilah. In the name of your Lord, who's the most merciful and the most generous. Sixth, make sure to be in dhikr and keep reciting the durood, for verily, the love of the prophet in the house in which he is constantly remembered. Seventh, be conscious of the halaal and haraam. For if you eat even a morsel of haraam food, fourty days of your ibaadah won't be accepted. Eighth, recite of the beautiful names of Allah Azzawajal constantly and it will eliminate any arguments or disputes one tends to have over the dinner table. Never waste - even if that is a grain - for Allah hates israaf or wastage and it will lead to a decrease in your Nia'mat or blessings. Thank Allah Azzawajal profusely has given you food to eat which not everyone's blessed with. If there are any servants engaged in the preparation of the food, make sure to let them have a considerable portion of it. Lastly, spread the good word and make sure to never ignore anyone who's hungry and give them a part of your food even if that means you were eating a single date."
Afra took to her feet, clapping her hands together and smiling.
"Why are you so perfect mama?"
"No s -"
Inaya was just about to reply back with a sarcastic remark when Hafsa's voice roared through the entire kitchen.
"Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu everyone."
Inaya snapped her head up to watch Hafsa run down the stairs, covered in an entire hijab. Her face was veiled to the extent that even her eyes couldn't be seen fully.
She sang aloud and hopped towards Mariam, planting a quick kiss over her forehead by lifting her veil up and dropping it just as quickly.
Inaya's eyes fell over Afra who's mouth was pulled up into a warm smile as she took in the scene.
"Where are you running off to?"
Mariam shouted behind Hafsa who stopped in her tracks and turned around with her fingers wrapped around the door handle.
"A quick run mama. In Shaa Allah, after I return, I'll eat my breakfast."
"But it'll all get cold by then."
"I'll warm it up."
Mariam sighed, pulling a stool out and getting seated.
"Don't go with your niqaab on atleast Hafsa. It's scorching hot outside."
Afra reasoned, turning around at an awkward angle from where she was seated so she could look at Hafsa.
"Nah, Habibti. I'm a Niqaabae."
She snapped her fingers and began to laugh silently until everyone joined her.
"Okay Miss Niqaabae. I hope you don't fall unconsciousness anywhere."
Inaya snorted, watching her sister with a smug smile.
"Sure, will remember that. In Shaa Allah."
"Take care okay. Return soon."
Mariam shouted behind her only to be answered back with a muffled goodbye before they all heard the door shut.
A few minutes of silence made Inaya ponder over how much she was blessed with on a large basis.
There was a story she had read somewhere whose exact details she didn't remember very well. But it went something like he was unable to eat anything for a week because a section of his stomach had to be removed. During that period he had learnt how without Allah's will, one cannot eat even if the food were to be right before your eyes.
Sometimes the best blessings are the ones we encounter on a daily basis whose beauty we fail to realise due to the familiarity.
"Mama, why are pancakes called pancakes?"
Afra's question broke into Inaya's thoughts, making her duck her head with a soft smile.
"Um, I'm not sure."
Mariam answered, her spoon halfway in the air as she pondered over Afra's question.
"Inaya,why are pancakes called pancakes?"
"Because they are made on a pan and the batter is similar to that of a cake I guess."
Inaya shrugged, as Afra pouted her lips thoughtfully.
"Okay. That makes sense. In that case, why are eggplants called eggplants? I'm pretty darn sure they don't have an egg in them."
She paused, her brows knitting together. "Or do they?"
Inaya took a large bite of her pancakes and motioned at Afra to eat first.Reluctantly, she took her bite and fortunately didn't stop till she nearly finished. The best way to stop Afra's blabbering was to either change the topic or rather just serve her food.
"Speaking of which, did the entrance exam results come out?"
Mariam asked eagerly, her eyes turned to Afra.
"They'll be out by next week mama. Afra grinned. "I can't wait."
Inaya turned to her friend. With the way she was - silly and chidlish - one would be outrageously shocked to know that she was ranked as the best outgoing student in her school. Atleast Mariam was beyond impressed to know that she was indeed smart but just didn't know where to use her gifted talent.
"What are you expecting?"
Afra attempted to straighten her fake collars, a look of victory on her face.
"As always, the lowest position that one can attain."
Inaya's fork slipped from her fingers, a strangled cough escaping her lips.
"What? No,I mean, you told that you wrote it well this time."
Mariam frowned in confusion.
"Yes, exactly my thought."
"Okay okay, I was kidding. Relax."
Afra chucked.
"You scared me there!"
Inaya punched Afra playfully, who just shrugged and stuck her tongue out.
"So, what rank are you expecting?"
Mariam asked, leaning forward on the counter with her arms.
"First in Shaa Allah. I've done a lot of hard work. And I need this at any cost. I want to get into aeronautics anyhow."
"In Shaa Allah, you'll make through it."
Inaya reassuringly patted her shoulder.
"You've always done it. I have faith that you'd do it this time just as well."
Mariam smiled, nodding her head.
"Thanks mama. You guys are the best."
Afra smiled, playing around with the last bite of food.
"We're always with you. So don't worry and just be prepared for the best In Shaa Allah."
Mariam spoke, pushing some hair behind her ear.
The rest of the meal was finished in silence and together they cleaned up the counter, washed their plates and prepared coffee.
"Mama, did you call Faaris? We were planning on spending some time in the park."
Inaya poured out the coffee into large mugs.
"No we weren't."
Afra fought back, stomping her way beside Inaya and frowning deeply.
Inaya rolled her eyes.
"I called him anyway. He will be here in an hour."
"Why did you do that mama?"
Afra dramatically fell to her knees and raised her arms to the roof, her face twisted with fake agony.
"Afra, snap out of it. What's so wrong with heading out for some sun? We should all go out every now and then to not only enjoy as a form of recreational activity but also so we can observe Allah's greatness and praise him."
Afra fell to the floor, her legs crossed with a smug expression.
"We can do that while watching television in the comforts of our home."
Mariam placed all the cleansed dishes in the cupboards, smiling down upon the two of them arguing.
"By the way mama, why don't you join us? It's a beautiful morning."
"I would love to but I don't feel like it Habibti. I have some work to do and then clean the mess that Mahreen's closet has become."
Afra slumped while walking between the both of them.
"It would have been nice if you joined us though."
They all headed to the living room and plopped down on the couches Inaya switched on the television and they watched some news before Afra snatched the remote from Inaya's hand and switched it to the Discovery channel. She kept 'aw-ing' and gawking and even cried when the baby elephant got stuck in thick grasslands. Mariam let out small laugh at Inaya and Afra's bickering.
"Let's hurry up Afra. Faaris will be here in fifteen minutes."
Inaya grabbed Afra's waist and tried pulling her all the way to their room a few steps away.
"Hey! I want to watch that lion eating grass. Can you believe that a lion is going to eat grass? It's a 'once in a lifetime opportunity'!"
Afra slipped through Inaya's hands and made a dash for the living room.
"Just get my abaya and everything with yours."
Afra insisted, as she clung on to the couch. Mariam passed a sympathetic look too and kept siding with Afra.
"Afra, remind me why we are friends will you?"
Inaya stomped out of the room, yelling as she walked away.
Afra finished watching how the lion wilfully ate grass and she couldn't help but gawk at the the screen. If that was the case, then could giraffe eat meat too? She wondered. Mariam patted her head fondly.
"Here!"
Inaya balled up all of Afra's clothes at threw it at her face as she pulled up by the door dressed up in a warm magenta toned jilbaab.
"Hey! That hurt!"
Afra whined, standing up and pulling the abaya over her pajamas reluctantly.
"Okay, girls, both of you out in a minute from now. We don't want Faaris to wait."
Mariam sternly ordered and walked out of the living room.
"Maybe we can just stay home and watch that show."
Afra suggested, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she grinned wide.
"Umm...or maybe, I will just drop you back at your place."
Inaya suggested, crossing her arms over her chest.
Afra huffed loudly.
"Fine, Let's go."
She stooped her shoulders and walked past the living room huffing a sigh every second.
They passed the hallway leading down their apartment floor towards the elevator. All the way to the exit, Afra's mouth constantly tried talking Inaya out of the plan proposing several reasons.
"But I'm not in the mood, Inaya."
Afra sighed, watching the blue Toyota honk in front of her eyes as they approached the car.
"I want a strawberry pie when we come back?"
"No!"
Inaya exclaimed.
"Banoffee pie?"
"Eh-hm."
"Chocolate pudding?"
"No."
"Falafel ?"
"Urgh! No! You're not getting anything Afra."
"Can I get some Gulab Jaamun? It's been so long since we last ate them."
Faaris honked once again. This time waving his hand over.
"We ate those last week Afra."
"Chocolate will do just fine in that case."
"How about I give you a smack? It's been looooong since you got that."
Inaya replied, in a sickeningly sweet voice. Afra sighed and walked down the lane towards the car grumbling under her breath.
Inaya managed to push Afra into the back seat, struggled to keep her in place and to get herself seated. She breathed a sigh of relief as soon as the car door swung shut.
"Assalaamualaikum."
They both greeted Faaris. After leaving his post as an army official, he had traveled to the city along with Inaya and her mother. Upon Mariam's request, he had a Nikaah with Inaya under some interesting circumstances. But promised to take her with him only after he settled down with a decent job. His short chocolate brown hair shone under the sun's powerful rays and his greyish brown eyes glistened with delight. Both Inaya and Afra's parents helped him and at the same time paid him extra by letting him do odd jobs.
"Walaikumussalaam girls! How are you this morning?"
He cheerfully questioned, his gaze focused on the road.
"Alhumdulillah, I'm Great."
Afra answered him, and spared a glance in Inaya's direction, who was wriggling her fingers. Her palms were looking sweaty. She spent most of the time peering out the slightly grimy car window at the glistening lights of the city, probably trying to distract herself from stealing glances at Faaris.
"Looked like you guys were having quite an argument at the doorstep a few minutes ago."
He chuckled and stole a glance through the rear view mirror, his lips twitched in a sarcastic grin.
Afra shot a frown in Inaya's direction , before looking back towards the front.
"Somebody wasn't agreeing on getting me strawberry pie, banoffee pie chocolate pudding, falafel and gulaab jaamun!"
She spat out and crossed her arms across her chest.
Faaris raised an eyebrow in question.
Erm, they're not allowing you to have a party?"
He hinted, arching an eyebrow.
"Urgh No. They're not getting me all that to eat!"
Afra fired back, her eyes narrowing at Inaya, who clearly wasn't doing anything but wriggling her fingers and she hardly listened to what Afra was saying.
Faaris just blankly shot a quick look towards Inaya's direction, whose head was ducked.
"You want to eat all that?"
He asked, chuckling as he swayed across the cars flying down the road.
"Whatever!"
She moodily dropped back into the seat, her arms tightly crossed across her chest.
"How have you girls been?"
Faaris clearly wanted to keep talking much to his dismay, the girls didn't seem interested.
A good few minutes passed in silence, before Afra shuffled forward in her seat.
Inaya had just turned around carefully in her seat to pull back her niqaab and drink some water.
"Inaya looks rather troubled, now that you ask me about it."
Afra blurted, her voice gravely serious.
Inaya spat the water out.
"I - what?"
She rolled her eyes, turning around to pull a tissue from the box on their seat.
"Are you sick?"
Faaris spoke, his concerned eyes lingering longer than usual at Inaya as she was patting her face veil dry.
"You're going to hit that car if you don't shift your focus now, Faaris. Thank you for your concern."
Afra faked a cough, eyeing Inaya sideways and giggling silently.
Inaya's back stiffened, her chest heaved up like she had filled it with enough air to last her the entire ride.
Faaris gnawed on his lip, his cheeks turning slight pink.
"So, why do you think she's sick Faaris?"
Afra leaned back in her seat, a satisfied look coming across his face.
Faaris gulped hard, glancing nervously through the rear view mirror.
"Because there's a particular someone who's bothering her?"
"Or a particular someone may have left her lonely?"
Afra supplied for him, after which she received a good smack on her head.
"Hey! What was that for?"
She shrieked at Inaya, who was clearly glaring through narrowed eyes.
"I believe I did a bad mistake thinking I might be able to enjoy some good air with you two by my side!"
She shrieked softly, causing them both to sit up straigter and concentrate on their own findings.
"So much for trying to freshen up matters between my best friend and her husband."
Afra muttered, crossing her arms and eyeing Inaya sideways.
"Oh please, don't bother at all. I never wanted you to assist me through this. Just stop thinking you can change my mind."
Inaya snapped in a whisper, shifting towards the other end and busying herself.
Afra nodded, before finally resting her head against the window on her side, enjoying the sun's rays on her face.
She didn't mind her friend. It was only around the facts of her own marriage she lost her calm and snapped.
As for Afra, she couldn't wait to send Inaya off with Faaris and then later on become an aunt baby sister to their million tiny humans.
Perhaps their marriage wasn't done in the best of circumstances. But she believed, and she was extremely confident, that time would consume their misunderstanding and dislike. And not to mention, gradually soften their hearts for one another.
For as a matter of interest, they were talking of two individuals brought together by the Almighty himself.
Her smile grew a little wider.
.
.
.
« Assalaamualaikum Princesses â¤.
To all those who've taken out time to read this book of mine, I'm both humbled and honoured. I hope that you'll stick through this journey of mine.
Jazaki'ALLAHU KHAIRAN KATHEERAN and a hearty thank you to each and everyone. â¤â¤â¤
Much love,
Yasmeen. »