A Muslim's Romantic Journey

Chapter 61.

Safia’s POV

Not being able to keep the news in any longer, I dialed my parents’ telephone number. I’d been keeping this news in since yesterday. I was going to phone as soon as we came home but we got back late. Yusuf and I went for a stroll in the park. It started nicely before I remembered Yusuf’s ankle and we decided to just sit and enjoy life.

The fun thing about phoning the house phone was the anticipation of who was going to answer.

“Hello?” It was Amy.

“Asalamu’alaykum!” I said a little too loudly. I was alone so it didn’t matter.

“Wa’alaykumsalaam!” She turned the phone away a little. “It’s only Safia.”

“I’m guessing Hamza took the phone and quickly handed it to you to answer.” I used to do the same.

“Yeah. He said he didn’t want to get into a long awkward conversation with a random person who claims to be his aunt or uncle.”

“I know the feeling. Tell him I sympathise with him. Why don’t you save my number into the phone though, so you know it’s me when I’m calling?”

“I’ll do that when I’m bothered. So, what’s up?”

“I found out the gender of my babies.” I said and Amy squealed.

“Tell me, tell me, tell me!”

“Okay but don’t tell anyone else yet. I want to tell them myself. I wanted to tell you all face to face but I can’t come over yet. I’m forcing myself to stay at home and revise.”

“Not to seem rude or anything but could you skip all that and tell me the gender of your babies?”

“Fine. It’s a boy and a girl.”

“Oh my gosh! I knew it! I told you Hamza! I was right! It’s a boy and girl!”

“Amaani! What did I just tell you?” I scolded.

“It’s really strange when you call me Amaani. I know that’s my actual name now but can you stick to Amy please? And I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I said not to tell anyone! I wanted to tell them myself.” There was silence before I heard Amy say,

“Oops.” As if on cue, I could hear people fighting for the phone, all congratulating me and suggesting names.”

“Ilyas!”

“Jamal!”

“Alina!”

“Sabrina!”

“Harry!”

“Will you all calm down please?” I hushed them. I didn’t even know who was saying what. “I’m sorry guys but you don’t get a say in the names.”

“That is so mean!” Only Hamza would say something so dramatically.

“Your face is mean!” I retorted.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“You don’t make sense.”

“Alright children, no more arguing.” Before either of us could give a lame typical reply, Amy continued, “Can we come over?”

“Sure. When?”

“Today?” I thought about it. Yusuf had left for work but he was going to be back soon. Well, it didn’t even matter if he was here or not.

“Sure.” I hadn’t seen them in a while. The more I thought about it, the happier it made me. They were coming around!