"A humble young girl receives a scholarship to Dubai to go and study in the most prestigious school in the whole UAE.
The trip brings her closer to Allah as it came with a lot of trials and tribulations.
Maryam travels to Dubai in search of knowledg...
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|1| The Scholarship
Maryam's POV
I walked out of the exam office and crossed the road. I love Mondays, but today happens to be a stressful one. I couldn't sleep through this week. The anxiety of me not getting into a university was getting to me. I tried visiting my Mom and staying at home, but it didn't work. I thought that living in a familiar environment would be more comfortable and maybe I'd be able to sleep. But that didn't work.
I begin walking towards the cafe where I'd meet my friend. I opened the door to the cafe, the cool air from the AC blowing onto my face, my eyes met with familiar hazel ones.
"Salam, Habibti!" I exclaim
"My love, come here" she responds with as much enthusiasm.
Amira is my best friend. I've known her for almost half my life and right now I'm 18. Amira and I met somewhere in-between freshman year and Senior year. We just clicked like a puzzle piece. Now I love the girl with all my heart, we have so much in common.
I sit next to her and she starts to wiggle her eyebrows. I've known her long enough to know that whenever she did that she found someone. In her words 'I found Mr. Perfect with a credit card and bonus he is not an old man'
"Who is it this time? " I asked
"So I meet him online" she say
I already know this conversation is turning into a stupid one, people who date online are too trusting. People online are always lying. And dating is Haram trust me I've tried to talk some sense into her but she doesn't wanna listen.
"Girl..." I pause looking her in her eyes before finally saying "No he is probably lying"
"But I think I love him this time, I mean why else would I love someone who doesn't have money?" she says and I mentally facepalm myself
I stand up looking her dead in her eyes
"Call me when you're sure of yourself." I was slightly irritated when she called me here.
"But girl, come back..." she says
But I just walked away, I put my headphones on my ears, not to listen to music but because I didn't want anyone to bother me.
I start walking, my feet taking me to a familiar place. I feel the fresh breeze on my face as I walk through trees and bushes. I walk looking down at the dirt trail. I always follow memories of the past flooding my mind.
I finally find myself approaching the place I've been going to for years. Everytime something bad happened in my life I'd sit by the clear lake and make a dua. Looking over the vast mountains I'd pray to the one who created them. Sometimes I'd lay on the ground at night and look at the stars.
When everything in my life was going south, when my dad left my Mom and when my mom left me at the adoption center. When I discovered the place I never stopped coming.
When I was looking for an apartment I made sure it was as close to this place as possible.
I stand by the lake, the breeze blowing at my hijab, leaves floating down from trees and the sound of the wind when it hits the water, causing it to reple.
It felt peaceful and my heart finally felt at ease. All I can do now is pray that Allah grants me the scholarship.
