Life goes on

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Two hours later, they were all back in Ghaada’s living room looking solemn. “Anaan…Anaan.” Yusuf said addressing Janaan. She looked up at him and smiled sadly “Aroon sick?” he asked her. “Yep.” She replied patting his head “but he’s gonna be all better soon, inshallah.” He was going to respond but Ramzia walked into the living room and he lost interest, running over to climb into her lap. The room was quiet for a while before Fatima spoke “This is all wrong, he can’t do that.” “He already did, it’s over.” Ramzia put in. “No, but what about her Iddah period?” Janaan asked. “There’s no Iddah period, that does not apply in her case…the marriage was not consummated therefore there is no Iddah.”Ramzia told her. “I tried talking him out of it but he wouldn’t listen.”Ghaada said shaking her head sadly “This is all so disappointing.” She added. Ramzia nodded in agreement “Yes it is and everything happened so fast… Khalid had been pretty upset when he found out but later, I guess he saw Haroon’s point.” “Saw his point? What is his point?” Janaan wanted to know. “It isn’t that easy to start over, she has already grown attached to him.” Fatima put in. Apart from a few sighs the room was silent and they all went back to contemplating individually. Khalid had gone to the mosque and Mayra was in the bedroom crying her eyes out, no one could console her. “The house is hers, she can sell it, rent it or use it herself…it’s up to Mayra.” Ghaada informed them. “Yeah, that’s what Khalid told me.” Ramzia replied. “Oh and umm…he asked me to have his personal things moved over here.” “Why are you guys acting like nothing serious happened?” Janaan asked clearly upset. “What can we do now? What’s done, is done.” Ramzia replied wrinkling her forehead “The sooner we accept it, the better.” “Okay…but she can wait for him…I know this isn’t want he wants, he’ll come back for her.” Fatima put in. “Well, she can’t be waiting around for him her whole life.” Ramzia replied. “Everything is in Allah’s hands, he already has a plan and it’s better than anything we can come up with.” Ghaada told them. “That is true.” Ramzia agreed nodding “All we can do now is pray.”

It had been three weeks since Mayra’s divorce. After days of persuasion Mayra had finally packed her things and moved back in with her parents. She put the house up for rent and left the rest to Ghaada. Mayra had never cried so much in her life, she was depressed and lonely. Fatima and Janaan tried everything to cheer her up but she had this distance about her that they couldn’t get rid of, it was like a part of her was still with Haroon. No one spoke of marriage around her because it seemed to awaken the river of hurt inside of her. Khalid had scheduled a meeting with Ousama for the weekend, he had not forgotten about the proposal and had put everything on hold in respect of Haroon’s accident. Mayra helped the girls on the farm some days and cooked with Ramzia on other days. None of them bothered her much about anything, she was so full of sadness, some nights she didn’t sleep. She tried not to think of Haroon but somehow everything reminded her of him, one way or another and although Fatima and Janaan were there with her she felt loneliness inside. Haroon owned her dreams and whenever she would wake to find that his arms were not around her and remembered that they wouldn’t be, the pain renewed itself, and though she thought it impossible, the hole in her heart deepened still. Tahajud became her peace.

We should do something nice to get her mind off things.” Fatima suggested. “Yeah, like what? There’s nothing out here.” Janaan replied. “I don’t know…maybe we could ride bikes down to the river.” “We’ve never been there, don’t know where it is and we aren’t allowed to.” “Uh hello, that’s what we have mouths for…we could ask around…and that was when we were kids.” “Okay, suggest it to her.”  Janaan said dropping three more tomatoes into the bowl Fatima was carrying. “Mayra…hey Mayra!” Fatima called to her sister who was on the other side of the field selecting cucumbers for the salad Ramzia was making to go with dinner.” Mayra looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun. “You wanna go down to the river later today?” “Uhhm…Naah, I think I’ll stay and help mommy with the food.” “C’mon Mayra, it’ll be so much fun.” Janaan said. Mayra thought about it for a moment “Okay, if I’m not too tired later.” She realized how hard they were trying to come up with things that would cheer her up and she appreciated it, the least she could do was accept an invitation. “I spoke to auntie Ghaada today.” Fatima told Janaan. “Oh really, when was that? What did she say?” “Yep, this morning…she says Haroon in doing much better, Alhamdulilah.” “Alhamdulilah, that’s good….you know, I still can’t believe all that has happened.” Janaan replied shaking her head “I mean…Haroon was in a serious accident, Mayra is now a divorced and emotional woman and I might be getting married to some guy, I know nothing about…and then there’s the whole Sameera Hassan thing…sad but I have to say, she had it coming.” “Janaan!” Fatima scolded. “Whaaat? I’m just saying.” “That is so wrong, she was my friend.” “Yeah, yeah, how could I possibly forget?” Janaan said sarcastically. Fatima rolled her eyes with a small smile on her lips. Just then they heard commotion ahead of them. “Catch it! Catch it!” shouted the men as they chased after something small and very fast. The girls stared, trying to get a good look at whatever it was they were chasing. Mayra who was closer to them was also alert. She noticed that  the Native looking guy was ahead of all the other men, he was young and handsome. (What’s his name again?...ohh yes, that’s it…Junayd.) she thought. He was sweating profusely as he raced after the poor creature and must have lost his hat in the process because his raven black hair was uncovered. Mayra could definitely see how Janaan had fallen for him. The chase ended when the creature, which happened to be a rabbit dived into a hole. Junayd bent over the hole with his hands on his knees, he was breathless. The other men left him there and went back to what they were doing before the rabbit decided to show its face. Junayd looked up and noticed that the three Fareed girls were watching closely. “What was it?” the new sister asked. “A rabbit.” He replied still trying to catch his breath. “Well, I don’t see how you planned to catch it…you didn’t expect it to let you grab him with your bare hands, did you?” Junayd chuckled and shook his head without looking at her. Mayra glanced down and noticed the large stick in his right hand. “Oh, I see…poor rabbit.” She said sadly. Junayd shook his head “They eat up everything… we have to get rid of them. “We could set a trap and catch it!” Janaan said “I’ve always wanted a rabbit.” Janaan she added with a smile. “We already have a cat, Janaan.” Fatima said flashing her a ‘just stop while you’re ahead’ look. “We?... WE, don’t have a cat. Mayra has a cat.” Janaan corrected. Mayra laughed “I can share twinkles.” “No need, I want a rabbit.” Janaan responded with her hands on her hips. “Well exuuuse me, hmph! …remind me to try sharing with more grateful people next time.” Mayra said frowning. Fatima and Janaan laughed. Junayd had already marked and covered the hole. He slipped away while they were talking. “Hey Junayd!” Janaan called after him. He stopped walking and looked back “Yes.” “Can you catch it for me?” Junayd had no idea how he would do it but he was not about to say ‘no’ to the only girl he ever had real feelings for. He scratched his head “Umm…I don’t know, I can’t promise but I’ll try.” “Yes! He’s gonna catch it guys!” Janaan yelled excitedly. Mayra and Fatima exchanged glances of disapproval “You better stop yelling like that Janaan, it’s very unladylike.” Fatima told her quietly. “Yeah, and he did not promise so don’t get all excited.” Mayra added “Yeah I know but I know he will…I mean, inshallah.” Janaan said smiling. Fatima and Mayra smiled back before turning to watch Junayd as he walked away. “Now that’s a hottie.” Fatima said bouncing her brows. Janaan flashed a threatening look just as expected and Fatima laughed “I know, I know, he’s taken.

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