Edited:
Published: Monday, January 11th 2016 12:45 pm
Ayah:
November 18th
I woke up this morning with a sudden urge to vomit my stomach contents, made my Fajr Salaah with Jafar, and cooked us breakfast for the day. It may seem like a pretty boring routine, but for someone who has her own house after years of living with her mother, it's a big deal and very exciting. Well, except for the morning sickness. That I can definitely live without. But since it's normal when pregnant, it doesn't seem so bad.
Isabella: Hey, Ayah, you've been MIA. That's Lee's job, lols. I need to speak to you about my wedding.
"Knock, knock!" I heard someone sing from outside the door, and I quickly--as quickly as a four month pregnant person can--grabbed the extra scarf I put on the coffee table, I stood up to see who was there. Jafar went on a run this morning and wouldn't be back for another few minutes or so, so it couldn't be him.
"Ayah!"
"Who is it?" I called back, ignoring the fact that the person knew my name. "Well? I have a..." I looked around for an item to use, but came across empty. "A bat," I bluffed, "so you better not try anything." Then heard a laugh and whispering on the other side.
"It's Jamila, Ayah," I sighed in relief when I recognized her voice, opened the door, and glare at my sister and her friend who were beaming at me. "Hi."
"Yeah," I said dryly, rolling my eyes. "Hi."
"So," Alia spoke up, sharing an amused smile with Jamila. "Where's the bat?"
"Just come in." I grumbled and went back to my position on the couch and turned off the TV, giving them my full attention. Many possibilities of why they are here at nine in the morning, but I just opted with letting them tell me. "So," I rolled my lips into my mouth while looking at their smiling faces, then let my lips go with a pop, "what's up?"
"The ceiling, obviously," Jamila joked, and I glared at her, raising an eyebrow for her to tell me the answer I wanted. "I'm meeting with my brother here."
"Why?"
She smiled innocently in response. "Oh, you know, brother sister stuff. Is he here?"
At that exact moment, Jafar walked through the door, panting slightly, sweaty and holding a water bottle. A stifled a laugh at his state and Jamila's look of disgust.
"Ew," She scrunched her face up, shaking her head. "You look like you're about to pass out."
"I feel like it," He shot me a smile and went to the kitchen to throw away his empty bottle, then came forwards and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Hey."
I smiled back, pushing a peice of his wet hair from his face. "Hey."
"Uhum," Jamila scoffed, gesturing to herself and Alia, who I noticed didn't stop blushing since Jafar entered the room. Yes, Jamila has told me about her ongoing crush on my husband a few years back when we weren't married, but I never would've thought she would still like him. "Can you two not while we're here?"
Jafar looked up with a smile, tilting his head to the side. "Why are you here? No offense, Mills, but it's..." he looked down at his watch and back at Jamila, "nine twelve in the morning."
She narrowed her eyes, keeping the smile on her face and stood up. "Obviously you forgot, so we need to have a chat. Come, come."
Jafar groaned and scrunched his forehead in confusion and followed his sister down the hallway, more than likely trying to figure out what she meant. I used this time to talk with Alia. Of course I'm not jealous because she likes Jafar, she's been a friend of Jamila's for a while now.
"So," I started off, grinning and turning to fully face her. Alia looked up, pushing a lock of hair behind her air and offering me a small smile. "I heard about your engagement. When's the wedding?"
From halfway listening to she and Jamila talk at the game, I did come to learn that she was engaged and about to get married, but something happened. The cheers of the fans made it impossible for me to ease drop on the rest.
"That," Alia groaned, blowing out a breath and widened her eyes for a second. "It didn't work out. We didn't learn until I was about to have my henna party that we weren't...compatible. Better late than never, right?"
"Yeah," I laughed along with her, and while some would force a laugh out to keep the pain hidden, Alia is nothing short of happy. "How are you taking it?"
"Not as bad as most I guess, but I've been told it was bound to happen."
"Who would wish bad luck on your marriage? That's horrible."
"Both our families," Alia told me, the whole time she has been here, now is the only time to see her sad smile. "Our story is just like Jamila and Mu'adh's--bound for destruction. But, I'm over it. Can we talk about something else?"
Smiling politely, I nodded. "Of course."
Jamila and Alia stayed over for a few more minutes, talking, laughing and joking around with Jafar and I while he fixed me a sandwich. I would have done it myself, but he basically banned me from moving from my spot, other than going to the bathroom that is. I didn't stop him. He got so happy when I allowed him to do stuff for me, that it hurt to refuse his offer. I think it's the eyes. But once Jamila and Alia left and I got my sandwich, he sat down next to me, going over plays and talking to me occasionally while I ate, which was fine. The silence was a comfortable one which we both welcomed. But after my phone call with Mama, the silence ceased.
"She wants to have lunch?" Jafar questioned, and I couldn't help but laugh at the look of shock on his face. "During the time we've been married, she's never asked to eat with me before."
"My aunts are coming into town and want to meet up...with us. Oh, come on, don't make that face."
"What face?"
"The I-think-my-wife-has-lost-her-mind face. Stop it!"
"I think you're losing your mind," He laughed, and I huffed, slapping him playfully, to which he laughed. "See!" He exclaimed and I rolled my eyes, "you've become abusive."
"Do you want to go or not?"
"I'll go," He smiled, pushing all of his papers to a pile, standing up, kissing my forehead and going to the back yelling something about getting ready.
-*-
Jafar parked the car in front of my mothers house--my old house--sighed, holding on so tightly to the steering wheel that his knuckles started to turn white. Just this morning he was happy and joking around this morning, and ever since I told him about my mothers offer for lunch, he's been acting weird, nervous even. But why would he be nervous? It's not like we haven't eaten at the same table together. Then again, my Aunt Rabia, Mama, Aunt Suhaila and Um Jafar were never there at one time eating with us.
"Hey," I reached over and pried his hand off the wheel with one hand, and then turned his face to look at me with the other. "They love you already, Jafar. No need to be nervous."
"I will admit I'm slightly nervous to be in the presence of all the elder woman in your family, but that's not it."
"What is?"
Instead of vocally answering, he reached over to grab his phone and opened it, going to his messages. "Here."
Unknown number: I'm in, well, if I still have a place that is. But, other than that, I'm in.
Jafar: Not that I'm happy you changed your mind, but what made you?
Unknown number: Something a friend said changed my mind. "You can't heal if you will be wonunded," or something like that. But, I'm down. Can I come to the next practice?
Jafar: Yeah. Tomorrow at three-fifteen.
"Why would his friend know what you said to my mother before I left?"
"I don't know," I whispered, passing his phone back and placing my head on the back of the seat. "I don't want to accuse her, but Jamila was there when I said it,"I tilted my head to look at him, my lips pursed, "you don't think she's talking to him again, right? Because I don't want to think that."
"I don't know. But I will find out."
I opened my door at the same time as Jafar and got out, meeting him in front of the car and clasping his hand with mine.
"But right now let's put that aside and focus on the woman inside. My family can be judgy."
He stopped walking to look down and glare at me. "Is that suppose to make me feel welcomed?"
Laughing, I pulled him towards the house, a wide grin coming on my face when Aunt Rabia and Aunt Suhaila opened the door and came towards us, gushing about not seeing us for a while and our baby that had yet to be born. This is going to be a long lunch.
-*-
Jamila:
I sat at the diner in town with my laptop and practice itenerary in front of me, checking out different fonts for the emails. You would think choosing a font is easy--just look at all the pretty calligraphy and choose your favorite, but it's a way to it. Not only are you choosing what type of script looks the best, and since it's a baby shower, something fun and classy will work fine. Also the colors have to go together or else the whole thing will be ruined. Let's just say that designing covers will even give a baby gray hairs.
"Salaam," I looked up from my laptop, a fry hanging out of my mouth, and squinted at the person in front of me. What exactly possessed me to sit right next to the sun while working? "Are you Jamila?"
"I am," I nodded, ducking my head in front of the person to get rid of the sun. A girl about my age stood there, a grin on her face, and a guy standing awkwardly beside her, on his phone. "And I don't think you're Annie because she's supposed to be bigger than Ayah. And you are defiantly not pregnant."
She shrugged, sitting down across from me and motioning for the guy to sit at the next table. To not be rude and work while having company in front of me, I closed my laptop shut, ate the fry dangeling from my lips, and gave her my full attention. There. I look somewhat decent, only if someone doesn't look to see I have on pajama pants.
"I'm Kareema by the way," She declared, looking over the menu attached to the table. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm starved. Mind if I get a bite?"
"No," I waved off, opening my laptop up and grabbing a few fries and shoving them in my mouth. Classy. "Take your time."
"What do you recommend?"
"The chicken burger and fries with a milkshake. It's like Jannah in food form."
"That's halal?"
I nodded, an amused smile on my face. "Yep. All the food, except for the ham and bacon, is halal."
Kareema grinned from ear to ear, looking over the menu for something. We again sat there for a while waiting for her to get started on her meal, talking about our lives and once in a while coming up with different ideas for the baby shower. I have to admit I wasn't happy when even she suggested that we wait to see what Ayah and Jafar are having, but it did make sense. My plan was to ask all guest to bring two of everything, but that's a bit much I suppose.
"So when she does find out the gender, what colors are we decorating with? Nothing dry like blue for a boy and pink for a girl."
"Exactly what I was thinking," I nodded, moving to the new itenerary I designed with Kareema's help. I went to the theme color and clicked to start typing."So," I spoke, only looking up to see Kareema and the guy I just learned was her brother grinning at each other.
"Sorry," He apologized, taking a piece of Kareema's sandwich and sticking his tongue out when she glared at him. "She's all yours."
"Anyways," She smiled, turning back to give me her full attention.
"Right, colors. What about a green white and blue mix for a boy, and a pink and red polka dot for a girl? It's cute."
"Even though I've only met her a couple of times, Ayah didn't seem like the type to use those types of colors."
"She's not," I grinned mischieveously, "but she'll love it."
-*-
Ayah:
"You're alive!" I joked when the last of my Aunts left the house, and Jafar sighed, wiping his soapy hands off and leaning on the counter. "Come on! It wasn't that bad."
"They made you take a nap!"
"I was tired," I protested, and Jafar narrowed his eyes, smirking, "Oh, stop. I was."
"I felt like I was being interrogated."
"Oh, relax," Jafar jumped up at the sound of Mama's entrance to the kitchen, placing a dramatic hand over his heart, "they were being nice."
"I would hate to see mean," He grumbled, and I had to stop myself from laughing at him. I know exactly what he's talking about. While they thought I would be taking a very long pregnancy nap--their words--I was up the last hour listening as they asked him question after question. His mother was no better, which amused me. She was going along with all the women making her son squirm. One would think that he and the elders talk before you get married, but since we've been married almost two years, the timing did seem rather interesting.
"You ready to head home?" He asked when I yawned. I nodded and pushed myself off the chair, walking towards Mana.
"Hello Habibti," She smiled, wrapping up the leftover food and placing it in the refrigerator. "You look worn."
"I am. We are about to head home."
"Okay," She placed the last of the food in and turned to me, wrapping me into a hug, "I love you."
I nodded into the hug. "I love you too."
-*-
Jafar:
November 19th
At exactly three thirty when practice was to start, Mu'adh walked through the gym doors with his head down and walked towards the locker room with the rest of the players. I smiled and looked to see Jake nodding at me. I took that as my cue of approval. Just from him walking through the doors to be apart of the team was enough to make me grateful that he decided to join. Judging from our last two wins; the team is good, but with Mu'adh, they could go far. I'm not saying he's the best on the team because all of the boys are gifted athletes, but he has something they don't.
When the boys finally did come out to start, Jake started them off with suicides and laps and walked over to me.
"Yeah?" I questioned, unable to keep the grin off of my face.
"How did you do it?"
I looked to him, a slight smirk on my face.
"Do what?"
"You know what?"
"Nope," I shook my head, "I don't."
"Fine," Jake let out a deep sigh and turned to face me, his eyes narrowed. "How did you get a boy who was adamant on not playing to play?"
"I convinced him."
"Bullshit!" He exclaimed, and I couldn't help but laugh. "You bribed him, right? Offered him a starting spot?"
"Listen," I looked over to him, an amused smile on my face, "I convinced him not to let his talent go to waste, and to not think about the racists who don't want him on the team."
"And he just said yes?"
"Yes," I nodded, pointing towards the floor where they were on their last run, "there's your proof that it worked."
Without another word, Jake walked away to call the boys in, and followed after him, still smiling.
-*-
Ayah:
I waved as Mama drove away from the curb and went in the direction of her house. As soon as I saw her car disappear around the corner, I shifted my bag straps on my shoulders and went inside the building where I was immediately engulfed with the air conditioning. As good as today was, it was very hot. The sun seemed to never want to go away, no matter how hard I glared at it. I'm so glad I went with a sundress instead of an abaya. I would've melted.
Before making my way to the elevators, I went over to the mail booths.
"Hello," I smiled cheerfully to a woman in my building, who returned the smile, then grabbed her mail. "It's a hot one today."
"Yes," She breathed, nodding with me, "it is. I can barely walk to my car without breaking a sweat."
"Same. I'm just thankful I didn't faint."
"Same. You just moved in, right?"
I nodded, grabbing the pieces of mail and closing the slot.
"My husband and I, yes."
"How are you liking the neighborhood?"
I looked outside the window to the fields that I love so dearly, remembering the first time we came here to check it out. "I think we made the right choice."
"Kate."
I turned back to her and smiled widely. "Ayah."
"Great," She chirped, closing her slot as well. "I'll see you around."
I stepped out of the elevator on our floor, smiling all the way to the door. And when I got there, placed the key in the door and turned it, it wouldn't budge.
"Wait!" Jafar yelped from inside, followed by a groan of pain. I covered my mouth to keep from laughing, imagining him trying to stop me from coming inside, meanwhile tripping over something. "One sec!"
"Are you okay? That sounded like it hurt."
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Why can't I come in?"
"Uh..." I heard shuffling in the background, followed by the clanking of pans. Then when I was about to ask why he was so silent, the door opened and Jafar stood there with a smile on his face, and a single white rose in his hands. "Welcome back."
I grabbed the rose in my hand, sniffed deeply, and opened my eyes when he grabbed my hand and led me inside.
"Did you cook?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, looking around the kitchen to see dirty pots in the sink.
"I'm going to wash all of those,"He interjected before I could say anything. My smiled deepened. "Now, please," He gave my hand a tug and led me to the kitchen, pulled out my seat, and helped me to sit.
"What's for..." I checked my watch for the time. "Brunch?"
"Naan," He started off, putting a plate full on the table. "Fried chicken, and apple pie."
"Wow," I breathed, taking in all the food, and smiling like an idiot because he did all of this for me. "So this is what you were doing while I was gone?"
"I skipped practice to do it," He stated proudly, filling his plate with food along with me. "It felt right."
"To take a 'sick' day and cook for me?" I asked, and he nodded. "Thank you. I was starving."
"What did you girls do?"
"We shopped, went sight seeing, and talked."
"Oh?" Jafar smiled in amusement, and I chuckled. "Was I the main subject."
"You always are."
"Really?" He questioned in suprise, and I couldn't hold back my smile at his expression. "What was said?"
"Oh, nothing," I waved off, popping a piece of chicken in my mouth. "Mama was just impressed with the progress we've made."
"That's a relief."
I looked up from my food and furrowed my eyebrows at his statement.
"Why is it a relief?"
"Because I can't help but feel like I disappointed her more than you. After all, she entrusted me with you, her daughter, and I screwed up. I don't blame her of being skeptical."
"She just wants the best for both of us," I pressed, looking into his doubtful eyes. "And she specifically said that she loves the man you've become."
"What about you?" He took me by suprise. "What do you think of me?"
I placed my fork down and straightened up in my seat, thinking of his question. I've never really thought about it before actually. And now that he asked, I didn't know what to say.
"You don't have to—" He started to protest at the same time I started to talk. "It was a stupid question. You don't have to answer."
I smiled gently. "But I'm going to anyways. Even before we got married I noticed what a good guy you were, and how I would be lucky to marry you. And now that I've seen that the good guy I noticed years ago is still here and better than before, I wouldn't change anything."
With a wide smile, Jafar got another piece of chicken. "Good answer."
-*-
November 26th
"Happy thanksgiving!"
I accepted the hug from Mina, shaking my head in amusement. We stood there hugging for at least a minute, until Jafar physically pulled her away from me, grabbed my right hand because Mina grabbed my left, and walked in the direction of the dining room. I've only come to Tehreem's house a few times a couple years ago, and every time that I've come, I've been in awe. The house is a two story mostly glass house with a pool in the back. I didn't expect any less. The house screams Tehreem.
"Ayah!" Tehreem screeched from the kitchen, walking around a pouting Noor and hugging me tightly, but not tightly enough to where I couldn't breathe. She pulled away at the sound of someone clearing their throat. With a sigh, she turned to Jafar with a hand on her hip. "You thought I forgot about you?"
He let go of my hand to open his arms wide, grinning at his older sister. "I did. You now owe me a hug."
As the two of them embraced, I made my way to the living room where the rest of the family was, including Noor's. I took a seat beside Jamila on the couch, and listened as she, Amna, and Noor's cousin, Safwa, talked about some teen show, although it could've been a book.
"I can't believe you ship them!" Safwa exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Amna. "They are so cliché."
"That's why I like them!" Amna declared, folding her arms. "Don't you agree, A. J?"
"Well," Jamila pursed her lips, moving close to me. "I don't like either."
"What?!" Amna and Safwa chorused, staring wide eyed at Jamila who just shrugged.
"They're both annoying," She sighed, turning to me when they left her out of the conversation to gush about this book. "Thank Allah you're here. I was about to scream."
"You wouldn't make that type of outburst," I smiled in amusement, watching as Jamila's eyes glared at me. "Especially not with Adam right in the other room."
"Don't remind me," She groaned. "Ummi wants to have the sit down, like, right now!"
"And you don't want that?"
"No!"
"Is it because of someone else?"
Her glare deepened. "No. He's the furthest thing from my mind."
But I don't believe her. "Are you sure?"
Before she could try to deny it again, everyone was called for dinner, which gave her an opening to get out of this conversation.
Soon enough, Jamila. Soon enough.
-*-
After dinner, there were a bunch of games played amongst everyone until eventually they went home. Tehreem and Amna were fixing up the guest bed rooms for Abu Jamila and Um Jafar, and Jamila was catching up with a few friends she made over the years of coming here to Miami. Jafar and I on the other hand were sitting on the porch swing in the backyard, overlooking the pool. It was silent for a while, until I felt a sudden tap on my stomach, and I sat up immediately, looking down.
"What?" Jafar asked, alarmed.
"I felt something," I whispered, placing a hand on my stomach. "In my stomach."
"Do I need to get Tehreem? She's a pediatrician..."
I shook my head, smiling as the sudden realization dawned on me. I quickly grabbed Jafar's hand and placed it on my stomach, and waited.
"Why is my hand on your stomach?"
"Just wait for it," I smiled. A second later I felt the same tap, and Jafar jumped in suprise, looking at me wide eyed. "Did you feel that?"
"Yeah. It feels so...different. The baby is actually moving!"
"Imagine actually being kicked by your unborn child. It's something else all right."
"It's amazing."
"Yeah," I agreed. "It is."
-*-
Please...
VOTE
COMMENT
FOLLOW
SHARE