Tawfiq could clearly remember his conversation with Harriet as if it were just yesterday.
~
"You want to marry her?" Harriet had said with slight shock.
They were just talking about random stuff when Tawfiq decided to tell Harriet about him proposing to Naima.
He truly did not really get why he wanted to marry Naima himself. He just wanted to was all. He wanted to have her always by him and hold her at anytime.
"Yeah. She indirectly turned me down. Twice." Tawfiq chuckled.
"Ouch. That must have hurt." Harriet said with a pained smile.
She herself remembered how she turned John down a few times.
"It hurt a little but not so much. She neither said Yes or No. The first time, she told me I was crazy. The second time I asked her was in the hospital a few weeks ago. She told me to ask her again after she finished school." Tawfiq said.
He was staring at the wall like it held something important to him.
" That's a reasonable answer. She doesn't seem like she is in any rush. Do you love her? " Harriet asked out of nowhere.
Tawfiq choked on his air. He never really asked himself that. He had feelings for Naima. That, he knew but he did not know if it was love yet. Maybe in awhile it could be. He wanted to marry her to keep her safe from her father and because he admired her. And well he also wanted to be with her at every second of the day.
He did not want to dive straight into love. Once bitten twice shy. He thought.
"I'm not sure. Maybe. I don't even know. I know I have deep feelings for her but I can't say it's love yet. That's why I want to marry her. I don't want to be tempted to do anything. I hugged her when I was in the hospital and even though she didn't say it out loud I know she didn't want that because it wasn't right. "
" Okay. She gave you three years to ask her again. I think it's a pretty good thing for both of you. Don't pressure her to feel obliged to give you answers. I know you, Tawfiq. You will end up doing something for her to make her feel indebted to you even though you don't mean that. Give her space but look out for her. If you make her confused even more and it affects her studies you may not get the answer you want when you ask her again. " Harriet paused to give him a smile.
"I'm speaking from experience. If she really feels the same way as you she will miss you every second but she will try to ignore the fact because that's a woman for you. You can even use that time to reflect on your self. Are you really ready to be committed? Marriage isn't all rainbows and cotton candies. You can use the time to think things through. She might realize you are keeping your distance but I'm sure she will understand. "
Harriet concluded.
Tawfiq made a sad pout face.
" But three years is so long. How will I survive without seeing Habiba that long? "
〰️
That was three years ago.
He thought it would never come but it did.
He couldn't stop any sort of communication with Naima for sure. They would see each other once in a while at the masjid or sometimes at the mall. And he'd sometimes text her to check up on her. She'd send stuff to him on his birthday and he'd do same.
Truth be told, it was really hard. At one point, he felt like going to her to beg her to let them get married instantly. But he stopped himself.
And that was how he knew he couldn't live without her. She was everything to him.
He didn't know how he did it but Alhamdulilah he did it and he was happy he sailed through the 3 years.
Tawfiq had once thought Naima might have been mad at him at first.
He had sent her chocolates and cake on her birthday but he did not get any reply from her like expected.
But Naima sent him a simple text and he knew everything was alright.
"Thank you for the space we both needed. I'm grateful."
Naima at first sent him card and a whole ice cream bucket. Tawfiq had told her he couldn't eat it all alone so before sending the Ice cream, Naima would take out some of it. In their minds, they were eating it together.
A bunch of weird people they were.
Today was Tawfiq's graduation. He never really liked them. And he had been told he'd have to give a speech.
In high school, he gave a speech right from his mind about how a football was like life.
He had no idea what he'd say.
He had wanted to make an excuse and miss it, but his friends had forced him to come.
He was wearing a casual two piece suit with a turtleneck (it had grown on him. Sue him) his graduation robe and cap hanging off his arm.
He was supposed to meet Ben-his friend-and the rest of the guys at the school and he was running late, without his expected speech in hand.
Tawfiq had a lot of friends which Naima didn't know because he did not want her to.
Yes. He was too jealous to share her with others. Hang him.
Naima had asked him if he had any friends apart from Dean when they were in the car back to her university.
He just chuckled at her. He had replied that he had lots of other friends.
When she said she would be happy to meet them, he had unintentionally snapped.
He had frowned at Naima.
"Don't worry I will always be there for you. No new friends can break us apart."
He smiled at the thought.
He hadn't changed his mind about marrying Naima. If anything, he wanted it to happen as soon as possible. He had told Harriet about it and she was glad he still wanted to marry Naima. Now they had to wait for Naima's answer.
He took his car to school.
He was now a graduate with a Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering.
He was older than most of his friends who were mostly between 22 and 23.
This year he'd be 25. Pretty much an old guy.
He didn't mind being the oldest amongst his friends.
He had invited Naima, Belinda and Hasia. He knew Belinda was coming but he didn't know if Naima and Hasia were coming as well.
When he arrived at the school, he quickly made his way to the large auditorium. He saw Ben at the entrance of the auditorium and they bro hugged.
"Wow. Nice. Where did you get the suit?" Ben touched the fabric.
Tawfiq actually didn't even know what designer suit he was wearing. Salim had just sent it to him and he just wore it. But he liked the fabric. It was soft to touch.
"I have no idea. My brother sent it to me." He answered nonchalantly.
Tawfiq was looking around to see if he would see any sign of Naima or even Hasia or Belinda but nothing.
"Waiting for your girl to show up?" Ben smirked.
"Nah. Waiting for a few friends." He replied still looking around.
"So, Dean missed graduation? He was the only person who had his suit ready since first year." Ben laughed.
Tawfiq didn't feel like talking about it today.
He had thought Dean would be back that year but he never came. But in the second year, he started sending small untraceable messages saying he was fine.
It was untraceable but Tawfiq knew people like Salim who knew how to track stuff. He couldn't pinpoint his exact location but he knew Dean was in Cuba. He first thought he was in Italy but apparently not. What was in Cuba? It was a bit far from Alfonso's hold.
"Yeah. He dragged us all there to find him his 'perfect suit'" Tawfiq remembered.
It was actually quite funny as Dean would act like a girl anytime he changed suits for the boys to give their opinions on it.
The program was starting so they had to go inside and get a seat.
He pursed his lips in slight disappointment. Maybe they couldn't make it today.
He wore the graduation robe and entered with Ben.
The graduands where all seated at one place when the program began.
Then names were gradually being mentioned after long speeches from various people.
Tawfiq looked around to see if he would spot Naima. He really just wanted to see her face.
Was that a lot to ask for?
But he could not see well from the way family members were standing to see their graduate.
Tawfiq was sad a bit that his parents weren't here but it was the cost he had to pay for his decision and he did not regret anything. Not an iota of regret.
Ben's name was called and Tawfiq patted his back. He quickly went up the stage to receive. his certificate and another one for best developer in the Robotics course.
He was good with Robots.
The clapping continued as other names were mentioned. Then finally Tawfiq heard his name.
"Mister Tawfiq Abdul Rahim. Being Awarded First Class Honors Bachelor Degree in Petroleum Engineering. Being Awarded the prestigious Lemelson MIT Prize.
Also Being Awarded Honarary student." The man flipped open another page and took a deep breath.
He wasn't done.
"Being Awarded best student in the Engineering Program and Petroleum Engineering branch. Being Awarded The Order of the Lepton Award. Being Awarded Joel Matthew Olaf Award and Outstanding Student in Massachusetts Institute of Technology. " The man finally ended.
Everyone was quiet. Dumbfounded even. Shocked. 'Tawfiq wasn't someone that looked like a nerd.' 'How did he get all of these awards.'
Well he was a genius. It wasn't his fault he didn't look it.
Questions after questions went through people's minds.
Tawfiq wasn't fazed. It was just an award. He'd give most of the money out. That's for sure.
No one was clapping though. They all had their eyes glued to Tawfiq as he made his way towards the stage.
Then Tawfiq heard the sound of people clapping. He turned his head to see where it was coming from and saw Naima. Finally.
Hasia, Belinda, Zain, Harriet, and Zain's mother as well. They were all clapping very hard and Naima had a big proud smile on her face. He smiled thankfully at them.
Everyone was looking at them but they didn't care. They were here to support Tawfiq. Ben joined in and everyone else started to give him a standing ovation.
He was asked to give his speech he hadn't prepared for.
He looked at Naima.
'You didn't prepare a speech, did you?'
She mouthed.
Tawfiq shook his head slightly before glancing at the empty podium.
He'd just go simple.
"Salaam mu Alayka. Umm I really have nothing to say. I forgot to bring my speech." He came clean with a lie. He didn't forget.
"But let's see. Let me just go ahead and give my gratitudes. I'm honestly out of ideas and you must all be tired from the long speeches you've heard today." Tawfiq chuckled.
Everyone laughed.
"So I would to start off with gratitudes. Firstly, I would like to thank Allah for all these awards. I'm honored. Without Him, today wouldn't be possible. Thank you to MIT for your faith in all the graduates today. Thank you to all of my friends. Dean, Ben, Max, the rest of you guys but I honestly can't mention them all. Last but very important. I would like to give a big thank you to my little family of friends up there. We may not be related by blood but they have been more than family to me. Thus I dedicate these awards to them. Thank you to everyone else too for coming today and making today a success. Have a great day. I amTawfiq Abdul Rahman." He smiled gratefully and all the girls awwwed as some swooned.
Naima knew Tawfiq would be happy. She had invited Harriet, Zain and Aunt Faiza. Tawfiq said his family wasn't in the country so Naima thought of bringing together everyone to support him. Like he did every time for her.
She frowned when he smiled and all the girls started to swoon.
Who asked him to smile for them!?
Argh! he's so stup. . .
Wait what?
Why is she angry that Tawfiq smiled?
People are supposed to smile. It's sunnah.
For God's sake hold your self together.
Tawfiq looked so handsome in his dark brown suit. It fitted him perfectly. Perfectly straightened out without a single crease.
She hadn't seen Tawfiq for this long in three years and she hated to admit that she missed him.
Tawfiq turned to look at Naima and saw her already looking his way. He smiled and muttered a thank you to her.
After the program, Tawfiq went towards Naima and the others. They talked and caught up for a while and Tawfiq thanked them again and again.
He barely made eye contact with Naima.
He even called her Naima. To which he saw a little hurt on her face but she quickly masked it.
He had wanted to see her so bad. But now, he did not know what to do with Naima so close after 3 years.
His thinking was mixed up and he did not know how to thank Ben when he came to take him away citing they already had plans.
He promised to meet them in a while.
Was Tawfiq ignoring her? It had been 3 years already and she had her answer to his question.
Oh he wasn't going to ignore her forever.
⚜️⚜️⚜️
#VCS
I hoped you enjoyed it.
Tawfiq's suit up top.
SHARRREEEEE😗😮
Salam🙂❤️
Byee