Are We Okay?

Chapter 20

Abdullah’s Point Of View

We are all currently at mama and Baba's house for the welcome home party of Mohammed. I've never seen Aminat this happy since I've been with her. It makes me happy, it's a great thing to see. Allamdulilah.

"Ummi, do you have his favorite sweets out? He should be here soon," Aminat yells from the kitchen. 

"Yes, beta, slow down. I know you are excited, but keep calm." Mama chuckles. Ummi and baba laugh along with baba.

"Ummi." Daneen groans loudly. "Bhai is meeting us after a good six years. Let us do what we want for him," she says as she hugs mama from behind. I smile and mama chuckles, then kisses her cheek.

The bell rings and the ladies look up instantly. Baba gets up and walks towards the door. We all get up as a sign of respect.

A man walks in wearing a thobe. He's about 6 ft 7 with black hair, which he had tied back and a short beard. 

"That's Mohammad?" Aisha whispers with widened eyes and her jaws dropped. 

"Aisha," ummi whispers and shakes her head. Aisha puts her gaze down instantly. 

"Wait, that's Mohammed?" Rahul bhai gasps. I look at him, but he's just looking at Mohammed in shock.

"Rahul?" Mohammed gasps. "I didn't know you had sisters." Rahul smiles. 

"Yeah, I do, just never came up with the topic." Mohammed chuckles, then they both give each other a bro hug.

"Bhai." Aminat whistles. I look at her in amazement. How come she's never like this with me? Mohammed turns to her.

"Ah, how can I forget my lovely didi?" He eyes Daneen and Aminat, who both hum teasingly. 

"Mm bhai..." Aminat trails off while walking towards him. 

"Yeah, Aminat?"

"It's been six years..." she trails off, while Daneen snickers at him. 

"Aminat, my lovely sister, will you really do this in front of your loving husband and in-laws?" he asks. 

She stops walking, then frowns and looks at me. Her eyes widen.as if suddenly realizing that I was here and her face goes red. I raise an eyebrow at her sudden shyness. 

"Bhabhi, why are you suddenly shy after looking at bhai?" Aisha wiggles her eyebrows at us. I smack her head, while Aminat just rushes into the kitchen. They all laugh at her reaction and Daneen jumps on Mohammed, who smiles.

 "Daneen, careful you have a baby growing in you," he says. 

"Ah, bhai, don't start too. I already have a lot of that to deal with." She groans. "Yeah, because it's the family's precious gift from Allah (SWT)," he replies, earning an impressed smile from ummi, mama, baba, and baba. 

I look at Aisha, who's just shamelessly staring at him. He glances at her and quickly looks away. Rahul looks at Aisha, then Mohammed and pulls Aisha.

"Mohammed, we actually have something to ask you," mama says as she hugs her son. 

"Anything, ummi." He smiles. She smiles and kisses his cheek.

"Bhai, at your wedding... oh the sweets, I can already picture them, ya Allah!" Daneen holds her cheeks. We all just laugh at her. 

I glance at a slightly disappointed Aisha. "He's older than you. You have no chance either way," Sahil whispers to her. 

"Shut up," she snaps, then gets up suddenly. 

"Aisha beta, what's wrong?" baba asks. 

"Nothing baba." 

She turns around, then races out of the house and into the balcony. 

"What's wrong with her?" Daneen asks Sahil, who shrugs. "What did you say to her?" She hits his arm. 

"Hey! What makes you think I said anything, why are you even taking her side?" he says as he rubs his arm with a frown. 

"Because I want to, why? You jealous?" she teases him, while pinching his cheek. "Daneen"ummi gasps and gives her a look. 

Wait! Where is Aisha ? Ya Allah. I stand up instantly, knocking Aminat over. "Aminat!" we all gasp as she tumbles towards the floor, but luckily I am able to catch her before she fell. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." I help her up. 

"What's wrong? You seem tense," she whispers. 

"Nothing. I'll explain everything later, I need to make a call," I whisper in her ear. 

She looks at me confusedly then nods. "You okay didi?" Daneen asks. Aminat nods.

I walk towards the bench of the balcony to find Aisha and Mohammed talking and laughing. 

"So, you work as a doctor and you are transferring here?" she asks him. "Yeah, with the whole marriage thing, then it only seems right." He nods. "And you?" 

"I'm m still finishing my studies. I'm in my last year though." She nods. 

"Masha Allah," he says. 

"How do you know Rahul bhai?"

"We're good friends, we went to the same highschool and university, then he got married and is soon taking over his Fathers business and we separated," he explains. "And you are the youngest in your family, I'm guessing." He chuckles. 

"Does that matter to you?" she suddenly asks. He looks at her confusedly for a few seconds. When he realizes what she meant, his eyes widen and he looks away from her and stands up. 

"Aisha," I call walking in. 

"Bhai." She stands up instantly and her eyes widen. I look at Mohammed, who looks at me then he walks out past me. 

"Do you like him?"

"Bhai, I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me and don't tell ummi and baba," she begs with a broken voice. 

"Hey, hey, don't cry, we don't control the way we feel. Do this. Do ishtikara tonight and tell me the result. I'll talk to Rahul bhai and Sahil, then we'll try and convince ummi and baba who will talk to his family. They're looking for proposals anyway, so hopefully they agree," I say. 

"Really? Bhai, you are the best." She gives me a tight hug. I smile and pat her head.

                                                                Chapter 21- Acceptance

Aminat’s Point Of View

"Ummi, you don't have to show me. I'll accept whoever you choose, plus I don't want to see her face," Mohammed says. 

"But bhai what if you've already seen her face?" Daneen asks. 

He looks at her with confusion, then looks at ummi and baba who smile a little.

 "Do you have anyone in mind? First of all before we ask, beta be honest with us," ummi says holding his hands. 

"No, I don't." He sighs yet again.

"And whoever we choose you'll treat her with respect and love," ummi says. 

"Yes, ummi," he whispers. 

"Even if she's younger than you," baba says. 

"Yusuf married Zuleika didn't he?" was his reply earning amused and pleased smiles all around.

"Will you marry my daughter? Aisha?" mama asks him. 

Mohammed looks at her, then looks at ummi and baba. "Yes,"he replies.  

"Yes?" Sahil gasps loudly. 

"Yes." Mohammed nods. 

A smile comes across Sahil's face and ummi smiles and kisses Mohammed's forehead.

"Mubarak," Baba and my baba greet each other. 

Rahul and Mohammed get up and walk outside to talk, I guess.