Smile! It’s Sunnah!
2446 Words
My phone rang in my bag on way into the hospital. I searched deep into the bag before I found it at the left corner. My heart warmed as I saw the caller. I sat on the bench placed by the entrance door.
“To what to I owe this pleasure?”
“Says the person who hasn’t replied my last messages yesterday.” Ya Allah! I remembered I slept off while chatting with Arman yesterday.
“I’m sorry My darling brother. Please forgive me.”
“It’s okay. As long as you promise me to smile no matter what happens to you.”
“Even in severe pain?”
“Yes. Even in severe pain.”
“So you mean I don’t have the right to cry or to be sad.”
“You can smile through tears or sadness. Let it be your veil.”
“But why?”
“Because when you’re sad, what happens when someone genuinely smiles at you?”
“It makes me smile back and I feel like there’s still good in the world. Sometimes it gives me hope. Hope for more good.” I replied
“And when you smile at others? what happens?
“I make some people smile too.
“And most importantly, the prophet SAW said Smile, it’s Sadaqah(charity).”
“Yes. In shaa Allah I start today and I won’t ever stop.”
“That’s more like it.”
“Wait! But why do you sound serious today? Did anything happen? How’s mummy and daddy?”
“It’s nothing. Guys gotta be serious sometimes too. And our parents are okay. God is with them.” He said laughing.
“But that’s not how you laugh too. It’s mostly loud and happy. But today is the opposite of everything I said.”
“I’m glad you sound happy. That’s the only thing I want right now.”
“Why are you ignoring me? That definitely means something is up? Spill it out.” I said more stern.
“Forever bossy. Chill out. It’s just work stuff. Piles of work. I’m just tired.
“Okay. Whatever it is, May Allah SWT make it easy for you.
“Thank you. How’s my niece?”
“Why do you always say niece, what If it’s a boy? By the way, the baby is perfectly fine.”
“It’s a feeling. You feel me?”
“Not one bit.”
“Well that hurts. What do u think it will be? Why don’t you want to know the gender?”
“Well I never thought about it and I’m not just ready.”
“Whenever you’re ready but the truth is you’ll never me. We don’t actually prepare ourselves for anything in life. We just take a leap of fate. Thanks All it takes.”
“Thanks Arman. I’m at the door of the hospital.”
“Hospital? What happened? Is it you or the baby? Or aunty Asiya?” Papa bear kicking in.
“No it’s Grandma Blue. The kind neighbor who has been diagnosed with 3rd stage cancer. I stay with her. Please pray for her. She’s in pain.”
“May Allah grant her shifaa. My regards to her. I’ve got to go. Bye. Ohh yeah Aunty Rania Gave birth to a baby girl last week. She’s been named Rumaisa.”
“Amin. Will do. Will call to congratulate her. Or may i should just send a text message.”
“Anyone is good. Bye.”
Okay Bye.” Aunty Rania is mum’s sister and the type of aunt you never wish for. She’s bitter so she’s always trying to lash out on people. Sometimes I pity Uncle Muhammad. The poor dude must be really suffering. There was a time she was staying at our house during her NYSC. Those were the worst days of my life. The complaints about me were endless. Mum was always apologizing on her behalf. I’m glad we didn’t have to meet often because she stays in Canada with her husband now. Remember how awful she was to me made me opt for the better option.
“Good day Aunty Rania. It’s Layla. How are you and Uncle Muhammad. Hope everyone is fine. I was told you gave birth to a baby a girl. Hope both of you are in good health. My regards to everyone. Congratulations!”
Sent to RaniaMalik07@g*******m.
*********
“What have you got there dear?”
“Ohh it’s a book Nadiya gave me. I’ve not started yet”
“Sorry to disturb you but can you play me that song. I can’t remember it’s name. The one Adam loves singing.”
“Oh You mean Allah knows by Zain Bhikha.”
“Yes! That one. Allah knows.”
“Well I don’t have it but let me play it on YouTube.”
“Ohh Thank you Layla.”
“I’m glad I could help.” I brought out my phone and searched for it on YouTube. It popped out and the melodious voice filled the room. I hummed the lyrics along with the singer. Grandma Blue relaxed more as she listened to the beautiful words. She moved her head to the rhythm of the soft beat. It felt like she was hearing it for the first time. Today, I found her in a light mood. Coupled with the roses, her face lit up after a very long time. I had to pat myself on the back.
When you feel all alone in this world
And there's nobody to count your tears
Just remember, no matter where you are
Allah knows
Allah knows
When you carrying a monster load
And you wonder how far you can go
With every step on that road that you take
Allah knows
Allah knows
No matter what, inside or out
There's one thing of which there's no doubt
Allah knows
Allah knows
And whatever lies in the heavens and the earth
Every star in this whole universe
Allah knows
Allah knows
When you find that special someone
Feel your whole life has barely begun
You can walk on the moon, shout it to everyone
Allah knows
Allah knows
When you gaze with love in your eyes
Catch a glimpse of paradise
And you see your child take the first breath of life
Allah knows
Allah knows
No matter what, inside or out
There's one thing of which there's no doubt
Allah knows
Allah knows
And whatever lies in the heavens and the earth
Every star in this whole universe
Allah knows
Allah knows
When you lose someone close to your heart
See your whole world fall apart
And you try to go on but it seems so hard
Allah knows
Allah knows
You see we all have a path to choose
Through the valleys and hills we go
With the ups and the downs, never fret never frown
Allah knows
Allah knows
No matter what, inside or out
There's one thing of which there's no doubt
Allah knows
Allah knows
And whatever lies in the heavens and the earth
Every star in this whole universe
Allah knows
Allah knows
Cause No matter what, inside or out
There's one thing of which there's no doubt
Allah knows
Allah knows
And whatever lies in the heavens and the earth
Every star in this whole universe
Allah knows
Allah knows
Every grain of sand,
In every desert land, He knows.
Every shade of palm,
Every closed hand, He knows.
Every sparkling tear,
On every eyelash, He knows.
Every thought I have,
And every word I share, He knows.
Allah knows
“Layla. I love this song. I wish I could listen to it with Adam. The words are so powerful. My heart is delighted.”
“Yes they are. They speak volumes.”
“You can read your book while i place these beautiful flowers in the vase.” As I was about to open it, my phone rang and I checked the caller. It was Lisa. It’s been long we talked. Thou we chatted a few times on w******p. A few hellos and How are yous. I slid the the answer button and the first thing I heard were sobs. She was crying hysterically. For a moment I thought it wasn’t Lisa because I’ve never heard her cry so much.
“Lisa, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
“Laylee. No! Nothing is fine. Everything is ruined. I don’t know when or how it happened. I tried to prevent it from happening but I couldn’t. I didn’t see it coming. We were just talking and we couldn’t stop. Layla help me please. I don’t know what to do.”
“Calm down Lisa. Tell what what’s wrong? I didn’t get a thing you said.” I dragged my hand across my face and blinked a few times. My underarms were already wet. I walked around the room in long strides trying to slow down my erratic heart. I was already a nervous wreck. Seriously, I was tired of all this bad news.
“I love him Layla. I love him. I don’t know. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. It’s just that he was always there. When something happens, I tried getting you, but he answers. He’s always happy to answer. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like a burden. It felt like someone actually cared. You know Layla, after dad and mom left, it was only me. The thought of being alone always made my skin crawl and my head ache. I always thought Nah!!! I’ll just die. But I’m living it. I didnt live it alone. He was there. Mentally. He invaded my thoughts and left me sleepless. Surprisingly, I never felt sleep-deprived the next morning, instead refreshed. He always Made me wonder, is it good to be this happy? What if it passes? It was just a short period of time? One day, I asked him this same question. He said that’s how God wants it to be. Oh My God Layla. He talks about God every single time. He makes me remember God. Thou we shared different faiths, he still made me remember God. I never thought about love. I only thought about him as a good companion. All this dawned on me yesterday. When he asked me what I thought about him sending his parents over to make it official. We never talked about our feelings. Were they any? Did we have to? Special things don’t have to be talked about. As they said. Now, I don’t think it was a good relationship to begin with. Everything is just so complicated.” And then she stopped to take a deep breath. I was in Daze since the conversation begun. This wasn’t as complicated as she thought. Something learned along time ago. Live it or die in it without living in it. Wasn’t said by anyone. Maybe it didn’t make sense at all but it’s a feeling. The words need not to be defined. It’s as straightforward as curriculum can be.
“Listen to me Lisa. It’s okay. Everything is going to be just fine. Calm down. Breath with me” I tried to calm her down but Inside me was a chaos. I didn’t think about any of that now. I only thought about the broken girl from the other side of the telephone who needs someone to reason with her. Yes! That’s what I’m trying to do. Grandma Blue gave me questioning looks with a worried face from across the room. I closed my eyes as a sign for her to calm down, it’s nothing to worry about.
“I don’t know what to do.” My attention was brought back to the matter at hand.
“So what did you say when he asked you?” I Enquired more.
“The only reasonable thing that wouldn’t hurt him. Wait you mean he didn’t call you?”
“What is that? He did and he sounded hurt. I knew something was definitely wrong.”
“I’m not ready. I’m sorry for hurting your brother.”
“And he said? You know it storms and rains before the beautiful rainbow appears.”
“He’s not pressuring me into anything. But he thought we had a silent understanding.”
“You need to be clear in a relationship. Assuming things causes misunderstandings.”
“I’m just confused right now.”
“What’s on your mind Lisa?”
“I’m a Christian. Your parents will not accept this so as my uncle and aunt. This is called a forbidden relationship.”
“I get where you’re coming from but do you trust him. Arman.
“I do. More I myself.”
“Well that’s a big helleva trust. So I’ll advice you to give it a try. Don’t conclude on anything. Never give up before you test it. Sometimes it’s not as hard as it seems.”
“You know layla. You’ve grown so much. Thank you so the advice. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.” I smiled as We said our goodbyes. After I was done, Grandma Blue asked me about what happened and I told her the love feud between my brother and Lisa.
“Poor children. But do you think this would work?”
“Why do you still think your son is alive?”
“A tiny Maybe in my heart.” I moved closer to her and hugged her.
“Me too. A teeny weeny Maybe.”
- Writer
