Bookworms | ✔

sixty-eight

"Why the long faces?" asked Haroon as Nicholas and Dina stepped aside to let their guests in.

Elijah popped his head in through the door first before following, Kiona close behind. "Yeah, why do you two look like you've just been through hell and back."

After their unpleasant phone call, Dina and Nicholas continued through their normal day, doing perfunctory tasks with reality ramming their skull every now and then, with his mother's venomous words striking deep in their pulse. It was a locked away thought, a careless nag whispering somewhere along their whisked memories, suffocating and draining.

Nicholas went to work, and Dina went to her classes. When they arrived home, there was a knock on their door. It was as if Allah planned for wisdom and comfort to surround the young couple like the light Islam always shined. They were engulfed by their friends, Haroon, Elijah, and Kiona.

Although all three shared a different religion, each valued their friendship and understood that Allah worked in mysterious ways, that Allah destined for their friendship to blossom into captivating roses.

Kiona paused in front of Dina, dark eyes squinting at Dina's lack of strength. "What's wrong, you two?" she asked.

Nicholas closed the door. "No Humaid today?"

"He had some medical terms to brush up on for his clinical rotation," said Haroon. "But no changing the subject. Tell us what happened."

Without a word, the couple led their guests to the living room, allowing them to become better adjusted as foreboding doom shadowed across Nicholas's visage, darkness swelling Dina's eyes from her breakdown that morning. The room fell silent. When they were all seated, the reality of his mother's resentment finally formed its shackles on his wrist, and he felt trapped.

Would she ever change? Would she ever care for my happiness rather than her own agenda?

Cold, slithering anxiety crept up his neck. His eyes immediately searched for Dina's. Nicholas knew his actions made his friends worry more, but his mind was occupied by his wife's sadness. He wished he could erase her suffering, but only Allah had the power to do that.

His hand reached for hers, grasping her warmth in his.

"You guys?" questioned Elijah, breaking their moment.

"Sorry, Elijah," Dina smiled tightly. "We got a call from my... mother-in-law today. She was very upset at Nick."

At this, a flash of fury resonated from Haroon, his attention on Nicholas. "Oh?" he strained. "What did she say?"

Nicholas swallowed. "She criticized our marriage, and Dina overheard the conversation."

Their eyes widened, Kiona releasing a small gasp as her hands flew to her lips, surprised that anyone could ever hate his beautiful wife. Nicholas wasn't surprised by her reaction. No sane person could hate Dina, especially knowing the type of fighter she was, the vibrant and outspoken girl who had dreams without limits.

"It's hard," whispered Dina, unable to look her brother in the eye. She stared at hand that Nicholas gripped. "I know it shouldn't affect me, but she's still family. She said she hated me. She said she'd never accept me. What do I do against that?"

Haroon stood from his seat, walking over to his little sister with determination and ferocity swirling through his realm of hazel, arms embracing her close to him. The aura of protectiveness surrounded the siblings, their bond an ancient tale of blood ties and family. Though he held her in his arms as tears slipped her eyes, Dina did not release Nicholas's hand either.

Nicholas was still a part of her, and if he doubted it before, he didn't doubt it now.

Kiona and Elijah also walked over to the couple. Elijah's hand gripped his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly, his gentle smile swaying with the confidence and faith, eyes reflecting how proud he was to have a friend like Nicholas. Kiona knelt before Dina, smiling up at her friend.

"You're so strong, Dina," she whispered. "Even with this much weight hanging on your shoulders, you still brighten everyone's day. That's a sign of strength. To smile through your pain is the sign of a girl who never gives up nor does she fall off her blessed path."

Elijah nodded. "You two don't deserve this, especially from family members, but life isn't perfect. There will always be people trying to tear your love apart, but you both need to shield yourself against them," he said softly. "Nick, your parents have always been cruel to you, but look at you now. Don't let them take your happiness away when you finally found it."

"Easier said than done," muttered Nicholas.

Haroon shook his head, still hugging his sister. He rested his chin on the top of her head. "I assume you both feel restless because of her harsh words?"

They nodded.

"You know, there's this word in Arabic called 'ghareeb.' It means 'stranger' or 'strange.' Do you understand why I bring this up?" questioned Haroon.

"No," said Nicholas.

"Because in Islam, we're taught that this world is not our real home. This world is not our calling. It's a test to achieve our real home, which makes us ghareeb to our world," he continued softly. "Nick, your mother feels threatened by your beliefs, right? They're strange to her, confusing maybe, and something completely foreign to someone who's never gave a thought about Muslims."

He mutely nodded, disappointment a reigning force among his scrambled emotions, a wavering sea with storms to shatter his ships, his hope for his mother.

Haroon smiled, though it was strained. "In that way, we're ghareeb to her too, don't you think? We're strangers to your mother or just strange, but that doesn't mean we should shy away from that title. Embrace being strange, embrace being considered ghareeb to people because when you embrace it, you're one step closer to welcoming them with open arms."

Nicholas noticed that even Dina seemed to ponder her brother's words. Maybe it was the way he said. Maybe it was the word resonating itself. Maybe it was just another lesson down the road, but Nicholas started to feel at ease.

He knew his real home, the place that held infinity would not be in this world. It would be the Akhirah (Afterlife). Each of their friends brought a different comfort into his home. Kiona spoke sweetness, Elijah spoke rationality, and Haroon spoke faith.

All spoke in volumes. Nicholas and Dina were ghareeb to his family, but instead of fighting them against it, they should have welcomed the title. Strange didn't have to be bad. Sometimes being strange lead to inexplicable greatness.

----

I got such painful vaccines oh my lawd. My arm is throbbing in pain now. AND THIS IS WHY I HATE PHYSICALS.

Get your vaccines, kids. They're awful but genius.

Anyway, can you imagine this book being over soon? I feel too invested in this story.

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