Echoes Of The Heart

chapter#11

AHMAD'S POINT OF VIEW

I sat on the chair in front of the stage. I felt really bore. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I looked down and kept looking around my phone aimlessly. I heard Umar call me. I looked up and saw that he was standing with a lady. He wanted to introduce me to her. I went to them, feeling really awkward. I stood next to him.

"This is my boss. "He said looking at me.

"And this is my relative, Ahmad. He runs a petrol pump here in England. "He said looking at me.

"Assalam u Alikum."She said looking at me.

"Wallikum assalam."I said looking at her.

I felt like I had seen her somewhere. She was wearing a hijab but Umar had told me that she was a Christian.

I suddenly remembered where I had seen her. I had seen her that day in the mosque; she wanted to meet Miss Amna.

"I guess I have seen you before. "She said looking at me.

"May be at the mosque that day, when you were looking for Miss Amna."I said reminding her.

"Oh yes!" I remember. "She said smiling.

She had radiance on her face. She kept looking away shyly, as if she felt nervous. But I guess I was doing the same. It felt really awkward.

"So you both already know each other." Umar said smiling.

"Yeah, I guess. "She said.

"Nice meeting you. "She said and turned to Umar.

"I must be leaving now. It was a pleasure coming here." she said

"Ok. Thank you for coming mam." he said and she left.

"She converted to Islam." Umar said realizing my curiosity.

"Oh! That's great Mashallah." I said to Umar.

"I must be leaving too. By the way, congratulations again for your engagement." I said.

"Thank you." Umar said and walked away.

I sat in my car thinking about life and its true meaning. I felt really amazed by the rehmah of Allah. How amazingly He gives direction to whoever He wishes. That boss of Umar, I had seen her on magazines, read her interviews. Never had I thought that someday she will become a Muslim. I had seen her that day in the mosque but I thought that she would be here for some sort of research work.

This thing created in me a sense of responsibility that we as Muslims have, to spread the message of Allah without judging.

I started my car and reached home.

Other than the petrol pump I studied at a university. I was learning Arabic grammar and it was my last year. I had learned a lot. I had realized that Quran was amazing when you start understanding it in its original form.

I had promised my mother that I would marry as soon as my Arabic course ends. The time to fulfil my promise was drawing near.

I realized that I had not called mom since last week. I dialed her number and waited for someone to receive.

"Hello?" she was on the line now.

"Hello mom. How are you?"

"I am fine dear. But I keep worrying about you. You are so alone there. "She replied in a worried tone.

"I am not alone. I have my friends here and I also meet Umar often. I went to his engagement today. "I tried to convince her.

"Oh! That's great. So how was it? "She asked.

"It was good. "I replied in a happy tone.

"You should also think about marriage now. "She said.

"I will marry as soon as my course ends. I have promised you. "I replied.

"I am waiting for that time desperately. "She sounded excited.

"Ok mom. Take care. "I felt really tired from all the sitting.

"Ok Allah Hafiz. "She said and kept the receiver.

I lay on my bed thinking about marriage. I don't know who I will be marrying.

I hope it turns out good.