Hanifah observed her in silence as she walked down the stairs. Risha was wearing a tightly fitted jeans trousers and an equally tight-fitting top. Her arms and hair were bare. As she walked down the steps, the sound of her hills echoed on the stairs. Even before she was down, Hanifah could perceive the strong fragrance of her perfume, she had her make up on, lightly but still perfect.
“Is she going out like this?” Hanifah wondered, she had seen Risha dress in similar fashion before but still it surprised her.
Coming to stand in front of Hanifah, Risha announced with her usual air of authority. “I am ready, we should be on our way, we aren’t late, are we?”
Contemplating whether to say something about her dressing or not, Hanifah hesitated a little.
“Any problem?” Risha asked
Deciding to bring it up another time, she smiled and said, “no, I don’t think we are, let’s go.”
As the two ladies walked out, they were a contrasting image, Hanifah dressed in her abaya and head scarf, modestly covered and Risha in her designer cloths. They looked like they belonged to different worlds.
As Hanifah drove, they disused excitedly in their lady fashion, teasing and laughing. Risha was almost giddy with excitement.
Hanifah parked the car in the parking lot of the large building.
As they walked in, Hanifah noticed the instant loathing on the faces of some of the women, many of them sized Risha in acute disapproval. Clearly, Risha was the odd one in the group, every lady wore an abaya or a hijab, modestly covered.
Some gasped in surprise and evident disgust, others visibly whispered things to their colleagues. It was almost like the devil had entered heaven.
Bowing her head in shame, Hanifah scolded herself for letting Risha come dressed like that. She hadn’t approved of it, but she also didn’t want to pressure or antagonise Risha. She had hoped to discuss it when they were on their way back but seeing how everyone was looking at Risha, she doubted whether it was a good decision after all.
There were about 20 women in the spacious building, there were no chairs but the floor was covered with a thick red rug, the ladies sat in different spot of the room in groups some sat alone, reading the Quran or just going through their phones.
Hanifah smiled nervously as she walked nodding in acknowledgement at some of the ladies that smiled at her.
As for Risha, she paid not the slightest bit of attention at how the women looked at her. With her characteristic nonchalant yet majestic attitude, she followed Hanifah and they both sat alone at a corner of the room. She was used to people looking at her with their holier than thou attitude and she had gotten used to it. As she sat, she looked around the place, it was very neat, there were hijabs hanging at different parts of the wall. A certain fragrance permeated the well-ventilated room. At the far end of the room, at the front, there was a medium sized cooker and a table with pots, plates and other kitchen utensils, arranged neatly. The table and the cooker were set in a spot that accorded view from all parts of the room.
“I thought you said it was a cooking class,” Risha asked, “these looks more like a mosque instead.”
“It serves the purpose of both,” Hanifah answered looking at Risha to see how the reception from the others affected her. She found no reaction from Risha, it was almost like she didn’t even notice. Hanifah smiled, thinking about it, that was one more thing she liked about this girl, there was no pretence about her, if she wanted to do something, she did it without bothering how others perceived her, she had a kind of self-confidence and an ‘I don’t care attitude’ about her. “If only she could direct that attitude in the right direction, how perfect she would be.” Hanifah thought.
Hanifah peeked around to yet again find those disgusted and angry glares directed at Risha. Despite she understood these ladies, it still offended her a little at how they conducted themselves. Anyone but Risha would have instantly felt ashamed and unwelcome. And it made Hanifah think something, none of these ladies knew Risha, yet, the judgement in their eyes screamed in the artificial silence. “Couldn’t they have waited a little to know the girl first?” She was thinking. She imagined what it must feel like receiving such looks and the thought was unbearable for her. Slowly, she reached out and touched Risha’s hand that rested on the rug beside hers.
When Risha looked at her, she smiled, and despite Risha returned the affectionate smile, Hanifah noticed a certain hint of sadness in her eyes, it was then that she realised something, it wasn’t that it did not affect Risha, hurt her even, it seemed she had just kind of gotten used to the judgement of others, “no wonder she didn’t care anymore,” Hanifah thought. “No one ever gave her a chance and with Risha’s kind of personality, she would be damned if she let others know she cared or that it affected her.” Hanifah realised.
She squeezed Risha’s hand affectionately in understanding.
Risha just smiled her thanks in appreciation as she gently squeezed back.
At that moment, a lady in full hijab and a niqab walked in, she announced her salaams loudly and everyone responded cheerfully. Taking off the niqab, she went to stand in the front close to the table. “How is everyone,” she asked cheerfully, she was a bit elderly when compared to the other ladies, she was clearly the eldest in the group.
They all responded in chorus.
“Alhamdulillah, she said smiling, shall we begin?” She said going to stand at the table. As she did this, her eyes fell on Risha. The smile literarily dropped from her lips, she started to speak but stopped herself just in time. Then she tried again, this time forcing a smile. “It seems we have a new comer;” she directed her question at Hanifah.
“Yes,” Hanifah smiled, “everyone, meet Risha, she will be joining us from now on.”
They all looked at Risha, waiting for her to offer salaams. She looked around wondering about the silence, realising they were all looking at, she flashed her fake smile and said casually, “Hey everyone, what’s up.”
Some of them gasped in astonishment, others staring at her in acute disapproval. But no body spoke, there was a certain commanding aura emitted, she looked boldly at everyone as if challenging anyone to speak out their disapproval.
“Ok, let’s start,” the elderly said breaking the tensed silence.
Throughout the lessons, some of the ladies kept giving Risha ‘the look,’ some even gossiped openly
“Look at her,” the woman behind Risha was saying to her companion. “it’s ladies like this that give Islam a bad name.”
“You are right my sister, I wonder if she is even married, didn’t Hanifah tell her it’s for married women only?”
Risha’s sharp ears picked all these, but she said nothing, a cynical smile beginning to play on her lips.
“I don’t think she is married; I mean who would marry someone like this? She behaves like a slut,” the other responded.
Just as Risha decided, she had heard enough and was about to give those gossips a piece of her mind, someone else spoke.
“Why can’t you sisters just shut up and mind your business, for God’s sake?”
Everyone fell silent immediately looking at them.
“How on earth do you expect someone to improve under such a condition of disapproval?” Hanifah continued angrily.
“I know this sister is not perfect but neither is any of you, exactly what do you know about he to speak and judge her like this? Even if there are things you disapprove of, couldn’t you at least get to know something about the sister before you condemn her like this?”
“What is going on?” the elderly woman asked stepping towards the scene.
“It’s all of you” Hanifah snapped. From the moment I stepped in here with Risha, all of you have done nothing but judge the poor lady with your silent disapproval, this person over here even had the audacity to call her a slut, haba! it’s totally unfair.” Hanifah protested.
The elderly lady bit her lips and said, “I had wanted to speak earlier but decided against it, but I won’t stay silent now. What do you mean bringing someone like this to join us?” She asked with acute disapproval, “Did you not see how she is dressed?”
“I did,” Hanifah replied “and Allah knows I do not approve of it, but is this how to go about correcting her? Did any of you consider even once why she is dressed like this? Did you for even a second give her the benefit of a doubt? What if she is not a Muslim? Hmm? What if she had come in here to learn something about Islam, what if she had come here to accept Islam? If you were her, will you want anything to do with such a group of people? Such a religion?” At those words they all felt silent, some looking clearly ashamed.
“But you can’t blame us for judging, I mean look at her for God’s sake,” another lady protested.
“Even God doesn’t judge people until the end of their days, what gives you the right to?” Hanifah asked, directing her question to no one in particular. “Are all of you perfect?” Hanifah demanded, “don’t you all commit sins also? Did you all become pious and modest in one day? Wasn’t there a time when some of you were like her? I admit she is wrong; I admit she is not perfect, but she is not fake either, she doesn’t pretend to be something she is not. I would much rather be friends with her, than all of you. Couldn’t you all have spoken up? Instead of giving her such silent judgement? The least we can do as sisters in Islam is support each other, help each other were we are weak. I am really disappointed in all of you, I brought Risha here, hoping she would find some inspiration to be better than she is now, how wrong I was about all of you,” she said in a disappointed tone. “I guess people are just who they say they are, until we truly get to know them.”
“With that,” she turned, held Risha’s hand and walked out angrily, leaving the others to ponder on her words.
And Risha? she just let Hanifah lead her, there was an eccentric expression on her face, she sat quietly as Hanifah drove them back home.
“Who do they think they are?” Hanifah was saying in disgust, “saying all those nonsenses. Are they perfect themselves? I am sorry Risha, I never expected this from them…”
“Did you mean it?” Risha said quietly.
“Sorry?” Hanifah asked, not getting her.
“What you said back then, would you rather have me as a friend, rather than some of those ladies?”
“Yes,” Hanifah said quietly, “I am not saying you are perfect, but you are not fake either, whatever good you show I know it’s real, you don’t pretend to be something you are not,” she smiled at Risha reassuringly.
“Thanks for that,” Risha said smiling, “really.”
Hanifah just nodded and focused on driving, it was clear she was still angry.
“Is my dressing really that bad?” Risha asked.
The question took Hanifah by surprise, “well…” she started to say then stopped. She looked at Risha and said, “it doesn’t exactly scream modesty,” she smiled at Risha, “we can do with a little Improvement.” She winked.
“Just a little huh?” Risha asked smiling too.
“Well, maybe a major make-over won’t do any harm,” Hanifah replied laughing
Risha laughed also, she was quiet for a while, then she said, “let’s go shopping.”
Hanifah flashed her a brilliant smile, “you know Risha, if you keep this up. We would make a mumeenah out of you in no time.”
* * *
Farhan announced salaam as he walked in, but there was no reply. Maybe she wasn’t home already he thought sitting down, it had been a stressful day at work, he was so tired, he closed his eyes resting his head., in a few seconds, he was asleep.
“Hey,” he heard her voice he thought he was dreaming, slowly, he opened his eyes, what he saw made him come fully awake. Before him was none other than Risha dressed in full abaya and head covering, he blinked quickly rubbing his eyes to make sure wasn’t dreaming.
She looked so different, so modest, so Muslim, the black abaya fitted her perfectly, complimenting her fair complexion, in a most beautiful way, she smiled at him, turning around.
Farhan couldn’t even speak, his lips parted but no words came to mind, such beauty, such transformation would strike a anyone speechless. He swallowed slowly and tried again.
“Subhnallah,” he whispered, “is it really you?” He asked still astonished.
“Hahaha,” she laughed enjoying the effect she was having on him. “Hanifah and I went shopping, do you like it?” She asked
“I love it,” he blurted out before he could stop himself.
Risha blushed instantly, much to her embarrassment, she looked away to hide how much his compliment affected her. She felt so good, something strange and new for her.
“You really look good ma shaa Allah,” he said cautiously.
“But I feel kind of silly, wearing this to be honest; it feels kind of strange you know.” She said holding the edges of the abaya and observing herself.
“It’s understandable,” he said, “but I still hope you keep wearing it, it really suits wallahi,” he said honestly.
Again, she fought to hide the effects his words had on her. “What is wrong with me?” she wondered.
“Have you eaten?” she smiled trying to change the topic.
He shook his head; “I had a lot to do at work.”
“Good.” she smiled, “come on and try this,” she said walking to the dining table.
Still not believing his eyes at how transformed she looked, he followed her, self-consciously trying not to stare.
“I don’t know how it taste, I have not eaten either,” she was saying as he walked up to the dining. “I didn’t get the whole stuff about how it is made, some ladies made trouble and we had to leave early, but I decided to try it away.” She was saying as she arranged the table.
He smiled and sat down as she opened the plate in his front, he could not tell what it was, but by the looks of it, it was supposed to be some kind of dambu or something, but the colour was off and the aroma didn’t quite fit too. It looked reddish instead of yellow.
Taking her sit, “try it.” She said excitedly.
“You made this?” He asked.
“Uhm, hurry and try it,” she urged.
He took a spoon full, his face clouded instantly with something she couldn’t place, his eyes became watery but he didn’t speak.
“How is it?” She asked hopefully.
“Did you taste this?” He asked, managing to speak.
“No, I wanted you to be the first to taste my cooking.”
He nodded and smiled, thinking it was another of her pranks. “It’s ok, you did well,” he said.
“Really?” She asked pulling the plate to herself and taking a spoon full to her mouth. She stopped instantly and looked at him dread in her eyes. It was so pepperish, apparently, the red colour was due to the pepper. She choked spitting it out immediately
Farhan was confused, “was she serious about not knowing how it tasted?” He handed a cup of water, which she accepted gracefully.
“I thought you said it was ok?” She asked almost in tears.
“Sorry, I assumed you already knew, I thought it was just another of your usual pranks. I didn’t know you will eat it.” He tried to explain, feeling guilty.
She looked at him angrily, feeling betrayed. “You are really stupid you know, why will I prank you just now? I was trying to be nice since, you got me those things and you do this?” She asked standing up angrily.
“Risha, I am really sorry, I didn’t know, don’t be angry please.” He apologised.
She glared at him, but sat down, looking really disappointed, he couldn’t tell whether she was more disappointed in herself or him.
“You really made that?” He asked
She nodded but still didn’t look at him.
"And you weren’t trying to prank me?”
Again, the same reply
“Why did you decide to cook all of a sudden?”
She looked at him, thinking a little before she spoke. “I thought we could just save some money, buying food every day is kind of wasteful don’t you think?” She murmured avoiding his gaze.
He observed her, she looked really disappointed. “Let’s go out instead,” he said standing up.
“What?” She asked not getting him.
“Let’s have dinner outside today.” he said smiling.
That seemed to brighten her up a little, “ok,” she said standing up, “let me change.”
“Why don’t come the way you are dressed? you look great.” He suggested.
“Like this?” She asked looking at herself.
“Yes, if you don’t mind of cause.”
She observed him, “And if I refuse? If I decide to wear my usual cloths, you will not go with me?” She asked.
Farhan smiled, “Risha he said, I will go with you in whatever dress you wear, I just thought that if you are going to start dressing like this, it’s better you get used to it, that can only happen if you wear it out right? Besides, it you really look good in it.”
She observed him closely, “I will change,” she said finally, “I am not ready to go out like this.” she declared.
Farhan showed not the slightest bit of being offended, instead he smiled and said, “I will be waiting.” With that, he went to sit on the chair putting on the TV.
Risha studied him closely thinking to herself, and then she went up st airs.
A few minutes later Farhan heard her voice behind him.
“I am ready.” she announced
He looked and saw to his surprise that she was still dressed in the abaaya, she was holding her bag. she smiled.
Farhan didn’t say anything, he just smiled, walked to the door, opened it and waited for her to pass.
They sat at the far end of the restaurant, it was a beautiful place, decorated to create a romantic atmosphere. Farhan had asked for a table close to the window so they could have a clear view of the sun set over the distant hills, it was such a breath-taking and beautiful view, the breeze blew gently, caressing their face fondly, as they waited for the waiter to bring their order. Left alone facing each other, there was little they could do than wait, the silence was awkward for both of them. Twice he peeked at her and found her doing the same at precisely the same moment. She blushed and looked out the window.
Her vail had moved up a bit, revealing her silky black hair, she wore it lose today. He found himself gazing and again, he couldn’t help admit what an extraordinary beauty this girl possessed. He had thought of her as pretty but not beautiful, like something you found attractive, fine, good looking, but not really appealing. But not today, the feeling was different. She was all beauty in that dress, her makeup was light but she didn’t even need it. And for the first time, he was seeing a self-conscious Risha, she kept looking around as if she expected everybody to be looking at her, it was obvious that she was nervous and it added a certain feminine touch to her personality.
As he was watching her, she licked her lips slowly, as if trying to wet it, totally unaware of his gaze on her. It was such a feminine gesture, he found his gaze glued to those lips as they parted slightly, just as he was about to look away, she looked at him and their gaze met.
Subconsciously, they gazed into each other’s eyes mesmerized, she smiled without even realising it. The trance was broken by the waiter as he arrived with their order. It gave both a chance to regain their composure,
As the waiter set the table, Risha’s narrowed, “what is this?” She asked pointing at the plate in front of her.
“It’s your order ma’am,” the waiter replied politely.
“I didn’t order this, were you deaf or something?” She asked savagely.
The stunned waiter looked confused, “I am sorry ma’am, I only served what you ticked on the menu,” he said politely despite the clear fact that he was not pleased with her words.
“Then you must be blind” Risha commented in a sarcastic tone.
By now, everyone in the place was glancing at them.
The man looked at her bit his lips but said nothing.
“Do you want to lose your job?” Risha asked angrily. “Go serve me what I ordered.”
“But this is your order Ma” the waiter said confused. He went through the menu to confirm once more.
“Let me take a look,” Farhan said collecting the menu. The waiter was right, Risha had definitely ticked what she was given.
“What will you have Risha?” He asked in a gentle tone.
“It’s right there, I already ticked it, or are you blind too?” She asked angrily.
“All the same, tell me.” he smiled.
Eyeing the waiter savagely, she told Farhan.
“Please serve that instead and add this to our bill,” he said to the man politely. “Please don’t be too offended with her. I happened to have annoyed her, you know how women can be,” he winked at the waiter.
The man smiled in understanding and excused himself.
“Why the hell did you do that?” She demanded angrily.
“Because you were wrong and he was right.” Farhan replied simply
“What are you talking about?” she started to say as he handed her the menu to her.
“I didn’t order…” then she stopped realising her mistake. Slowly, she looked up at him, he was smiling
“See?” He said.
Realising her mistake but still refusing to admit it, “Whatever” she scoffed.
“If you say so,” he said in a tone that signalled the end of the topic.
About a minute passed but still he said nothing.
Risha was struggling with her conscience, she eyed him angrily. “Look, I was wrong ok? I thought I ordered something else.” she said finally.
“I know,” he said slowly, looking out the window.
Another silence followed.
“I am sorry,” she murmured finally, not looking at him.
“Hmmn,” he said not getting her.
“I said I am sorry,” she snapped.
He looked at her for a while then smiled, “Risha it’s not me you should be apologising to.”
“What are you trying to say?” she asked, her eyes narrowing, her gaze hot, “you want me to apologise to that guy?”
“If you want to.” Farhan said simply.
“I don’t want to.” she said instantly, “I won’t.”
“Ok,” he replied in the same tone.
Another silence.
Feeling uncomfortable with the silence, she snapped angrily, “why is everything so difficult with you?” “that guy is below me, we are on different levels, I won’t lower myself to apologising to a common waiter.” she announced proudly.
Farhan looked at her now. “Bowing down to greet a dwarf takes nothing from how tall we truly are, not every downturn is a downfall Risha.” He said in a serious tone. “But its ok if you don’t want to apologise, no one here can force you anyway.”
She looked shocked at what he said, something stirred in her eyes, she looked down to hide what she was feeling. Risha was thinking about what he had just said and she knew he was right much to her disgust. “The infuriating guy, why did he have to be right all the time?” She cursed internally.
At that moment the waiter returned with Risha’s order, he smiled at her as he served.
Forcing herself, she said “look, I am really sorry about how I behaved earlier, that was really rude of me.”
The man looked really pleased at that. “It’s ok madam, perhaps it really was I who made the mistake. Sorry for the misunderstanding,” with that he smiled and excused himself.
She looked down, marvelling at what she had just done. “what the hell, just what in God’s name is wrong with me, what am I doing?” she kept asking herself. But deep down, she knew she felt good about it and that even scared her the more. She stole a peek at him and realised he was staring at her steadily. “What?” she demanded.
“Nothing.” he said smiling
Subconsciously, she found herself smiling too. “Shut up” she warned still smiling.
As they ate he asked how her day had gone and a lively conversation followed.