“I saw her thrice at the hospital or was it even four times?” She said to him and he nodded.
“Yes, Ummu. She was at the hospital.” He said to her as she got her a cup of water.
“And she is here again?” She asked him.
“Yes, who is she? Omo Tani (who are her parents)?” She asked him as she accept the cup of water from his hand.
“And why is she here?” She asked him further.
“Which of your questions do you want me to answer first?” He asked his mother.
“Who is she?” She asked again.
“Her name is Yasmina.” He said to her
“Ehn... Ehn... Yasmina... Why is she here?” She asked further.
“Ummu, tell me what do you want to eat? I have soups in the freezer. Freshly made.” He said and turned to walk to the kitchen.
“Don’t tell me you want to marry that girl?” Her voice stopped him and he turned to her.
“Don’t even try it...” She said again and he wondered if he heard her right.
“What if I want to marry her?” He asked her.
“Who are her parents?” She asked him.
“Does that matter?” He asked still looking at her.
“Of course it does, do you think your father and I would let you marry just any girl from anywhere? She was at the hospital almost everyday, what type of cheap girl is that? Did she even have parents? Why is she in a man’s house? What is she doing here? Is that the girl you want to marry... Of course you didn’t even tell me that you want to marry her... So I guess I am just over reacting.” She said to her.
“Ummu, are you joking right now?” Adnan asked his mother and walked back to where she was sitting.
“Abi, shebi you are joking , because you should be? Perhaps she is one of those girls who help you do some house chores ABI? Why will you be allowing a strange girl into your house ... With the type of values you are brought up with? Tell me first , what is with you and her ... Yasmin or Yasmina or whatever you call her ?” She asked him.
“I want to marry her.” He finally said to his mother and watched her broke into laughter and she was at it for a while.
“Of course, you are joking... Abi, who are her parents?” She asked further.
“She is an Orphan.” He said to her and she nodded affirmatively.
“I said it , what parents would be alive to have their girl child visit men in their house? Oh oh... I know it ... I am sure she will be from one family without any values... And you can’t even stop her from coming here... Let whatever you have with her stop right now. I don’t like her and I am not going to.” She said to him with an air of finality.
“Ummu, ... “ He said not knowing what to say.
“I thought you want me to get married...” He added.
“Of course, I do , but not to a girl with no values...” She said
“Stop calling her that?” Adnan said
“Adnan, this is obvious, which of your sisters ever visited a man in his house ... Before marriage... Even Rodiyah and Asma'a your brothers wives didn’t do that ... girls like that are cheap...and I am even disappointed in you that you even allow it. What nonsense is that?” She asked.
“She is fitnah... All these girls who will befriending men all around ... being unfriendly unnecessary ...” His mother said to him.
“Ummu, perhaps we should both calm down, I am off to the Masjid for Maghreb, and I will stay behind till Ishai.” He said to her.
“Ehn,ehn, she is not even in , you have started abandoning me...this girl is not welcome here, I will see to it... When you turn Hikmah proposal, I thought you will bring someone better not this thrash...” His mother said to him and he sighed deeper not wanting to snapped at his mother.
“Awon Omo alainiran (girls without family heritage)” She said and spitted out.
...
....
...
....
She met her sister outside the apartment and she know definitely that she was waiting for her.
“Where are you coming from?” Shade asked her as soon as she moved closer to her.
“Anti mi...” She said to her and walked into the apartment closely followed by her elder sister.
“When did you return from school? I thought you said you would stay back in school to read.” Ashabi asked.
“Where are you coming from?” Her sister asked her again.
“I stopped by at Uncle...” She said and her phone rang, it was Adnan calling, she looked at her sister before picking the phone to receive it.
“Na’am, I got back home few minutes ago... Yes, she is here.” Ashabi said and gave the phone to her sister who grumbled her Teslim and barely managed to respond well to Adnan over the phone.
After the call, she noticed her sister had gone to the restroom to perform her Wudhu.
“Ashabi, don’t you want to listen?” Shade said as soon as they were done with their Salah.
“What is wrong with you?” Her sister asked.
“Can you just leave me alone today please?” Ashabi said to her sister, she still can’t forget the look on Adnan’s mother face, it shows a sign of disapproval and that bothers her.
She remember having met het few times at the hospital when he was admitted, her looks aren’t always very nice at her but they didn’t really bothers her until that day and she wonder why it bothers her so much.
Could it be that she didn’t like me ?
I don’t even know if Adnan likes me too?
Sometimes he is harsh and strict ...
But I likes him a lot ...
Why does she have to give me that look all the time ?
Hmmm,
....
..
..
...
“Have you observed your istikharah?” He asked and she nodded.
“You know about istikharah?” He asked amused and she nodded. He could not believe how much she had learnt in few years
“And he hadn’t said anything about it?” He asked her.
“Yes, he hadn’t, we haven’t discuss anything.” She said to him and he nodded.
“Hmmm, I think you need to be calm and face your studies Yasmina for now...” He said to her.
“And stop going to his house.” He said to her.
“If he is interested in you, he will come and seek for your hand in marriage. In Islam, a man and woman should not be in seclusion ...” He said.
“I know, I don’t do that too... I always try to avoid that and I noticed he does that too.” She said to him and he nodded.
“You see why you need to stop going to his house for now... And put a your hope in Allah.” He said to her.
“What if he get married to someone else?” She asked him.
“Then perhaps both of you aren’t meant to be ... But right now Yasmina, I know you want to listen to my opinion , reason why you call to see me.” He said to her and she nodded.
“Let things be for now, stop getting too close ... He is a matured man, he definitely know what he want... And the last thing I want is for you to lose your self respect. “ He advised her.
Hummm, she sighed and wonder for how long she would be able to do that.