Chapter 25: I have someone in my mind?

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"Oh no. Don't smile. 

You'll kill me. 

I stop breathing when you smile."

-Tessa Dare: A Lady of Persuasion-

* 

Yusra looked around her, anywhere but Islah Reza-Ibrahim. A thin coat of blush tinted her usual light colored skin, left from the encounter with his mother. Her heart raced a mile a minute making her gasp and struggle for breath as she did so. Islah. Please go.

"Hi?" she jumped slightly when he spoke. He was closer to her than she had anticipated. Damn that oh-so-beautiful scent. 

Islah raised an eyebrow at her anxious movements. He observed her fingers linked with each other and the thumb of her right hand was digging into the index finger of her left.

"Yusra, what's wrong?" he asked her, stepping up to lessen the space between them. Arabic party songs blared around them as people danced at the dance floor while the rest of the crowd watched. He was pretty sure other than his family, no one was actually paying attention to him or Yusra.

"Yusra?" Yusra turned her attention from the dance floor of people doing Dabke towards Islah.

Green eyes clashed with blue-gray and they found themselves (again) in a bubble of their own. The entire world dissolved around them; the music, cheers, shouts and mixed scents. All that matter to her was how his scent; rich fruity with a hint of woods. So forest like, like summer. 

"You like it?" Islah all but whispered as white dots of lights danced around them. The background quietened down and the music changed to a slow one. Can't help falling in love with you by Elvis Presley (though Islah was sure this was a cover) began playing in the back-ground.

Yusra tilted her head slightly with the corners of her lips turning up.

"Like what?" That was when the two snapped out of their reverie, looking into two different directions. Iravat let out a laugh and Rabail rolled her eyes at him. Umm ground? Now is the right time to swallow me as a whole. Take me anywhere! Even hell would do. Iravat patted Islah's back and pulled Rabail with him towards the buffet.

Islah shifted on his feet, rubbing his neck and glancing at Yusra shyly. The latter was no different though.

A few tables away, Lila and Ahmad facepalmed in sync. They looked at each other, shook their heads and grinned slyly.

-

By the end of the wedding, Yusra was yawning and trying to keep her eyes open (Islah found this irresistibly cute). Lila and Ahmad asked for a family picture with Lila and Nasreen gladly agreed even though Dawud had his doubts. 'Anything to get my daughter married, Dawud!' Nasreen had chastised her husband (By which, Nasreen meant Yusra would get more proposals since Lila happens to know a lot of people) as they made their way to bid goodbye to the host family. By that, Nasreen meant Yusra would get more proposals since Lila happens to know a lot of people. 

Yusra walked a step ahead of Islah as their families made their way to the car park. Ahmad and Dawud were engrossed on some political talk while Lila and Nasreen chatted about motherly things (Children of today followed by dramatic sighs) while the youths trailed behind. Maha had her arms hooked with Yusra as they walked in silence. Rabail was behind them with Islah and Iravat.

"My feet hurt," whined Rabail and Iravat smiled fondly at her. Islah looked over to his woman and noticed how she walked slow.

"Your feet hurt too?" he found himself asking and immediately cringed when he realized he said that out aloud. Yusra halted, so did Maha and the two turned around to him (So did the his mother, not that Islah noticed over his embarrassment). Maha raised an eyebrow at him before looking in between Yusra and him. A slow recognition fell on her face and she grinned.

"I didn't know this was going on!" she whispered, not so lowly. Islah heard her and blushed slightly. So her sister knows. How bad can it be right? That was when Maha squealed (Iravat and Rabail winced, Islah's eyes widened and Yusra panicked). Lila smirked slyly at Ahmad who shook his head, smiling. 

Yusra's hand immediately went over Maha's mouth and the woman frowned, even though the rest could not see.

"What happened?" The youths turned to Dawud who was the one questioning. Yusra immediately let go of Maha who smirked at her before turning to Dawud.

"Nothing, uncle. I think I saw a pest," she said. The parents seemed to have bought the story and returned to their conversations. Maha stuck close to Yusra.

"You and I are having a long talk tonight," Maha told her and Yusra sighed, nodding anyway.

"Girls, let's go," called out Nasreen and Yusra turned to the boys and Rabail. She bid them goodbye, Islah albeit shyly and walked away with Maha.

Islah stared after her until he realized his parents were looking at him expectantly. Uh what?

"The car?" His father questioned and Islah rubbed his now-red neck. Right the car. He nodded and looked towards the car park. Now, where did I park the car?

"I'll go get it," he muttered and his parents nodded, clearly amused. Islah walked towards the end of the car park where he finally saw his dad's black Toyota Rav4. He unlocked it and got in, placing his phone on the console in front. Starting the ignition, he set staring at the lights bouncing against the windshield. His thoughts were haywire and he groaned. What exactly is between Yusra and I? We haven't talked about it but I am sure we- His phone rang with a notification, breaking him from his train of thoughts.

Irav: Dude. I am freezing! Hurry up! Islah's eyes widened when he realized he left his family in the cold air at the car park. Face-palming himself, he pulled out of the parking spot. I really need to get my head straight.

They made it home in fifteen or so minutes. Islah parked the car and handed the keys to Ahmad and began his walk up the stairs when his mother called out to him. Rabail and Iravat were already gone to their own rooms (Rabail's room in the Reza-Ibrahim house was finally clean enough for her to stay) so it was only the parents and him.

Islah turned to his mother and waited for her to speak.

Lila smiled at her son, like a chestier cat. Well, that's not creepy at all mom. 

"Change and come downstairs, there is something we need to talk to you about," she told him and his heart beat quickened. Talk about? Did she find out about Yusra? His palms grew sweaty and the jugular vein of his neck became prominent. Lila laughed at him, walking away. 

Islah turned back to his route, walking to his room. He opened the door and switched on the lights of his room. Islah's room was large and spacious. The walls were white, save for the one opposite his bed. That wall was denim blue with a painting hanging at the top and a large TV at the bottom of the painting. A white shelf set on the floor; right beneath the television, stacked with books, DVD's, souvenirs from his trips around the world and an x-box with games. 

At one wall, by the door was a desk littered with his laptop and a few papers, pens and a table coaster. Opposite the door, his bed lay neatly with two night lamps above it. Two opaque glass doors stood beside his bed (on each side) that opened into his walk-in closet and connected bathroom. On the wall adjacent to the bed, hung another abstract painting beside which began the floor to ceiling frosted windows lined with a similar denim colored curtains.

Islah immediately showered and changed into gray sweats and a t-shirt before taking his phone and walking back downstairs to meet his parents. Whatever it is, oh lord please let it pass easily. Shower your mercy upon me, please Allah!

"Islah, come to the patio!" his father called out from the first floor and Islah rolled his eyes. Their house had a patio where his mother spent most of her time; reading, working or watering the plants. The patio had polished wooden floors and ceiling with lights hanging by the posts. There was a couch set in the middle where his parents set and on the opposite side was a frosted glass door leading to their backyard.

"As salaam alaikum," he greeted them, taking a seat. Lila and Ahmad replied to his salutations and Islah grew more nervous. Rip the band-aid off already. Lila smiled at her son while crossing her right leg over the other. The stance his mother held at the moment gave Islah more anxiety. This is the stance she uses when she has something important to discuss. It's her 'business' pose.

"What is it?" he finally asked them and his father let out a chuckle.

"Tell him, Lila. You are giving him anxiety!" Lila's face broke into a grin.

"Fine! I wanted to be dramatic, jeez." She said, sighing softly. "Anyway. Is there anything you want us to know, Islah?" His mother was a straight-forward woman and Islah knew that if she is asking this, she must know something. He looked at his father for help but he merely nodded. Tell her, Islah. That's what dad is saying. But what about her reaction?

When Islah did not answer, Lila smiled softly.

"Islah." She called for his attention. Islah looked up to her. "You know we have always given you the freedom to do whatever you want, right?" Islah nodded at her. They have. Since I was a child.

"So when I brought up the topic of marriage, you said not now. We agreed. It's your life and you know that we will be happy so long you are happy, right?" Islah nodded again. Where is this going? Lila breathed out an audible sigh and stretched her hands out on her knees. Ahmad smiled at his wife's antics.

"Now that those are out of the way; tell me, is there anyone you are interested in?" Islah's breathe hitched, heart raced and palms became sweaty. So this is what- what it's about? If I have someone in my mind? Islah finally caught up with his mother and raised an eyebrow at her question.

"Why?" he asked her and she grinned back at him. She thinks I do not have someone? But surely she must know? He looked at his father again for confirmation but he simply shrugged. Islah narrowed his eyes at him. Traitor! We'll see about this when you and mom argue the next time!

"That's because I have a girl in mind for you," his mother's words caught his attention, bringing it back to her. Girl in mind? Girl?! For me? But why? Islah, hear her out, his mind told him and he nodded at her, deciding to listen to what his mother had to say. 

"And?" Ahmad raised an eyebrow at Islah who did not look at him at all. Instead, he focused on his mother.

"Islah. Look. I know you may not want to marry now but habibti, you need someone with you. We have always let you and Irav make your own decisions in life and this will be exactly like it. Solely your decision." she said before adding, " No pressure." making Islah raised an eyebrow. Sure feels like pressure, mom. But nonetheless, he nodded again.

"Speak your mind, Islah." His father told him. Speak my mind?

"Who is she?"

"Yusra," his mother replied and suddenly, Islah wanted to do sujood right then and there to thank Allah for this. He looked up and met his mother's gaze who was smiling at him. He looked at his father who shrugged again with a smile.

"How?" Lila laughed, standing up and taking a seat beside Islah. She took Islah's hand in hers and placed a kiss on the side of his head.

"I know my sons like the back of my hands. I knew something was up when we went to visit them at their place," she explained and Islah blushed. "I am disheartened that you told your father and not me though."

Islah felt his mother's hand squeeze his and looked up to her. Lila's eyes shone with happiness.

"I only want happiness for both my sons." She told Islah and he grinned. "Should we invite them for lunch this weekend?" Islah continued to look at his mother, eyes glistening with tears. How lucky am I to have such parents? He turned to his father and Ahmad nodded at him.

"Thank you, mom." He said and Lila gave him a small smile, wiping away stray tears from her eyes. She let out a laugh and patted his head.

"Anything for my loves." 

*****

Update! I am sorry I didn't update on Friday, I was working on another book. 

But. I updated today.

Take care, stay safe and remain happy! 

| R - C - V |

xx,

-Aalihha.