Sophia P.O.V
We finally got done after about five hours and the candy was solid it wasn't as much as we started with because Rayaan Insisted on 'tasting' them but ate almost half of it before it cooled down. So we broke apart what was left and wrapped it in proportions. Ray's father had left 2 hours warning us not to burn down the city and so did the movers. The sun had already set, but we had already made up our minds to meet our new neighbors. They will be our new family after today.
Most people believe that talking to people for me should be easier because they can't see my face but it's the total opposite of that. I can't speak to a group of more than three people I don't know without stuttering and jumbling up my words. Rayaan on the other hand is the opposite I believe she's like a natural born public speaker and the most social person I know MashaAllah she doesn't believe it but it's true. Whenever this topic comes up it like a ping pong game going back and forth I guess she's just being nice stating that I'm really good in holding conversations with a total stranger for an hour or so about practically nothing. It's weird but semi true, she kind of exaggerated.
In the building each floor contained three apartment and there was a total of three floors on each building though there was many buildings close. On our floor the neighbors didn't seem to be there we knocked and waited but no one answered so we left our candies there with a notes the on the floor in front of the door way. In the middle floor there lived a lovely middle age couple Maryanne and Jonathan Johnson  and a six year old daughter Emma who was so adorable MashaAllah who welcomed us to the neighborhood and asked us to sometime have dinner with them which was quite surprising but nice. There also lived another family that didn't seem as welcoming they shut the door in our face.
Over all our neighbors weren't so bad we were asked weird questions like
"Where are you from?"
"What language are you from?"
"Where are your from from?"
"Where where you born?"
" what are you?"
It was weird at first because we didn't know what they were asking we kept repeating here, downstairs apartment or muslims because we honestly though that's what they where asking. But the light bulb clicked when we go back home that they where asking us about our ethnicities. I felt kinda stupid not realizing that before hand.
"Why do they have to be so discrete and just ask away?"
"I highly doubt they know where Qatar is located. Not many people do."
"Rayaan atleast your mono I on the other hand am part Yemeni and Somali as well"
"Sophie you know what they say you are what your father is so that makes you Qatari."
"Says who?"
"Says...umm-"
"Exactly my point."
"Okay whatever. You win for now."
"I always do Ray." I smirked at her earning me a punch on the shoulder
"Anyways Sophie I never got the chance to ask you what made you start wearing the Niqab?"
"Spiritual reasons." I answered simply folding my abaya and Niqab up.and walking to my room to put them away. Ray was right behind me
"Elaborate." She said sounding a bit demanding leaning in the wall crossing her arms and raising one of her eyebrows. This was one of the moments where she tried to be intimidating into getting an answer. Key word tried but epically failed.
"Ray I told you not to ever do that because it's not going to work." I told her partly chuckling.
"Okay so tell me. I want to know why plus we going to be living together from now on so I should know theses things please plus this could be like my next project-"
"Okay I will." I answered. "Becoming a niqabi wasn't a simple decision I just made out of the blue. It wasn't something I thought about over night. It took almost a year and a half to come up with this decision and with Allah's guidance and mercy did. I've always thought it was beautiful. A lot of people have asked me why I choose to be a niqabi and the most simplest answer I gave them was 'spiritual reasons'. Because that summed up everything. There are many aspects that have influenced me into choosing this path some might include stories Ami told me about women in Islamic history of their knowledge, courage, strength, eemaan, modesty, purity. Most of all their absolute faith in Allah was what made them all beautiful and remembered to this day. I wanted to be like them And I also wanted change in my life. A reminder, because I kept on falling into temptations and living in a society that continuously objectifies women for their bodies and not intellect was a bother example of why I needed change. I didn't want to be seen as an object but as a human being that has thoughts, feelings and a voice that God blessed for me to speak against what was wrong and encourage the good so that I could worship him alone. I am not perfect no one is because we are all children of Adam, at first the veil was like a guidance for me to to remind me to stay away from temptation, and watch my language and freely be who I am and follow the footsteps of my Heroes, but now it has become a part of me it's a symbols of my struggle living in the here. Many people around me still don't get why I choose it and they make wrong assumptions. If only they knew the woman my mom was she was an example of one hero I looked up to the most. She wore the veil long ago, she is my number one inspiration and there are times I wish she was here with me but InshaAllah I plane on trying hard in this world so that if Allah wills he could grant us both jannah(heaven) so we may meet again. She was and is still the most influential person in my life may Allah forgive her for all her mistakes. I pray that Allah will have mercy on her as she had mercy on me was to me vulnerable child. To him we belong and to him we will return" I didn't realize I shed tears until Ray hugged me.
"You'll be okay.The eyes will cry and the heart will feel the loss. But would be okay because your mother is in a better place."She whispered to me in reassurance