"Omayra '', Rahan couldn't help but repeat this name. What a beautiful name just
like the owner.
Religion was also one of the things Rahan wanted from a woman, and when she
said "Allah knows best, inshallah we meet again". Oh, how life was so mysterious
he thought to himself. Rahan wondered what she would be doing right now. What
does she think about him? Maybe that's too early but he couldn't help it at all. The
fact that Islam doesn't let men and women speak informally to each other is just
one reason why he should just marry her. He knew well enough at this age that
either he asked her father for her hand or just left it.
He had first to find a way to get to know her father, but at the same time, he can't
do that because she doesn't know anything about him and whether she likes him or
not. But one thing is for sure is that he was already in love with her, it didn't matter
what color she was, or what country she was from, as long as she was religious he
had to marry her.
The next day, Rahan decided to go to the restaurant and see if everything was
going well. As he entered the restaurant it wasn't busy today not many people were
there, it was a big restaurant with many different cultural foods. The only cultural
food his parents couldn't get was Sudanese, it's hard to find someone who is
Sudanese and speaks Arabic (Rahan's parents are Arab), so Rahan also spoke
Arabic. The staff there were always there for service. Even though Rahan's parents
are the owners of the restaurant, Rahan is the manager and the one who looks after
it the most.
Today he decided to cook for the customers because there were fewer, Since it's
Sunday many families must have gone to parks and just ordered takeout.
Any order came, it was a dish that was his favorite. Someone ordered a biryani
with a mango milkshake(with whipping cream on top). It was exactly what Rahan
would make for himself during lunch or sometimes after the restaurant is closed he
makes that as dinner.
The waiter had gone for a washroom break (since there weren't many customers)
and Rahan was about to go for salah in a few minutes so he decided to go give the
order himself.
When he was near the table he realized it was a woman. So he was just going to
give the food and leave but to his surprise it was Omayra. She was talking on the
phone in Arabic and was saying "La 'aerif kayf sa'aqnae 'umiy wa'abi lakinani
'aerif bialtaakid 'anani 'urid al zawaj minh" ("I don't know how I'm going to
convince mom and dad but I know for sure I want to marry him")
Rahan stood there confused as to whether he should go and give the food or ask
someone else to do it. It looked like the person she was speaking to said" You don't
even know him" because she replied "At least I know that his name is Rahan ''.
Rahan was frozen and wasn't shocked at all, in fact, something just came out of his
heart. Something that he didn't know how to describe or explain. Happy was the only word he came up with. Finally, he came his way and placed the food on the
table, she looked up to thank him. But as she saw him she dropped her phone and
froze, just like how she did at the park when he said salaam to her.
"It's you"
What a small world, we met again she said, she looked less nervous than yesterday
at the park.
Rahan didn't know what to say, so he said: "Yes it is, what a surprise". He had to
ask this question, the sooner the better he thought and so he went ahead and asked
"Do you want to marry me?" It wasn't a proposal instead a question.
She gasped and said," You speak Arabic, and you heard me just now?"
Oh god, and she started covering herself with her hijab as fast as she could.
Yes, Rahan replied and asked again.
She took a few minutes and finally said "Yes"
Rahan felt shy and happy at the same time, he wanted to marry her at first sight and
the fact that she also wanted to marry him just made things a lot easier for him. The
only thing was he didn't know anything about her and she didn't know anything
about him. How can they get to know each other without having any haram
relationship?
"But we don't even know each other," he said, trying to sound as reasonable as he
could.
She said, "I know, that's why I want to get to know you".
"How"?
We can write about each other
Rahan took a moment to gather all this information before he could handle it
anymore. Writing about each other on paper was a great idea, he never thought of
that at all. And he never thought that she wanted to marry him, they only met four
times (including now). He didn't mind that it was going so fast but instead, he
agreed.
"Enjoy your meal" was all he said and left, he wanted to stay longer but he didn't
want Shaytaan to ruin this and make it into something haram, so keeping a distance
from each was the only solution now.
As he got ready to leave and go for Salah he thought about what to write about
himself. Rahan was always called a shy boy by his friends. His mother always tells
him that the reason why he still hasn't found a wife is that you are so not romantic.
Right now focusing on salah was the thing to do. He entered the masjid and saw
her again. Is it destiny, it's been an hour since he last saw her and he hoped to see
her again.