Disaster's Aid

I enter the room and close the door. Arfsy glances away from her nails that match her purple top to me.

Her mouth is stretched in a frown. Her curled hair is flipped to cover one exposed shoulder.

I rest against the headboard and fold my legs in front of me.

"Sara, your parents aren't here are they? Who is that guy downstairs?" Arfsy's eyes stare me down. The hazel and the green contrast and entrance me.

Who is he?

I take a deep breath. I need to calmly explain this as clearly as possible. So she doesn't have the wrong view of me, so she doesn't assume the worst.

"His name is Tariq and-"

"Stop, wait. Sara please don't tell me you're living with him in sin." Arfsy glances at the open Nike duffel bag and then back at her clenched hands.

"No, I've been sleeping on the couch and in my parent's room I swear!" I say holding my hands up in defense.

The worst. Living in sin. The words I once heard from a girl at university. She was engaged for three years and she was dating the man for seven. She was going to be married soon, but first she wanted to live with him. To make sure they were compatible. She knew they would be living in sin. She knew. But she decided that that was easiest for her. Even though the purpose of marriage is to bring two people together out of sin. How ironic. Completely removing the purpose.

But I didn't really know. I can't even tell my friend the truth easily. Doing what's easy has truly become hard in this world. And what's hard has become too easy. SubhanAllah.

"Arfsy, Tariq is my husband." Arfsy lasers her eyes at me. Making me petrified. "No seriously, I know I've done stupid things before, but this is actually my husband. We got our nikkah done in Pakistan and we are going to have the wedding function later."

"You promise?" Arfsy's shoulders tense as she straightens her stare at me further.

"Wallahi." (I promise to God). Arfsy relaxes.

Arfsy and I loose out our brains to each other soon after. She finds it romantic that Tariq knew about our phone call and didn't say anything to me until now. She finds it entertaining that Mo accepted Tariq so easily and she claimed he couldn't take Tariq in a fight. And I pray to God there will be no fight. She demands a wedding invitation ASAP and told me not to think that Tariq is 'too hot' because she can definitely find someone better looking for herself. When I tell her about Mimi Aunty's antics she and I burst out into laughter. When I tell her about Tariq and my first date two days after our nikkah to get ice cream she calls me a preschooler because I dropped my melted ice cream on his shirt. But honestly what preschooler goes on ice cream dates anyways?

When I told her about how he saved me, how he changed my heart, she sighs and giggles with me.

Our stomach's grumble and we laugh.

"Let's get some food downstairs. I think I hear Tariq cooking." I say.

"Ohmigawd, he cooks for you too? He's too perfect."

"I cook too, and I can be more than perfect, okay?" Arfsy raises her eye brows.

"Ahan, you stop dropping things on your man and then I'll believe you." She teases.

"How rude." I scoff as we head down the stairs.

We enter the kitchen to see rice and steaming butter chicken in fancy bowls placed out for three.

"Dinner is served." Tariq does a french accent.

I stare at him and Arfsy tries not to giggle too hard. He grins and I laugh.

"Merci garcon." I say and flutter my lashes.

Arfsy glances at me and she bites her lips so she doesn't burst out laughing.

I guess we are being too flirty. We aren't even like this normally!

"So how long have you been in Canada, Tariq?" Arfsy says between bites of chicken.

"Almost a week now, the facilities in Canada are quite convenient and Sara and I might move here."

"I see. So you two have been here for about a week?" Arfsy glances at me with her eye brows raised and a smirk on her glossed lips.

"We are planning to stay until our parents are done the wedding preparations." Tariq says and somehow avoids seeing Arfsy's looks at me.

I hold the wooden table tight as I hope she stops going where she shouldn't with this conversation.

"Sara's room must be different from what you're used to. Afterall I heard-"

"My room is just fine Arfsy. And plus there's my parents room and stuff." I breathe.

"Oh yeah?" Arfsy teases.

Tariq glances at me. Calm as a chocolate bar before Arfsy comes along and chomps it up.

"Yeah."

"So Tariq does Sara make you sleep on the couch?"

Does mean old Sara make her sweet handsome husband sleep on the couch all alone?

Seriously Arfsy is just too much. One second she's stuttering over Tariq and the next she's already teasing me into next Jummah! (Jummah is Friday, where Muslims go to the musjid to pray in the afternoon and should shower and get dressed up and go meet everyone.)

I can see Tariq's eyes twinkle as he catches on to my annoyance.

"Most nights Sara falls asleep on the couch and I put a stuffed animal to stand watch over her. And otherwise aunty and uncle's room is comfortable as well." Tariq says.

Arfsy grins.

"That's so cute."

I start to eat. Forget Arfsy and her digging deeper. I'm totally not answering any questions.

"So Sara, that's a new dress isn't it?" I glance down at the silk floral pattern with a thick green border that hits my knees.

"You gave it to me last year on Eid."

"Oh yeah? Are those jeans new too? 'Cuz girl those make your legs look killer." Arfsy starts eating.

Tariq's jaw clenches and his dimples become clear as he tries not to laugh.

"Excuse me." Tariq puts his dishes in the sink and leaves the kitchen. We watch him go.

I turn back and place my spoon in my steaming rice. Realizing too late that my mouth is burning.

"Arfsy, are you trying to find out something?" I say staring her down.

Her silver bracelets jingle as she flips her brown hair over her shoulder.

"Well?" Arfsy states putting her hands out questioning me.

"Arfsy, that's personal. It's not good to tell husband and wife's secrets. That's why they are husband and wife."

Arfsy flushes.

"Sorry Sara, I was just curious."

"It's okay Arfsy, but from now on, please don't do that."

"Of course, what are BFFs for? Although it was cute to see how Tariq was trying not to laugh."

"Hey! Don't call my husband cute."

"What, only you can?" She taps my nose with her index finger.

"Exactly. Only me." I flip the edge of my hijab in imitation of hair.

"Okay, okay, I give." Arfsy puts her hands up in defeat.

"Be tee dubs (BTW), this butter chicken is so good. He's a keeper." Arfsy winks and I grin and roll my eyes. "Anyways I have to head home soon, My mom's going to want me to help her out."

I stand up and give Arfsy a hug. She squeezes back.

"I'll see you later Arfsy."

"Make sure it's not too long this time Sara, I miss you a lot."

"I won't."

"Okay, well, Assalamualaikum Sara." Arfsy lets go.

"Walaikumalaisalam Arfsy." We grin at each other and she leaves the house.

Arfsy drives away and I wave to her from my door.

Arfys said Salam to me! It's been so long. Truly, we all can change.

Always. In sha Allah. ( If Allah wills.)

"Say: O my servants who have transgressed against their own souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah forgives all sins. Truly He is Most Forgiving. Most Merciful. (39:53)"