2. I Met Him

IKHLAS POV

Oh! I thank God i am done washing these clothes, I need to set them to dry and I am very tired. Throughout these two weeks, I have been keeping my self busy to drown my thoughts about haneef.

What is wrong with me?? what has he done to me?? I asked myself.

I haven't been myself these days and I wasted away because of a guy that do not even know me.

" Ya Allah guide me through this."  I silently prayed.

I needed to put my acts together and stop acting like a love sick moron. This isn't me and I want the old version of me back. I have so many things I have to do and it seems like Haneef has decided to become a distraction.

Haneefah is tired of trying to cheer me up.

"I think I love him" I said out loud.

"Love who? Haneef?" I heard which startled me.

I turned to see haneefah furiously  eyeing me. 

"When did you get here?" I asked.

"This is 1:30pm and you know we have pathology lecture by 2:30pm." She answered, her hands were now on her waist as he amusingly stared at me.

"Ohh Allah I forgot" I exclaimed. Today being Saturday, I totally forgot I do have lectures. 

"Why won't you forget when you have something occupying your mind without leaving room for other things. See am starting to get really concerned about this issue" she said as she exasperatedly rubbed her temples.

"This is not the Ikhlas Ajoke Muhammad I knew. Ikhlas is a happy, carefree and caring chatterbox.

She loves Singing, dancing and drawing.

she also love reading Novels. You don't even do that anymore, you don't concentrate in class anymore, please who are you and what have you done to Ikhlas?" she asked, giving me a frustrated look.

"Am sorry I don't know what has gotten over me, I kept thinking about him.

what is he doing? has he eaten? is he fine? Is he sleeping? When can I see him?

Am so fed up Hanny I don't know what to do, I badly want to see him again" I sob unto her shoulders as she soothingly patted my back. 

"It's ok, everything is gonna be alright okay. Just continue praying Allah will guide us through.

About seeing him again I think I have a solution to that. Even though his mom doesn't like me, after classes today we will go visit his sisters Humaira and Fati maybe you can see him okay?"

She said rubbing soothing circles on my back .

"Ok Hanny. thank you so very much, what will I do without you" I said, relief finally washing through me. 

" You will be stupid without me" she replied with a grin and I smacked her arm.

"Ouch!! That's painful, hurry and go get dressed, I will hang out the clothes for you." she said, plastering her face with her signature sweet smile.

"Thanks sunshine, I will be right back"

I replied, dashing into my hostel room to get ready.

I took a quick shower, wore a gold and black Arabian gown, black veil, and gold shoes to match.

I applied a light makeup to cover my dark circles, used my deodorants, carried my school bag and headed out.

"Hanny am done" I called.

"Ok meet me at the mirror" she shouted.

We arrived 5minutes earlier.

"ohh thank goodness Mrs Fatima Suleiman is not in class yet" I said happily.

"She doesn't have a sense of care for humanity, I hate her." Haneefah scoffed and I chuckled.

Am so tired, today's class was So boring that I didn't even understand what she taught. Some lectures are really talented in making you feel like going to school is a total waste of time. Believe me Mrs Fatima is one of them. 

As usual Mrs Fatima collected an I.D card from a student promising him that she is going to make sure he resit, repeat and get withrawn from the department because his phone rang in class.

"Urrgh!! are you sure that lady is really human?"

Haneefah asked, clearly irritated.

"you can go ask her" I replied and she smacked my arm, receiving a playful glare from me. 

"Can we start going now?" I asked.

Actually, I have been trying not to show how happy, anxious and nervous I am throughout the class.

" Yes but we have to pray Asr first" she  replied. 

"yeah" I said.

We prayed at the central mosque and headed outside. we boarded a tricycle and she said "7th Street shagari quarters and we are paying #250"

"ok May we reach there safely" the middle aged man said.

"Ikhlas! Ikhlas!! Ikhlasss!!!"

"Yes!!!" I jumped at the voice that brought me out of my Anxiety - induced daze. 

"What are you thinking about? I have been calling your name and your mind isn't even here" she said with a concern look.

"Nothing to worry about I am fine" I assure her with a faint smile.

"And you want me to believe that? Tell me what you are thinking about" she deadpanned. Seems like my tricks aren't working today. 

I kept quiet for what seemed like eternity to her before saying

"Hanny do you think he is going to ignore me today too?" 

She sighed.

"Truth to be told I think he is going to ignore you again. but this time around you try greeting him first. he will definitely answer he is not arrogant, he is just an introvert" she said, carefully placing her hands on my shoulder. 

"Ohh Allah! my lungs feel empty and devoid of air, I can't breathe.

I think am having a panic attack" I said.

She then asked the Keke man to slow down she told me to calm down and take deep breaths. I did as she instructed and I Surprisingly I was starting to feel better.

We arrived at the house and Haneefah called humaira to come take us in.

Fortunately for us Ummah went to a wedding ceremony. So I don't have to deal with her snarky and insulting remarks. 

They served us drinks and snacks before she asked them "ina yaya?(where is big bro)"

" He is in his room" they answered.

We stayed for about 40minutes to try our luck of greeting him. I was a bit disappointed when we were going home because I couldn't see him. So what really is the advantage of coming here? I just wanted to at least lay my eyes on him maybe these weird sensations will subside but here am I still waiting after almost two hours and he still hasn't showed up. As if on cue, he miraculously came out of his room and for the first time his eyes met mine. 

Haneefah greeted him and I greeted him too, he turned and answered us politely "Sannunkku" he said.

I couldn't even hide the happy smile I had. Even though he said only one word and directed it to both of us, I was still contented that he doesn't seem to consider me non-existent anymore. We bade them goodbye and headed back to the Haneefah's.

I spent my night joyfully because he got to hear my voice and I also got to hear his.

Alhamdulillah he is fine and ok, I am relieved now. I said my Azkhar laied down and went to sleep with my Haneef in mind.