Yumnah could not believe that had agreed.She was excited,happy,scared and emotional all at the same time.Had he really agreed?

"Papa, are you sure its Yasir Hosseini?" she asked her father once again.

Her father laughed.Yumnah always got overexcited over things since she was a little girl.Seeing her excitement now just confirmed how much she liked Yasir and he was glad that he had not delayed in talking to Hussein.

"Yes my dear.Yasir himself agreed.Do you want me to call your uncle Hussein just now to confirm?" he said smiling.She had now asked him the same question five times.

"No Papa, thats not necessary," she said, a goofy smile on her face.If only she could squel but that would scare her father.

"Do you really like him that much?"

Yumnah shyly nodded her head looking away.The last person she had expected to share her feelings with was her father.But here she was now, crazily blushing in front of him as they talked about him.Together.

"What about Mama?She will never accept him,will she?" she asked her smile fading away.How she wished she could share her happiness with her mother.Unfortunately for her, her mother had stopped speaking to her.

"Dont worry about her, she will come around.She loves you alot Yumnah, its just that her overprotectiveness got the better of her.When she will see how happy you are,she will melt.Just give her some time," said her father.

Yumnah nodded sadly.She missed her mother.It had only been a day but the silence was toxic.

"In fact they were asking when they can come over to meet you," said her father in a bid to change her now foul mood.

"Is Yasir the one asking?"

Bilal amusedly looked at his daughter.He had definately lost his little princess to Yasir.His little girl was madly in love for sure.

"No Hussein is the one who asked," he said laughing at the same time shaking his head in disbelief.

Blood rushed to Yumnhah's cheeks and she quickly covered her face which was now red from embarassment.

"How about Friday Papa?Friday evening after my Quran class?"she asked.She did not want to delay it anymore.She had waited long enough.

"Friday is good.I know that they usually dont work after Jumah prayers,so i think they will make it, In Sha Allah," said her father.

"In Sha Allah,i really hope they do Papa."

*******

It was finally Friday.

Yasir loved Fridays because of Jumah prayers but today he was not too sure of how he felt.It was Jumah alright but it was also the day he would meet her.It was the day of their very first meeting.

He was extremely nervous.He now very well understood how Khaleel and Hisham had felt.It was horrible.What scared him more was the fact that Yumnah already knew him from before and well "liked" him.What if she had high expectations?What if she liked him because of qualities she thought he had but he didnt?

It was all too confusing and scary but at the same time, deep down in his heart he was excited.Excited to meet the one woman who claimed to like him.

The first woman and maybe the only woman.

"Yasir, are you ready to go?I think the adhan will go soon," said Khaleel as he walked into his office.Yasir had requested him to take him to the masjid since Hisham had not yet come back.

"Yes bro, lets go.Dont want to get stuck in traffic."

"Which mosque do you and Hisham go to again?"asked Khaleel since he usually prayed in a different mosque which was nearer to his apartment.

"

"Oh," said Khaleel.Wait, wasn't that the masjid where Yumnah went for her Quran classes?Had the two ever bumped into each other?

"Yeah,now lets go.I dont want to miss today's Khutba," said Yasir and they both quickly made their way out of the office.

**

The prayers had ended and Yasir and Khaleel were both making their way back to the car.

Yasir smiled as he walked.He really missed Hisham.With Khaleel, they had left immediately the prayers had ended but with Hisham, they always were the last to leave.

Hisham always used to get lost somewhere.He couldn't wait for his elder brother to come back.He had so much to tell him especially about this marriage proposal.He had tried calling Hisham for the past three days but he had not answered.He hoped all was well.

They both reached the car and from a distance, Khaleel caught sight of Yumnah as she entered the masjid from the back gate.He quickly checked the time on his watch,it was two oclock.That was her alright since it was time for the quran classes.He turned to Yasir, a mischievous glint in his eyes.It was payback time for all that suspense Yasir had created a few days back.

"Yo Yasir, guess who is coming towards us?" he asked trying to sound normal as possible.

"I dont know.Who?"

"Yumnah," said Khaleel and in seconds he watched a very calm Yasir turn all anxious.He quickly felt for the door handle, grabbed it and attempted to open it.

"Khaleel, unlock the car and lets go," said Yasir.

"Oh yeah! Shucks man, i cant find the car keys," said Khaleel as he pretended to look for the keys in his pocket at the same time trying very hard not to laugh.

"Khaleel,come on man."

"Oh, here they are Alhamdullilah," said Khaleel and in a flash he saw Yasir open his door as soon as he heard the familiar beep.

Khaleel too got into the car grinning.Did Yasir really think that Yumnah would come to the men's side of the masjid?

"Yasir,why are you running away?We should at least have said Salam to her."

"I am not running away.I want to go home, i am tired."

"Broooo, wait are you blushing?" asked Khaleel as he saw Yasir turn red.

"What's blush even?" grunted Yasir at the same time trying to steady his trembling hands.

"Why are your hands shaking then?"

"I am hypoglycemic.Now lets go, i am hungry," said Yasir.

"Okay, you cant run for long anyway.You are meeting with her in the next two hours," said Khaleel as he started the car and they both drove away.

*********

This time the table had been laid more exquisitely.There were more than three types of cookies and many other types of desserts.Yumnah had gone out of her way to make everything special.

"Sorry about Saeeda, she has not been keeping well," lied Bilal.

His wife had refused to even welcome the guests but luckily for him, they all believed him, none of them sensing the awkward tension in the house.

"I think its time the kids meet.Let us not delay this anymore," said Hussein.

Yasir internally groaned.He had not even had enough of the delicious cookies.Leave it to "Hitler" to always ruin his meals.

"Yes i think so too.Hope you guys will be fine sitting alone for a while.I will chaperone the two," said Bilal.This time he would be there to ensure nothing went wrong.

"Of course, dont worry about us.Yumnah's cookies will keep us busy," said Hussein as he grabbed another cookie from the tray.

How could someone be so mean,thought Yasir .Hitler was literally separating him from the cookies.Just great.

"Come Yasir, let me help you," said Bilal.He then led to Yasir to the dining room where the same two chairs had been placed opposite each other like before.

"Il go get Yumnah."

"Okay," said Yasir nervously.

What would he even ask her first?Where was Hisham when you needed him?He turned his head when he heard footsteps approaching.His heart had started beating in overdrive once again.Great.Just great

He quickly stood up and put his right hand over his heart as a sign of respect when he heard them get nearer.

She was here.

He could sense it.

"Asalam aleikum Yasir."

"Waleikum salam Yumnah."

THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!

****