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3: Graduation

Hayfah woke up feeling exceptionally happy that morning; it was the day of her graduation. She was finally one more step closer to achieving her goal of becoming an educated lady. With a smile on her face, she angled her gaze towards her sister who was still asleep.

Hayfah climbed off her bed and ambled to where Amna was sleeping on her new mattress; the one she bought for herself, with her own money as she could not sleeping together with Amna anymore. Hayfah patted on her pillow and that caused Amna to let out a groan. ‘She didn’t go to bed early’ Amna thought, smiling to herself. Hayfah stood by the mattress with the hopes of her sister waking up so they could offer their morning prayer together but much to her disappointment, Amna didn’t.

"Addah Amna, you should wake up please, the Imam has finished praying, let's not be late," Hayfah spoke casting her gaze on their wall clock.

"What's the meaning of all this, Hayfah? Can't you pray alone? Is it a must to pray together?" Amna yelled albeit glaring at her sister who was not ready to give up.

"Please Addah, today is my graduation. Won’t you rejoice with me?" Hayfah marveled, just the thought of being a graduate made her happy. “Who cares if today is your graduation? Why will you disturb me over a common secondary school graduation? I won’t go with you, it’ll be a disgrace to me should my friends see us together, some of them don’t even know we’re related so leave me alone.” Amna hissed before covering her face with the bed sheet she used as a duvet.

Hayfah remained tranquil even though deep down her fragile heart was shattering into tiny shards. She expected to receive an ounce of love from her family on her special day. No matter how fake or how little, she craved for their affection. She sat on the carpeted floor for minutes, letting all her sister had said to her sink before standing up to offer her prayer with a resolve that no matter what anyone said to her, she was going to make the best out of the day, she was going to enjoy herself and not let any of their hurtful words get to her.

She glumly trudged to the toilet to perform ablution and went back to their room. She brought out her red prayer carpet, the one her Abba’s sister had given to her as a souvenir,

when she returned from Makkah.

She finished her prayer, recited Azhkars, and was reciting the Holy book (Al Qur'an), when Amna woke up. She shot Hayfah a glare and sauntered out of the room. By the time Amna was back in the room, Hayfah was already done reciting the Qur’an and was sitting quietly on her bed, a feeling of uneasiness settled heavily on her chest. She was tensed about her impending graduation.

Amna was done praying and was reciting when Hayfah moved closer and placed her head on Amna’s left shoulder. Much to Hayfah’s surprise, her sister didn’t yell at her, neither did she shrug off her head. “What’s the problem?” Amna asked soon as she was done with her Azkhar.

“I need your help. Don’t say no please” Hayfah answered nervously, fiddling with her fingers.

"Go on”

A smile tucked up on Hayfah's lips, she didn’t expect her sister to succumb so easily to her plea. With the smile etched on her beautiful face, she explained "Addah I want you to help me check my outfit, and see how I'll look in it."

Without uttering a word, Amna flopped on her mattress, giving Hayfah a pointed look “Go and take your bath, I'll wait for you." She stated, typing away on her phone.

Hayfah had taken her” Amna said, giving her sister a final scrutiny “I pity the guys that'll fall instantly without hearing you speak.”

Hayfah shrugged off her sister’s last words and muttered a "Thank you" before taking everything she needed and hurriedly exiting the room.

She met Abba at the door; he gave her a puzzled look. With a hearty smile, she greeted him "Good morning Abba, it's my graduation day." Abba could see just how much happiness was bursting out of his sweet girl. His face lit at, he was glad she was happy. "Masha Allah, I'm so happy Hayfah, congratulations. May Allah see you through, may you be successful in life, and may Allah bless you with a righteous spouse and obedient children." Abba spoke giving her shoulder a gentle pat.

Hayfah felt happy, she needed this love, this care, especially on her big day "Thank you so much Abba. Ameen to all your prayers, I feel blessed." Hayfah spoke, the smile not leaving her face. She sauntered to their iron door, but suddenly halted "Abba will you be there please? I need at least one person from my family, I know they won't come. Will you?" She begged, her head hung low, her voice sounding more coarse than usual.

Abba smiled lopsidedly, he looked at her sympathetically, he knew she wanted them to be there for her "Hayfah my dear, I have a work to do, but Insha Allah they will be there," he said, a warm smile playing on his lips.

Hayfah just nodded her head and walked out of the house with a heavy heart, she knew they weren’t going to be present. With a sigh, she smiled and walked off.

The graduation ceremony was over, student were taking pictures, graduation caps sprawled on the ground, some friskily chatting with family, laughing hysterically, girls posing and taking pictures with family and boyfriends, everyone seemed delighted and thrilled. Everyone, expect for Hayfah who was sitting on a long bench in front of the hall, where the graduation ceremony took place. Fareeha begged her to go and take pictures with her friends, but she expressed her lack of interest. She sat quietly, clenching to the gift she was given. ‘What’s taking Fareeha so long’ she wondered. She was already too eager to go home.

"Assalamu Alaikum" A voice jolted her out of her reverie, as she was deep in thought, disappointed at her family for not turning up at her graduation ceremony.

Her gaze slowly shifted to the person who was now sitting next to her and by God it was a pleasant surprise. ‘Didn’t say he was leaving that day?’

"I know you’re wondering why I am here, right? I came for you; you left me all of a sudden that day, without hearing me out. You seemed a bit dazed and that kept me awake, wondering, you seemed afraid, were you?" He asked, slowly scrutinizing her face, his eyes fixed on her lips, the pink lipstick gave them an exquisite look. Hayfah smiled before shifting her gaze to the gifts lying on her laps "Oh wow! You did great, you are brilliant, wish you could meet my father, he loves girls that are enthusiastic towards education." He spoke with enthusiasm, seeing the wide grin on her face give him hope. “Beauty with brains.” He winked and that made her chuckle. He looked cute when he winked. How she smiled made him happy, the smile itself was an endearment, he kept looking at her, until she looked away.

They kept chatting laconically, Adyan did all the talking while she only gave one worded responses. “Why aren’t you taking pictures?” he asked “Where’s your family?”

“They couldn’t make it,” came her short response "And for the pictures, I don't want to," she added grimacing.

"Since you can't take it with your friends, can you take it with your new friend? It's good to have a picture on your graduation day, for history. It’s such a memorable day; you're no longer a small babe." He chuckled outwardly, and she found that appealing.

She hesitated at first but after much persuasion, she moved closer for a selfie. Adyan had to beseech her before she agreed to let him take a picture of her, she looked beautiful in the pictures, and they made him fall for her. The pictures meant a lot to him and Adyan had no plans of ever parting with them. He was showing her the pictures when Fareeha intruded their conversation. Adyan groaned in disappointment, his best moment had just been ruined.

Hayfah bade him goodbye, a charming smile on her face. She stopped on her tracks and turned at him, "You have to keep those pictures for me, I'll ask for them, when next I see you. And Thank you.” She said with an enormous smile on her face and sauntered off. A triumphant smile tucked up on his lips as he sauntered to where his car was parked and hopped in. He came for her, and she made his day memorable.

Hayfah and Amna were in their room, she had been smiling since she came back, Adyan's thoughts never leaving her mind. Her anger towards her family for not attending her graduation, long forgotten. So what if they weren’t? The stranger whom she had just met was there to cheer her.

Her family not been there for her on her graduation day didn’t mind her, because he was there for her, he made her smile more than she had in weeks. He made her graduation unforgettable.

"Hayfah, who was that guy I saw you with? What's his name?" Amna asked, putting her phone under her pillow, she had been thinking about Adyan since she saw them together.

"Which guy? I was not with any guy" Hayfah answered, lying on her bed. She closed her eyes; his face never leaving her mind. His perfectly sewn grey colored Gezna, how it perfectly fitted his body, how his Zanna bukar was carefully and beautifully placed on his black trimmed curly hair, his eyes, lips, nose, everything about him was perfect. What she was feeling was quite alien to her, it was a feeling she had never experienced before.

"Don't be stupid, I saw you seated on a bench with a handsome guy. I was at your school; my friend invited me for his brother's graduation”.

"Hmm, you were there but didn’t bother to look for me. Do you know how I much I craved for the presence of my loved ones? The guy you saw me with was only asking me a question. I don’t know him. He was a guest, just as you were." Hayfah fumed, clearly annoyed. She felt really bad. Ignoring Amna, she closed her eyes and was soon fast, his thought the last thing on her mind. Indeed the day was a memorable one.

bath quickly, too afraid to take much of her sister’s time. She wore her brand new peach gown, which was long and wavy with sparkling stones embroidered on it. Her Abba had given it to her a few weeks prior to her graduation as an early graduation present. "How do I look Addah?" She asked, twirling nervously around their small room.

Amna looked up from her phone; she couldn’t take her eyes off Hayfah. People had always to Hayfah being more beautiful and graceful but Amna never agreed till that moment. Indeed her sister was an epitome of beauty. She was looking so breathtaking in her new dress. ‘Just like a princess’ Amna thought.

"You don't look bad.” Amna said, giving her sister a final scrutiny “I pity the guys that'll fall instantly without hearing you speak.”