“Surprise!”
Inaya brought a hand to her mouth, and her eyes grew large as she walked through the front door of her father’s house.
Chris, Dana, and Kayla’s parents (Anthony and his wife) stood in front of Inaya with their arms outstretched in welcome. A large banner that read “Congratulations!” hung on a side wall decorated by colorful streamers and balloons.
“Oh my God,” Inaya said as she stepped inside, laughter in her voice. Kayla grinned as she closed the door behind them. “When did you guys plan this?” Inaya said, shaking her head.
“While you were busy planning how to keep the honor’s program secret,” Chris said as he walked toward Inaya and drew her into a hug, brushing her forehead with a kiss.
“Sorry about that,” Inaya said, her voice subdued as a smile lingered on her face.
“No worries.” Chris waved his hand. “I was a teenager once, believe it or not, so I know how it feels.”
“We’re proud of you,” Dana said, appearing at Chris’s side and squeezing Inaya’s hand. “We really look forward to watching the YouTube video.”
“YouTube?” Anthony said from behind them, humor in his tone. “I’m looking forward to the Oprah interview.”
They all laughed.
“Why don’t we get something to eat?” Dana asked, rubbing her hands together and heading for the kitchen.
***
The doorbell rang while Inaya sat on the couch laughing at something her father had said. Kayla and Anthony sat on either side of her while Chris and Dana stood in front of them. They had all finished eating a half hour before.
“I’ll get it,” Dana said, a smile still on her face as she walked to the door.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Inaya looked up to find Raymond approaching the couch, a grin on his face and a wrapped gift in hand.
Inaya stopped laughing, a half smile frozen on her face as she met his gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment she forgot about how she had given up hope of anything beyond friendship.
“As-salaamu’alaikum,” Raymond greeted as he handed Inaya the gift box.
“Wa’alaiku-mus-salaam,” Inaya replied, averting her gaze, a hesitant grin on her face.
“What?” Kayla said, prompting Inaya and Raymond to look toward her. “You too?”
Raymond smiled and nodded. “Yep,” he said, an embarrassed expression on his face. “I’m Muslim now.”
“No way!” Kayla laughed.
“Oh can we please avoid the topic of religion for once?” Dana said good-naturedly. “I don’t want Chris to get started.”
Chris grinned playfully at his fiancée. “Well, you can’t avoid the topic of your soul forever, sweetheart.”
“Here we go again.” Dana rolled her eyes, a smirk on her face. “I focus on my soul every Sunday. Today’s Friday.”
“Life is short,” Raymond said with a chuckle. “Now’s as good a time as any.”
“How’s Lyrica?” Dana wore a pleasant smile as she looked at Raymond, purposefully changing the subject.
“She’s good,” Raymond said. There was an awkward silence, and Inaya felt uncomfortable.
“Hey, boss,” Raymond said looking at Inaya, a smile on his face, “are you up for a quick walk?” He nodded his head toward the door.
Inaya’s heart raced, but she maintained her composure. “Sure,” she said, shrugging.
“Must be a really special gift,” Kayla teased.
“It is,” Raymond said, smiling at Kayla as he glanced over his shoulder.
Inaya followed Raymond outside and closed the door behind them. “We can sit here,” Raymond said, pointing to the porch steps.
“That was a quick walk,” Inaya said jokingly.
Raymond chuckled as he sat on the second step, Inaya following suit, sitting a comfortable distance from him.
“It was just an excuse to steal you for a second,” he said.
Inaya smiled to herself, but she didn’t say anything. They sat without speaking for some time.
“So I guess Lyrica isn’t the best student of religion, huh?” Raymond said, humor in his tone.
Inaya’s heart constricted at the mention of Lyrica, but she maintained a smile. “Actually, I’m not such a good teacher.”
“I think you are.”
Inaya drew in a deep breath as the familiar anxiety returned. So many people expected so much of her. Sometimes she wished people could just see her as the normal human being she was. Why did Raymond imagine she could help him maintain his relationship with Lyrica, of all things? Didn’t he see that Inaya had feelings of her own?
Inaya grunted. “Well, I doubt Lyrica thinks so.”
Raymond shrugged. “So what? That doesn’t mean she’s right.”
Inaya started to respond but realized what she wanted to say was better left unspoken.
Yes, Raymond was right. Just because Lyrica thought negatively of Inaya didn’t mean it was true. But it did mean that Inaya had failed Raymond in what meant the most to him.
And that meant that Inaya had failed in what meant the most to her.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help,” Inaya said quietly.
Raymond drew in a deep breath and leaned back slightly. He was silent for some time. “I’m sorry too,” he said finally.
The sadness Inaya felt at these words was so overwhelming that she was glad she was sitting. She blinked back the moisture in her eyes and looked away, mortified that she was so affected by Raymond’s disappointment. What was wrong with her?
“I shouldn’t have put that burden on you,” he said regretfully. “I should’ve taken it on myself.” He drew in a deep breath. “Like I should’ve faced Mrs. Ford.”
“It’s okay,” Inaya said. “Allah is the best planner.”
Raymond nodded as his gaze grew distant. “I wish I had as much faith as you.”
Inaya sighed. There it was again. As flattering as his words were, Inaya didn’t like being put on a pedestal. She was full of faults like everyone else. She wasn’t perfect— which was why she couldn’t calm the desire she felt for Raymond right then.
“Raymond,” Inaya said finally, her voice exhausted, “I don’t have as much faith as you think. If I did, I wouldn’t have put on one face at home and another at school.”
He creased his forehead and glanced at her curiously. “What you do mean?”
Her eyes widened slightly as she met his gaze. “This,” she said, tugging on the cloth of her fuchsia khimaar. “Didn’t you notice I wasn’t wearing it to school?”
“Yes,” he said, his expression confused. “But that doesn’t change who you are on the inside.”
Inaya shook her head, realizing that Raymond would probably never understand. “Maybe,” she said with a sigh. “But it does show how weak I am on the inside.”
Raymond looked perplexed, but he shrugged. “I’m still learning a lot about Islam, so I’m sure you know more than I do. But I don’t see why it’s such a big deal. If anything, it shows how weak the school is. It’s obvious you felt forced to change your appearance.”
Inaya considered his words momentarily then glanced at him curiously. “What makes you say that?”
He drew his eyebrows together and met her gaze. “Am I wrong?”
Inaya looked away, her thoughts drifting to how difficult it had been to live a double life. But she had wanted to fit in at school; no one had forced her to feel that way.
“I don’t know,” she said finally.
They were quiet, and their gazes and thoughts became distant momentarily.
Raymond broke the silence and handed Inaya the wrapped gift. “Just a little something to say congratulations,” he said, a subdued smile on his face.
Inaya’s spirits lifted slightly as she accepted the gift, but a sense of sadness tugged at her heart. Why couldn’t she abandon her fairytale dreams? Would she ever get over her desire to one day marry Raymond?
Inaya held the box, unsure what to do. She was curious to see what was inside, but she didn’t want to offend Raymond by opening the gift in front of him.
“Open it,” he said, humor in his tone. “I want to see your reaction.”
Inaya glanced at him suspiciously, a smirk on her face. “Why?”
“You’ll see.”
Curiosity piqued, Inaya tore the cellophane paper from the box and set the wrapping next to her on the cement steps, a grin on her face. She opened the flaps of the cardboard and removed the white tissue. She creased her forehead as she took out the folded white cloth that appeared to be a simple T-shirt.
She smiled. “Thanks.”
Raymond laughed. “Unfold it, and look at it.”
Grinning curiously, Inaya unfolded it, and a small badge fell on the step at her feet, distracting her. She leaned forward to pick it up and saw that it was slightly worn and read “Student Ambassador.”
She drew her eyebrows together and chuckled. “What’s this?”
He laughed. “You don’t remember?”
She creased her forehead and glanced curiously at him. “Is this yours?”
He nodded. “I was wearing it when we first met.”
She laughed. “Thanks,” she said, her face growing warm. “I’ll treasure it.”
“Really?” He sounded surprised.
“Of course.” Uncomfortable with the possibility of being asked to explain further, she lifted the T-shirt from her lap and held it up to read the imprint on front: Keep the faith, girl, and, insha’Allah, we’ll meet in the End.
It took Inaya several seconds before she registered why the words sounded so familiar. Her eyes widened and she looked at Raymond. “How did you…?”
“Nasra,” he said, a smile on his face. “She said one of your friends from Saudi Arabia shared it with her mother.”
Inaya laughed, shaking her head. “Wow, maashaAllah. I had no idea you knew about that…”
“I did my research,” he said with a smirk.
They were quiet momentarily as a thought occurred to Inaya. “But why?”
Raymond drew in a deep breath. “Honestly?”
Inaya chuckled. “Well, if it’s not too much to ask.”
Raymond was quiet for so long that Inaya grew concerned that she had asked too much.
“Because I didn’t want to lose hope.”
Inaya nodded as she considered what he had said, but she realized she had no idea what he meant.
“You know why I wanted you to talk to Lyrica about Islam?” Raymond said.
Inaya’s chest constricted in dread. She didn’t want the reminder. “No,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Because I wanted her to be like you.”
The words were so unexpected that Inaya laughed. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious.” There was humor in his tone, but Inaya detected a trace of nervousness. “I knew I could never…” He huffed then shook his head. “Never mind.”
“Could never what?”
He looked at Inaya suddenly, his eyes pained. He seemed frustrated for some reason.
“Don’t you get it?”
Confounded, Inaya creased her forehead. “Get what?”
Raymond drew in a deep breath and exhaled as if trying to gather his thoughts.
“You know the story of Abu Talha and Umm Sulaim?”
Inaya narrowed her eyes. “It sounds familiar.”
Raymond smiled, but his expression remained subdued. “Read it when you get a chance,” he said. “It’s the story your father told me before I became Muslim.”
“MaashaAllah,” Inaya said, smiling. “Is it what inspired you to convert?”
Raymond laughed. “I guess you can say it was the final push.”
“Then I have to read it,” Inaya said, shaking her head as she smiled.
“Well, remember me when you do, okay?”
Inaya chuckled, unable to shake the lingering feeling that she was the butt of a friendly joke. “Of course.”
Raymond stood. “Then you’ll understand the T-shirt better. It’s what I’ve been telling myself.” He sighed as Inaya stood too, a confused expression on her face. “Even when I didn’t understand why,” he said.
Inaya nodded. “Okay…”
“I just hope you don’t find it offensive,” he said as he opened the door and stepped aside to let Inaya in front of him.
“Why would I find the story offensive?” Inaya said, chuckling.
Raymond grinned. “Let’s talk about that after you read it.”
“How’s everything with Lyrica by the way?” Inaya said quietly as Raymond followed her inside and closed the door.
“We broke up,” Raymond said sadly.
“I’m sorry,” Inaya said, bringing a hand to her mouth. She was surprised by how sad she actually felt. “I didn’t know.”
Inaya shook her head, sad for Raymond’s pain but unable to quiet the hope nestling in her own chest. “Why?” she said.
“Honestly?” he said, a smirk forming on his face as he nodded his head toward Inaya. “The truth is in your hands. Literally.”
She glanced down at the T-shirt she was still holding. Keep the faith, girl, and, insha’Allah, we’ll meet in the End.
Inaya broke into a grin, and her eyes widened as she met Raymond’s gaze. He grinned and looked away as he walked into the living room to join everyone else.
Maybe marrying Raymond one day wasn’t a fairytale after all…