Edited:

Published: Wednesday August 19th 2015 6:04pm

To all of those who are reading "Her Muslim Driver" I won't be updating until I get more reads. If I do it now it will be pointless and for nothing. Sorry if you were expecting an update...

Ayah:

July 21st

         "I want to go on the twisty thingy, the spiny thingy and the swingy thingy!" Mina exclaimed excitedly, all the while yanking Jafar forward, who in return yanked me forward as well. If you have guessed, yes we're holding hands. It was a little awkward at first, but I'm glad I made the right decision.

       "Who gave her candy?" Jafar asked, eyeing Amna, Zak and Wasim warily. He decided to come to the fair with us on account of their fathers return. I knew Jafar has had issues with him in the past, but I didn't think it would go from child to child. He does seem happier than when we first saw him though.

        "Uncle Jafar, do I have to bring her with us?" Amna asked with a disgruntled pout. When They picked me up, Amna was making plans to go off on the rides with Zak and Wasim. She made it very clear that Mina would slow them down.

          Jafar sighed and gave her a look.

         "Amna, she's your sister. Don't you want to bond with her?"

          Amna scrunched her brows, her eyes going wide in disbelief.

        "I bond with her at home. Can't I just go by myself?"

         Jafar was about to tell her no, obviously, since he told me how he wanted take me on some rides alone. It's his form of a semi romantic night.

        "I'll take Mina on some rides while Zak and Amna go and have fun," Wasim said.

       Smiling, Amna gave her Uncle a hug and ran off towards one of the bigger rides with her brother.

       "Now," Wasim sighed, bringing our attention back to him as he held Mina's hand. "We will be on the twisty, twirly spiny thing while you two have some... alone time."

       Laughing at his statement, Jafar nodded.

        Here we go.

-*-

       "No."

         "Oh, come on, Jafar! Those movies aren't always true."

        Jafar stood in front of me with his arms crossed as he protested. We went on most of the rides, walked around a bit and ate sweets, but now it's time for a much needed trip to the Ferris wheel. You would think after all the books I've read, movies I've seen that I wouldn't want to go on something that always gets stuck at the top. But we want to go for a somewhat romantic end of the day, and that's all they have here at the carnival.

        Jafar raised an eyebrow at me with an amused smile. "Aren't always? How's that suppose to make me agree?"

       "Jafar," I grumbled, folding my hands like he had his. If he wants to play the stubborn one, I'll give him a run for his money.

        "It's not going to get stuck. If it was going to get stuck," I started, pointing to the people lining up for the ride. "How come all these people want to go on it?"

        "A lot of people in this world aren't right in the head, Ayah. Some people might crave the excitement, but I don't. Let's go find the kids."

       I tilted my head to the side with a glare. I cant believe he's acting like this! It's just a stupid Ferris wheel.

       "Ayah," He sighed, holding his hand out for me. "Are you coming?"

       "No," I stood my ground, and Jafar raised his eyebrow. "Even if you don't come with me, I'll go by myself."

       I turned around and started to walk towards the line. Seconds later, I heard Jafar huff and stomp, yes stomp after me with a pout.

        I turned slightly to my side, smiling at his expression. Yep, definitely an older version of Mina.

-*-

       "Have a nice ride," The guy at the electrical station smiled at us as he was getting ready to turn on the ride. Jafar hadn't said a word to me the entire ride, but I wasn't complaining. He was probably having a mini heart attack about this ride. Usually it's the girl that's nervous to go on this ride, but Jafar is proving right now that that isn't the case.

       He looks so hilarious right now. I know I should try to comfort him or something, but as much as I would have hated to say it out loud...

       "You look adorable right now," I blurted out, looking at him from the corner of my eye to see his reaction. It took a minute for him to get over the shock, but eventually he smiled and grabbed my hand, smiling.

       As we started to move, I looked out of the cart to look over Riverside. For a small town, there are a lot of people here at the fair. I can even see the town square from here.

        "I don't know how I could ever leave this town," I turned to Jafar, my face blank. He didn't look at me and continued. "All the memories I had growing up," He turned to me. "All the memories I planned to make once we got married."

      I smiled in his direction.

         "We did make some good memories with those three months. You didn't forget did you?"

       Jafar laughed slightly. "How could I forget. The times we spent at the diner, our houses and various places around Riverside--the lake especially. Oh, and how could I forget about our old pal Noah Richman?"

          I laughed hard at that, remembering the times when Noah thought he had a crush on me. Since Jafar and I have basically grown up together and went to the same school, Noah was what some would call an annoying headaches evil twin. Since his family basically owned the town, he would brag to my best friend at the time, Tahirah and I about his families wealth. It wasn't just us, no. Whoever would stop when he called them, he would brag.

        Tahirah and I had some good times together. That was until she moved to Atlanta, Georgia right before we went into high school. We haven't texted, emailed or called in the last couple of years.

       "His father made him go to Miami to buy up some small properties."

       "I'm not suprised," Jafar rolled his eyes as we started to reach the top. "Pete was always strict with his prodigies. I always thought it would be sooner."

      "Me, too," I agreed before turning to look at the view from the top. It was only about four something now, but the view seemed just as good as it would at night. The fair is packed, people are having fun and having picnics.

         "Did you bring your phone?" I asked Jafar, and he nodded before passing it to me. I swiped the bottom for the camera and clicked away for a few seconds, then something strange popped up on the phone.

        Jafar, we need to talk. It's about the deal. Avoiding me isn't going to resolve anything

        The text was from an unknown number, but if I didn't know any better I would say it was Allen. He's the only person I know who not only is annoying in person, but even in text.

       "Uh, Jafar, you have a text..." I trailed off, passing the phone to Jafar who in return frowned.

       Who could that have been, and why is Jafar avoiding him?

        "Is everything alright?" I asked after noticing his tense posture.

        Jafar quickly typed a response before turning to me with a smile.

        "Never better."

-*-

        "I'm hungry!"

         Now a normal person would think that the five year old would be whining like that, but it's not. Wasim and Mina met up with us at the center of the fair to grab a bite to eat before we go. Zak and Amna claim to be going on one more ride before we leave, but that was a long time ago. I can't blame them for having fun. With all the things going on with them, they deserve it.

        "Wasim, don't you have money of your own?" Jafar asked him.

         Wasim pursed his lips at his brother and shook his head in disbelief.

         "I am very broke, unlike you pop star." He held his hand up. "Cough some cash up."

        "I would choke."

        "You wouldn't want your baby brother to starve, would you?" He even used tbe puppy dog eyes. I was starting to believe him.

        Jafar huffed before whipping out a bill and giving it to Wasim, who's eyes popped. And judging by the number on the bill, I know why.

         Before Jafar had a chance to look at the money he just handed out, Wasim smiled and walked over to the food.

         "Jafar, are you tired?"

          He looked over at me with a blank expression. He didn't have a chance to answer me because his phone beeped again. Ever since he got that text on the Feeris wheel, he's been very distant. I thought we were doing good. I just really hope this doesn't damage the relationship we're starting to form again.

-*-

Jafar:

        I'm about ten seconds away from throwing my phone if it beeps again. I've told him over and over that we would talk later about the particulars of our agreement. He just won't let me have a second to myself to be with Ayah. Of course he doesn't know that I'm with her at the moment, but he should know I need my space.

        Everything has been so hectic that I haven't been paying much attention to her. Sure we had a moment at her cousins house, but that was it. Now Jamila had me rethinking her whole romantic date thing.

        You know we need to talk! Call me back or no deal.

        "Jafar?"

         Taking my eyes off of the phone, I looked up to see Ayah looking at me with a concerned expression. I hate to keep this from her. Everything I'm doing is for her and I can't let her know or she won't let me do it.

        "Are you okay?"

        I smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine."

        "Did you want to go on anymore rides or go home. Amna and Zak are tired, plus Zahrah needs to be picked up from the airport."

        "We can go," I said standing up and reaching for her hand. Ayah stared down at our joined hands, the faintest smile on her lips. If only she knew what her happiness did to me.

        "Can we leave? I think I'm going to be sick."

        We all turned to Amna with a smirk.

         "You shouldn't have eaten all those sweets," Wasim stated with a grin. "You were bound to get a stomach ache."

         "I know that now," She grumbled while clutching her stomach.

         Wasim sighed and went over and placed an arm over her shoulder while holding Mina's hand.

       "Can we stay longer?"

       "No, Zak," Jafar shook his head. "We need to go pick up Aunt Zahrah."

       Zak's eyes lit up, and he grabbed my hand and pulled Jafar and I towards the exit.

        "Then what are we waiting for?!"

-*-
Ayah:

        "How was your day at the fair?" Jamila asked me from where she stood beside me, leaning on a wall as we waited for Zahrah to arrive. Even though the baby is due next week, she insisted on coming here to have it. Her husband and twins are on a camping trip in the mountains for a couple of more days, and Zahrah being paranoid came here so she wouldn't have the baby alone.

        Poor Ahmed. He has been through so many changes with Zahrah that it's not even normal. Tehreem even said that she didn't have as many cravings and mood swings as her sister did, but everyone's different.

       "It was fun," I smiled, blushing under her gaze. Jamila gave me a knowing look.

        "I heard about the Ferris wheel," She told me, making me blush harder. "I know he's terrified of being stuck, so you must have the magic touch."

       I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't say that. I just went ahead without him until he followed."

      Jamila smiled.

      "He would follow you anywhere..."

        The conversation got a little awkward after that. I don't talk about Jafar and I's relationship with even Jamila. It's always been a touchy subject.

       "I need to talk to you about something!" Jamila exclaimed making me jump. "Sorry!" She apologized.

       "It's okay," I breathed out, trying to catch my breath. "What did you need to talk about?"

        "It's a very difficult situation. I'm caught in a forbidden romance."

        I turned around to make sure Jafar was still preoccupied with his fans. When I saw that he was, I leaned in towards her.

        "Excuse me?"

       "It's not exactly forbidden."

        "Then what is it?"

        Jamila hesitated a second before answering me.

        "It's a tale of a love triangle between a boy who practices and a boy who doesn't. Both have expressed interest in me, they're both sweet but I'm torn."

        "Would I know them?"

        Jamila shook her head while fidgeting with her fingers.

        "I don't think you know Mu'adh, but Khalid is Um and Abu Sharif's son."

       "They're a nice family. But which one doesn't practice."

         Jamila smiled sheepishly at me.

       "Khalid," She announced and I raised my eyebrow.

         That family is one of the holiest I've known. It was just a shock to hear that their son--the boy who wanted to become a hafiz has lost his way. I need to get in touch with the Muslim community again.

        "It's not like he's a complete sinner, but he does some things that aren't...traditional."

       "Like?"

         "He drinks from time to time and has had multiple girlfriends."

          "Jamila, why would you want a guy who is that far gone?"

         Jamila looked at me with the guiltiest expression.

        "I was one of those girlfriends."

         My eyes widened as I stared at her.

        "Oh."

        "Don't freak out," She told me, staring at me warily. "I was only fourteen at the time and thought I was in love with the bad boy. I didn't realize what I was doing."

        All of this came as a huge shock. Jafar and I weren't married back then, but I was still close with their family. Jamila especially.

"Please say something."

          Before I could utter a word, an arm was slung over my shoulder. I was in such shock that I didn't blush because of the closeness.

        "She should be here any minute," Jafar smiled, not realizing the situation he just walked into. While he was busy attending to his ringing phone, I turned to Jamila.

        "We'll talk about this later."

         She mouthed a 'thank you' as we continued to wait.

        Now I just have to think about what I'm going to say to her...
-*-
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