32. Mary

Mary got a new life.

Choosing Islam as her religion was the best decision she had ever made in her life. 

It had been two days since she reverted to Islam. Amara was like a little sister who was a teacher as well. She had been telling Mary about the religion, and at every new thing she discovered, she was knocked out by how impossibly correct and perfect it was. Amara gave her a book on the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and Mary was deeply in love with him. His life, and the journey of spreading Islam from nothing to everything. Every hardship Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) bore in his life. Mary was now able to understand when Dr. Sarah said that her story was nothing because now, she feels like she had never been through trouble in her life after reading about the hardships their Prophet had gone through. She was learning everything little by little and was always so eager to learn it as soon as she possibly could

Mary usually stayed in her room when she had no work to do. But it was Monday and she had to go to the university. She was a little afraid because she had decided to wear the hijab that Amara gifted her.

When Amara gave it to her, Mary was sure that she was never going to wear it because she was afraid. 

In a society, where hijabies were labeled as bank robbers, it was natural to have a fear of wearing it. 

But today, when Mary got ready for university, she could not step out of her house because her hair was visible to everyone. She decided to wear hoodies, and it didn't put her at ease. So, trusting Allah Subhanu Wa Ta'ala, Mary wore the hijab. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was unrecognizable. Mary didn't remember looking this pretty even when she got ready for the concert. Mary would consider herself an angel and she was confident of it. 

Normally, when a Muslim girl wears a hijab in that hot weather, they would remove it as soon as they come home, but to Mary, her house was not a place where she was protected. So, she wore the hoodie to cover the hijab. Mary left the house with no trouble, really early in the morning

•••

As she entered the class, the same scene repeated itself for the third time. The Taha, whom she would name as the man of attitude, was sitting and reciting the verses that had her heart from the very beginning 

"Fa am mal yateema fala taqhar. Wa am mas saa-ila fala tanhar. Wa amma bi ni'mati rabbika fahad dith." This time, it just got attached to her heart, and she needed to know the name of this Surah

So, she thrashed her steps and stood towards the aha: filled with nothing but ego. 

"What chapter is it?" Asked Mary in anger "Why do you want to know?" She was not expecting this, at least not for this time, and then she figured that Aaryan had not told Taha about her reversion. She was happy to know. "Because I want to!" she said, louder this time. "Why?" This attitude of Taha and, on top of it, the way he was not looking at how pissed she was just exceeded the level of her irritation. If Mary gave it a thought just for a tiny second, then she would feel that Taha was not teasing her. He was just talking calmly unlike Mary– She decided to do something. 

Mary turned around, unzipped her jacket, removed it to reveal her hijab, and then spun around "Astaghfirullah, this man makes me want to smash a punch at his face" Said Mary, and that was the first time, Taha looked at her and he was so shocked and so confused that his eyes were glued to her face because he was witnessing Mary in hijab 

"What?" He stood up holding the bench for support. Taha was startled as if he had seen a demon; angel, she would say, "Ho-how did- how did this happen?" Okay, it was not a good plan to attack Taha like this because without that attitude– calmness, his horrified face looked so small and innocent. Mary was guilty– she smiled at him in relief because she had taken revenge. 

Mary rolled her eyes, and she was at peace because Taha was seeing her pissed face. "Now, if you don't stop staring at her, I am going to snatch your eyeballs, with respect" The words were relaxing, and they belonged to "Ryan! What happened?" Taha stared at him with the same face. Aaryan walked to the two of them. He didn't reply to Taha but moved his eyes over her face, taking a glimpse and holding the urge to look again "Masha Allah, you are looking beautiful," he said, biting the inside of his cheek "Like an angel," she told him. She knew she was telling the truth, so she considered him saying, "Like an angel." Aaryan agreed with a bright smile while Taha was standing there in fear

As the class started, Mary felt everyone's gaze on her. All the students were shocked and mostly disgusted. She was aware that she would have to bear them

Mary was already a socially anxious person, and these states were making her nervous. Aaryan was trying his best to make Mary ignore them but she was not interested in the lecture or a couple of jokes that he threw out of the blue.

James and Luna were those who were glaring at her in disgust but to be honest with herself, she was not affected by the two of them because they were never her friends

The states didn't stop when they walked through the corridor, and then she decided to ignore them because Mary was excited about something. There were two people she was going to introduce her new identity to. One of them ran towards them from the Genesis lab. His face was so shocked and not cool at all "How the fuc– Astaghfirullah. How? HOW?" Raheel screamed as he saw Mary in hijab. Mary just smiled at him in reply and didn't say a word on purpose because it was rare to see Raheel without his cool look. 

"Mary, Is this true? Hey, have you- have you accepted Islam?" Raheel's face was pale from the shock now, and she said, "Alhamdulillah." The shock made him fall back on his steps. His mouth was stretched open similar to the eyes and he was unable to say anything 

"Class time!" Aaryan announced, Raheel looked at him with the same face. He was still trying to make words appear on his tongue but he couldn't. Aaryan dragged the shocked and startled Raheel from his neck and Mary walked behind them

The second person entered the class and when Dr. Sarah looked at her. She was unable to move for an entire minute and Mary noticed something like a drop of water in her eyes. Dr. Sarah gazed at her for another minute and then said something silently, but Mary read her lips as she said, "Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." Her words came out with a relieved breath, and Mary replied to her, "Indeed". 

For the entire time, Dr. Sarah kept on looking at her as if she could not believe it and Mary was just smiling back

•••

After the lab, Mary jumped into Dr Sarah's office. The professor was already standing near the door as if she was waiting for her to appear "Assalamu Alaikum, Dr. Sarah" she greeted with a giant smile "Walaikum Assalam, Mary" Dr. Sarah replied and then she knotted her into a hug "Congratulations" she said tightening the hug "Alhamdulillah" Mary replied and after a moment Dr. Sarah released her "So tell me what's so great about this Islam?" 

She asked Mary her own question and the answer had always been so simple "Everything" She said and the professor grinned

Dr. Sarah was misunderstood as the coldest person in this university. She became the most humble guide to her. For weeks after the lab, Dr. Sarah taught Mary how to offer Salah. Every step of Salah had a different kind of peace in it. At first, they were a little confusing and she was struggling with the pronunciation of Arabic words but Dr. Sarah was so patient with her and she repeated everything over and over again

Mary remembered asking Eve about having a scheduled time to pray and Eve got furious at her. But now Mary had it. An appointment five times a day with The King of the kings, the Greatest of the great, and the One and only God, Allah Almighty.

As time passed, Mary learned so much about her religion. Dr. Sarah was the guide in prayers and Sunnah as well as the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and Amara was the one to teach her The Holy Quran. She had learned many chapters and, of course, including the one that Taha didn't tell her about. Ad Duha. 

She used to recite it to Serene. Mary had become a good daughter and she was taking her mother to the therapy sessions regularly. She told her about reverting to Islam. At first, her mother was angry, but when she saw how this religion had changed her daughter, she accepted her and promised to keep it a secret. Serene was getting better and Mary was able to talk properly with her mother after years.

Matthew knew nothing. Mary used to go to the Church still but she listened to the recitation of the Holy Quran there. Shocking. 

Mary told Matthew that she was suffering from hyperhidrosis and needed to cover herself with a hoodie. Her brother didn't care about the disease as long as she could come to church. So, in the church, Mary would put on her earbuds and listen to the greatest melodies. 

Her listening to the same chapter for hours became a reason why she was memorizing the Holy Quran so fast. So, itt was a win for her

It was Sunday, and she went to church and memorized Surah Ikhlas. Since Mary had attended the Church today, she was free from the eye of Matthew. Mary was taking extra care of not disobeying her brother because she didn't want her mother to bear all the drama he would cause. The doctor advised her to keep her mother away from these things so she was trying her best.

Mary was going out to Amara because she told her about this amazing Surah Yusuf, she was going to read to her, and Mary was excited. In that excitement, Mary thought she had forgotten something. The first thing to check was her hijab, and it was perfectly wrapped around her head. So, shrugging her shoulders, she approached the door and then Mary remembered what she had forgotten. She was reminded by her brother "What are you wearing?" Matthew said in a dangerous voice. Mary was not covering her hijab with a hood and she just realized it

Her breath was lost somewhere in the air as she turned around, finding Matthew so close. "I ASKED WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?" He roared, but Mary didn't reply. She had a choice to lie and she did not choose to lie.

In that moment of fear, Mary saw her mother standing on the top of the stairs. "Don't you dare to lay a finger on your sister, Matthew," She ordered, and he moved around. 

"What are you saying, Mother? Can't you see what she is doing?" He yelled at his mother, "This is her choice, and you have no right to take this from her." Her voice was commanding. Mary felt the care of her mother. She was standing for her, and Mary thought she was safe. "Mary, what is this all about?" He asked, turning around. "This is the Truth, Matthew," She said, feeling the power in her words, "You are choosing the path of Father?" Matthew sounded a little hurt and more like a lunatic

"No, I am choosing the only right path" Mary said, staring him dead. Matthew must be thinking about where she got the strength from. She never talked back, but this wasn't the Mary he used to know. "Beg for forgiveness from Jesus!" Matthew shouted in anger, "I ask for forgiveness from the only One true God, not from the prophets he sent" Mary breathed confidently, "What the fuck are you barking? Say forgiveness in the name of Jesus!" He roared and Mary said something. She said on the top of her voice but it was not what Matthew told her to. It was the Chapter she memorized today "Say, 'He is Allah-One, Allah-the Sustainer." Mary glared in his eyes in fury "He has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him." 

Matthew took a step back at the way she was shouting. Mary felt a lioness in herself and a power she never had before "Are you out of your fucking senses?" Mathew thundered, his voice shouting through the house and Mary said nothing. She didn't move an inch from where she was standing

Matthew was looking at her in horror now, and after a moment, he screamed again, "Get out of my house!" Mary's brain just knocked by the shout. She had nowhere to go if she would be thrown out "This is not your house, this belongs to your father" her mother said, walking down the stairs but Matthew didn't even look at her. 

"Mary, you have one choice, leave this house or stop this fucking nonsense" For an instant, her mind got blank. 

The second she got her senses back, Mary said without an inch of hesitation, "I would leave this prison." She turned towards the door. 

"Mary!" Her mother cried her name, but she didn't move around. "Don't worry, Mom. I would be okay. The land of Allah Subhanu Wa Ta'ala is vast. He would never leave me alone," She said with hope in her heart. Just by hearing those words, Mary felt as if Matthew was burning behind her.

He took fast steps toward his sister. The next thing Mary felt was her hijab being snatched by her brother 

"GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HOUSE!" Matthew growled. He opened the door and threw her out when her hijab stayed in his hand