Subtle Souls

t Amira. He knew he wasn't in love with her right from day one but he thought that feeling would change when they get to know each other more after their wedding and she will prove th

rted. Having a conversation with his wife would hurt. That's if she actually pays attention to him. She looked at him smiling, "what, babe?" She asked as if she was going to listen to him. "We took daddy's friend to the hospital. The sight of his family really broke my heart. Only Allah knows what they're going through...." He paused when he realized her attention was far away from him. He hissed softly and stood up. He left her there and headed up the stairs to his room. ** When the words couldn't come out, the tears did. The mourning was supposed to be something dignified and stoic in her and her mother, but she cried like a child, noisily, with running snot and choking sobs and she wasn't ashamed because losing someone so close to you, especially a father wasn't something that would pass one time. "Mama is he really dead? They're joking right? Abba just went into a coma, I know he is not dead... you should stop covering his face, else how would he breathe?" Dalia lamented, traumatised. She couldn't take the news that her father has really passed away. How were they going to live without him? She couldn't even imagine life without her abba. "It's okay, Dalia. Our prayers is what he needs not your tears, okay? May Allah grant him the highest rank in jannah. In sha Allah he's in a better place." She hugged her daughter firmly while they mourned together. Dalia cried until there was nothing left inside but a raw emptiness that nibbles at her insides like a hungry rat. Her irises were threaded scarlet and her eyeballs hung heavy in their sockets. Her whole body hung limp like each limb weighed twice as much as it had before and just moving it about was a slow, painful effort. No beauty left in the world as from that day. "Salamu alaikum," daddy uttered as he rushed into the room. Dalia's mother raised her head up and looked at him. She wanted to smile but the pain in her was too much to bear. She couldn't even reply his greetings. "Innalillahi wa'inna ilaihir rajiun," he murmured looking at the corpse still lain on the bed. He moved to the bed and opened his friend's face to see if it was really true. He stared at the face, many memories rushing back to him. Ja'afaar was not only a good person by heart but also soul. He was a good friend. A friend that always listened to his stories, a friend that always killed his worries and replace it with joy. He was a friend daddy would never forget about. He covered it back as he shook his head. How would he even start to console them? He couldn't even imagine what they were going through at that moment. "Ya Allah," he sighed and turned his head to the mother and daughter clinging onto each other. "Amina I don't even know where to begin with," he started but then sighed. "I can understand the way you feel. And I know you feel like He's being unkind but Allah always chooses what's best for us. May his soul enlighten the garden of paradise. Please have patience." She didn't even pay attention to what he said, left alone to reply him. She held her daughter so close and stroked her back. Ja'afaar's brother came back to the hospital together with some of ja'afaar's friends. They took him home and on that same day, he was taken to his righteous home. ** Two weeks passed by in a blur and ja'afaar's family still mourned about his death, most especially his wife and daughter. Things haven't even gone far but they were already seeing lots of changes from his family. After the seventh day, none of his relatives came to visit them again nor ask if they needed help. The only person they could show the world they appreciate was daddy and Ja'afaar's younger brother who has been with them all through. Daddy visited everyday, made sure they lacked nothing. He was responsible for all the food given out to people that came to offer their condolence to them. On the 15th day of his demise, daddy visited them after jumma'at prayer together with his driver. He met Amina together with her daughter still as down casted as they have ever been. "I hope I've met you in good health." Amina smiled and responded. He cleared his throat after they have finished exchanging pleasantries. "Dalia," he called her name, smiling. She answered as looked up. "Could you please give us a minute, I need to speak with your mother," he spoke politely. She smiled a little and nodded. She respected him more than words could tell. She gently rise to her feet and entered her room. He turned his gaze to Amina who had her head ducked the whole time. You could tell she was going through lots of pain but rather not speak of it. She heaved a sigh as she placed her hand on her cheek while placing her elbow on her lap. "Amina, I have been wanting to speak with Dalia's father about something but Allah had better plans for us. I know what I'm about to say might sound selfish to you and unfair but what I intended to do is for the sake of Allah, and I know it will be best for all of us. Please if you don't mind, I would like to take Dalia with me, I think that is the least I could do for my friend, ja'afaar." She gawked at him for brief seconds and took her eyes off him. What does he mean by take her daughter with him? How would she cope if he takes the only person she had remaining in her life? "Alhaji you have done a lot for us that saying a single tha