My little superhero

My name is Safwan Ali.

I graduated from college with a business management degree, and now after 6 years, I'm working in one of the well-known telecom companies in the Middle East.

Even though I never dreamed or pursued to work in such a job,

In fact, when I was little I wanted to become a successful football player.

yeah, I actually had the biggest admiration of Real Madrid football club.

I always bragged in front of my friends that I would become the next Zidan... I even played in his possession and copied his tricks and all,

but unfortunately, I failed to copy his volleyball legendary goal

* Flashback

"Safwan over here pass!!"

Yelled my friend, Karam, seeing I was surrounded by many defenders while he was running free I passed him the ball, then I ran ahead toward the other team's goal, he managed to dribble through the defenders, then he aimed at the goal and strikes the ball, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced back at my direction, instead of simply receiving the ball with my shoulder and then strike it, I thought I could try and copy Zidane's volleyball, but unfortunately, I missed it, and one of the other team's players took it and had a successful counterattack against us, we lost sadly.

*end of flashback

Anyway Alhamdulillah, I have a secured job, and recently my mom had been talking about finding me a good wife.

Well, why not, after all marriage is a Sunna and half of a man's religion as they say.

However, I'm not thrilled about the process, you see ever since I was young, I've only been interested in sport, studying and learning new stuff all the time, when I was a teenager whenever my friends invites me to go out to meet girls, and go on dates I would refuse, because my father raised me the right Islamic way, he used to say that when the right time comes I'll surly meet the right person, and to earn a good wife I must become a good man, that's way I decided that I won't date and hang out with stranger girls just for fun and to look cool, like most of my friends do, because this isn't how a true Muslim behaves, if you're serious about someone then you should make it clear and official by asking for their hand in marriage not by acting like kids and making them wait for nothing.

That's why I spent most of my time studying and learning, because I knew that otherwise I would be wasting my time and energy in pointless teenage drama.

But on the other hand, the idea of a traditional marriage still sound odd to me, but well it wouldn't hurt to try .

At first sight?

Here we are in house number 7.

Yeah, my mom made us visit 6 houses before this one to meet the parents and their daughter of course.

We meet the daughter and talk, to try to get to know each other and see whether she would be my match or not, but honestly, I'm really tired of this,

we are not picking a shirt or an item, this is marriage we are talking about! we can't get married just because our families know each other, or because I have enough money to buy a good house and fill it with furniture.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging our traditions nor I'm against it,

I just want to meet a girl who I know for sure that she would be a good wife for me, who would understand when I have a bad day and forget to call or text her while I'm at work,

who would share my passion for sport, who would stay up late watching the Classic with me...

who would correct me when I'm wrong, who would raise my kids to love and respect their parents and be good Muslims.

She doesn't have to be perfect, no one is, but I really want someone who would last with me in this life and in the afterlife,

and inshallah will be with me in heaven.

I know I'm too picky but come on who isn't!

While I was lost deeply in my thoughts, the bride finally came in, she was dressed in a beautiful rosy long covered dress and a rosy pink hijab and no makeup, that was a first!

All the previous girls looked like they threw their faces in the paint bucket!!

2 hours later we were ready to leave.

This one I actually liked, she is calm and educated, and we have a lot in common, for the first time I found someone who shares my passion for football, and she also has the same religious and spiritual thoughts and beliefs, she really is a spiritual person, she told me that she believes that destiny is written for us by Allah (God) and he always chooses the best for us as long as we keep our hearts pure and have a clear mind that believes in God and his will, she said that she will pray Istikharara and think about it.

I know you would tell me that it's the same usual thing they teach us as kids but no.

It is not the same when you experience it and really feel it in your heart, anyway, I went home that night thinking that I might have found myself a wife.

I couldn't stop thinking about her all night, for 27 years I've been telling my friends that I was looking for good manners and ethics rather than looks and romantic feelings, I probably said that because I gave up on finding both, but meeting this girl gave me a feeling that maybe I shouldn't give up hoping for that yet.

Kareema's pov:

Honestly, my mom had to force me to get up and get dressed and ready to meet the suitor and his family, I don't understand why is it such a big deal for my mom whether I got married or not!

Just because all my 3 sisters are already married and have kids doesn't mean that I should too!!

Besides I'm only 23, I shouldn't be in a rash, it's not like I will die alone if I didn't get married, how can I die alone when I have 3 sisters and 3 brothers anyway!!

We've always been a cozy family, ever since I was young my older sisters had been my best friends, as the youngest sister I've been spoiled, I had all the love and support I needed so I never cared about getting attention or being liked by anyone, however it seems like me and my mom don't see eye to eye when it comes to this matter.

I wore an elegant yet simple clothes, there is a thin line between wanting to look decent and wanting to get admiration, and I didn't want to cross that line, I never said that I don't want to get married, I just don't want to get married to the wrong person. That's why I'm playing it safe.

When my mom called me to get the tray of drinks and come to meet the suitor and his family, I took a deep breath and murmured bismiallah (in the name of god) under my breath and took the tray of drinks with me for our guests.

After I met the suitor whose name is Safwan, I believed that he's quite a respectful man, he seems like a man of good manners, when I first walked in the room he didn't gaze directly at my face, and he spoke in a calm and confident voice, he didn't interrupt me when I spoke, and he was really respectful toward my parents, he was a bit shy but I didn't mind that, I really liked his personality, if things goes well I hope we get to live a lovely life togather.

Safwan's pov:

So obviously we got along pretty well and now we are engaged

As I said before she loves real Madrid just like me, and today we have a date to watch the real Madrid vs Liverpool champions league final later this evening.

We also like the same food Makluba, sheesh Barak, shawarma, and we even like the same type of movies mystery and action, her favorite

(the giver) mine (v for Vendetta)

However, there are still some contradictions between us, for example, she is a cleaning freak while I'm such a messy person, the last time she visited she got mad at me because I threw some of the fruit peels outside the bowl even though we were in my house!

She said that my mom and sister don't have to clean everything after I use it that's why I need to be organized, then she scared me and said that I better not do that when we get married or else she would get really mad!

And since that day I've been making sure to work on my tidying habits so we wouldn't have to argue about it a lot when we get married.

Today I just got off work,

ya, Allah helps me, I'm sick of this job, today my boss made me print the paperwork all over again just because he didn't like the color of the print!

But it's fine really because recently I have applied for a job in Spain as the head of our company's department in Spain.

yeah, my dreamland, if I got this job I and Kareema will get to watch real Madrid matches live in the stadium!!

No, I'm late! I better get ready or karma will be mad at me! you see she is a red-headed person, she gets mad very quickly if things aren't done properly...as I said before no one is perfect!

A few minutes later I heard a knock on the door so I asked my sister to answer it while I get ready, unlike Kareema's big family, I only have one sister, her name is Aisha, she is nearly Kareema's age and I think they got on pretty well. Which is a good thing for me, I hope she could distract her a bit while I get ready XD.

The wedding

Kareema's pov:

These past few months were crazy.

First I got my master's degree in English literature.

God, I can't believe I finally got it! These past 6 years I've done nothing in my life other than studying and working.

Seriously when did I become that type of person?... I used to be a very active fun girl when I was little.

I wasn't the feminine type, I liked playing outside with my friends and getting scratches from playing football, hid and seek, and other stuff...

even as a teenager I wasn't interested in makeup and boys, I still wanted to play football, but due to my low-level school and their lack of sports activities, I had to focus my passion on something else, which was reading and learning more about life and religion.

which is the reason why I choose English literature, I fell in love with Charles Dickins and Jane Austin's novels.

I was never the type that liked the new popular books.

though I respect everyone's opinions, for me, I found more joy in the pages of the yellow old books and I loved its morals, you can hear the thoughts of women who lived in the 18th century and learn about her lifestyle back then, and you can feel the struggle of the children who suffered both poverty and illness during the French revolution.

Anyway, after getting my master's degree I met Safwan.

A kind young man who I grew to love... yes I did, I admit it, come on a girl there is no shame in that, you are getting married to him today loosen up already!

He's passionate, respectful, honest, and above all, he's the only one who could put up with me when I'm in my dragon mood!

bookworms are usually calm people, while I on the other hand get mad and upset over stupid things like if my sister left the door open while I'm studying, or if I came home tired after a long day to find that my mom hasn't cooked my favorite meal.

A knock on the door interpreted my thoughts, it was my mom her name was Salma.

Salma walked in and said "honey what are you doing up here we have an appointment at the salon in an hour for your wedding remember! "

"yes mom how can I forget it's the seventh time you have reminded me this morning"

Kareem's mom rolled her eyes and said in a motherly tone

"It's because I'm happy that my little girl is finally getting married, and for once is getting all dressed up and will be the prettiest girl, that I'm sure of"

You know how every mother is

like on her daughter's Wedding day, well my mom was extra.

but it's my fault I never gave her the feeling that I was a girl.

Poor woman, she wanted a Disney princess instead she got me.

it's not that I'm ugly it's just that I never really liked all that fuss about looks and outside appearances, especially in the Instagram Era.

everyone is so focused on how good they look on the outside, but they forget to check how good they feel inside.

..................................................................................................................

4 hours later we finally got out of the salon, I had light classy makeup, and I had my hair in a beautiful curly style with a silver crown as an accessory,

My dress was a perfect fit for me, a long white sleeveless dress with glowing sparkles all over, I can't wait to see the look on Safwan's face when he sees me, for once I feel like a princess!

You see we agreed to have two separate ballrooms at the wedding, one for the men's section and the other for the women's section, that way the girls could freely dance and enjoy themselves and wear whatever they want.

When we got out of the salon we went back home; to wait for Safwan and his family to arrive and pick me up in his car to go to the ballrooms.

You see these are our traditions, the groom must come with a big group of family and friends to the bride's parents' house to have a small celebration and pick up the bride and take her to the ballroom or hotel.

In the car drive to the reception, Safwan looked at me and said

" you look very beautiful"

I blushed and took a look at my mom and sister who were sitting in the back seat, they didn't seem to have heard him so I looked at him and said

"thank you, you look very handsome today"

I said it in a very low voice that I didn't even think that he had heard, I was embarrassed because it was the first time that I have complimented him about his appearance, I've always thought that he looks good in anything he wears, but I just didn't know how to express it.

He interpreted my thoughts and said "thank you, my beautiful wife"

Safwan's pov:

So 2 years later here we are, happily married and thank God for I got the job and now we are living in Spain.

it's crazy in here last week we went to watch El derby in the Bernadeau stadium and the atmosphere was crazier than we thought! Real Madrid won luckily.

Now I don't have to wash the dishes...

You see when real Madrid loses kareema gets upset and won't make dinner or wash the dishes after the match.

But when they win she gets very energetic that she makes a fine dinner and even dessert if I'm lucky.

But lately, Kareema has been feeling a bit dizzy and has been throwing up a lot.

So I took her to a doctor to check on her, and now I'm waiting outside.

After a while...

The nurse came out and asked me to come in because

The doctor and my wife are waiting for me.

I went after the nurse and sat in a chair across from my wife next to the doctor's desk, I looked at my wife's face she looked like she was trying to hide a smile.

what is wrong with her now is not a good time to act weird or remember a funny situation!

(it's a thing she does sometimes)

But she denies it XD)

The doctor spoke up and said

"Mister safwan I would like to assure you that your wife is in perfect health"

I looked at him in confusion and responded

"well that is good news but why?"

Before I finish my wife interpreted me and said

" I'm pregnant"!!!

I will be strong

Kareema's pov:

Oh my Allah...

Please help my baby, he is only eight months old, and this is his third surgery!

when I first had him he had a lung problem and had immediate surgery.

Then the doctors could not trust that he would be able to breathe on his own so they kept him in the hospital to keep an eye on him.

And thank God they did, for his situation has gotten worse, they had a second surgery and after 2 months he was finally able to breathe on his own, but he then had a bad fever that affected his hearing and now they are working on preventing any farther damage.

Oh please Allah protect my baby.

Safwan walked to his wife with two cups of coffee in his hands and handed one to his wife and said in a calm tone:

"Don't worry my dear.

Allah is with him inshallah he will be alright he is our little fighter he will get through this inshallah"

Kareema responded

After wiping her tears:

"I know it's just, it breaks my heart he is only 8 months old we only took him home a few times and were scared to death of giving him a shower or even changing his clothes"

Safwan looked at his wife with compassion and said:

"Do you know why I named him Omar?"

Kareema smiled and said

" after Omar bin Al-Khatam the sahabi of Rasool Allah Mohammad peace be upon him"

Safwan smiled back and said

"yes and do you know why I picked Omar especially?"

After a few seconds, he carried on...

"Because he had a fighter spirit, a passion that made him a great man, and one of the greatest

Leaders, he was known for his justice and pride,

And once in his reign time, a man came to see him from another land, when he asked for him people told him he was in the Madina mosque, when he got there he asked for him again. some kids pointed at a man sleeping under a tree, the man was shocked Omar was the Khalifa (ruler or leader) of Muslims yet there he was sleeping under the tree with no guards or court, and his clothes weren't fancy they were old and torn, so he said" you made justice then you got safe then you fell asleep"

And that is what I pray for my son to be I pray that he fights through this and grows to be strong humble and brave, like Omar bin Al-Khattab ".

Kareema hugged her husband and said, "inshallah he will be".