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.