The Gift - excerpt 1

Imran was driving home when he remembered what his mother and Umar said that day. He had heard that many times before...But this was the first time this year. He looked at his watch. It was almost six o'clock. Imran drove to Lido Beach, where he had so many happy family memories. He left his car and headed for the embankment. 

 

It was peaceful here...And he remembered the other beach where he and Kaira were happy a long time ago. She would have loved Lido Beach. He closed his eyes, picturing her lovely face and charming smile. The wind gently swept around him, as if consoling him. He contently recalled their time together until he remembered the accident. Alhamdulillah, the years had lessened the pain. But after ten years, he still missed her. He felt he could imagine how Rasulullah felt long after the death of his beloved wife, Khadijah (radiallahu). It was far from his mind to compare Kaira to Khadijah (r.a), but she was the best Muslim woman he had ever loved. A sad smile touched Imran's face. He whispered, "Will I ever meet someone like her again?" Across the sky, the last flock of birds was flying home for the night. He remembered his mother saying: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return" (Quran 2:156)