June 2022.

“Beta, where is the toothbrush?” Mumma asked over a voice note.
“Mamma, it’s in the small transparent pouch at the back of the bag.” I responded via text.
“I can’t find it, we are leaving for Mina.” She replied.
‘Maa. Maa. Maa.‘ I typed with frustration.

“Slowly.
Just look for a pouch at the end of the bag, on the right side. Around the ehram clothes. I’ve labelled it. Toiletries Rashida.”

There was silence for almost half an hour.
I got back to my article, writing about my recent trip to Misr.

“Thank you beta.” I saw the message pop up on my screen.
And the conversation ended.

A few days later. After my parents returned from Hajj. Mumma called me, “I was wearing my ehram clothes and I prayed that next year you wear these clothes you helped me pack and go for Hajj.”

This time, I didn’t respond casually, like I usually do to everything in life. I said, “Inshallah.”

May 2023

“Maa, come online.” I messaged. “I have to say something.”
She immediately sent a zoom link.
Her tired, yet excited face flashed before the screen as she adjusted her camera.

“Bolo”, she said with a big smile.

“Maa.” I paused. I took a deep breath and started talking. “Last year you said something. Do you remember it?”

“Regarding?”

We spoke about everything random, from a third kid, to a promotion, to a new job. Then she said, “are you travelling, here, to Abudhabi?”

I smirked, “I’m travelling to where you went last year.”

I saw her eyes tear up.
I nodded, my eyes tearing up as well.

“This is what I wanted to say to you , Maa.”

“Everything is ready” she shrieked in excitement. “Dont worry about a thing. I will pack it all and send it to you.”

Everything I wanted.
Everything I had dreamed of.
Everything Allah wanted me to say.
Mamma, helped make it come true,
Mamma said what I always wanted to say.
A Dua, so powerful, Allah accepted it right away.