Hopeless Fling: Islamic Book Fair’s Edition
So here’s a short story of the night that I need to just write before I forget.
As most of you know, I’m an eleventh grader high school student who is completely head over heals at the idea of teen marriage. While the notion might raise suspicious questions to the unknowing or ignorant, I can never find myself to see what’s wrong with it, but you know that.
So this is how it began.
Today, my mother and I went to Islamic Book Fair 2016 to see Humud on stage. There was Nasyid award of some sort, and he was the guest star. Since Kun Anta was hands down the best Arabic song I’ve ever known, we decided to check him out.
So we got there, and it was a book fair, right? People were selling Islamic books, Quran, novels, ISIS history, and all the sorts. While it wasn’t our intention to actually buy anything, it was only normal to look around after Humud finished his (short) performance.
While we were looking around, a little stand caught my attention. It was apparently a stand that sells Quran with adorable and elegant covers. They styled Quran into an entirely modern look, and I highly recommend those to you. Check out their Instagram @madinaalquran or go to their website. Now before I continue with this story, you have to understand that I still believe in childish fairy tale love story, capiche? I came into that book fair thinking, where else am I going to find a good young Muslim to become my husband candidate if not from that kind of place?
What written below are my honest thoughts that occurred throughout the whole event, I give you full permission to mock the hell out of my childish behavior.
So I visited the stand and started asking the prize of each type of Quran they sell (there was Zhafira Quran!). The flowery bunch that I saw first was cute, but the one that really made me want to buy a new Quran was the elegant denim cover with carved wood attached to the cover.
How elegant is that? If I have a husband, I’d definitely buy matching ones.
When I bought it, I noticed the young salesman that served me was quite bit attractive. He looked like a typical college student with glasses, brace, and sleek edgy haircut. He wore a pair of skinny jeans and a top that is not double his size, and he was the closest to modern young Muslim that I can find in that place–and I’m guessing the only reason he was there was to sell Quran under his parents’ order. Islamic Book Fair seemed like the last place he’d rather be, but let’s not judge too far, shall we?
So I bought the denim Ar-Rayyan Quran, and I sure did chuckled when I saw their bright banner spelling out QURAN ZHAFIRA. The salesmen asked if that was my name, and I grinned, saying yes.
What made me think something was going to happen was when the guy asked, “University student?”
I silently thank God I didn’t come across as middle school student, but that might just be my 7 cm wedges.
I replied, “High school.”
“What grade?”
“Eleventh.”
The other salesman handed me their flyer, and I took it. “Is there an instagram?”
“Yeah, written right there.”
With one last grin, I thanked them (him) and skipped my way to look for my mother. In that moment of adrenaline rush, I thought, maybe, just maybe, that was God’s answer to my prayer of wanting to be introduced to a good Muslim. It only make sense since we were being met in a place like an Islamic Book Fair, right?
Well, wrong.
Guess what, mother fathers, my entire idea of him being the one disappeared the instant moment I saw him with a cigarette in between his fingers. It was like popping an innocent kid’s balloon, which in this scenario, I suppose I’d have to be the innocent kid.
But God, it was an unpleasant feeling. Like, why? Why does he think it’s okay to light a cigar right in that kind of place? Darn those sinful things, ruining the image of every men in my eyes.
Ta-ta, Mr. I’m-Here-Under-Order, I suppose. It was a good fifteen minutes of fling while it last. May the next encounter be much less unpleasant. May he find this, read it, and think about stopping.
Still, I recommend the Quran. It’s amazingly aesthetic.
Here’s to aesthetic Quran.