54 ??Naming him?? (1/2)

ZAYN

I was stunned into silence. ”Me?”

She continued, as though she hadn't heard my low voice, ”The best names are when they're linked to God, like Abdullah, and then the Prophets' names. So, make your choice.”

”Are you sure—?” I shook my head, unable to believe she was asking something so big of me. Did she really trust me that much? Had nothing changed in our relationship since childhood?

She wiped at her cheeks. ”Of course, I am,”

”I don't know that much about the Prophets . . .” I trailed off, shame burning my ears.

What kind of a person was I? Had I truly never wondered and looked deeper into my own religion?

”We've studied Islamiyat, of course,” I continued, ”But that was only about Prophet Muhammad's story.”

In other words, I had no name for the baby. Except maybe Muhammad.

There was no judgement in her eyes though, nothing except pure understanding. ”How about I suggest a few names and you choose, then?”

A smile pulled at the corners of my lips. ”I'd like that,”

”Okay, so . . .” she hummed. ”Ilyas . . . Yusuf . . .”

”Uh,” I gazed at the little boy, knowing these weren't names for him.

Somehow, I knew exactly what I wanted to call him. Yet, I was afraid she'd make fun of me. A guy like me . . .

”What are you thinking?” Her gaze told me she knew exactly what was going through my head. ”Zayn, if you have a name, tell me. In fact, just name him yourself when you give him the Adhaan.”

Startled, my head whipped towards her. ”What? Didn't your father already do that?”

”It's best if the child's father does it . . .” she trailed off.

My heart stopped beating. It literally just stopped. I couldn't feel or hear its beat. She wasn't serious, was she? Did she mean to say . . .