After we got home, I went back to enjoying my day off with Mom.
This afternoon, I wanted to take her out.
Nothing fancy.
I just wanted to spend time with her.
"Mom, where are we going?"
Mom turned to me.
"Let's go to an electronics store. Come with me while I buy a TV, okay, Rai? The TV at home is broken. I can't watch anything, and I get lonely when I'm home alone."
"Okay, Mom."
I grabbed the motorcycle keys.
We left together.
Along the way, we talked about all kinds of things.
Everything from work and college to my meeting with Sherly that morning.
Mom laughed when she heard about my dream.
"So you met the same woman from your dream?"
"Yeah, Mom."
I shook my head.
"That's why Raihan is confused too."
Mom smiled.
"Maybe it was just a coincidence."
Then Mom gave me the advice I always remembered.
"It's okay to love someone."
I listened in silence.
"But don't give them your entire heart and all your love."
"Why not?"
"Because if the relationship falls apart, you could be destroyed. Completely destroyed."
Mom paused for a moment.
"Always involve Allah (SWT) in every problem you face."
I nodded.
"You're all grown up now. You must know what's good and what's bad for you."
Mom gave me that advice every time I talked about a woman.
She never held me back.
She never forced me to do anything.
She never decided who I was supposed to like.
To her, life was free, but it still had rules.
"Never try to cross the boundaries that have been set," she said.
I smiled.
"Yes, Mom."
We finally arrived at the electronics store.
Mom picked out the television she wanted.
When it was time to pay, I took out my wallet.
"Let Raihan pay, Mom."
Mom immediately shook her head.
"No."
"But, Mom..."
"Save your money."
"But I want to buy something for you."
Mom smiled.
"Your needs are more important."
"This TV is something you need too."
"Yes, but you can put your money in savings."
Mom looked at me.
"For your future. You can use it for wedding expenses, college, or even to go on hajj someday."
I fell silent.
In the end, Mom still paid for the television herself.
I was a little disappointed.
Not because I hadn't gotten to spend my money.
But because once again, Mom was thinking about my needs instead of her own.
That's just how Mom always was.
We headed home.
Before we arrived, we drove around the city for a while.
The TV would be delivered to the house around six that evening.
I secretly watched Mom's face in the motorcycle's rearview mirror.
She was smiling.
She looked happy.
Her new TV would be arriving soon.
I smiled.
Oh, Allah.
Give Mom a smile like this every day.
Grant her Your mercy, compassion, and finest blessings.
Because she is the greatest mom in the world to me.
When we got home, I stretched out on the bed in my room.
My head felt full.
The dream.
Sherly.
The unexpected meeting.
Nayla.
Everything was jumbled together.
The dream world and the real world seemed to be offering me a new path.
Maybe I really should give it a try.
Take a step outside the cage of my loneliness.
Maybe the world wasn't as cruel as I had always thought.
Sleepiness began to overtake me.
Slowly, my eyes closed.
I didn't realize I had fallen asleep.
"Raihan."
Mom's voice woke me.
"Hey, Rai. Wake up. It's already Maghrib. Pray first."
I opened my eyes.
I glanced at the wall clock.
"Oh, my gosh. I slept for more than an hour."
"You did."
Mom smiled.
"Nayla's been calling you for a while. But you were probably too tired to hear it. She just called me too, asking about you."
I immediately grabbed my phone.
"Oh, my gosh."
The screen showed dozens of missed calls.
And there were already more than ninety incoming messages.
I gave a small smile.
"I'll call Nayla after Isha prayer, Mom."
"Okay. Take a shower first."
I nodded.
But before showering, I sent Nayla a message.
"I'll call you after Isha prayer."
After that, Mom and I went to pray together in congregation.
That day may have been simple.
But to me, happiness often came from simple things.
Especially when I could still see Mom smile.