The golden rays of Sunday morning brightened the cozy streets of Richmond, a peaceful city near Vancouver. Inside their home, Maryam and Irfan stood in front of the mirror in their bedroom, getting ready for the most awaited meeting of the week. Maryam carefully adjusted her beige hijab, matching it with her sky-blue long dress. Irfan buttoned up his light grey shirt, watching her with an admiring smile.
"You look beautiful," Irfan said softly.
Maryam smiled, adjusting her earring. "Thank you. I'm nervous and excited to meet Catherine after so long."
"Let's go meet her. You've waited long enough," Irfan replied as they stepped out.
They drove toward Café Blossom, a quaint and elegant café located in downtown Richmond. The roads were calm with the early Sunday crowd slowly gathering at local brunch spots. When they parked near the café, Maryam glanced out the car window and immediately recognized the familiar figure seated inside through the glass walls.
Catherine—now wearing a graceful light green scarf loosely draped around her neck—sat at a center table of the café's main dining hall. The moment she saw Maryam and Irfan enter, she stood up with glowing eyes, waving her hand with joy.
"Maryam!" she called out warmly.
Maryam rushed forward, arms wide open. The two friends hugged tightly, tears forming in their eyes. It was a moment of reunion that stitched together years of silence, guilt, longing, and hope.
"You look amazing!" Maryam said, holding her friend by the shoulders.
Catherine turned to Irfan with a bright smile. "And this must be your husband. I've heard so much about you in just one call!"
Irfan smiled and extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Catherine."
"Please, just call me Cathe," she said with a wink, ushering them both to sit.
As they took their seats, a waiter approached with menus. Catherine opened hers eagerly.
"I'm starving! Let's order something first, and then we'll talk. Trust me, I have a surprise for you, but not on an empty stomach!" she teased.
Maryam chuckled. "Okay, okay! Chicken barbecue for me," she said, handing her menu back.
Irfan ordered a classic grilled sandwich and a fresh lime soda, while Catherine went with a Mexican wrap and coffee.
As they waited, Maryam leaned forward. "Now tell me. What's this big surprise?"
Catherine looked around briefly, then rested her hands on the table, her eyes suddenly serious.
"I'm not Cathe anymore," she said softly. "I've embraced Islam. My name is now Kashaf."
There was a moment of stunned silence. Maryam blinked, processing the words. Then her face broke into a radiant smile.
"You—what? Really?" she exclaimed.
Kashaf nodded, smiling shyly. "Yes. I took my shahada two months ago. It wasn't easy, Maryam. But your story... the day I saw you walk away from the church with your head held high... that stayed with me. It opened a door in my heart that I didn't know existed."
Maryam stood up and leaned across the table to hug her again, tears flowing freely now. Irfan, moved by the emotional moment, smiled warmly and said, "Welcome to the faith, Kashaf. May Allah keep you guided and strong."
"Thank you," Kashaf whispered.
Just then, their food arrived. The waiter laid down steaming dishes and chilled drinks. They began eating, laughing between bites, catching up on everything they had missed.
"Where are you staying now?" Maryam asked.
"I've rented a small apartment nearby, just ten minutes from here. I left the church about a month after you did. At first, I didn't know where to go, but I found a support group for Muslim reverts in Vancouver. They helped me with everything—from accommodation to learning how to pray. It was overwhelming, but I never felt more at peace," Kashaf explained.
Maryam nodded. "I felt the same. When I found the truth, everything painful in my past finally started to make sense."
Kashaf reached for her coffee. "And your family? How did they react?"
Maryam glanced at Irfan and smiled. "This man and his family accepted me like their own. Ayesha bhabhi, Imran bhai, their children—they made me feel like I was reborn into a world of warmth and faith."
"I can't wait to meet all of them!" Kashaf exclaimed. "That's why I also wanted to ask—can I visit you? Meet your family?"
Maryam nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! Let me give you our address."
She scribbled the address of their Richmond home on a napkin and handed it to Kashaf.
"We'll be waiting for you. Come any time," Maryam added.
Kashaf clutched the napkin like it was a treasured note. "Thank you, Maryam. Thank you for planting the first seed of faith in me—even when you didn't know it."
After finishing their meal, the three of them lingered over coffee. Irfan excused himself for a few moments to make a call outside, giving the two friends some privacy.
Kashaf leaned in. "Tell me everything. I want to hear about your marriage, how you met Irfan, how life has changed."
Maryam laughed, blushing slightly. "It's a long story. But it started the day I stepped out of the church. I was wounded, broken—but Ayesha took me in. She introduced me to a whole new world. Irfan was her brother-in-law. Our bond grew slowly, quietly. He listened to me, respected me, waited patiently for me to open up. And now, he's my world."
Kashaf listened, eyes glistening. "You deserve every bit of this happiness."
Later, Irfan returned. They paid the bill, exchanged hugs once more, and walked together to the parking lot.
"I'll come visit you soon," Kashaf promised as she got into her car.
"Don't delay too much," Maryam replied, waving as Kashaf drove away.
Inside the car, as Irfan started the engine, Maryam turned to him. "I can't believe Catherine is now Kashaf. It feels like a dream."
"It's the beauty of truth," Irfan said. "Once someone sees it with their heart, it never leaves them."
They drove home, hand in hand, hearts full of gratitude—for friendship, for love, and for the beautiful path their lives had taken.