"There's a lot of switch-hitters in the Muslim community, hell, some of those same Muslim brothers preaching against gayness in the West are hooking up with other guys when they think no one is looking," Shukri Ismail said haughtily, and everyone sitting inside the forum stared at her. In a room packed with avid listeners, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, the diminutive, curvy young Somali woman had a way of commanding everyone's attention.
"Thank you sister Shukri, unfortunately, we're out of time, we have to close the discussion on gender, sexuality and Islam on this note," said the mediator, a young Pakistani brother named Saif Khan. Shukri shot Saif a look, and the bearded young man flashed her a fake smile, and then he closed the meeting. People immediately began filing out of the room, and Shukri paused, searching the sea of faces for one in particular.
"Salaam," came a deep, masculine voice, both thrilling and startling the hell out of Shukri. Turning around, Shukri found herself beholding a vision of masculine beauty. Standing six feet three inches tall, Moses "Musa" Jacobson cut an intriguing figure. Clad in a black leather jacket over a dark purple silk shirt, black tie, black silk pants and his trademark black Timberland boots, the Chicago-born international student looked dapper as usual.
"Walaikum As Salaam, brother," Shukri replied, beaming at the handsome, lofty brother. Musa looked at her and nodded gently, with his hands folded before him. Shukri, who normally wouldn't touch an unrelated male, as per the strict Islamic rules which she followed, nevertheless broke protocol by hugging him tightly. Surprised, Musa nevertheless hugged her back and smiled at her.
Musa met Shukri Ismail during his first semester in the MBA program at Carleton University. The five-foot-five, curvy, brown-skinned and dark-eyed, Hijab-wearing young Somali-Canadian Muslim woman had become his best friend and confidante in the year that followed. Even though they came from different worlds, Musa and Shukri got along famously. Sometimes, he felt like they were true kindred spirits...
"Always a pleasure to see you, my sista, you were on fire up there," Musa said, admiration all over his handsome face. Shukri's heart skipped a beat, and she nodded, then let him go. The two of them filed out of the meeting room, located on the seventh floor of the Dunton Tower edifice, the tallest building on the Carleton University campus. They made their way to the elevator, and, gentlemanly as ever, Musa waited for Shukri to step in, then followed suit.
"Well, I couldn't have done it without you, Musa, last night's revelation was shocking, but, ahem, interesting, to say the least," Shukri said, biting her lip. Ever since last night, Shukri had been wondering how to best approach a certain subject. Musa looked at her and grinned, and the two of them rode the elevator down. They emerged onto the quad, where frosty winds greeted them, courtesy of the Ontario winter.
"You've always been a good friend to me, Shukri, I wish Jenna reacted the way you did," Musa said, sighing, and he quickly walked the steps leading to the Mac Odrum library. Shukri smiled as Musa held a door for her for the second time that afternoon, and they went to their usual corner inside Starbucks. Once there, they draped their coats over the backs of their chairs, sat down and had themselves a nice chat, like old friends.
"Are you alright, Musa? You look like hell," Shukri said tenderly, and Musa leaned back on his chair, and sighed deeply. There was a haunted look on the Chicagoan's handsome face, for a brief moment, then it vanished like ice in the sun. Musa paused, and stroked his goateed chin. When his eyes met Shukri's, the enigmatic young man was smiling once more.
"This hasn't been the best of days," Musa began, and he looked at Shukri in a way he never had before. The young woman looked at him attentively. Last night, as they sat inside Oliver's Pub, Musa dropped two bombs on Shukri. First, he told her that he and his girlfriend Jenna Greenbank were having problems. Oh, and those problems stemmed from Musa's revelation of his latent bisexuality.
"Musa, you're the best man I know, if Jenna can't appreciate that, then you don't need her in your life," Shukri heard herself say, and Musa looked at her, and smiled faintly. Shukri looked back at Musa, wondering what was going on in that handsome head of his. Charming, smart, outgoing and yet taciturn at times, Musa was a veritable mystery to her and a lot of other young ladies on the Carleton University campus...
For a lot of the local ladies, Musa was a mystery man. A newcomer to the City of Ottawa, Ontario, by way of Chicago, Illinois, he carried himself with that swagger unique to African-American men, yet he was a true gentleman. Having completed his bachelor's degree in business at Northwestern University in Chicago, Musa set his sights northward and enrolled in the MBA program at Carleton University in Ottawa. Along the way, he embraced Islam, and began dating a local white chick, Jenna Greenbank, the daughter of a local politician.
Like a lot of young women in the MBA program, Shukri was fascinated by the tall, handsome and outgoing Moses "Musa" Jacobson. The brother had a lot going on for him.
Why in hell did he see in someone like Jenna Greenbank? Shukri felt her blood boil whenever she ran into Musa and that tall, skinny, blonde-haired and blue-eyed hussy of his. Jenna dressed like a floozy, and Musa didn't seem to mind. Secretly, Shukri was tickled pink when she found out the two of them split...
"Shukri, my dear, if I can be half the man you think that I am, I'll be right up there with Obama and Mandela and Morgan Freeman and all the great, cool brothers," Musa said wistfully in that deep voice of his, snatching Shukri out of her train of thought. Shukri could swear she saw his soulful brown eyes grow moist. Impulsively she laid her hand on top of his, and squeezed gently. Musa looked at her, a sad little smile on his face.
"Musa, you're too good for Jenna, that's why she let you go," Shukri said firmly, and Musa looked at her, a strange expression on his face. There was an intensity in Shukri's eyes that Musa had never seen before. Sure, the diminutive Somali chick with the loud voice was certainly outspoken, and sometimes seemed way too interested in his personal business, but he never thought there was more to it than that. Now he wasn't so sure...
"Maybe you're right," Musa thought, and he found himself thinking of Jenna. Growing up in Chicago, Musa always stuck to his African-American sisters or the odd Latin chick when it came to dating and relationships. When he came to Ottawa, however, he saw so many interracial couples and so many 'chill' people that he became open to the idea of crossing racial lines in his search for love. Along came Jenna Greenbank, and the rest, as they say, was history...
