Hand Me Your Bag Mary!

Today was one of those days where I wish I had a brother or a husband by my side.  Thankfully I had my friend Mary but it wasn't enough.

My friend and I were walking down King Street today looking forward to visiting a co-worker that had just come out of surgery.  She and I were very excited to see our friend.  As we are walking I couldn't help but notice that we were being followed.  At first I didn't think much because this follower was on the opposite side of the road and I'm used to people staring are me due to the fact I wear the veil or niqab.

So we continue to walk, we start hearing someone talking and saying things (we couldn't make out what was being said, it was just weird hearing it above the loud cars driving by).  We both turn around, this man as looking at us saying something unclear.  Continuing to walk to our destination we turn to look behind us across the street the coast seemed clear... but clearly not because this man had found his way to our side of the street and is not walking literally 50 ft behind us and gaining.  He was still talking/saying something unclear...

I told my friend "step on it!" meaning let's walk faster because things are about to get real.  I've never been this persistently followed before and there wasn't anyone else in sight that I would ever think to help us if this man became aggressive.  My first thought in my head was my friend. She was the one I worried for because I didn't want anything to happen to her.  I told her to give me her bag.  She had cooked some food to bring to our co-worker and it was in a pyrex casserole dish.

"Hand me your bag Mary" I said, "why?" She asked. "Because I have a stronger swing" I replied.  Then we got into talking about how we use to play baseball.  Now, I don't know how this became a competition but my main concern was her safety.

Finally we arrived at our destination.  I honestly thought this follower/stalker would of left us alone by now seeing that we are at our 'destination'.  NOPE, boy was I naive!  He actually continued to follow us all the way to the door, in the foyer.  We had to get buzzed in by our friend. This man had the guts and the nerve to open the foyer door and try to address us.  He tried only to talk to me.  Now this is the thing you all that are reading this need to know and understand, I do not talk to strangers.  If you are acting out of the norm do not expect or feel entitled to getting a response from me.  I refused to talk to him so my friend addressed him.  He was asking to see my face and still I did not answer him.  She called our co-worker down to come get us right away.  I was shaking, I have never been confronted in such an aggressive way before.  He was inching his way closer and closer to me but was still in the doorway.  *I would also like to note that I turned away from him to signal that I do not wish to converse with him.*

I guess people that lived in the building saw what was happening from outside and came to help.  I was so thankful that they intervened.  Another man on a moped bike and a woman (a friend of his I suppose) with a pitbull saw us in distress.  The man on the moped bike came into the small foyer with his bike to open the door for us and the woman stayed in between the strange man and me.  I ran into the building (at this point our co-worker finally arrived).  The woman with the dog stayed at the door of the foyer to make sure the stranger did not come in.  The man on the bike stayed secured to elevator.  All I could remember was getting into the elevator with my friends and pressing the 'close door' button.

Strangely enough the strange man that was being blocked by the woman with the dog began to call me his mother and was trying to convince the woman that he wants to talk to his mother.  The woman said straight up: "She doesn't want to talk to you.  That's not your mother!" Clearly she could tell that I was young and frightened. And we could all tell that this man was mentally ill.  I was so relieved that we were saved by this couple.  As we get in settled into my co-workers apartment both she and my friend begin to cry as the incident was being recited.  I couldn't cry, I was in shock.

Alhamdulillah! I feel Allah Sent them to help us.  This just goes to show you that Allah Works in mysterious ways.  And I feel so blessed for being Protected by HIM.  To all Niqabis please be safe when you go outside.  May Allah protect you all always, Ameen!


Take Care & InshaAllah Khair!

Duni