You know how the grass is always greener on the other side, or so we think.

This particular day, I was sat on the grass in Springfields as I often did before college on a Tuesday afternoon.

Again soaking up the sun when I was awoken from my day dream by the ringing of my mobile telephone.

“Salams Imran, how’s it going bro?” I greeted him.

How I envied this brother Imran. He really did have it all. Qualified in the same line as his father, working in his fathers business with a view to take it over fully when his father retires in two years, living in a £2.5m 7 bedroom, 4 story house with only his father, mother, brother and wife (who he met at uni and who is also in the same profession as him and they will expand the business that he’s been handed on a silver platter together). An active board member of his local mosque. Drove one of the six Merc’s they have on their driveway. A real up and coming guy.

“You weren’t too busy were you Tahir?” He asked

“Nah, just sat on the grass, soaking up some sunshine, waiting for my class to start.”

“Ah, the simple life. You’re so lucky man, wish I had it easy like you”

“Come on over, I’d gladly swap with you Imran”

“Careful what you wish for bro. It’s part of the reason I called you. I need you and your family to make du’a for my wife. She had really bad headaches and the doctors have said she has a brain tumour. She’s been in hospital for three week. It’s not life threatening yet, but it is getting progressively worse as the weeks are passing.”

“Oh dear God, no way!? That’s such a shock. I didn’t even know about that Imran. That’s not good news at all is it?”

Right about now I started thinking, does he really have it better than me? Would I rather have all those up and coming things and a wife with a brain tumour that’s getting progressively worse? Or would I rather have what I have?

Almost as if he read my thoughts “Tahir, you know how you used to say you’d really like to have my life, if you still feel like that let’s please swap right now. I’ve been going back and forth from the city hospital, dealing with three different consultants as well as running the business and also trying to keep up with all my Masjid commitments, not to mention the chores around the house and getting Fareed (his younger brother) to and from school as mum and dad are at Umra until the end of the month. It’s seriously getting too much. I thought I was stronger than this bro. I even had experience of being rushed off my feet from when my uncle was in hospital. But when it’s someone as close as this it’s like 100 times more draining. I really would give it all up in a heartbeat in exchange for the tranquillity that you enjoy and take for granted.”

I think what must have made things worse is the face that they married just over a year earlier. I could hear the tears rolling down his cleeks as he spoke. I’m normally a hard hearted guy, but hearing him in this predicament put a tear in even my eye.

I cleared my throat, sniffed and said “Imran, I really feel for you bro. I don’t know what to say other than May Allah make it easier for you” I was right, it’s not often that I’m lost for words, but I REALLY didn’t know what to say. “inshallah I’ll ask my family and everyone to make du’a”

“Just one other thing Tahir, please don’t post it on Facebook, I don’t want the masses knowing.”

“Yeah, no worries man, but you got the best professionals in the UK working with her so she’s in good hands. Inshallah, it’ll all be better soon.”

“Anyway Tahir, I must let you go now. I have to get back to the hospital. Take care, Salams.”

Needless to say I couldn’t concentrate much that day at college.