Chapter 37: Life and More. 

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"A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. 

But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, 

then you have something very special."

-Nelson Mandela-

*

"Let yourself loose. Find new adventures and compete with life. You'll do amazing, I am sure." Markos stood in front of everyone with a smile on his face as he spoke. The interns were sitting at the front while others were at different tables.

It was their last day at the company workshop as well as the farewell of interns. The sun was out and the birds chirped nearby as the soft breeze rushed past the people.

"Alright everyone! Time to present the interns with their farewell gifts!" Markos announced and everyone cheered. Yusra glanced over to the back towards Islah who was grinning at her. She grinned back before turning to Markos again. The department chief's had a gift for each one of them before it was time for the CEO to present the top intern award. It was a traditional award given to their top intern who will have the opportunity to work with them.

"I remember my top intern award." Casten sighed from the back making Yusra turn to him.

"You were a top intern?"

"Yeah. Most of us were."

"Ah."

Islah walked to the front and stood with so much grace and power that Yusra felt blinded for a second. The sun formed a halo over him making him look ethereal. He cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Good morning everyone. I hope you all are doing good. To be our top intern, one needs to be resilient, hardworking, over-achieving, flexible and the list goes on. Everyone knows that. And our current interns have proven us that they are exactly that and so much more. So in the light of the current scores and evaluation, I have good news. But before that, ladies and gentlemen, our top intern of 2020 is Yusra Uz-Zaman." Islah's words were heard loud and clear as everyone clapped and cheered. Yusra grinned at him, blushing slightly. Ah my woman is so beautiful.

She stood up and walked over to Islah to take her award. When the two were standing together, Wren elbowed Than making him groan in pain.

"What is it?" he harshly whispered. Wren was almost to tears.

"They are wearing matching clothes! Look! White shirt and dress, denim jeans, white sneakers and omg. Their Nikes are the same!" Than wanted to die. He was tired to Wren's fanboying antics.

"I don't even know why I am with you at this point, honestly!"

"Wren. Are you seeing what I am seeing?" whispered Casten from beside him. Wren excitedly nodded. Than glared at Casten before sharing a desperate look with Xia who was beside Casten. These boy's will be the death of us.

Meanwhile, Islah's eyes could not leave Yusra's. The said woman saw this but said nothing. She knew he was having his little moment. Why is she so beautiful? Like Wallahi! How did I not see this before? Maybe it's the- Stop Islah. You are staring.

"Islah?"

"Hmm?"

"Stop staring and continue with your speech." Yusra told him with a smile. Islah snapped out of his reverie with slight blush coating his cheeks and neck. This made the front two rows erupt into loud cheers (led by the one and only Rabail) making Islah's neck and face even more red. He laughed before holding his hands up for them to calm down. When they did, he spoke.

"Right. Now for the good news. Years before, we had only one slot for the top intern to work with us. However, this year we decided to change things around a bit. After a long hectic meeting with the department chiefs and the board, we have come to a conclusion that we can have all four of our interns working for us." The interns were shocked while the others cheered on. "This is, however." Islah spoke with a wave of his hand, effectively quietening down the crowd. "A 2020 offer only because it was decided after seeing your capabilities." When no one cheered, Islah sighed. "Now cheer." Everyone erupted into loud cheers.

All the while Islah spoke, he kept his eyes away from Yusra. Finally when he knew he was off the radar, his eyes lingered over to the female who held his heart captive. Her peach hijab clad head bounced she excitedly talked to Casten and Than who were seated behind her along with Jackson who was beside her. At least it's Jackson sitting beside her and not Zain.

"Let's go have fun!" Markos yelled as he pulled Sheldon along with him towards the pool. Soon enough, everyone rushed to the pool including Islah. Time to refresh and restart.

-

Yusra was tired. It was Sunday and she had classes from Monday at 10am (luckily). She was in bed as soon as she came home. Her mother and cousin were concerned but her father knew she was too tired to even talk. But judging from how his daughter was happy and glowing, he assumed she had a good time.

Monday dragged on and Yusra got to school with a little nervousness under her skin. It was her final semester before she would be able to enter her masters in cyber-security and management. By the time she was in the lecture hall, she was calm. It's just another day at the university. There was a lot on her mind at the moment; from university to her past internship to her reply to Islah's proposal. She has not yet talked to her family because she did not know what she wanted. She really wanted a life with Islah but she also wanted to finish her masters and become something of her own first. Then her mind wandered to her conversation with Islah the previous night and she sighed. I guess we'll have to break it to everyone together.

By the time her an hour lecture on analysis ended, she was hungry. So much for skipping breakfast. There were exams coming up in two months and she needed to prepare for that. She cannot have any distractions for the finals because they determined her master's entrance.

That afternoon everyone gathered at Yusra's house, including Islah's family and Rabail for dinner. Nasreen was excited to have them over while Yusra was a nervous mess. She didn't know if their families would agree.

"You think they'll agree?" she asked Islah at the kitchen where they met by accident (not really an accident if you count how Yusra saw him walk towards the kitchen and decided to follow him). Islah smiled at her.

"Stop overthinking. It's our life Yusra. We talked about this." He told her and she nodded, still nervous. Islah looked down at her hands clenching the sides of the counter when he noticed his bracelet still on.

"I see you are still wearing it." He told her and she shrugged with a small smile. It's yours, what's why.

"Yusra!" Nasreen's voice cut through their conversation and Islah nodded towards the living room.

"Go. I'll come later." He told her making her grin slyly. He is so cunning. She turned to her heels and walked into the living room. She greeted them and took her seat beside Rabail who threw her a knowing grin. Yusra suppressed a blush and turned to her soon to-be mother-in-law.

"Isl-" Lila began just as Islah entered the room. He took a seat in between his father and Iravat.

"Here." He muttered making his parents laugh.

"Have you two decided on anything?" Dawud was on point with his question. He knew his daughter is capable enough to make her own decisions and he trusted her to make the right one.

Yusra looked over to Islah who gave her a reassuring smile. She inhaled a deep breath. Here it goes.

"We have." She stated firmly and everyone turned to her with interest. Nasreen was at the edge of her seat again (this was Yusra and she knew the weird tendencies of her daughter all too well) while Lila was smiling.

"Which is?" Ahmad prompted her to speak. She gulped and looked at Islah for help. Islah nodded at her before turning to the family.

"She gets to finish her finals and masters before we get married." The entire room went silent. Nasreen wanted to scream, yell at Yusra for making such a decision but she couldn't. Not in front of everyone. Lila smiled a while later, before it turned into a proud grin. She knew Yusra would do such a thing. The child took her education seriously and she had nothing against it. She turned to Ahmad who smiled and nodded at her reassuringly. This is it. Yusra gauged each of their expression. Lila and Ahmad's smile, Nasreen and Maheen's frown and her father's proud face.

"If that is what you both want, we have nothing against it."

"There is one more thing," Yusra told them and everyone turned to her with more interest. "I applied to Avelon University Fellowship for my masters with them. If I get in, I'll be in another country for a year." This stunned everyone, even Lila.

"Which is?"

"United Kingdom. London to be precise." This was Islah.

"Are you both okay with this?" Lila asked them and Islah nodded with a smile.

"If she wants to study, she studies. It's her life." Was Islah's reply. Lila nodded and turned to Yusra.

"You?"

"I want to." She replied meekly and Lila nodded with a smile. She clapped her hands and turned to Nasreen.

"The children have decided. I guess we have to go with it." She told Nasreen but the woman in question saw red. She wanted her daughter to married, not studying! Lila saw this and placed a hand over hers with a reassuring smile.

"It's okay."

The afternoon after the event was awkward. Iravat and Rabail were happy with their decision. Maheen immediately calmed down with the thought that if Yusra is not getting married any time soon, Maha can get married soon. It didn't make sense to an average person but it did to Maheen.

Islah constantly told Yusra that it was okay but the latter still felt guilty. She would be leaving everyone in three months and she didn't know if that was good or bad. Everything happens for a reason, right? Perhaps this happened for a reason too? 

*****

As salaamu alaikum, my Panda's! 

As I have stated before: Education above everything. Despite the fact that Yusra and Islah really wanted to get married, Yusra chose her education over it all and Islah supported her through it. :) 

Stay safe, happy and healthy, my loves! 

| R - C - V |

xx,

-Aalihha.