Chapter 40: 2 Years Did Go by Fast. 

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"Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart."

-Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore-

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Sometimes, what the heart wants is not necessarily what's right and sometimes, what the brain wants is also not right. On occasions like this, one's true nature and upbringing comes in question as they solve this circumstance.

Islah Reza-Ibrahim faced this when he was none but a programmer at his father's corporation. He had gone for a meeting in the city where he stumbled across the inter-city high school cyber competition at the venue.

Taking interest, he had walked into the stadium and stood by the sidelines, watching. Their main sponsor happened to be his father's good friend so he was let in with a VIP pass. That was when he saw her.

His blue-gray eyes were watching the screen very closely. He saw how the programmers broke the codes and links, getting what they want. But he also saw their loopholes and then saw them fall. His eyes scanned the crowd for computer 2 and once he found it, his eyes lingered on the way long slender fingers grazed the keyboards. It was magic, he thought with a smile. They were so rapid and so elegant, as if the person had practiced this all their lives.

"Who is number two?" he questioned, as he saw a peach hijab. A hijabi, he thought with a smile. He found it very motivating to see muslim women in the field.

"She's from Bláithín Academy." The person beside him replied. Before he could ask more, his phone rang. The call was from home, he had to leave immediately. Since that day, Islah would think about the moment quite a few times when he's reminded of the season. He only wished he could tell the person how much he envied their work on the keyboards.

***

"She's back."

The words struck him like a lightening, awakening every fiber in his body. Yusra was back. He turned to face his mother with a small smile.

"And?"

"And we are leaving for dinner at their place in five minutes. Think you can survive that?" Islah let out a laugh.

"Of course."

"I know you were in pain, Islah. But it all ends today." His mothers words were a promise, he noted. He shrugged, shoving his hands in the pockets of his brown trousers. His mother smiled and walked out of his study, leaving him alone to his thoughts.

It wasn't that he was afraid to see her, no. It was the exact opposite. He was excited to see her but he was also afraid of her answer. He didn't want to rush her into anything. They could be engaged for a while, not married if that's what she wants. Even if its painful for me.

Islah Reza-Ibrahim wasn't known to be a patient man. He was known for his steadfastness and organization. He was always ahead of other people of his age but in this matter, for Yusra; he made an exception.

"And tonight, it breaks." He muttered, rubbing his forehead. His blue shirt set against his skin crisp and proper with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His skin color was no longer tanned but rather fair due to the amount of time he spent indoors recently. He didn't like it though, he liked the tan better.

The watch on his left hand read six fifty and he knew they'd leave soon. A heartbeat later, his mother called out for him. He sighed and walked out of the room.

He looked around the empty house and let out a small laugh. His brother was happily married and living in his apartment on the other side of the city. He had taken up the job at the university as a professor while Rabail worked with Islah as Co-CEO.

He walked out of the house, following his mother to their vehicle. His father glared at him.

"Get your Jeep. I have a date after the dinner." He told Islah making him roll his eyes. Lila only laughed and got into the vehicle with her husband.

Islah had to walk back into the house, get his Jeep keys and walk to the garage. The drive to the Abideen household felt familiar. He had been there multiple times in the last three years, checking up on them from time to time.

He and Yusra kept in touch, with video calls each week. So he knew she was coming back. But video calls and face to face meetings were two different things. Will I survive? His thoughts were cut through by the shrill ringing of his Skype call. Why do I even use the ringtone? He winced, before answering it just as he stopped at the red light.

To his surprise, it was Yusra. Her smiling face came onto the screen and he grinned.

"As salaamu alaikum." He said, looking up from her to the roads. The light had turned green.

"Wa alaikum mus salaam. Are you on your way?" she asked and he hummed in response. "Great! What color are you wearing?" he let out a laugh. Over the two years, he had learnt a few things about her. One of them being that she liked to match his outfits, a lot. Despite them being away from each other.

"Blue shirt, brown trousers."

"Ah. I'll have to search for brown skirts." She muttered as she got up with her phone and began rummaging through what seemed like her closet. Islah, who had never seen the insides of her room in the Abideen household, glanced over to the screen to see everything messy. His OCD side wanted to desperately organize her room.

"You need to organize your room, Miss. Uz-Zaman." He told her and she scoffed from somewhere in between her clothes.

"Right. I landed in the country yesterday night!" she sassed, making Islah laugh. Another thing he learnt was that Yusra, who was once shy, is bold now. The England air did her good for now, she was independent and bold.

"Where are you?" she asked.

"Halfway."

"Ah ok. I'll go get ready now. See you soon."

"Soon. Allah hafiz."

"Allah hafiz." She hung up. Islah inhaled a deep breath and smiled to himself. I am finally seeing her in flesh after two years.

"I will marry you."

***

By the time Yusra finished tying her hijab, she heard cars in their driveway. Her room was directly above the garage which meant if they had parked in front of the garage, she'd be able to see them, him.

She walked over to the large window of her room and slid the curtain slightly to the side. She saw two cars in the driveway; a Mercedes and a familiar Jeep. She smiled when she saw Islah's parents get off the Mercedes and her eyes lingered to the Jeep. Is he here alone?

Her questions were answered when the door of the jeep opened and Islah Reza-Ibrahim stepped out of it in all his glory. Yusra watched the sun rays crash against his six foot form, creating a hue over him. His skin glowed bright and his dark hair was slightly longer than she was used to. His gaze was cast down so she didn't see his eyes but his form radiated elegance.

"Masha Allah," she whispered, clutching her racing heart. She didn't know why she felt breathless and she gasped for air slightly. True to his words, Yusra saw him dressed in a blue shirt and brown trousers with the shirt tucked in and the sleeves rolled up.

She didn't realize she was staring at him until he came to a stop right below her window and suddenly looked up. Without thinking, Yusra shut the curtains and turned around. If her heart was racing before, it was on a marathon right now. Is this how I die?

"Argh! What was that, Yusra?" she muttered to herself, hitting her head. Why did I hide? So what if he saw me? We'd meet anyway.

She sighed and looked around her room. It was indeed messy. Islah had seen what her dormitory looked like back in London but never her room here. They'd usually video call then and she missed it today. I really need to clean and organize.

She walked over to the full length mirror and stood with her hands on her hips. She had put on weight, she realized. Fat? Will Islah even want that? She didn't realize, she was letting her mind run wild again.

She was dressed in a brown skirt with a blue shirt, tucked in. She had on a light pink (almost white) hijab paired with the same shade watch. She was wearing minimum makeup with only a few concealer, eye liner (she fell in love with them recently) and lip-gloss.

"Beautiful enough for me." She told herself with a smile.

Yusra was beautiful but for someone who's had self-esteem issues since childhood, it was quite difficult for her to see herself in a different light. But she manages. Somehow.

"Yusra! Come downstairs!" she heard her mother call for her and she sighed, with a rapid heartbeat. It's time to face the music. Or Islah. 

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As salaamu alaikum. 

How are you all? 

So about how I said that the book is ending? Well, I decided to write a few more things. So safe to say, there's more chapters coming. 

As I've said before, all my writings are lost so I have to write from scratch. Please bear with me. 

Thank you!

| R - C - V |

xx,

-Aalihha.