"You met who?," Sohail said in an audibly louder tone in his excitement as Aftab told him about seeing the girl he met and dreamt about. Aftab narrowed his gaze at him and instructed him to sit on the chair as people in the cafe stared at them. Everyone must be wondering what's up with people sitting at this table, he thought in ironic amusement.

Aftab texted him and asked him to come when Noorie inquired twice about the friend who he had come to meet. He had made it all seem so real. He didn't expect Zayna to be here when he came after her. Hoping he would get to talk to her again and had decided to give her the wind chime, which coincidentally both ended up liking. He couldn't make that offer though because he didn't want Zayna to misunderstand her friend.

So, he kept waiting for Sohail to show up and all this while he was brooding over losing a good chance of knowing the girl who had been haunting her ever since she walked out of that park, two years ago. And all the while, he was hoping that Sohail made an appearance soon, but Sohail showed up at the cafe, after almost an hour, although their office is just fifteen minutes away from the cafe.

Flashback*

Aftab and Sohail shared a great rapport. They have been friends since high school. Both studied together, has separate profession, yet both had been working together for an NGO. They were not only allies, but were like brothers and confidante to each other.

At first, Aftab had not mentioned about more to him, but when her thoughts kept bothering her, especially after the dream which he saw in which he had seen a noble man dressed in white appearing in front of him and asking him to seek her as she is her rightful match. He is not sure of who he had been. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) himself or some angel, through whom Allah helps human know certain things about their life.

Though there had been rather a debate about dreams, that not all dreams are angelic and some might also be misguidance by Shaytaan, but somehow the lightness Aftab felt in his soul and the way the dream had comforted him, he was very sure that this dream was through positive sources and not a misguidance. He clearly remembered a few hadiths he read about Dreams and one of them being narrated by  Narrated by Abu Huraira: "I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "Nothing is left of the Prophetism except Al-Mubashshirat." They asked, "What are Al-Mubashshirat?" He (saws) replied, "The true good dreams (that conveys glad tidings)." - Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.119

Though to confirm any doubts, he had quickly checked through a trusted and authentic website that deals with dreams and informations from Sahih Bukhari and found  Hadith 9.144 Narrated by Abu Huraira in which he stated : "Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "When the Day of Resurrection approaches, the dreams of a believer will hardly fail to come true, and a dream of a believer is one of forty-six parts of Prophetism, and whatever belongs to Prothetism can never be false." Muhammad bin Sirin said, "But I say this." He said, "It used to be said, 'There are three types of dreams:

1.     The reflection of one's thoughts and experiences one has during wakefulness,

2.     what is suggested by Satan to frighten the dreamer,

3.     or glad tidings from Allah.

So, if someone has a dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to others, but get up and offer a prayer.'"

And then he further read a question asked by a fellow Muslimah. Should a Muslim believe in dreams? To which the Shaykh had replied : "A Muslim should obviously believe in the concept of dreams, but not necessarily in the content of the dreams! The opinion of a Muslim who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day is based on the Guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah alone and nothing else. Neither can the contents of a dream be a basis for modifying any of the beliefs endorsed by the Quran and the Sunnah, nor dismiss the contents of any dream be a foundation for modifying any of the laws of Shariah. Therefore in conclusion, one may apparently believe in the concept of dreams, but not necessarily in the substance of dreams!

If one believes, obeys, and abides by the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being led astray; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other counsel, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be guaranteed of being led astray."

After reading this, Aftab was certain his dream was not a misguidance but yet to be sure he was not misunderstanding it, he decided to never find out about her and to keep her promised. He trusted that if its Allah's will for them to meet and through this dream, he is preparing Aftab for it, and so he will surely see her even without putting any efforts to it.

Though, his heart was not quite so understanding about the decision he made and used to urge him to find her out. It was almost a battle between his good nafs and bad nafs and it was then he discussed things with Sohail.

Sohail advised him to consult a Scholar regarding this matter, as his knowledge related to this thing is more limited than Aftab's. But Aftab refrained from doing so and let it completely to Allah's will. He used to pray everyday for Allah's guidance in this matter, until today when his prayers got answered and he met more again.

Back to Present*

"You heard me right the first time, Sohail," Aftab said slowly with a smirk on his face at Sohail's excitement. He seemed more excited than him.

"I told you... I had been telling you that you must find out, It was not just any dream, but you didn't listen to me," Sohail said slightly patting Aftab's back in a friendly manner.

"Yeah, right, but you knew my reasons..." Aftab replied.

"So tell me about her," Sohail asked curiously.

Aftab filled him with the details of how he met her at the gift shop and then he followed her to the cafe.

"You followed?," Sohail said sheepishly, winking at his friend.

Aftab lifted a brow and began to laugh a little with Sohail on it as Sohail said,"Men will be Men! Though, It's so unlike you to do such a thing. What about all your principles and the concepts of fitna and haraam?"

"Okay, don't tread there when you cannot understand my reasons. I had no other way to reach to her except following her. My intentions were not wrong. I only followed the decision which I had left upon Allah that if we meet again then I will take it as a signal that we are meant to be." Aftab said, clarifying his actions

'Chill, Bro. I'm only teasing you...", Sohail said and added, "So, what is her name?"

"Noorie..." Aftab said happily and there was a glow in his eyes as he said her name.

"Her name is Noorie, and it's your eyes that are shining," Sohail teased. Aftab punched him on his arm lightly as he laughed.

Aftab then told him how he was stuck with this lie that he had come here to meet his friend. Both Noorie and her friend asked and he was so nervous that they might accuse him of lying on his face. Although he had a feeling, that they had guessed so, but they didn't make him feel awkward about it. He asked him why he got so late.

Sohail had other plans, but, when Aftab texted him just typing in "Come at CCD, Elgin Road. Urgent." He didn't gave a thought to his plans and texted back ," Okay."

"I'm happy for you, trust me," Sohail said in response to Aftab's punch, but then he saw something flicker in Aftab's eyes and sensed that there is more to the meeting than he knows, and asked back,"What is it?, Something bothering you?"

Aftab's expression sobered a bit as he uttered sadly, "I didn't get a chance to talk to her."

"Why?,"Sohail demanded.

"She had company," he murmured.

"So?"

"You don't get it, she was with someone and I couldn't just tell her that I followed her all the way from that gift shop because I....," He stopped suddenly, realizing he was in public.

"Hmmm," Sohail said as he patted his shoulder and added, "So, what do you plan to do now...?" And then he halted in-between and gave a worried look at Aftab and asked, "Is she still single or got married?"

Aftab gave him a look that stated that he was treading in a danger zone.

Sohail smirked and said,"Okay, Okay... I got it. So, what now?"

"I have no idea,"Aftab replied stiffly.

"You didn't ask for her number?," Sohail asked in a shocked tone.

He nodded his head with a snort as he said," The person she was with was her best friend and Noorie didn't even mention me to her and knowing she had kept me as a secret, I couldn't spill the beans by just coming out of nowhere and saying, 'Hi, I'm the stranger you met months ago and unlike what you wanted, I had been looking for you.' Got it, now?"

It was hell-like annoying for Sohail to know that Aftab had missed such a chance of fate, but he attempted to see some hope in it anyway as he stated,"At least, now you know her name," Sohail said positively trying to make things look somewhat better.

It didn't help though. Aftab looked at him steadily and then back to the chair Noorie had been sitting and eventually stood up from his chair and said thoughtfully, in a weary tone, "You may be right. What if she is engaged or may like someone else?"

"You know my teasing habits, don't get swayed out by them. Hope for the best. You left it all upon Allah and now it's coming true for you. This encounter is a proof of it. So, don't let any negative thoughts cloud over your belief." Sohail advised as a good friend.

Aftab shook his head, but didn't look much convinced and then abruptly said, "If you're not ordering something for you, then let's just move out from here." He could no longer bare sitting and staring at the chair where Noorie sad. Sohail seated on the chair on which Zayna sat.

Sohail was stunned by such reaction. It was so unlike Aftab to behave in such a way and after what happened with Zayna at the parking spot still had it's hold in the back of his mind, but he never showed it to Aftab, and now finding him upset, Sohail didn't felt ordering anything and agreed to move out as he lifted the plythene bag that had the windchime in it. He felt like leaving it there, but something in his heart stopped him to do so.

Once out, Aftab finally spoke, "I have to do what I had asked her to do." And sighed deeply.

"What is that,"? Sohail said suspiciously as he expected it was not something he would like to hear.

"Forgetting about her as she forgot about my existence and move on in life,"Aftab said determinedly, but his voice had an edge of emotional roughness.

"She didn't recognize you?"

"She did,"He said, assuring him and then added with stiffness,"...but she didn't liked my showing up in her life again. She didn't even shared a word about me to her friend who knows everything about her life."

"It doesn't mean anything, Aftab."

"It means everything because if she is hiding it from Zayna then it means she really never bothered to even think about me,"

"I still suggest not letting go of this sign from Allah. Hold onto your belief and seek her out, as you had planned." Sohail tried to make him see reason.

Aftab remained quiet. They silently walked on the road together until he reached the place he parked his own car and then looking at Sohail asked, "Where is your car?"

"A little further away from here. You go, I'll be following soon," Sohail replied.

Aftab nodded and then before jumping into his car, put his shoulder on Sohail arm's as he said sadly,"I don't feel like giving up myself, but I think she does not like me. I cannot force her to like me."

"Which girl in her right mind will not like you?, You are talking about a gentleman such as you and not notorious chap like me," Sohail tried to put in some humor into it.

Aftab smiled. He always told Sohail to change his ways or no right girl will like him as his life partner and Aftab's words, ironically had come true for Sohail. He had flirted with many, but was never serious with anyone and the one girl that really took away his heart, despised him as hell because of his flirtatious nature. Aftab had felt quite sorry when he learnt about what happened to her friend at business seminar he attended. This moment, both got reminded of the incident that took place few months ago, but Aftab didn't wanted to bring that topic again and make his friend sad, so said nothing. Also, he had nothing to comment on why Noorie does not like him even though he is so admired by all. For one reason, She does not know him so well and for the other maybe he is not her type.

"Is it that you are angry at her for not liking you? Your ego got crushed?." Sohail teased.

Aftab gave a faint laugh and said,"I am not angry at her at all because she had been very clear about everything in our very first meeting, but I'm just feeling so mad at myself to not understand it."

"I understand....," Sohail words were cut in as Aftab grunted out ,"It's like that curse has worked for me."

Sohail knew what he was talking about. He was not stunned at all that Aftab remembered it too. Both of them had felt too guilty and regretful for the terrible mistake they made in the past.

Aftab sat in his car and drove away as Noorie's images floated in his mind and his heart was filled with sadness.

Sohail watched him and wanted to console him, but his life and his mistakes has put him on the rebound in such a way that he has no idea how to comfort his friend. All the hopes were fading away......

The curse was finally working its way into their life.

                                                                                                    ************