EDITED

" Patience is not the ability to wait- It is how we behave while we're waiting. "

* Joyce Meyer *

If dithering was an appropiate word to define my situation, still it'd defy the feelings and emotions I held within past 10 hrs. It was almost dark outside and I had no one except the perfect loneliness surrounding me and the deathly silence. Umm, no. I could hear the crows cawing and the grasshoppers irking sound. I dialled Aunty's number ( Azfar's mom ) but she wasn't responding too. I couldn't either step out of the house to find about them. It was a very difficult problem to face.

I remembered the verse in which Allah had asked His obedient servants to seek help in Salah and Patience, I recalled Azfar saying this back, I recalled this lesson my baba used to teach me to have patience no matter how crucial or severe the calamity falls. No problem created is greater than it's solution, and No problem can ever be greater than The Greatest of Lord.

Performing ablution and wearing my dupatta in the form of a hijab, I stood on the prayer mat facing the qiblah. Masjid Al Haram. The most sacred mosque in the world. Whichever place we stand, we face our form towards the Kabah and we know that He is worthy of worship.We know that we are bowing down to Him for tha satisfaction and gracing of our entity, not because he needs worshipping and servitude. He has many angels for that purpose.

Shaitan tried peeking his nose into my prayers to offence my dedication and concentration but I kept straight , focusing on every recital verse and grabbing the meaning behind what Allah commands.

Breaking my trance of concentration and focusing, I was interrupted by my cell ringing louder than ever. It was the last rakah I was standing in and so I soon said the salaam and picked up my phone. It was an unknown number, and a message was left too.

If you want your husband and babies safe, come out from wherever you're hiding because I have traced your sim and already know that you're inside the mansion.

Goosebumps covered my skin to give me some warmth, I was feeling dreadful. How did he know of this number? Azfar had broken the old sim and according to what I remember this was his spare number which he rarely used.

Should I reveal myself or not?

I was thinking of all the situations which can happen if I didn't agree to the anonymous person, least I wanted was harm for my hubby and my kids. I loved them both, more than my life.The same time,another thought crossed my mind that how can anyone find out my whereabout when this portion of the mansion though surely was submerged, but it was exclusively different, because of it's hidden location and also that the coverage signals went low here at the backside and innermost side of the mansion.

You're wasting time incessantly. Show some dignity, brace yourself up and reveal. Before I shoot your husband and chew the hearts of your babies.

Another text message and that flared up my anxiety more. Ya Allah! What should I do?

Reciting bismillah and putting my tawakkal ( believe/rely ) on Allah, I texted that number and told I'm ready to reveal myself on the condition that he'll leave my husband and babies first.

You mugwort! You think I'm an idiot? I'll let the birds free without getting their ransom? Beware! If you try to make any smarter move, I won't spare them an inch!

Pushing back the cold tears, I gulped down the saliva and traced my tongue over my dehydrated lips. I came out from the opposite side of the house, which was far away from the entrance of the mansion and made my steps slothful as possible.

Fasten your steps , I'm seeing you. You can't escape jaan.

Another message, and yet I couldn't decide what was the best that I should do.

When I entered the mansion, two strong men took hold of my arms and carried me to the hall where Farhan was seated. There was no sign of Azfar and neither my kids.

" Where is Azfar? What have you done to them? Why can't you just roll off from us , now I'm here. Tell me about my husband and my babies. "

I glared, and my pitch rose to volume I never expected my larynx to shout. I was feeling helpless and the solemnity of this situation demanded me to act cool but I couldn't control my anger.

' Oh jaan, calm down. You still have the same old anger issue, you look so dreadfully gorgeous when Adrenaline rushes through your veins. Do as I say, and then I'll do what you want, i.e, I'll tell you where Azfar and our babies are. '

He turned around and walked towards me, his stubble old and had turned a bit gray, hands tightly folded on his chest that made the veins pop out.

' Staring at my muscles, babe? You can have me all by your side tonight. '

I freed myself from their arms, and slapped his face. I wasn't violent, but he made me so.How dare he has guts to insult me, stomp over my self esteem , and try his filthy hands to destroy my family.

" WHERE ARE MY KIDS? "

I stressed over each word and then heard a nefarious chuckle from him.Soon I smelt chloroform, and felt being dragged in the effect of anesthesia.

••••

Dark red marks of nylon rope tied on my wrists and my feet were making a sense of irritation and itching.It had been ten hours since I was here in a dark room, no idea of where I was. No light seeped in through the room, nor there was any water inlet to quench my thirst. I missed my wife, Bellarina. How might she be?

Thanks to Allah, I didn't tell him about where Zidan and Abhan were and so he could never find out where they were.I felt peace thinking of that but I was worried about Zahra. She had a fragile heart. How she will deal with this situation?

It's not that I lacked confidence in her, but this was indeed a trial, a test for our relationship stability, for our love to come out a strong warrior, for us to win. Allah tested those whom He loved, like the way hardest battles are given to the strongest of fighters.

I tried opening the rope with my teeth, but the continous effort had caused my mouth to pain and my hands were almost bruised.

After a long struggle, I succeeded in loosening the rope of my hand and then I freed myself completely. A window was present, which was quite higher than my tall height. The room was suffocated but it's roof was very high.I searched some aid which can help me to reach the window but I couldn't find anything of such. This was not a movie which had problems beside it's solution. No, it was hard. Harder, instead.

" Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear "

( AL-QURAN 2:286 )